Karnataka opposes moveto shift Aero India venue

Since 1994, the event has made Bangalore a major destination for aerospace industries to showcase their technology inventions.

BANGALORE, JULY 3: 

Karnataka has opposed the move to shift Aero India 2013 out of Bangalore.

Aero India is a biennial event which attracts global aircraft makers’ and aviation ancillaries’ suppliers.

The Chief Minister, Mr D.V. Sadananada Gowda, in a letter to the Defence Minister, Mr A.K. Antony, said, “It has come to our notice that there is a move to shift Aero India out of Bangalore. I am told that this has come up because of BIAL taking up the issue of aerospace management and Ministry of Civil Aviation has approached Ministry of Defence to consider moving the air show to a location where there is greater free air space.”

Aero India has been in Bangalore since its inception in 1994. The main reason for holding the premier aviation event is the availability of good air environment and the city is the hub of aerospace industry in India.

The State is opposing the shift for it has invested considerable effort in developing connectivity with the city and the international airport, besides ensuring that air environment is protected from man-made hazards.

Mr Gowda said, “To further develop the aerospace eco-system, considerable investment is being made in developing the Bangalore Aero Space Park in 1,000 acres, including a SEZ near Bial.”

“You may be aware, that there is a reasonably fixed calendar for the conduct of air shows at the global level. Moving to a different location would necessitate change of time of the year due to weather and other constrains and it would be extremely difficult to fit into the existing schedule of global air shows,” Mr Gowda said.

Since 1994, the event has made Bangalore a major destination for aerospace industries to showcase their technology inventions. Moving out of Bangalore would be a retrograde step for the Indian aerospace industry in general and the aerospace industry in Karnataka in particular. The event adds a lot of business to the local aerospace industry by companies from across the world.

“I would like to bring to your notice that the Bangalore international airport runway was closed in the month of April 2012 for almost 30 days from 10 am to 5 pm for maintenance and repair of runway,” the Chief Minister said.

“Hence, it may not be difficult to close BiAl runaway for 5 days during the air India show timing, in case of any difficulty in managing air space,” Mr Gowda added.

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