UK-based Martin-Baker, the company that invented aviation ejector seats, thus saving thousands of lives, has marked its debut appearance at the Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS).

Martin-Baker supplies ejection seats for 93 air forces worldwide and is a market leader in safety-related equipment for the industry.

Company founder Sir James Martin is credited with pioneering modern rocket-based ejector seats and the business he started is now alerted each time one of their systems is activated. So far they have recorded 7,432 lives saved.

Sir James' son and company managing director John Martin told the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication, their presence at this weekend's air show was an invaluable opportunity to meet customers from the region.

"The Middle East is becoming a much more important market now that the defence budgets in Europe are being cut," he said yesterday.

"Aircraft come with our seats already fitted and we can't change that so we're not here to sell them, but it's important to meet our customers and find out - especially from the servicing point of view - if we can help them and how we can resolve any problems.

"There's also the added advantage that Bahrainis are such nice people."

Mr Martin said he was pleasantly surprised at how well the BIAS was run, describing the show as "one of the best in the world".

"The quality of flying is absolutely superb, in some ways it's better than (British air show) Farnborough," he said.

"We have had a lot of people come around to the stand as well - far more than we thought.

"It's been a very successful show for us so I expect we will be back again in two years' time," he added.-TradeArabia News Service