New Delhi. 09 June 2024 . The inaugural Aviation India Summit & Exhibition is set to open its doors this Wednesday at the JW Marriott in Aerocity, New Delhi. With over 500 delegates registered, the event will bring together key stakeholders from various sectors including government, regulators, airlines, business aircraft operators, airports, training organizations, MRO providers, manufacturers, and aviation services.

Theme: “New India Rising”

Under the theme “New India Rising: How India’s aviation renaissance can achieve global ambitions,” the summit will tackle the pressing issues and challenges facing the region as it gears up for rapid growth and aims to restore its global standing in aviation and aerospace.

“This is the first Aviation India Summit,” said Alan Peaford MBE, chair of the conference. He noted the success of similar regional summits in the Middle East and Africa, where increased demand for air travel necessitated industry-wide collaboration and cooperation to support airline orders and drive economic benefits.

Key Focus Areas

  • Workforce Development

A major focus will be on preparing a skilled and diverse workforce to meet rising staffing demands. Addressing pilot shortages and the lengthy recruitment and qualification process will be central to discussions.

Key Panel on Pilot Training Infrastructure:

  • Speakers:
    • Romy Hawatt, Chairman, Airways Aviation Group
    • Bobby Sharma, CEO, Chimes Aviation Academy
    • Khushbeg Jattana, GM, Simaero
    • Ryan Van Wijk, CEO, Alt. Academy
    • Maximilian Buerger, Managing Director, AFM (Moderator)

Supply Chain and Investment Opportunities

Manufacturers will discuss supply chain challenges and investment opportunities. Notable speakers include:

  • Ashwani Bhargava, Senior Director, Supply Chain, Boeing India
  • Kishore Jayaraman, President, Rolls-Royce India and South Asia

Keynote Speakers

  • Shri Vumlunmang Vualnam, Secretary IAS, Ministry of Civil Aviation
  • Amber Dubey, Senior Advisor, McKinsey & Company, former Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation
  • Bharat Malkani, CMD Max Aerospace, President, MRO Association of India, advisor to the Indian government on aviation policy
  • Praveen P A, Director – Aerospace, Defence and Space Sectors, Government of Telangana
  • Group Captain Rajesh Bali, Managing Director, Business Aircraft Operators Association of India

Collaborative Efforts

The involvement of professional industry associations for MRO, Airports, and Business Aviation, along with the Federation of Aviation Industry in India (FAII), has been crucial. “The industry needs a unified voice to meet the demands of passenger growth and increasing airline orders,” said Peaford.

Focus on Airports, Risk Management, and Sustainability

Presentations and panels will address these critical areas

Airline Participation

The summit will see participation from over 70 airlines and operators, ranging from startups to established carriers, including helicopters and GA charter businesses. Notable attendees include Air India Express, IndiGo, Akasa Air, Fly 91, and executives from Sri Lanka’s SriLankan Airlines and FitsAir.

Airline Leaders Debate

  • Led by Neelu Khatri, former wing commander, co-founder, and SVP Operations of Akasa.

Networking Opportunities

“The networking opportunities are fantastic,” said Mark Brown, Managing Director of Times Aerospace Events, the organizer. “This is the last call for registration before we close the doors. This may be the first of many Aviation India events.”

To register, visit: www.aviationindia.aero/registration