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General Electric launches new Middle Eastern support centre

Set to blast off in the seat of power

Flying into the future of the UAE is New Zealand's Martin Aircraft Company and Martin Jetpack. The company signed an exclusive contract with the Dubai Civil Defence (DCD) at the Dubai Airshow on Monday to become the launch customer for the world’s first practical jetpack. “The...

Bombardier Q Series aircraft may soon be able to be serviced in Abu Dhabi

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft is in discussions with Abu Dhabi Aviation with the aim of establishing an authorised service facility (ASF) for Bombardier's Q Series turboprop regional airliners. The facility was announced at the Dubai Airshow yesterday. The two parties have signed a memora...

LR Systems Develops Stripping, Painting Robots

LR Systems (Stand 642) is here promoting its aircraft stripping and painting robots. The stripper version is to enter service in 2016. The technology will help cut costs, eliminate some dangerous tasks and save weight on the aircraft, according to the Netherlands-based company. “Our 20-kilowatt laser makes stripping twice as fast as the current process,” program director Peter Boeij...

Chinese Fifth-generation Fighter Goes on Show

China’s AVIC is displaying a model of the FC-31 fifth-generation fighter for the first time at Dubai, having first aired the concept at Airshow China in Zhuhai last year. A product of the Shenyang concern, the FC-31 is based to a large extent on that of a “J-31” prototype (31001) that has been flying since 2012, but shows some notable differences from that aircraft. The fins are...

Beechcraft seeks AT-6 certification as Iraq mulls offer

Beechcraft Defense's AT-6 Wolverine might soon have a launch customer, with a letter of offer and acceptance for six light-attack turboprops being prepared for the government of Iraq. In partnership with the US Air Force, Beechcraft intends to offer Baghdad six aircraft initially, with options for more in increments of six. That offer is likely to be delivered next month. The US State...

UAE signs $1.2bn surveillance deal with Saab

While all the talk in the run-up to the Dubai air show was about the prospects for large commercial orders being announced, it was the United Arab Emirates air force that opened sales, with a surprise, $1.27 billion contract with Saab for advanced surveillance aircraft. Announced during a press briefing on 9 November, the agreement – which was reached on the first day of the show –...

Dubai Airshow: news in brief

Here is a roundup of news coming out of day two of the Dubai Airshow: Airbus studying A350 variant Airbus is studying whether there is demand for a larger member of its A350 jet family and expects to make up its mind within a couple of months, its sales chief said on Monday. The European planemaker is not yet offering a specific design to airlines, but anything that it does decide to buil...

Round-the-world female aviator stops off for Dubai Airshow

Flying across the world in an open cockpit vintage biplane might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but for Tracy Curtis Taylor, it is a chance to “get a bird’s-eye view or the view of gods”. The British aviator, 53, is part way through a 21,000 kilometres solo flight from the UK to Australia in a 1942 Boeing Stearman Spirit of Artemis aircraft. And the adventurer, who emb...

FLIGHT TEST: Diamond's DA62 glitters

Diamond Aircraft is set to make its debut at the National Business Aviation Association convention in Las Vegas, where it will be promoting its all-new DA62 diesel piston twin as a platform for corporate and charter operations. First deliveries, to European customers, will be followed soon by the first US aircraft – serial number 10, which is the machine that will be on show at NBAA. This wi...

Emirates signs $16bn engine services deal with GE Aviation

Emirates has signed a $16 billion OnPoint solution agreement with GE Aviation for the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of the GE9X engines that will power the airline's fleet of 150 Boeing 777X aircraft over a period of 12 years. This is Emirates’ largest engine MRO contract to date. At the 2013 Dubai Air Show, Emirates placed a record $ 76 billion order for 150 Boeing 77...

Etihad and Mubadala sign $1bn technical services MoU

Mubadala, the Abu Dhabi-based investment and development company, and Etihad Airways have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Dubai Airshow worth potentially $1 billion over a 10-year period. The agreement was signed by Homaid Al Shemmari, chief executive, Aerospace and Engineering Services, Mubadala, and James Hogan, president and chief executive of Etihad Airways, and cover...

Irkut upbeat on Su-30SM prospects

Moscow-based aircraft manufacturer Irkut is showcasing the multirole Sukhoi Su-30SM fighter at the Dubai air show, among a host of military products on display from the Russian industry delegation. The forecast for Su-30SM orders exceeds more than 100 aircraft, but Russian officials are already planning a major upgrade programme for the twin-engined fighter. Rostec chief executive Sergey Che...

Lockheed excited about UAE involvement

Lockheed Martin chief executive Marillyn Hewson had a big day at the Dubai show, officially opening the company’s new permanent chalet and visiting the stand of the company’s newly acquired Sikorsky helicopter unit. “We’re very excited about this new state-of-the-art facility that is a demonstration of our longstanding partnership with UAE, and really view this...

Boeing, Tata JV to perform AH-64 work

Boeing and Tata Advanced Systems have announced a joint venture to produce aerostructures for the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter in India. The joint venture will also compete for additional work on other Boeing plaftorms, says Boeing. “This partnership will capitalise on India’s industrial capability, innovation and talent to contribute to Boeing’s long-term competitiveness...

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...