The Indian Civil Aviation Airshow is a biennial air show held in Hyderabad, India at the Begumpet Airport

Begumpet Airport

Begumpet Airport at Hyderabad, also known as Hyderabad Airport, used to be the only international airport in Andhra Pradesh, but however, it is now defunct with the opening of the Hyderabad International Airport on the 23rd March 2008. It is a civil enclave located in Begumpet...

. The first show, India Aviation 2008, was held from 15th to 18th October 2008. It is organised by the Union civil aviation ministry. Begumpet is preparing to receive the world's largest passenger aircraft after the place was closed for regular commercial operations and is now used only for private, defence and VVIP aircraft ever since the new Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad, Hyderabad became operational. Hyderabad will be a permanent venue for this Airshow.

The show includes both air displays and static exhibitions of various Civil and Military aircraft, along with displays from vendors, suppliers and production organisations. The aircraft, which were on static or flying display, include Boeing 777

Boeing 777

The Boeing 777 is a long-range, wide-body twin-engine jet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It is the world's largest twinjet and is commonly referred to as the "Triple Seven". The aircraft has seating for over 300 passengers and has a range from , depending on model...

, Airbus A340

Airbus A340

The Airbus A340 is a long-range four-engine wide-body commercial passenger jet airliner. Developed by Airbus Industrie,A consortium of European aerospace companies, Airbus is now fully owned by EADS and since 2001 has been known as Airbus SAS. a consortium of European aerospace companies, which is...

 400, Canadian Regional Jet of Bombardier

Bombardier Aerospace

Bombardier Aerospace is a division of Bombardier Inc. and is the third-largest airplane manufacturer in the world. It is headquartered in Dorval, Quebec, Canada.- History :...

 Citation, business jets manufactured by various global leaders, Bell Helicopters, DragonFly, Cessna

Cessna

The Cessna Aircraft Company is an airplane manufacturing corporation headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, USA. Their main products are general aviation aircraft. Although they are the most well known for their small, piston-powered aircraft, they also produce business jets. The company is a subsidiary...

, Indian-made Pushpak and Indian firm Hindavia's Russian-made regional aircraft Ilyushin Il-114

Ilyushin Il-114

-External links:* * * * * * 2 accidents....

. This is apart from the worlds largest passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380

Airbus A380

The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine jet airliner manufactured by the European corporation Airbus, a subsidiary of EADS. It is the largest passenger airliner in the world. Due to its size, many airports had to modify and improve facilities to accommodate it...

 which made its maiden and historic landing at Hyderabad's Begumpet Airport on 16 October 2008.

The show was unveiled by Union Minister for Civil Aviation

Civil aviation

Civil aviation is one of two major categories of flying, representing all non-military aviation, both private and commercial. Most of the countries in the world are members of the International Civil Aviation Organization and work together to establish common standards and recommended practices...

 Mr. Praful Patel. Top honchos of the aviation industry from India and abroad were a part of the event, including Air India

Air India

Air India is the flag carrier airline of India. It is part of the government of India owned Air India Limited . The airline operates a fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft serving Asia, Australia, Europe and North America. Its corporate office is located at the Air India Building at Nariman...

 CMD Raghu Menon, Kingfisher Airlines

Kingfisher Airlines

Kingfisher Airlines is an airline group based in India. Its head office is Kingfisher House in Vile Parle , Mumbai. Kingfisher Airlines, through its parent company United Breweries Group, has a 50% stake in low-cost carrier Kingfisher Red....

 chief Vijay Mallya

Vijay Mallya

Vijay Mallya is an Indian liquor and airline baron. The son of industrialist Vittal Mallya, he is the chairman of the United Breweries Group and Kingfisher Airlines. His United Spirits is world's second largest liquor maker, by volume...

, former US FAA Administrator Marion C Blakey, AAI chief K Ramalingam, EADS CEO Yves Guillame, GoAir MD Jehangir Wadia

Jehangir Wadia

Jehangir Wadia , also known as Jeh Wadia, is an Indian businessman belonging to the Wadia family. He is currently the managing director of GoAir, a budget airline which he founded, as well as, Bombay Dyeing, a flagship textile company...

, Air Arabia

Air Arabia

Air Arabia is a low-cost airline with its head office in the Sharjah Freight Center, Sharjah International Airport, in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates....

 CEO Adel Ali and top-brass of various airport operators, engine, avionics and aircraft manufacturers like Boeing

Boeing

The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...

, Airbus

Airbus

Airbus SAS is an aircraft manufacturing subsidiary of EADS, a European aerospace company. Based in Blagnac, France, surburb of Toulouse, and with significant activity across Europe, the company produces around half of the world's jet airliners....

, Bombardier

Bombardier Aerospace

Bombardier Aerospace is a division of Bombardier Inc. and is the third-largest airplane manufacturer in the world. It is headquartered in Dorval, Quebec, Canada.- History :...

 and Bell Helicopters.

While the show is meant only for business visitors who are invited, other business visitors (above 18 years) can also visit the show by purchasing an entry ticket. The last day of the 2008 show was open to public.