MOSCOW. Jan 20 (Interfax-AVN) - Preparations for the MAKS- 2003 airshow to be held in the Moscow region in August do not lag behind the schedule, Valeri Voskoboinikov, first deputy CEO of the Russian Aviation and Space Agency, told Interfax-Military News Agency Monday.
"There should be no problem to run the show because about all federal executive agencies and ministries are involved," Voskoboinikov said.
He said that the relevant draft governmental order had been sent to all the establishments concerned (Defense Ministry, Foreign Ministry, State Customs Committee, State Technical Commission, Transportation Ministry, etc.).
About 90 percent of them have already responded to the draft. On the whole, the responses are positive. The executive committee is to be headed by Science, Industry, and Technologies Minister Ilya Klebanov. In the near future, the schedule of the show will be approved, Voskoboinikov also said.
Experts say that more than 500 companies representing above 30 nations are likely to take part in the show to be held in the town of Zhukovsky outside Moscow. They will demonstrate their progress in civil and military aircraft, onboard and land support equipment for them, navigation and flight control systems, life support and emergency escape systems, aircraft engines, as well as new technologies and materials.
This year will be the first time that the show will include Land Forces and Navy military hardware, communication assets, and computer technologies.
MAKS-2003 will include demonstration flights of civil and military aircraft.
The operational area of the Zhukovsky airshow is planned to increase by about a quarter. There is information that the show will engage seven pavilions (31,000sq.m), 52 chalets (4,000sq.m), as well as open areas (200,000sq.m). There will also be a parking area of 8,500sq.m.