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Dubai aviation district looks to attract aircraft manufacturers

Call for Arabian Gulf carriers to join new European open skies policy

The European transport commissioner yesterday said she wanted Arabian Gulf carriers to be part of a single European sky policy but that they would have to play by the rules. The arrival of Violeta Bulc in Dubai this week has reignited the controversy surrounding the global expansion of Gulf carri...

Piaggio rolls out its MPA in Genoa as it displays a mock-up at show

As a newly-built maritime patrol aircraft rolls (MPA) out of a Genoa factory, Piaggio is showing off the ground demonstrator of the P.180 Avanti-based surveillance type at the Mubadala stand. Piaggio is developing the heftier and heavily modified MPA version of the Avanti in collaboration with Ab...

Etihad is to take delivery of two freighter aircraft

During the first day of the Dubai Airshow, Etihad announced the US$637 million additional aircraft will be arriving next year. James Hogan, President and CEO of Etihad Airways, said: “Etihad Airways is delighted to exercise options for two freighters that will join our fleet next year, demonstrating our confidence and commitment to our partners at Boeing and to the global freight market.&...

Bell Helicopter and Strong Aviation sign LOI for Bell 525

Bell Helicopter announced today the signature of a letter of intent (LOI) with Strong Aviation for a Bell 525 Relentless super medium helicopter. Above: (left to right) David Sale, Regional Sales Manager, Bell Helicopter, Captain Salem Safar, Aviation Manager, Strong Aviation and Patrick Moulay, VP Global Commercial Sales, Bell Helicopter. Established in 1995, Strong Aviation is a p...

Sheikh Ahmed officially opens cargo terminal at the Logistics District in Dubai South

Emirates SkyCargo's state-of-the-art cargo terminal at the Logistics District in Dubai South has been officially inaugurated Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum. Named Emirates SkyCentral, the cargo facility is the home of Emirates SkyCargo’s fleet of 15 freighter aircraft, and was officially opened on the side lines of the Dubai Air Show. The event was attended by a number of dignitari...

Defence Ministry agrees MoU with AgustaWestland for search and rescue aircraft

The Defence Ministry on Tuesday said it had signed a memorandum of understanding with AgustaWestland, a unit of Italy’s Finmeccanica, to buy six AW609 tilt-rotor aircraft for search and rescue operations. Major General Abdullah al-Hashimi, the ministry’s executive director of strategic analysis, told reporters at the Dubai Airshow that the aircraft would improve the capabilities of...

Smooth sailing for Dubai start-ups with AstroLabs co-working space

AstroLabs – named after the astrolabe, an ancient navigational device perfected by the Arabs – is a new co-working space in Dubai. While there have been a slew in recent years – Shelter, The Pavilion, Make, The Cribb – this latest venture, which officially opened late last month, boasts three hallmarks that set it apart. Firstly, having been launched by two successful...

Aerion continues search for US assembly site

As top Aerion executives meet with Dubai air show attendees, the aspiring supersonic business jet manufacturer is continuing to search for a US assembly site for flight-test and production aircraft. The selected location will form the “new home of Aerion Corporation”, says the company. Its production system is taking shape ahead of a scheduled first flight date in 2021 and entry...

Case for A380 is 'inevitable' – Leahy

Airbus has underlined its faith in the A380, despite slower-than-desired activity and an absence of sales for the type so far this year. Chief operating officer for customers John Leahy, speaking at the Dubai air show, insisted that the “case for the A380 is inevitable”. He is confident that the type is becoming “known in the marketplace” and that a new customer could...

Airbus Helicopters speeds progress on H160

Airbus Helicopters has taken its in-development H160 twin-engined helicopter to a speed of 176kt (202km/h) during flight tests, and believes a never-exceed speed (Vne) of 180kt should be achievable. Disclosing the flight-test progress at a Dubai media briefing held at the H160 mock-up on the static display, Benoit Terral, sales promotion manager for the type, said the velocity was achieved duri...

General Electric launches new Middle Eastern support centre

General Electric has launched its Middle East Aviation Technology Center, which will serve as a regional customer and product support hub. The US engine manufacturer says it hopes to increase productivity, maximise performance and minimise downtime for customers by leveraging data analytics, domain experience and software capabilities. Gary Mercer, vice-president of engineering services for...

Set to blast off in the seat of power

Flying into the future of the UAE is New Zealand's Martin Aircraft Company and Martin Jetpack. The company signed an exclusive contract with the Dubai Civil Defence (DCD) at the Dubai Airshow on Monday to become the launch customer for the world’s first practical jetpack. “The fuel-run jetpack flies at up to 5,000 feet and solves problems that others can’t with its abil...

Bombardier Q Series aircraft may soon be able to be serviced in Abu Dhabi

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft is in discussions with Abu Dhabi Aviation with the aim of establishing an authorised service facility (ASF) for Bombardier's Q Series turboprop regional airliners. The facility was announced at the Dubai Airshow yesterday. The two parties have signed a memorandum of understanding on the ASF, with final agreement subject to acceptance of commercial terms and...

LR Systems Develops Stripping, Painting Robots

LR Systems (Stand 642) is here promoting its aircraft stripping and painting robots. The stripper version is to enter service in 2016. The technology will help cut costs, eliminate some dangerous tasks and save weight on the aircraft, according to the Netherlands-based company. “Our 20-kilowatt laser makes stripping twice as fast as the current process,” program director Peter Boeij...

Upcoming events

SAF Global Summit 2026

22/09/2026 - 23/09/2026
United Kingdom, London

NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition 2026

20/10/2026 - 22/10/2026
United States, Las Vegas

Essential news

Ten years of Riga Aviation Forum — insights from Zigmars Vestfals on growth, milestones and the road ahead

As the 10th edition of the Riga Aviation Forum was getting ready to open, 50SkyShades — a long‑standing Media Partner of the event — took the opportunity to sit down with Zigmars Vestfals,...

Air Charter Expo achieves third consecutive year of record‑breaking attendance

Global trade body The Air Charter Association (The ACA) celebrated another record‑setting edition of Air Charter Expo (ACE’26) on Tuesday, 8 September 2026, delivered in partnership with Busines...

Top of the week

Ten years of Riga Aviation Forum — insights from Zigmars Vestfals on growth, milestones and the road ahead

As the 10th edition of the Riga Aviation Forum was getting ready to open, 50SkyShades — a long‑standing Media Partner of the event — took the opportunity to sit down with Zigmars Vestfals,...