Hyderabad :
It was a role play that Hyderabad is unlikely to forget soon. With the sky as the stage and Mark Jefferies’ mean machines as actors, the aerobatic show on Day 1 of the India Aviation-2014, which opened to business delegates on Wednesday, was a runaway hit. So was the special appearance made by the glamorous Airbus A380 from the Emirates’ fleet. Together, the two ensured that the five-day event took off to a magnificent start.
Though the tension among the spectators on ground was palpable all through the 15-minute display, during which the two pilots swirled and somersaulted their aircraft in mid-air, the crowd broke into a thunderous applause soon after the curtains came down on the matinee. The reactions were much the same during the repeat telecast later in the day. “It was breathtaking,” said one of the spectators, echoing the common sentiment among the gathering which stared awe-struck at the sky, which the two pilots turned into their playground. The Jefferies’ pilots are scheduled to display this act twice a day till the end of the event.
As for the gorgeous double-decker A380 – standing over 24 metres high with a wing span of nearly 80 metres – it had onlookers at hello. Right from the time the huge ‘bird’ made its royal landing at the Begumpet airport, every participant was overheard discussing the red and white beauty. More so after taking a tour of its interiors that reeked of opulence, comfort and class. Even the sprawling economy class of the 517-seater, that has 14 extra-luxurious first class suites, appeared to be in a league way ahead of its competitors. “We are glad that the A380 has been authorized for flying in India. It is great news both for airline operators and travellers in the country,” said an Airbus spokesperson, while leading a group of delegates through the aircraft, which also has two lavish shower spas for its ‘high-flying’ clients.
“Our customers in India are eager to try the A380 services and we have worked closely with the Indian authorities to make this possible. We will be reviewing our existing operations and look forward to serving Indian travellers with our flagship aircraft in the near future,” said Majid Al Mualla, divisional senior vice president, commercial operations – centre, Emirates.
Meanwhile, the mood among business delegates, who converged at the venue on Wednesday, seemed to be upbeat with many hoping to strike a few deals by the end of the event. “The aviation industry has been down in the dumps over the past two-three years. Now, things are starting to look up again. The Boeing-SpiceJet deal is an example of that. So we are optimistic,” said a participant at the exhibition hall, which like the last time had a corner dedicated to the history of aviation.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad / TNN / March 13th, 2014