Hyderabad's Begumpet airport, right in the heart of the city and in a state of limbo, has come alive, with the roar of aircraft flying low as part of exercises for the five-day air jamboree — India Aviation 2012 beginning March 14. There are more than two dozen aircraft from the big airliners and manufacturers, which are flying in to get decked up for the event.

The airport, confined to a state of disuse, except for VIP flights, ever since the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad became operational in 2008, has been spruced up to host the third edition of the show.

The biennial event, which was marred by the tragic crash of an aircraft, right after the inaugural in 2010 is jointly organised by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. It will be inaugurated on Wednesday by the Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr Ajit Singh.

The first three days will be business days and the last two days would be open for the general public. A major disappointment for general visitors and children would be that the Boeing Dreamliner, being showcased for the first time in the show will fly out on March 16 itself. Another notable absentee this time would be the flamboyant Vijay Mallya's Kingfisher Airlines, which is in deep financial trouble.

Farnborough International is the overseas associate, while GMR, GVK, Air India, Jet Airways, Rolls-Royce, Flywell Power, Saab Group, are some of the leading sponsors.

The event will be preceded by the inauguration of the Maintenance, Repair, Operations (MRO) facility of the GMR at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Shamshabad.

>soma@thehindu.co.in

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