Former Russian satellite states eye greater Mid East aviation role

Companies from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia and the Ukraine feature in the exhibitor profile of Dubai 2001, the international aerospace exhibition, which takes place at the Airport Expo Dubai, United Arab Emirates from November 4-8 this year.

"This is the first time companies from Azerbaijan, Georgia or Belarus will be at the show, and interest from that part of the world indicates a strong determination to reaching out to Middle East markets," said Clive Richardson, CEO, Fairs and Exhibitions.

In the Dubai 2001 line up are: maintenance provider Azairtechservice of Baku and Azerbaijan Airlines; the Kiev Aircraft Repair Plant of the Ukraine; the Republican Unitary Production Enterprise aircraft repair plant of Belarus and the Tbilisi Aircraft Manufacturing plant of Georgia, the company behind the Scorpion upgrade of the Sukhoi Su-25K close air support aircraft.

Russia is also strongly represented at the show with some 10 organisations from the country taking part - three of them for the first time. Russian industry giants AviaExport, Mig and Sukhoi are all again present, Sukhoi with the seventh largest stand at the show at 170 square metres. Within the past two weeks, the Russian defence export organisation Rosoboronexport has increased the size of its stand by 50%.

At least six aircraft from Russia and its former satellite states will be on show. They include front-line fighters the SU-3OK maritime flanker and the Mig 21-93 tailed delta fighter, an export upgraded with new avionics and the capacity to accommodate modern weapon systems.

The line-up also includes two Antonovs, the twin-turbo-prop transporters AN-26B-100, and the AN-24PB.

To date, 40 aircraft, including pilotless drones have been registered for display at Dubai 2001.These include the L159 ALCA advanced light combat aircraft from Czech aircraft manufacturer, Aero Vodochody; the twin-engined P180 Avanti executive turboprop from Piaggio Aero Industries of Italy, which is the world's oldest existing aircraft manufacturer but a newcomer to the Dubai air show and the new Qatar Airways A319 corporate jetliner - the first in the world to receive a premium configuration.