The challenges are considerable, as two companies demonstrating their digital tower solutions at the Dubai Air Show this week explain.

Ted Colbert, Boeing Global Services’ new CEO, sits down for an exclusive interview with Aviation Week’s Lee Ann Shay to discuss his goals for the business and how he’s transitioning from CIO.

Business aviation is on the up in Dubai – and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub is at the heart of the increase.

The blend of military and business jets is serving Dassault well in the region, but it is the latter that the company seems keenest to focus its marketing efforts on.

At the world's major air shows, there may be an understandable temptation to concentrate on the big names and big contracts. And while new aircraft and multi-billion-dollar orders will always make headlines, the depth of innovation – both in terms of technology and business models – is often found elsewhere on the show floor.

The announcement may not have made huge headlines, but that should not diminish its significance. When Leonardo confirmed, during last year's Farnborough Air Show, that it had sold its Miysis DIRCM (directed infrared countermeasures) system to an undisclosed Middle Eastern customer, the company was implicitly underscoring the changing nature of threats in the region.

As aviation explores electrically powered flight, battery technology has emerged as critical. Current systems are unable to deliver anywhere near the same amounts of energy as a comparably sized conventional fuel tank.

Embraer Commercial Aviation CEO John Slattery sees significant opportunity for smaller aircraft in the Middle East region as the global hubs mature.