The world's best-selling, single-engined, four seater aircraft heads to the Gulf

Manufactured by US-based Cirrus Design Corporation, the composite SR22 Turbo is best known for its Cirrus Aircraft Parachute System (CAPS) - an emergency parachute capable of lowering the entire aircraft and its occupants to the ground.

The SR22's scheduled Dubai Airshow appearance is in line with the maker's global aspirations in ushering in an era of affordable and available personal air travel.

"At present the Middle East is an untapped market for us and as such we look to capitalise upon the expanding general aviation opportunities in the region. We aim to make our planes, and the lifestyles associated with them, available to customers in the Middle East and envisage the market will grow healthily over the next few years, especially in the private aviation sector, and we expect to be a part of that," said John Bingham, Director, Cirrus International Sales.

Cirrus, which is widely credited with rejuvenating the light aircraft industry, is also eyeing the Dubai Airshow to swell its order book for its new state-of-the-art personal jet - 'the-jet' - billed as a cost-effective personal aviation entry model.

"We believe our new emerging class of personal jet will both create and fulfil an exciting market sector - the realm between high performance single-engine airplanes and the very light jet class," said Bingham.

"The personal jet follows the Cirrus philosophy of growing and enhancing the entire personal aviation industry. In short, this spacious, single Williams jet engine personal aircraft will revolutionise the small jet market as the Cirrus SR20 and 22 did in the propeller market."

Cirrus has identified the need to train and certify regional pilots for its aircraft and is promoting its Cirrus Concierge training programme for customers.

Starting with a personal pilot interview process to establish efficiency, the programme identifies and tailor-designs a learning programme that is web and scenario-based and is operated in conjunction with Jeppesen - one of the top pilot training companies.

The Dubai Airshow, which celebrates its 10th Anniversary this year, is set to become the largest to date with up to 900 exhibitors from 47 countries and 11 pavilions.

"It is not just the size that is significant this year but the scale of new-to-market entrants and technology that will be on show," said Alison Weller, Director, Aerospace Division of Fairs & Exhibitions (F&E), which organises the event.

"Some 130 exhibitors from 24 countries are taking part for the first time - that's one tenth of the show's entire exhibitor profile - and all are seeking emerging opportunities. This will ensure the 2007 Dubai Airshow lives up to the event's well-earned reputation of being a truly B2B forum delivering genuine business outcomes."

Among the newcomers tally are countries represented for the first time at a Dubai Airshow. These include: the Cayman Islands whose government registry is taking part; Afghanistan, represented by Safi Airways; Luxembourg by maintenance service provider CAE Aviation and the Philippines with Beechcraft spares stockist Aerospace Products International.

Dubai Airshow 2007 will run at Airport Expo Dubai from November 11-15. The event is organised by F&E in conjunction with the Department of Civil Aviation, Government of Dubai and in collaboration with the UAE Armed Forces.