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Saudi signs MoU to take Antonov deal to the next stage with 10 aircraft

Deals Worth Around $40 Billion Signed at Dubai Airshow 2015

The Dubai Airshow 2015 resulted in the signing of agreements worth a total of $39.8 billion, as compared to $200 billion at the 2013 exhibition, the organizers of the show said Thursday. The agreement signed between the UAE Emirates airline and the US General Electric company for mainte...

MedAire Celebrates 30th Anniversary

At the MedAire booth, convention visitors can see a demonstration of MedAire Trip Ready, the first app of its kind focused on the aviation industry, and meet MedLink doctors and security specialists. MedLink operates from Banner–University Medical Center Phoenix (formerly Good Samaritan Hospit...

These two guys spent 40 years building a working jetpack that uses real jet engines

When it comes to “the technology of the future” – whether it be flying cars, teleportation, or robot maids – many still wonder when the inventions dreamed up by Hollywood will become a reality. But JetPack Aviation has finally created something that's only been done a couple of times since 1919: build a working jetpack that's powered by actual je...

Dubai aviation district looks to attract aircraft manufacturers

Dubai plans to attract plane makers to manufacture aircraft parts at its aviation district in Dubai South, aiming to draw them closer to their major customers in the region, including the three biggest airlines in the Arabian Gulf. Tahnoon Saif, the vice president of aviation at Dubai South, said yesterday: “2020 to 2025 this is when our original equipment manufacturer [OEM] initiative is...

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 carriers as the European Union develops a new aviation policy. “We are delivering for the first...

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 Abu Dhabi Autonomous System Investments (ADASI). To accommodate a higher endurance of 8-9h, the MPA...

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...

Upcoming events

NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition 2026

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

Bahrain International Airshow 2026

18/11/2026 - 20/11/2026
Bahrain, Sakhir

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...

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Cessna Skyhawk Veris VR flight training device set for NBAA-BACE debut in Las Vegas

TRU Simulation + Training Inc. will showcase its Veris Virtual Reality Flight Training Device (FTD) for the Cessna Skyhawk at NBAA-BACE 2026, marking the simulator's first appearance at the indust...