Over 700 positions vacant at aviation regulator DGCA

NEW DELHI: Over 700 positions are vacant at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) out of the sanctioned strength of 1,393, a reflection of substantial manpower shortage at the organisation.

The number of positions that have been filled up is about 508, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

To a query on whether there is shortage of manpower at DGCA, including in the flight operations inspection department, Sharma replied in the affirmative.
05/05/15 PTI/The Times Of India

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DGCA cautions against compromising aviation safety

New Delhi: Cautioning against laxity in aviation safety, particularly in the backdrop of incidents elsewhere, India`s aviation regulator on Friday said its inspections have thrown up instances where safety was compromised.
"There are a few incidents that are taking place mainly because we have been compromising on some of the safety aspects," Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) M. Sathiyavathy said here.

He was speaking at the launch of India Aviation 2016 to be held from March 16-20, 2016, at Begumpet airport of Hyderabad.

"After the Mangalore accident, we did not have any major incidents but that does not mean that we should be complacent," she added.
24/04/15 IANS/Zee News

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Air traffic rose by 20% in quarter, less occupancy in March

New Delhi: India's air passenger traffic rose by an impressive 20.57 percent in the March quarter over the same period a year ago. However, the carriers filled less number of seats in
March against February, according to the data released by the DGCA.
Nine Indian carriers together flew a total of 185.46 lakh passengers in the March quarter of the previous fiscal as against 153.81 lakh passengers ferried by them in January-March quarter of financial year 2013-14.
At the same time, the load factor of the domestic airlines in March this year has shown decreasing trend
compared to previous month due to end of vacation period of various sectors, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said.
On a month-on-month basis, domestic carriers ferried a total of 62.85 lakh passengers in March with budget carrier IndiGo carrying more than a third of this at 22.86 lakh passengers.
This was followed by Jet Airways and its wholly-owned subsidiary JetLite, which together have flown 13.95 lakh passengers in the reporting month.
While national carrier Air India stood at a distant third as it transported a total of 10.60 lakh passengers in March 2015, the number of passengers ferried by GoAir and SpiceJet during this period stood at 6.90 lakh and 5.31 lakh respectively.
At the same time, Tata-SIA joint venture carrier continued to struggle to attract passengers in its three-class configuration-business, premium economy and economy with the airline flying just 53,000 passengers in March this year.
24/04/15 PTI/First Post

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Nagpur Flying Club takes off again

NAGPUR: The Nagpur Flying Club, which had stopped operations in January after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) did not extend its licence, has got a breather.

DGCA had taken similar action against 25 other flying clubs in the country, including National Flying Training Institute at Gondia, the electoral constituency of former civil aviation minister Praful Patel. Flying has resumed in Gondia too, which has also got three months to complete all requirements.
25/04/15 TNN/The Times Of India

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Air traffic up 18.8%, IndiGo leads

Mumbai: Domestic air traffic grew 18.8 per cent in March on a year-on-year basis, with IndiGo leading all airlines with a 36.4 per cent market share.

This is the third consecutive month which saw a strong growth in air travel. Domestic airlines flew 6.2 million passengers last month as against 5.2 million passengers in March 2014.

Jet Airways and subsidiary JetLite retained the second spot, with 25.4 per cent share. Air India was third, with 16.9 per cent share in February.

JetLite reported the highest seat occupancy - over 87.8 per cent in March. Jet Airways was second, with 86.6 per cent load factor. Load factors of all airlines declined in March compared to February. However, the occupancy last month was better compared to March 2014. Vistara reported an occupancy of 53.6 per cent in March, the lowest among all airlines.
24/04/15 Business Standard

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Aviation regulator on track to meet US counterpart's conditions

India’s aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will be able to meet its requirement of hiring flight operations inspectors (FIOs), fixed by the US regulator as a pre-condition to maintain its air safety upgrade.
According to government officials, the DGCA has 55 FIOs at present — only 20 short of the total number of inspectors required according US aviation watchdog Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s directive.

“At present, we have around 55 inspectors and we are confident we will be able to hire a total of 75 till next year,” said a senior civil aviation ministry official.
24/04/15 BS Reporter/Business Standard

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Aviation regulator on track to meet US counterpart's conditions

New Delhi: India’s aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will be able to meet its requirement of hiring flight operations inspectors (FIOs), fixed by the US regulator as a pre-condition to maintain its air safety upgrade.

According to government officials, the DGCA has 55 FIOs at present — only 20 short of the total number of inspectors required according US aviation watchdog Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s directive.

“At present, we have around 55 inspectors and we are confident we will be able to hire a total of 75 till next year,” said a senior civil aviation ministry official.

Earlier this month, the FAA had upgraded India’s air safety ranking, 14 months after the downgrade, allowing Indian carriers to expand their services to the US. The US regulator had flagged several shortcomings in January last year, including a shortage of full-time flight operation inspectors and lack of technical staff in DGCA, besides weak safety procedures. The FAA’s upgrade was a signal that India's aviation safety oversight is matching international standards.
24/04/15 Business Standard

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Regional airlines may get to fly on metro routes

The civil aviation ministry is considering a proposal from regional airlines seeking permission to operate flights to an additional metro city.

The move, if cleared, would allow carriers like Air Costa and Air Pegasus to make up for losses on low-density smaller city pairs by deploying capacity on trunk routes where business potential is high.

"Some regional operators came with the idea that they should be allowed to connect one more metro city apart from the one that they serve in their region. We are considering their request," official sources said.

The UPA-I government had in August 2007 come out with a separate category of airlines called Regional Air Operators, reducing the initial fund and fleet requirement as compared to a national scheduled operator with permit to operate flights across the country.
22/04/15 Nirbhay Kumar/mydigitalfc

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Trial run of new taxiway, MRO at Nagpur airport successful

Nagpur: The trial run of a newly constructed 3.4 kms long taxiway and Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO) unit of Multi-modal International Cargo Hub and Airport (MIHAN) was conducted successfully here, Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) said today.

he trial was conducted after Air India's largest aircraft Boeing 777-300 landed at the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport from where it was towed by a special tractor to MRO using the newly constructed taxiway.

The USD 100 million MRO is constructed by Boeing and was handed over to Air India.
23/04/15 Zee News

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275 tonne flying machine pulled by tractor through village road

Nagpur: Curious villagers anxiously waited on terraces, some perched on trees, as a huge Boeing 777-300 rolled down a road through their village. The 275 tonne flying machine pulled by an aircraft tractor held everyone in awe as it took the first steps towards starting the much-touted $100 million maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) depot at Mihan. The MRO, which was announced nearly 10 years ago, has been used as a USP to pull investors to Mihan

The MRO built by US aircraft giant Boeing Inc will be run by Air India Engineering Services Limited (AIESL), which took a trial run on the recently completed 2.6km taxiway connecting the facility to the airport. The company hopes to formally inaugurate the set-up by the month end, with chances of Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending the event.

The first aircraft took an hour to cover the 3km distance to the MRO. The entire movement was calibrated to avoid any risk. Just before the awesome aircraft traversed the taxiway, the road had been crossed by villagers, milkmen and weary farmers. Much like a railway crossing, the gates were closed as the plane came in sight.
23/04/15 Shishir Arya/Times of India

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Pilots battle growing loss of drive to fly, says IAF study

Chandigarh: A study conducted by specialists at the IAF’s Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM) has revealed that loss of motivation for flying among aircrew in the armed forces is becoming more common.
Based on their findings, the authors of the study have suggested that pilot selection needs to include tests of motivation for flying and emotional stability, with separate tests for stress coping and resilience.
The findings of the study, undertaken by George CS, head of Department of Aviation Psychology, IAM, and NS Reddy, a graded specialist in aviation medicine, have been published in a recent issue of the Journal of Aerospace Medicine.  The rising instances of loss of motivation come in the backdrop of the armed forces facing a severe shortage of junior and middle-rung officers.
In the military, aeronautical adaptability is a complex issue involving motivation to fly, ability to fly and emotional stability for a career. Aeronautical motivation involves the desire to fly, the intensity and direction of which are geared towards flight safety; and is made up of both emotional and cognitive components.
23/04/15 Vijay Mohan/Tribune India

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DGCA yet to allow chopper service to Char Dham

Dejradun: Private chopper service for the Char Dham has been delayed as the Directorate General Civil Aviation (DGCA) is yet to give permission for commercial flying to the Uttarakhand government. The permission is usually given before the yatra season starts. The Char Dham yatra began on Tuesday, but, the portals of the Kedarnath temple will be opened on Friday.

Rudraprayag DM Raghav Langer said: "We are still waiting for the clearances and the NOC for commercial chopper flights to Kedarnath. As soon as the clearances are secured, the chopper service will start."

This year, 10 private firms are expected operate on the Char Dham Yatra routes. "Every year a large number of pilgrims opt for the chopper service to Kedarnath and bookings are done even before the season starts," said Langer.
22/04/15 Yogesh Kumar/Times of India

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Indian firm provides aviation solutions to Malaysia Airlines

Singapore: Malaysia Airlines has deployed a full suite of aviation solutions by an Indian IT firm to provide maintenance, repair and overhaul support for over 145 aircraft, improving efficiency and enabling airworthiness.

Ramco Systems, headquartered in Chennai, achieved the deployment in a record time span of 11 months. The process will further improve efficiency and enable continuous airworthiness, thereby reducing aircraft on-ground time, the company said.

The suite includes solutions for maintenance and engineering, procurement, advanced planning and optimisation, advanced reliability and Loadable Software Aircraft Parts.

The IT firm has equipped some 300 Malaysia Airlines engineers system-wide to access a future-ready enterprise software that allows them to automate or streamline many engineering functions, simplify compliance checks, and improve inventory management and hangar maintenance, said the airline.
23/04/15 PTI/Business Standard

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Civil Aviation ministry starts listing achievements under Modi government

NEW DELHI: The civil aviation ministry has started taking stock of its achievements following a directive by the Prime Minister's Office to all ministries to submit a report on the work done in the first year of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government.
"We have asked all units under us to send a report on their achievements during the year, which will be compiled and sent to the PMO," said a ministry official, who did not want to be identified. In a missive sent to all ministries, the PMO has sought details of their achievements since May 26, 2014, when the NDA government took charge.
21/04/15 Mihir Mishra/Economic Times

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320 Pilots Flew Plane With Lapsed Proficiency Check, Says Aviation Minister

NEW DELHI:  320 pilots flew aircraft with lapsed Pilot Proficiency Check in 2014 with 219 of them belonging to private airlines and 101 to Air India, Lok Sabha was informed today.

During Directorate General of Civil Aviation's (DGCA) audit of training facilities of airlines in 2014, it was found that maximum numbers of violation were done by Jet Airways with 130 of its pilots flying without the mandatory check, followed by Air India with 101 pilots, Air India Express with 70, SpiceJet with 10 and IndiGo with nine, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said in a written reply.

The DGCA has taken enforcement action against these pilots including suspension of privilege of the licences and issue of warning letters, the Minister said.
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"It was found that some pilots have flown the aircraft with lapsed Pilot Proficiency Check during DGCA audit of training facilities of airlines in 2014 against which action was taken by the DGCA," he said.

The Union Minister also informed that 19 cases related to obtaining pilot licences by producing fake documents by trainee pilots were found by Chief Flying Instructor of Rajasthan Flying School of Jaipur and 17 cases were found in which pilot have obtained licences on the basis of fake Central Examination Office (CEO) marksheet.

However, no such cases have come to the notice of DGCA in the current year, he said.
20/04/15 All India Press Trust of India/NDTV

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Aviation safety upgrade: DGCA asked to meet 4 pre-conditions

New Delhi: The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) may have restored category I status to India’s aviation safety oversight mechanism but the upgrade has been accorded based on DGCA’s promise to meet four stringent conditions in up to a year’s time. The FAA may come for an audit again in 12 months to assess the development.
Sources in the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) informed the FAA has specified the local aviation regulator would have to hire a total of 72 flight operations inspectors (FOIs), recertify all scheduled airlines, non-scheduled operators (NSOPs) and flying training organisations to retain the top ranking.
A senior official in the DGCA told The Indian Express, “We are required to re-certify or issue fresh air operator’s permit (AOP) to all scheduled as well as non-scheduled operators, flying training organisations to ensure full compliance with international norms. The entire process would take about a year’s time.” The FAA may choose to conduct a fresh audit of the aviation safety oversight mechanism again at the time.
21/04/15  Sharmistha Mukherjee/Indian Express

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Aviation awareness programme concludes

The College of Aeronautical Engineering, which is the lone aircraft maintenance engineering institute of northeast India, in association with Guwahati Press Club has organized a daylong media aviation awareness programme in press club on 21 April 2015. Prior to the orientation programme, prominent aviation personalities from Assam including Air Marshal (retired) PK Barbora, Air Commodore (retired) DJ Sharma and Air Marshal (retired) Anjan Gogoi were felicitated. The programme was inaugurated by Air Commodore (retired) Iqbal Hazarika lighting a holy lamp.

It may be mentioned that the awareness programme for media persons to understand the aviation sector of the country was first of its kind in India. Various resource persons, while delivering their speeches emphasized on paving ways for optimum benefits out of India’s Look East Policy (now known as Act East policy) for the region with aviation infrastructure developments.

As the northeastern region is surrounded by hills, rivers and valleys, the alienated region can opt for air connectivity. The speakers emphasized on sustainable development of aviation sector that should yield benefit to the health, tourism, trade & industry with many other avenues.
21/04/15 Assam Times

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AAI opposing cut in Delhi airport charges unfortunate: IATA

NEW DELHI: Terming as "unfortunate" and "disappointing" the AAI decision to oppose proposed reduction in charges at Delhi airport by 78 per cent, International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said the move would prove detrimental to both passengers and airlines.

On the contrary, lower airport fee would stimulate the traffic growth at the Delhi Airport as it would bring down airfares to an affordable limits, it said.

19/04/15 PTI/Economic Times

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Government rejects BP's application for selling aviation turbine fuel to airlines

New Delhi: Government has rejected BP plc's application for selling jet fuel to airlines on the ground that its investment does not qualify to get a retailing licence, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said today.

BP Exploration (Alpha) Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of BP plc, had on June 11, 2014 submitted an application for authorisation to market aviation turbine fuel (ATF) claiming to have invested USD 477 million in the country.

The Oil ministry in March wrote to Europe's second- largest oil company saying that its $ 477 million investment in India till date does not qualify it to begin selling jet fuel to airlines.
20/04/15 PTI/Economic Times

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Air ambulance ditches patient

Jorhat: The family of a critically ill patient from Sivasagar district in Upper Assam has decided to sue Luan Airways for refusing to carry him from Dibrugarh to Delhi on the ground that he did not possess a swine flu clearance certificate.

The family of the patient, Surendra Boruah, who is suffering from septicaemia, had deposited the required Rs 9 lakh with the airline.

After collecting the amount by mortgaging land and borrowing money, the family had given it to Guwahati-based Pushpak Travels, the booking agent for Luan Airways, to make the travel arrangements.

But after the air ambulance landed in Dibrugarh yesterday, the patient was not allowed to board it.

Surendra's eldest brother, Pradip, who is an employee of ONGC at Sivasagar, said on April 7 a doctor in Sivasagar had prescribed some medicines to his brother for a small lump in his neck.

"But as the medicines did not work, my brother went to Jorhat, where one of our brothers, Tarun, is an employee at the LIC divisional office," Pradip said.
19/04/15 Smita bhattacharyya/Telegraph

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Maharashtra government meets Air India, Airports Authority of India to fast-track regional air connectivity

Mumbai: Continuing its efforts to fast-track air connectivity within Maharashtra, the state government recently held a meeting with representatives of national carrier Air India (AI) and Airports Authority of India (AAI). A similar meeting was held last month with private airline operators.

Civil aviation sources said the meeting was chaired by chief secretary Swadheen Kshatriya. The state had a couple of years back formed a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to oversee the spread of aviation development in Maharashtra.

"AI said it is has no issue starting flights for centres which are commercially viable. However, the airline insisted that if the revenue falls below a certain limit, then government will have to chip in with some subsidies," said the source having direct knowledge of the development.
18/04/15 Shahkar Abidi/Daily News & Analysis

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Fighter jet makers see opportunity post India's downsized Dassault Rafale deal

India's move to buy only 36 Dassault Rafale combat jets has signalled New Delhi's decision to scale back purchases of high-end fighters from France.

And foreign combat jet makers now see a multi-billion dollar opportunity in India's move to slash purchases of high-end aircraft, as it could free up cash for any future purchase of fighter jets, including mid-range planes.

Sweden's Saab and America's Lockheed Martin are set to re-pitch their Gripen and F-16 fighters as the kind of lighter, single-engine aircraft that Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said the Indian Air Force needed to rebuild its fleet, Reuters reported.

Saab was proposing to establish "fully-fledged production" of the Gripen in India alongside a local partner.
17/04/15 M Rochan/International Business Times

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Intra-State Aviation Plan: Norms Vanish into Thin Air

Bhubaneswar: Air passengers’ interest apparently does not mean much to the Odisha Government which has thrown all safety norms to the wind while seeking to introduce intra-State air connectivity soon.

Gaping loopholes mar the tender floated by the General Administration (GA) Department to invite operators for offering flights between different cities like Bhubaneswar, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Rourkela and Jeypore as safety issues have been given a complete go-by.

The tender, which was uploaded on Centre for Modernising Government Initiative (CMGI) website on April 5, does not make any mention of technical parameters that a prospective operator must have to fly small aircraft on a commercial basis to three sectors of the State.

Although the column on bidders’ eligibility mentions technical and financial capability, it completely forgets to outline the technical bidding parameters. All that the tender document seeks from the bidder is if it is in possession of non- scheduled operators permit (NSOP) or NOC from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA). The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, under the Ministry, uploads the NSOP or NOC granted to various operators as well as the status of applications on a quarterly basis.
18/04/15 New Indian Express

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Many MPs want government to regulate air fares; Ministry of Civil Aviation 'averse'

NEW DELHI: Even as sharp movements in air fares continue to raise concerns, the Ministry of Civil Aviation is "reluctant" to regulate the ticket prices on grounds that any such move would be against free market principles.

Currently, airlines have been allowed to fix fares on their own depending on supply and demand.

Sources said that more than 100 Parliamentarians have written to the Ministry raising concerns over the movement of air fares over the past six months and most of them are in favour of regulations to control the prices.

Parliamentarians, cutting across party lines from various states, including Jammu and Kashmir, northeast India and Andaman and Nicobar, have been raising concerns about the matter from time to time, source added.
16/04/2015/PTI/Economic times.

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Air India One develops snag, standby flies PM to Canada

“Air India One”, the Boeing 747 jumbo jet of the national carrier that flew Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Europe, developed a technical glitch following which Air India despatched the “standby” aircraft — another Boeing 747 — from Mumbai to Berlin in the early hours of Tuesday. Mr Modi was in Germany after visiting France. Air India has ordered a probe into the matter. The standby aircraft flew the Prime Minister onward to Canada, which is the third and final leg of his foreign visit.
The technical glitch was said to have been noticed sometime when the aircraft was flying to Germany from France. But details of the exact nature of the technical snag were not available immediately although news agency reports late on Tuesday evening said it was an “engine problem”.
“A technical problem was noticed in Air India One. Immediately the standby aircraft was despatched from Mumbai to Berlin. The airline will investigate why the technical snag occurred,” Air India sources told this newspaper.
15/04/2015/Age Correspondent New Delhi/asianage.

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Made in India or not, IAF set to take off

Immediately after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision in Paris to buy 36 Rafale medium multi-role combat aircraft in a “fly-away” condition off the shelf, defence minister Manohar Parrikar declared that this would bring “minimum oxygen” to the Indian Air Force that is dangerously short of equipment for its operational necessities. He was not exaggerating a bit. Although a succession of Air Chiefs have been lamenting about the pathetic and deteriorating state of the Air Force inventory, the grave ground reality hasn’t registered even on policy makers, leave alone the people at large.
The number of combat squadrons with the IAF today are fewer than what were considered “minimum necessary” more than half a century ago, after the traumatic defeat in the border war with China in the high Himalayas.
15/04/2015/Inder Malhotra/asianage.

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Airlines Can Now Charge All Fliers Extra For Preferred Seats, Other Services

Airlines in India can now charge all their fliers extra for preferential seating, even check-in baggage, among other services, according to aviation regulator DGCA or Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

"On the basis of various feedback received, it is felt that many a times these services provided by the airlines may not be required by the passengers while travelling. Considering the fact that unbundling of services and charges thereto has the potential to make basic fare more affordable and provides consumer an option of paying for the services which he/she wishes to avail," DGCA said in a circular.

The facilities that a passenger can now be charged extra for are - preferential seating, meal/snack/drink charges (except drinking water), airline lounges, check-in baggage, sports equipment, musical instrument carriage and special declaration of valuable baggage.
14/04/15 NDTV

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India Rethinking Rafale Fighter Deal

NEW DELHI – India is rethinking its long-delayed 126-aircraft Medium-Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) deal, and may opt to scrap the fighter purchase in favor of government-to-government sales, since negotiations under the existing request for proposals (RFP) had “gone into a loop with no solution in sight,” according to India’s defense minister.
Barely two days after India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Paris, negotiated with the French government to buy 36 Dassault Rafale fighter jets in flyaway condition under a separate deal, Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar on April 13 categorically stated that “if India goes in for additional Rafale fighters, it will also be through government-to-government deals.”
India has already signed deals worth more than $6 billion with the U.S. for 12 C-130J and 10 C-17 airlifters without any open tender or competition.
The “government-to-government route is better than the RFP path for acquisition of strategic platforms,” Parrikar says.
The defense minister refrained from saying the original deal had been scrapped altogether, but quipped that “a car can not run on two paths simultaneously ... The other road [MMRCA] had a lot of problems.”
13/04/2015 Jay Menon,Amy Svitak/Aerospace Daily & Defence Report

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Saving lives aboard a flight

Thiruvananthapuram: Timely action by pilots and cabin crew and use of on-board medical equipment play a key role during medical emergencies aboard a flight. Airlines provide intense training each year to ensure that their crew act effectively in such cases.

In 2014, Emirates delivered 33,430 hours of medical training to cabin crew and pilots to ensure that they were equipped with the right support to assist passengers.

The training prepares them to provide emergency medical attention for situations, and includes topics such as basic life support (CPR); medical conditions including asthma, heart disorders, seizures and allergic reactions; trauma-related topics and even emergency childbirth, amongst others.
14/04/15 The Hindu

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100% airline seats can be pre-booked

New Delhi:  The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has allowed airlines to offer all their seats for pre-booking to passengers.

Airlines charge an add-on fee of up to Rs 600 for pre-booking premium seats like those in the front or emergency rows that have more legroom and window and aisle seats. In June 2013, UPA-II had capped the number of seats for pre-booking at 25 per cent of the aircraft capacity.

"A number of Indian airlines had requested us to remove the cap. We asked them what percentage of seats are actually being pre-booked by flyers, to which they said 7 per cent. Now we have allowed them to offer every seat in the aircraft for pre-booking," said a senior official.

Airlines had complained that they face problem in group travels as those flyers are unable to block seats and be seated together. Under the earlier order, no middle seat could have been pre-booked.
13/04/15 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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Foreign loan limit on airlines likely to be lifted

New Delhi: The civil aviation ministry has sought approval of the finance ministry to increase the $300-million cap for raising of foreign funds for working capital requirements by individual airline companies.

This follows a request from Jet Airways. It wishes to raise more funds for this need through external commercial borrowing (ECB), government sources said.

These are commercial loans taken by companies from non-resident lenders. The cap for a scheduled airline is $300 mn and the aviation sector as a whole can raise a maximum of $1 billion, according to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines.

Jet already has $300 mn of ECB. "We do not wish to comment on this issue," a spokesperson said in response to an e-mailed questionnaire. Airlines avail of this facility because of the interest rate difference between domestic loans and debt taken from abroad.
13/04/15 Somesh Jha/Business Standard

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France wins over India in Rafale game

Paris/New Delhi: It’s Advantage France as Paris seems to have won the battle of nerves with New Delhi over its acquisition of Rafale fighter jets. The decision by France’s Dassault, the Rafale’s manufacturer, to stand firm on its reservations on some aspects of the MMRCA global tender terms, seems to have paid off since India’s decision to separately buy 36 Rafale fighter jets in “flyaway” condition (off-the-shelf) will mean that there will be no technology transfer in this acquisition, thus raising question marks on the “Make in India” initiative.

Also, with this announcement, the MMRCA tender seems to have lost much of its immediate relevance, and the three-year-old contract negotiations are likely to further drag on.

Though the IAF is relieved it will get new fighters at last, New Delhi’s decision shows how much India still depends on direct foreign armament and equipment imports to maintain defence preparedness.

Sources said in the three year-long protracted contract negotiations between India and Dassault, that continued in the past 10 months of the  Modi government, both sides had refused to budge on what they perceived as their viewpoints on the terms and conditions of the MMRCA tender. Dassault, initially, had reservations on the role of state-run HAL as lead integrator for the 108 Rafale aircraft to be built in India under technology transfer from France, had the MMRCA RFP acquisition process finally gone through.

French sources told this newspaper that Dassault could not be held responsible if there was any delay in timelines for manufacture on the part of HAL. There were also reportedly some concerns raised on accountability.
13/04/15  Sridhar Kumaraswami/Deccan Chronicle

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High-level meeting in Paris on Monday over Rafale sale to India

Paris/New Delhi: French President Francois Hollande would chair a high-level meeting in Paris on Monday to thrash out the finer details of the nearly USD 5 billion deal for the sale of 36 Rafale jets to India in flyaway conditions.
French sources said the meeting at the Elysee Palace would be held between Hollande, his top officials and executives from Dassault Aviation, the manufacturers of the Rafale jets.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who concluded his four-day visit to France today, had asked France to supply 36 Rafale jets in flyaway conditions as soon as possible in view of the critical operational necessity of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
The deal would be between the two governments.

"There was nobody, either from Indian side or the French side, when the two leaders spoke about the Rafale. Everyone would be briefed in detail on Monday about what transpired and discussions would be held on how it can be taken forward," sources said.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said that the 36 Rafale fighter jets would be inducted into the IAF in two years.
12/04/15 PTI/Zee News

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India to wait 2 yrs for French Rafale jets: Parrikar

India will not receive its first Rafale fighter jet from France's Dassault Aviation for up to two and a half years and tricky issues including pricing must still be worked out, India's defence minister said on Saturday. Manohar Parrikar's comments came a day after India ordered 36 ready-to-fly Rafale fighters to modernise an ageing fleet apace with neighbours China and arch-rival Pakistan, which are fast upgrading military hardware. While the order is meant to be delivered as soon as possible, terms and conditions of the deal - estimated at about USD 4.25 billion - have yet to be worked out, the minister said. "It may take two to two-and-a-half years to get the first plane," Parrikar told reporters. "Fly-away means not tomorrow, it has to be designed as per India's need, plus there is a requirement of working out the price."
India and France have negotiated for Rafale fighters for three years. A 2012 agreement to buy 126 jets stalled over cost and a dispute over the assembly of 108 aircraft in India.
12/04/15 moneycontrol.com

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New aviation policy will connect India with 'Bharat': Ashok Gajapathi Raju

Bengaluru: A new civil aviation policy, which is on the anvil, will facilitate more airlines to connect metros and state capitals with more cities and towns across the country, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said on Sunday.
"We want more airlines to operate across the country, connecting more cities and towns, as air connectivity is crucial for rapid economic growth. Our new aviation policy will accelerate the sector's growth and connect as many cities and towns in Bharat," Raju said at a function in Bengaluru.
Admitting that running an airline was a tricky business and the aviation sector has gone through turbulent times, the minister said the new policy would encourage more investment in the sector, attract new players and enable the existing airlines expand their operations in the domestic and international routes.
12/04/15 IANS/IBN Live

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Aviation minister wants states to reduce ATF tax

Bengaluru: Union civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said he has written to all the chief ministers including Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah to reduce taxes on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) and remove impediments that have dampened the prospects of the aviation industry.

The sales tax on ATF is as high as 30% in some states, making it difficult for airline operators who incur over 40% of operational costs from jet fuel. Karnataka imposes a sales tax of 28% on ATF, one of the highest in the country. "We are requesting the state governments to become aviation friendly. Taxes are required, but taxing to death is not required," he said in Bengaluru on Sunday, at an event to flag off city-based Air Pegasus' maiden commercial flight service to Hubballi and Thiruvananthapuram.
Raju said some states had responded to the Centre's call to reduce. "Those states have been a spurt in aviation activities," he said.
13/04/15 Times of India

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Govt to offer airlines incentives for operating to North East destinations

New Delhi: Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (I/C) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Government of India, said that the government is ready to extend all sorts of support to airline companies who come forward to start operations to destinations in the North East. Replying to a specific query by TravelBiz Monitor on incentivising airline companies, either through Viability Gap Funding (VGF) or seat discounting, the Minister said that the “government is working on various options” to make the North East an attractive destination for airline operators. Citing the recently announced daily Delhi–Dimapur (Nagaland) flight by IndiGo, which would commence operations from April 15, the Minister said that “it must have happened as a consequence of some kind of spade work and brainstorming.” However, he declined to reveal the incentives being extended to the airline operator by the government. The Minister was briefing the media about deliberations of the 64th North East Council Plenary in New Delhi. Talking on the connectivity issues, Dr Singh said that the challenges are multiple and not just limited to airlines alone, and needed to be “confronted and dealt with” comprehensively.
13/04/15 P Krishna Kumar/TravelBizMonitor.com

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Rural police, MCA baffled as ‘mystery’ hovers over Gahunje

Pune: About two weeks before the first match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) stadium in Gahunje, an unidentified flying object resembling an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) was spotted mysteriously hovering at the south end of the stadium. So far, neither the rural police nor MCA officials have been able to trace the source of the object.

Officials from the State Intelligence Department (SID) have compiled a comprehensive report and submitted it to senior officers in the Maharashtra police force. The agency has also shared details with the Intelligence Bureau (IB), but all efforts have been in vain so far.

Sources from the SID told Mirror, "We spoke to villagers and MCA officials but could not get any clues in the case. However, we have come to know that the object was equipped with a camera and recording equipment. It was also possibly revolving at 360 degrees to get an aerial view of the stadium. According to villagers, the object hovered for about an hour, but they did not take much notice as they thought the stadium authorities might be doing an experiment for air safety."

Confirming this development, superintendent of police (Pune rural) Manoj Lohiya, said, "MCA officials had informed us that they spotted an unidentified object resembling a drone at the south end of the stadium. They tried to trace the source, but their efforts have yielded no fruit so far. We have taken serious note of the case and cannot rule out any possibilities. We have asked authorities to submit a written complaint and we will investigate the case thoroughly."
13/04/15 Pune Mirror

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DGCA Urged To Modify Rules To Help Air Ambulance

Bengaluru: Aviation regulator Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is looking into suggestions on modifying rules to allow air ambulances to operate day/night, land at hospitals or accident sites and get priority over other operators.

The suggestions were made by Bengaluru-based Aviators Air Rescue Private Limited, which is launching air ambulance services in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh by this year-end.

“DGCA has shown positive response to our suggestions to change rules that will enable us to land on the site, fly day/night and also give priority to air ambulance during medical emergencies. It is likely to come out with the changes in a few months,” Capt Arun Sharma, Managing Director, Aviators Air Rescue Private Limited told Express.
13/04/15 New Indian Express

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Centre asks Karnataka to cut aviation turbine fuel taxes

Bengaluru: The Centre has asked Karnataka government to reduce the taxes on aviation turbine fuel. Speaking at launch of Air Pegasus, civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathy Raju said, "Taxes are an impediment to MRO activity. I have asked Finance ministry to look into it. If no activity, there's no revenues."

ATF is in the range of 1% to 30 % today. It's a dampener to aviation activity, he added. "We need to simplify the tax structure to make the sector attractive," Raju said.

"In the process of conneting the small airports numbering about 30 in the country, small airlines need to be encouraged. With economic activity picking up, its imperative to connect the smaller airports and for this we need small airlines. We need activities on a sustainable basis. As of now regional connectivity is priority for us," Raju said.
The centre, Raju said, is in the process of developing a policy to encourage small airlines to take interest for  connecting to small airports. There can be no regional connectivity if small airports are not helped, he said.
12/04/15 Praveen Bose/Business Standard

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Airbus tells PM Narendra Modi it's ready to Make in India, will hike outsourcing kitty to $2 billion

New Delhi: Aircraft maker Airbus Industrie has assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi that its outsourcing from India will increase to $2 billion from $ 400 million over the next five years as part of the Indian government's Make in India initiative.

This was conveyed to Modi during his tour of the Airbus headquarters on Saturday in Toulouse, in southern France, where he flew down from Paris. Modi arrived in France on Thursday night on the first leg of his three-nation tour, which will also take him to Germany and Canada.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin tweeted: "500% increase in 5 years. @Airbus to PMA @narendramodi : Indian outsourcing to increase from $400 mil to $2 billion." "Make in India gains further momentum. $2 billion cumulative outsourcing planned by @Airbus from India by 2020," he posted.
12/04/15 Economic Times

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Rafale deal: Congress dares Subramanian Swamy to move court

New Delhi: Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh on Saturday dared BJP leader Subramanian Swamy to move court over the Rafale deal a day after the latter threatened to take legal recourse claiming that there were shortcomings in the fighter aircraft.

"I dare Subramanian Swamy to go to court on Rafale Jet purchase," Singh said in a tweet, a day after Swamy threatened to take legal recourse if the government went ahead with Rafale jet deal with France saying there were shortcomings in the fighter aircraft.

Swamy, a national executive member of BJP, had requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to go ahead with the Rafale deal, which was negotiated by the erstwhile UPA government.

The performance of the French jet "turned out to be worst of all the aircraft" in Libya and Egypt, he claimed and said, "If the Prime Minister for some other 'compulsion' decides to go ahead with the deal, I will have no option but to approach the court in PIL to get it set aside."
11/04/15 PTI/Times of India

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Indian outsourcing to rise from $400mn in 5 years: Airbus

Expressing support to Make in India initiative, aircraft manufacturer Airbus said on Saturday it was ready to manufacture in India, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited its facility. Airbus assured Modi that its Indian outsourcing will increase from $400 million to $2 billion over the next five years, as part of the Indian government's Make in India initiative.

Modi took the tour of the facility where planes are manufactured and was given a briefing by officials. Airbus Group CEO Tom Enders, who received Modi, said: "We are honoured to host PM Modi in Toulouse and convey to him our desire to forge a stronger industrial bond with India. India already takes a centre-stage role in our international activities and we want to even increase its contribution to our products." In India, Airbus Group already operates two engineering centres — one focused on civil aviation and the other one defence — besides, a research and technology (R&T) centre, which together employ over 400 highly qualified people.

The group's senior representative conveyed their decision to expand these centres so that they can take on comprehensive design responsibilities for future Airbus group programmes.
12/04/15 Ahmedabad Mirror

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Subramanian Swamy threatens to move court against Rafale deal

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy on Saturday threatened to go to court against the deal to buy Rafale fighter aircraft from France if the government does not heed to his warning.
Terming the deal “corrupt”, Swamy said it will bring bad name to the party. The senior BJP leader said no one in the world is buying the Rafale planes and in the past countries which signed an MoU to procure the aircraft have scrapped the deal.
“No one is buying the planes in the country. Dassault (Aviation- the company which manufactures the fighter jets) says if India does not buy these planes then they will wind up. Many counties like Switzerland signed an MoU, but later cancelled it,” Swamy said.
The senior BJP leader added that if the government wanted to please France, then it should have bought the company, which is anyway running into losses.
12/04/15 PTI/Financial Express

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Rafale deal to boost strategic partnership

New Delhi: While the decision to buy 36 Rafale aircraft in fly-away condition address the immediate concerns of the Air Force, the surprising part of the announcement is the timing since the deal was on the verge of collapse. Just last month, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had reiterated that France had to adhere to tender norms. He had also said that if the deal was to fall through, India would buy additional Sukhois. Officials, however, indicated that there was potentially a larger “Make in India” component to the direct purchase by inviting Dassault to partner with an Indian private entity and build more Rafales in India. Some see this decision as an acknowledgement that Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is not capable of producing an advanced aircraft and irrespective of what is said, the fact remains that no private player in India has the capability to execute such a sophisticated project.
11/04/15 Dinakar Peri/The Hindu

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India's oldest aircraft carrier will be dust soon

Mumbai: A few weeks from now, India’s decommissioned  Vikrant—the aircraft carrier that played a key role in the 1971 Indo-Pakistani war and in the liberation of Bangladesh—will have been completely scrapped.

IB Commercial Pvt Ltd, a ship-breaking company, started the aircraft carrier’s scrapping process five months ago at Darukhana in Mumbai. “It is a matter of few days or weeks that the process will be completed,” said a company supervisor at the site, where scrapping work is going on nearly 24x7.

The company had won the bid to undertake the scrapping of Vikrant and had commenced work on November 20 last year at Mumbai’s ship-breaking yard.

Earlier, the Maharashtra government had accorded approval to convert Vikrant into a modern museum under Built, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis. After a resolution, the project was implemented by Maharashtra Urban Infrastructure Development Company Ltd.
11/04/15 Deccan Herald

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Air fares to Goa soar ahead of May 1 holidays

Panaji: May 1 usually marks the beginning of the peak domestic tourist season for the summer in Goa. This year, May 1 or Labour Day, is also the start of a long weekend as the holiday falls on a Friday. With children already on school vacations, parents will eye the May 1 holiday for a quick break like never before. The airlines already seem to have foreseen this situation.

Flight tickets to travel from all the major metros into Goa on May 1 will cost more than four times the regular fare in some cases like Mumbai or at least more than double the cost in case of most other cities. While a regular ticket from Mumbai to Goa can be bought starting 2,400, on May 1 the lowest fare available is 10,570.
12/04/15 Gauree Malkarnekar/Times of India

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Non-metros prepare to take flight

Five years ago, Aurangabad tycoons had famously ordered 150 Mercs at the same time.There was a point to the gesture. The city's wealthy wanted to draw attention to its economic clout and also to how poorly air-connected it is. "Aurangabad is air-connected to only Mumbai and Delhi. But we have so many business houses here that the city could easily fill flights to cities like Nagpur, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Indore, and Ahmedabad," says Sacheen Mulay, head of the Chamber of Marathwada Industries and Agriculture.

Around 46% of India's ultra high-net-worth individuals live in small cities, most of which are starved for flight options. But running daily Airbus A320s or Boeing 737 flights to and from these cities is not a profitable proposition. What would make better business sense are regional airlines that typically operate aircraft with 70-120 seats.
It is precisely this idea that quite a few entrepreneurs are set to test in the coming months, especially in south India. Currently, Vijaywada-based regional carrier Air Costa operates Embraer aircraft to places like Vizag, Tirupati, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Bengaluru and so on. Air Carnival, TruJet, and FLYeasy — all based in the south — are ready to take to the skies once the aviation regulator grants them licenses. The first to kick-start operations is Air Pegasus, the commercial aviation arm of Decor Aviation, a company that offers ground handling services. Its first flight from Bengaluru to Hubballi will take off today.
12/04/15 Times of India

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KSTDC to launch air services soon

Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) is all set to start air services in Karnataka, to keep up pace with Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Goa.

Arvind Jadhav, additional chief secretary, tourism, said air services had also been given way in the budget. KSTDC will also appoint a transaction advisor for the same.

“So far, we have received proposals from Supreme Aviation and UTA- helicopter service providers. Jakkur Aerodrome has also placed a proposal to run a four-seater aircraft. But we have asked for some more details on their business model,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the launch of the tourism rating facility on Friday.
10/04/15 Deccan Herald

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Copters lose way in city's concrete jungle

Mumbai: The country's three top business houses have written to the Airports Authority of India seeking permission to fly their choppers higher to prevent communication blackouts caused by ever-increasing heights of buildings in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.

Choppers currently fly in the 500 ft-700 ft band, while there are several buildings that are as tall as 600 feet and above falling in the flight path. Pilots flying Reliance Industries, Bharat Forge, and Bajaj Industries head-honchos have reported frequent communication blips around tall buildings and have demanded that they be allowed to fly between 1000 ft and 1300 ft to overcome the problem.

While Reliance Industries has massive telecom and bio-technology campuses in Navi Mumbai, Bharat Forge and Bajaj Industries executives often fly to Pune, where their production facilities are located. Juhu and Mahalaxmi helipads record close to 100 helicopter movements a day.
11/04/15 Aditya Anand/Mumbai Mirror

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DGCA may make psychological test must for pilot aspirants

Following the recent Germanwings scare where a pilot locked his co-pilot outside the cockpit and crashed a passenger laden plane in a mountain, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) of India might make psychological test mandatory for the aspiring pilots.

The decision also comes after a recent incident where an Air India pilot and his co-pilot got involved in a scuffle inside the cockpit. The government, therefore, is planning to have a three-phase monitoring of the psychological health of aspiring pilots that will start right from the time the aspirant passes his 12th exams.
10/04/2015 Daily News & Analysis

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For PM Narendra Modi, 36 ready-to-fly Rafale jets wrapped in Paris red carpet

New Delhi: Keeping in mind the “critical operational necessity” for multi-role combat aircraft in the Indian Air Force, India on Friday asked France to supply 36 Rafale fighter jets in “fly-away” condition “as quickly as possible” — double the number proposed in the original tender.
The unusual request was a departure from the past with New Delhi approaching Paris directly this time, independent of the ongoing negotiations with Dassault Aviation, the makers of Rafale.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived in Paris on Thursday, and French President Francois Hollande agreed to sign an “inter-governmental agreement” for the aircraft under terms “better than” those being currently negotiated with Dassault.
The original tender had proposed the purchase of 18 fighter jets in “fly-away” condition — aircraft ready for immediate flight — and 108 to be made operational by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under a transfer of technology clause.
11/03/15 Shubhajit Roy/Pranav Kulkarni/Indian Express

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First Indian pilot to fly at supersonic speed dies at 95

Pune: Air Chief Marshal Hrushikesh Moolgavkar (Retd), the first Indian to touch supersonic speeds, passed away in Pune last night. Moolgavkar' historic supersonic flight was on a Mystere-11 bomber in France in 1951.
Indian Air Force (IAF) said that Moolgavkar had been admitted to the Command Hospital in Pune since March 29. He was 95. He is survived by a son and a daughter.
Moolgavkar was the IAF Chief from 1976 to 1978 and retired after serving the nation for 38 years.
The ace pilot had the rare distinction of leading the fly-past on maiden Independence Day celebrations in 1947. As a Squadron Leader then, Moolgavkar led a formation of Tempest, with thousands waving at his team -- just hours after India won Independence.
10/04/15 One India

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Kerala Posts 12.6 per cent Growth in Air Passenger Traffic Last Fiscal

Kochi: Kerala witnessed a robust growth in domestic and international air passenger traffic in the last financial year, registering a 12.61 per cent annual increase, even as national air traffic clocked only a 12.25 per cent growth during the same period.

The airports in Kerala, which recorded growth beyond the national average, are among the top performers as far as domestic and international passenger traffic is concerned, latest figures analysed by the Airport Authority of India showed.
According to KGS International Airport Limited authorities, Cochin International Airport, Thiruvananthapuram airport and Kozhikode airport, together achieved a commendable growth in passenger air traffic. The 12.61-per cent annual growth in passenger traffic in Kerala, is clearly above the national average growth rate of 12.25 per cent.
11/04/15 New Indian Express

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Aeroplus 2015 gets under way

Coimbatore: the latest edition of the annual aero exhibition by the Nehru College of Aeronautics and Applied Sciences, got under way at the college in Kuniamuthur on Friday. A release from the institution said that Rapid Action Force 105 Battalion Commandant P.P. Pauly inaugurated the exhibition in the presence of P. Krishna Kumar, CEO and secretary, Nehru Group of Institutions.

The exhibition would go on till April 12 and was open for the public from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Visitors would be treated to aero modelling, model airport, aviation photo exhibition, cockpit instruments, aircraft engines and other things connected to airplanes and aviation.
11/04/15 The Hindu

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A&N Civil Aviation Seminar 2015 held

Port Blair: The Govt of India is committed towards providing better connectivity to remote areas, especially places like A&N Islands, said the Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Mr. Pusapati Ashok Gajapati Raju while speaking as the chief guest in the ‘Andaman & Nicobar Civil Aviation Seminar 2015’, held at the mini conference hall of the DBRAIT auditorium, Dollygunj here today. The Minister also reiterated the commitment of Ministry of Civil Aviation to provide better connectivity to the Islanders so that these islands also prosper in all spheres like other states in the Country. “My Ministrym is always ready to solve the problems of the Islanders as far as the Civil Aviation Sector is concerned”, he said.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Union Minister said that the construction of the New Airport Terminal has already started, and it will have all the facilities of International standards. The Minister said that Port Blair Airport will soon have night landing facility which will improve the frequency of flights to this picturesque Island. “We are fairly in advanced stage as far as the matters for night landing is concerned”, the Minister added.
10/04/15 Echo India

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Predatory Air Fares Need Regulation, says Minister

Bengaluru: The Civil Aviation Ministry reiterated a call to regulate predatory pricing. Minister of State (Civil Aviation) Mahesh Sharma said that regulation of  predatory pricing was important instead of having total control over pricing.

The statements coming at a time when the civil aviation policy is in its final stages which is likely to address archaic laws of the sector and governing rules. He said that wider discussions should be held on the subject. “We understand that the predatory price (of air fares) at lower end or higher end should have some regulation. This is my individual opinion but this is subject to discussion and a Cabinet decision has to be taken on this issue.”
10/04/15 New Indian Express

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Government plans to introduce new civil aviation policy by May 15

NEW DELHI: The government plans to put in place the much-awaited civil aviation policy by the middle of next month, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma said today.

According to an official, the Civil Aviation Ministry has already circulated the proposed norms for overseas operations by Indian airlines for inter-ministerial consultations.

"The ministry has sent its proposed revised norms for the domestic carriers wishing to fly abroad for inter-ministerial consultations, before sending it to the Cabinet for approval," the official said.
9/04/2015 PTI /Economic Times

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DGCA in process to recertify four airlines

New Delhi : The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated the process of recertifying all airlines in the country to ensure full compliance with international norms.
While the regulator recertified the two airlines Air India and Jet Airways operating to the US, ahead of an audit by USA’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in December last year, recertification process has now started for IndiGo, SpiceJet, GoAir and AirAsia.
A senior official with the DGCA said, “Vistara and Air Pegasus have received their Air Operator’s Permit (AOP) as per the new guidelines laid down in CAP 3100 certification process. All other airlines will now have to go through the recertification process. It will ensure that the airlines have all the documents in place according to current global standards.” He clarified this process will not hamper the operations of these airlines.
10/04/15 Indian Express

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Airlines unhappy with draft cabinet note on new flying norms, see no big change

New Delhi: The Ministry of Civil Aviation has begun inter-ministerial consultations on the new flying norms by circulating a draft cabinet note. These new norms seek to dismantle the 5/20 norms, they also seek to tighten the screws for airlines unwilling to fly to remote domestic locations by linking overseas flying rights to domestic connectivity.
Ministry officials say these norms will ensure remote area connectivity without such flights impacting airlines' bottomlines. But neither existing nor new airlines are happy with these norms. Existing airlines like Jet Airways, IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir have asked the government to keep the 5/20 condition for new airlines wanting to fly abroad. New entrants Vistara and AirAsia India want 5/20 dismantled but are unhappy with the norms being brought in as replacement since these pushes back their plans to fly overseas by at least two years.
10/04/15 Sindhu Bhattacharya/First Post

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Indian aviation — safe but not sound

The US aviation watchdog’s upgrade of India’s safety rating is good news, but let’s revamp our regulatory set-up as well

An entirely forgettable chapter in Indian civil aviation history ended recently when the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) upgraded India’s safety rating to Category One. The downgrade to Category Two in January 2014 had placed India in ignominious company along with 13 countries with poor safety records in civil aviation.

To add insult to injury, Indian airlines flying to the US were curtailed from starting new flights to that country; and the existing ones were subject to additional surveillance. The irony was that it was not the airlines’ fault but that of the Director General Civil Aviation (DGCA), the regulatory body tasked to govern the safety aspects of civil aviation.
09/04/15 AK Sachdev/Business Line

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Indian Flights Rated among the Safest

New Delhi: : The US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has restored India’s aviation safety rating by upgrading it to Category I status, almost 14 months after it had been downgraded to second category, raising concerns over training, non-availability of adequate number of flight operation inspectors and other technical issues.

Following the FAA move, desi airlines like Air India and Jet Airways can increase the number of flights they operate to the US or enter into any new code-sharing arrangements with US carriers.
09/04/15 New Indian Express

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Airlines redraft flight plans after US’ FAA restores safety rating

New Delhi: Nearly 14 months after India’s aviation safety rating was downgraded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the US aviation watchdog on Wednesday restored the country’s ranking to Category 1 status. Apart from boosting sentiment — the downgrade meant India ranked lower than Pakistan and was clubbed with countries like Zimbabwe and Paraguay — the upgrade will allow domestic carriers to expand flights to the US.
The US transportation secretary Anthony Foxx said in a statement that India complies with international safety standards and has been granted a Category 1 rating by the regulator. “The United States Government commends the Government of India for taking corrective action to address the safety oversight issues identified during the IASA (International Aviation Safety Assessment) process,” Foxx said in the statement.
The safety downgrade had taken place in January 2014 mainly because India did not have enough flight operations inspectors (FOIs) and airworthiness officers. The immediate impact of the downgrade to Category 2 meant that only existing flights to the US could continue and no expansion could take place. Further, at any point of time Indian flights could face random checks by US authorities.
09/04/15 Financial Express

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Air evacuation from Yemen by India extended by a day

New Delhi: India on Wednesday decided to extend air evacuation from Yemen till Thursday following a rescue request by a group of 140 nurses even as it pulled out another 450 people from the war-ravaged country, taking the total number of evacuees to 4500.

Nearly 450 people were rescued by Air India from Sanaa and INS Sumitra was in stand-by near Al Hudaydah to evacuate more nationals, if need be, officials said.

Announcing the extension in air evacuation days, the Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry said "responding to needs of 140 nurses India extends air evacuation from Yemen by a day. Flights planned for tomorrow also, subject to clearances." On Tuesday, he had said that air evacuation will end on Wednesday.
08/04/15 PTI/India Today

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Airlines focus on mid-air treatment as diversions cost a lot

Mumbai: With aircraft diversion become increasingly frequent in recent times due to medical emergencies, the airlines have started employing latest state of the art measures to not only save the invaluable life of the passengers but also to stop its financial bleeding caused due to it.

The latest such measure include the one taken by Gulf based Emirates airline wherein onboard crew members can transmit vital medical data of the affected passenger - such as heart rate, blood pressure, ECG, voice and video - from the aircraft to medical centre on land using satellite communications. The medical team then advise the crew on how best to treat or alleviate the patient's condition, and also advise whether a medical diversion is necessary, or if the affected passenger could be treated at the final destination. The crew members are also advise the closest airports the flight could divert to, based on the medical services available at those points.
09/04/15 Shahkar Abidi/Daily News & Analysis

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India to induct Mi–17 V5 helicopters for its borders, Maoist belt

New Delhi: Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh will formally announce their induction at the Safdarjung Airport in New Delhi on Thursday.

“The Russian made Mi-17 V5 choppers will boost the BSF’s flying capability. The force is deployed for a variety of internal security tasks in some of the most difficult and inhospitable places,” said a senior BSF official.

The two Mi–17 V5s are armed with the latest avionics and night-flying capabilities, a long-time requirement of the border guards, also involved in anti-Maoist operations in extremist zones.

The BSF air wing has a fleet of four Fixed Wing (FW) aircraft (Embraer-01, Avro- 02 and SKA B-200- 01) and 13 helicopters operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

These helicopters operate from BSF air bases at Ranchi, Raipur, Agartala, Srinagar and the Safdarjung Airport in New Delhi.
08/04/15 bdnews24.com

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India gets back Category-I aviation safety ranking

India's aviation safety ranking was on Wednesday upgraded to Category-I by US aviation watchdog Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), paving the way for the domestic airlines to expand in the US skies.
The restoration of status comes more than 14 month after it was downgraded to Category-II following failure of aviation regulator DGCA to meet the international safety norms.
Announcing the upgrade here today, US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said that India has worked hard to get back the status.
"I enjoyed a very productive series of meetings with Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju today. I want to congratulate India on achieving Category-I status in their civil aviation system," Foxx told reporters after the meeting.
    "This is a big news, because India has worked very hard over the last one year to achieve that status," he said.
US encourages India to continue sustaining that status, Foxx said.
Margaret Gilligan, Associate Administrator for FAA, in a communication today to DGCA M Sathiyavathi informed him about the decision to restore Category-1 status to India.
08/04/15 PTI/Daily News & Analysis

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U.S. upgrades India's aviation safety rating

Mumbai: In a major boost for Indian civil aviation sector, more specifically for Air India and Jet Airways, the U.S. Federal Aviation Association (FAA), has upgraded the safety rating of Indian airlines as well as of the civil aviation regulator by granting a Category 1 rating to India under its International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) programme.

This announcement was made by U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx during his meeting with Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Mr. Foxx also announced that India now complies with international safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

A Category 1 rating means that the country’s civil aviation authority complies with ICAO standards and permits India’s air carriers to add flights to the U.S. using their own aircraft and carry the code of U.S. carriers on their operations.

The grant of Category 1 rating follows a December 8-12, 2014, FAA review of the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), subsequent meetings, and an FAA visit to India on March 30-31.
08/04/15 Lalatendu Mishra/The Hindu

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Air Fare War: Now, IndiGo Offers Tickets at Rs 1178

Airlines continue to be locked in fare-war, with IndiGo offering one-way fares starting at Rs 1,178.

The offer is valid till Wednesday and the travel period for availing the special discounted fares is between July 1, 2015 and September 30, 2015.

While Delhi-Mumbai fares start at Rs 2895, Indore-Mumbai flights start at a fare of Rs 1178. (See all routes)
IndiGo has been almost regularly indulging its customers with discounted air fares. Just last week, it had come up with another scheme offering one-way fares starting at Rs 1,345.

AirAsia India also recently announced all-inclusive domestic fares starting Rs 1,290. The scheme is valid for travel between June 15 and September 30, 2015 and bookings can be made till April 12, 2015.

GoAir had earlier announced one-way tickets starting Rs 1,299.
08/04/15 NDTV

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India’s airfare war hots up with ‘lower than low’ offers

New Delhi: It might seem a flight of fancy  — travelling from Delhi to Mumbai on an IndiGo flight for just R2,953. More so when you factor in that the average ticket in the sector costs more than R4,000, and if it is bought on the same day of travel, it can go up to R5,500.

But all’s fair in the ticketing wars, and it is not only for Mumbai that IndiGo announced what it calls “lower than low” fares to 12 destinations from Delhi — the cheapest being to Jaipur at just R1,499.

Nor is IndiGo the only carrier — GoAir, Vistara, AirAsia, Air India and SpiceJet have announced huge discounts to get passengers on board. In the last week of March, GoAir announced fares starting from R1,299 for passengers travelling between June 23 and October 31. This was the second discount offered in the week. The first offer had fares starting from R999. These sales, officials said, help book a few seats in advance, and as the date of travel comes nearer, the prices of the tickets are increased.

These deals help pack in those put off by high last-minute costs, especially on routes that have less traffic. “It is our focus therefore to advertise ‘book early and pay less’. So if you can simply plan your business or leisure trips in advance you can get the same seat for one-third the price. If you book a ticket on GoAir 60, 90 or 120 days prior to departure you will find they are cheaper than train fares,” said a GoAir spokesperson.
08/04/15 Sunny Sen/Financial Express

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India Asks Dassault Aviation To Stick To Original Price

India has asked France's Dassault Aviation SA to stick to the original price tag for fighter jets or risk losing one of the world's biggest military aircraft deals, a newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Talks on the proposed purchase of 126 Rafale planes have been ongoing for more than three years to resolve differences over pricing as well as local assembly. The deal is back in focus as Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits France this week.

The deal was initially worth $12 billion but is now widely estimated to have jumped to $20 billion, primarily because of the implications of building some of the jets in India.

An unidentified Indian official said Dassault wanted to raise the price to cover the increased cost of local production, and that any such escalation could be a deal-breaker.
07/04/15 Business World

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MehAir to partner Diamond Aeronautics for intra-state flight operations in Gujarat

Ahmedabad: After it failed to attract passengers for its intrastate flight services, Maritime Energy Heli Air Services Ltd (MehAir) is set to partner Surat based Diamond Aeronautics Ltd (DAL), an airline company owned by the diamond barons. MehAir in collaboration with Gujarat State Aviation Infrastructure Company Ltd (GUJSAIL) had launched services to three locations just 10 days before Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2015. MehAir began with first flight to Porbandar on January 2 this year and was to operate 20 flights per week to Porbandar, Bhuj and Jamnagar.

However, according to sources, MehAir has clocked merely 85 hours of operations in last three months and only 60 passengers used its services. Also MehAir has not operated for last 10 days from Ahmedabad airport.
 "MehAir officials has submitted an application for surrendering their space at the airport," said a senior Airports t Authority of India (AAI) official. "We are going to partner with DAL. Since the space at Ahmedabad airport is limited, we are giving it up to share it with DAL. However our base will remain Ahmedabad," said Siddharth Verma, co-founder and director, MehAir.
08/04/15 Piyush Mishra/Times of India

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Global airline plying rule changes go to other ministries

 New Delhi: The Union civil aviation ministry has sent its proposed revision of rules for airlines wishing to ply abroad for inter-ministerial discussion, prior to being sent for Cabinet approval, government sources said on Tuesday.

The government has had discussion with those in the sector. Both incumbent and start-up airlines have opposed certain provisions of the proposed guidelines.

The government wishes to replace the current '5/20' rule, that an airline must have operated for at least five years in India and have a minimum of 20 planes before being allowed to ply abroad.

Jet Airways, Air India, SpiceJet and IndiGo are so qualified.

According to the proposal, airlines will have to acquire credits based on the routes and distances they fly to earn international flying rights.

Airlines will need to earn at least 300 domestic flying credits before they fly international routes of more than six hours and at least 600 credits to operate on shorter routes to the Gulf and Southeast Asia (less than six hours).

On the airlines’ opposition to the proposed rules,  minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said, “There are different opinions. We will take into factor all the views.”
08/04/15 Somesh Jha/Business Standard

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Kerala to charter flight to bring Yemen returnees from Mumbai

Thiruvananthapuram: In an effort to ensure easy and speedy return of Keralities to their home destinations, Kerala government today decided to charter flights to bring back the evacuees who have reached Mumbai after being rescued from strife-torn Yemen.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters that 140 Keralites are in Mumbai airport waiting for their onward journey to the state.

 "The plan is to bring those stranded in Mumbai along with those who will be reaching tonight in the chartered flight", he said.

 A decision in this regard was taken as more people are expected to reach Mumbai airport. Only 70 seats were available in scheduled flights for tomorrow morning. With a few more people landing tonight, their onward journey would become more difficult, he said.
 Chandy said most of those who have reached Mumbai airport from Yemen have said they had a difficult time during their evacuation. Some had to travel around 20 hours by ship.
08/04/15 ZeeNews

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Naveen's visit to Cuttack in chopper draws criticism

Cuttack/Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik flying to Ravenshaw University in Cuttack, barely 25 km from Bhubaneswar, today drew criticism from different quarters with the opposition Congress describing it as "expensive".

Patnaik flew by a six-seater chopper to attend the varsity's student union function.
08/04/15 PTI

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Aviation minister says he carries matchboxes on flights despite airport rules

New Delhi: In a clear violation of rules, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju, a chain smoker, said he carries matchboxes with him on flights since he is not subjected to frisking.
Raju made this confession during his address at the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) event here on Tuesday when he said that before becoming a minister last year, his matchboxes and lighters were confiscated by airport security. But after becoming the minister for civil aviation "people stopped frisking me" and "my matchbox also came along with me", he said.
The Minister's comment comes against the backdrop of rising concerns about aviation security in the country. Matchboxes and lighters are among the items that are not allowed inside aircraft in India.
On being asked whether he carries matchbox even while travelling in flight, Raju quipped, "You (reporters) are going to make an issue out of it" but added that "I have yet to come across an incident worldwide where a matchbox became a threat."
07/04/15 PTI/Daily News & Analysis

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Global airline plying rule changes go to other ministries

New Delhi: The Union Civil Aviation ministry has sent its proposed revision of rules for airlines wishing to ply abroad for inter-ministerial discussion, prior to being sent for Cabinet approval, government sources said on Tuesday.

The government has had discussion with those in the sector. Both incumbent and start-up airlines have opposed certain provisions of the proposed guidelines.

The government wishes to replace the current '5/20' rule, that an airline must have operated for at least five years in India and have a minimum of 20 planes before being allowed to ply abroad. Jet Airways, Air India, SpiceJet and IndiGo are so qualified.

According to the proposal, airlines will have to acquire credits based on the routes and distances they fly to earn international flying rights.

Airlines will need to earn at least 300 domestic flying credits before they fly international routes of more than six hours and at least 600 credits to operate on shorter routes to the Gulf and Southeast Asia (less than six hours).
07/04/15 Somesh Jha/Business Standard

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Fun chopper sorties launched in Kochi

Kochi: A chopper ride over the Kochi skies seems to be the new adventure for Kochiites this vacation season.
A Bangalore-based aviation firm, has launched helicopter joy ride to enable tourists to get a bird’s eye view of Kochi and its scenic surroundings. The company has now positioned one helicopter at the Cochin International Airport Limited, which when not used for long haul is spared for helicopter rides.
Officials said the most preferred time for operating the sortie was between 2.30 pm and 3.30 pm, when the airport is closed for daily maintenance to operate the helicopter service and users can take full advantage of the service during this time.
07/04/15 The Hindu

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Airbus and Boeing slug it out for top slot in Indian aviation sector

Mumbai: The battle between the world's top two plane manufactures for supremacy in the Indian skies is turning into a war. For now, Airbus has the advantage.

The European plane maker has 196 of its commercial passenger aircraft flying in India, compared with Boeing's 160.

Airbus' potential delivery backlog looks huge. It has signed an initial pact with IndiGo for 250 planes and has an earlier firm order for another 180. That, coupled with other orders takes its likely volumes over next ten years to 516. The nation's newest local carriers, Tata Sons joint ventures Vistara and AirAsia India, have both picked Airbus as their initial choice.

Boeing's visible backlog is much smaller at 59 planes, which include long-haul Dreamliners to Air India and Jet Airways as well as narrow-bodied 737Max planes to SpiceJet. There have been talks of an order for fifty 737Max from Jet, but that hasn't been announced.
07/04/15 Anirban Chowdhury/Economic Times

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Air India’s $107-m Nagpur MRO facility set to take off on April 30

Mumbai: One of Asia’s biggest facilities, Air India’s maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) unit in Nagpur, built by Boeing, is set to be operational on April 30, a senior Air India official told FE.
The airframe MRO facility, built for an estimated $107 million, is spread across 50 acres and can accommodate several wide-bodied and narrow-bodied aircraft at a time.
“There are two hangers at the Nagpur MRO unit that can house four wide-bodied aircraft and six narrow-bodied aircraft simultaneously,” a senior Boeing official told FE.
The carrier also plans to build a $90-million engine MRO unit with enginemaker General Electronic (GE), set to be located next to the airframe MRO facility at Nagpur.
07/04/15 Rhik Kundu/Financial Express

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IBS to host annual aviation conclave in Kochi

Thiruvananthapuram: IBS Software, a leading technology provider to the aviation industry, is organising a three-day ‘IBS Airline Forum’ in Kochi from Wednesday.

More than a hundred delegates representing over 40 leading airlines in the world will attend the annual conclave, according to VK Mathews, Executive Chairman, IBS Group.
The theme for this year would be ‘Leading in a digital world’, reflecting the increasing role disruptive technology and innovations are likely to play in the way airlines do business. Experts in the industry will share their thoughts on the digital future and discuss key issues that are shaping the aviation industry.
Confirmed attendees include Lufthansa, KLM, All Nippon Airways, Aer Lingus, British Airways, China Eastern, Etihad, Indigo, Jet Airways, Oman Air, Qantas, Qatar Airways, South African Airways, China Southern, Nippon Cargo Airlines, Eva Air, and Virgin Australia.
06/04/15 Business Line

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Aug date for first helipad building

Bhubaneswar:  The state will have its first high-rise building with a helipad by the end of August.

The 18-storey building with a helipad on the top will be constructed in Mancheswar on an area of 4,68,000 sqft at the new commercial complex -Tower 2010 - of the Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco).

The building will be rented out exclusively to information technology (IT) companies and those catering to IT-enabled services.


Idco chief general manager Ratan Kumar Agarwal said: "This is for the first time such a helipad is coming up in the state. The construction of the helipad is complete and it will be put to test after getting the requisite permission from the ministry of civil aviation."

Speaking about the response to Idco's latest endeavour, Agarwal said: "We have received a number of proposals from IT companies for space."
06/04/15 Subhashish Mohanty/Telegraph

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Suspense over Rafale fighter jet deal before PM Modi's visit to France

New Delhi: Suspense continued on Tuesday over whether the issue of Rafale fighter deal, which has been stuck over cost, will figure in talks that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will have with French President Francois Hollande during his visit beginning on Thursday.

French Ambassador Francois Richier, while addressing a press conference here on Modi's visit, was evasive to questions over the multi-billion dollar deal which has been held up for long.
07/04/15 PTI/Daily News & Analysis

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Row over remote area flight norm

New Delhi: The civil aviation ministry and the Federation of Indian Airlines, the apex body of existing carriers, have crossed swords over a new policy that seeks to change route dispersal guidelines.

While the two had earlier disagreed over a plan to scrap the rules for flying abroad, the proposed changes in the route norms have snowballed into a major row.
In a letter to the ministry's top brass, including minister Gajapati Raju, the FIA director criticised the route dispersal guidelines, saying "the changes in the policy penalises existing airlines, while benefiting new airlines. New entrants will be allowed to start operating on more lucrative long-haul international routes, deploying just 3-4 aircraft on profitable domestic routes and two aircraft on remote routes.
"Thereafter, they will have no further obligation other than to maintain some cosmetic capacity in the domestic market. They will be free to expand to any number of long-haul destinations with any number of aircraft and no further commitment to the domestic market."
Under the new route dispersal guidelines, which the government is likely to notify soon, around eight cities such as Pune, Ahmedabad, Cochin, Patna, Jaipur and Panjim are listed as Category 1, or trunk routes. Category II, or remote area flights, will include destinations such as Dehradun, Shimla, Kulu and Dharamshala.
06/03/15 Jayanta Roy Chowdhury/The Telegraph

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Father-son duo fly in Trainer aircraft

In an interesting instance, a father-son duo of the Indian Air Force recently flew in a trainer aircraft at the Tambaram base near here.

Air Marshal Arun Purushottam Garud, Air Officer Commanding in Chief, Southern Air Command, and his son Lieutenant Commander Abhijeet Garud, a naval aviator undergoing the Qualified Flying Instructor's (QFI) course, flew in an IAF Chetak on March 30 from the Air Force Station, Tambaram, a defence release said here today.
06/04/15 PTI/Business Standard

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CM pitches for chopper services between Srinagar and Gulmarg

Gulmarg: Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Sunday said to promote high-end tourism in the State, government would start a chopper facility for high-end visitors from Srinagar to Gulmarg and other tourist destinations.
“I want to start weekend tourism in Kashmir where people from different parts of India can come and spend their weekends here. To achieve that we can provide a helicopter service to the high-end tourists from Srinagar to Gulmarg to save their time,” said Mufti in a tourism conclave at Khyber Himalayan Resort and Spa in Gulmarg.
Mufti said government would also provide chopper facilities for golfers between golf courses at Srinagar and Pahalgam and Gulmarg that would do wonders in tourism.
“The feasibility checks are being done for laying new golf courses in Sanasar, Sonamarg and Yusmarg,” he said.
Mufti said his effort would be to change the mindset of many tourists who think “Kashmir as a jail.”
“Tourists who land here are terrified at the sight of security at airport. In due course of time, you will see a drastic change in tourism sector. I want to make tourists feel safe here and not terrified,” said Mufti.
Expressing concern over the increasing air fares to Srinagar during peak tourist season, the Chief Minister requested the Union Tourism Minister who also holds the charge of Civil Aviation Ministry to explore operating Srinagar-Jeddah flights for facilitating Umrah pilgrims.
05/04/15 Rising Kashmir

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2 new military choppers for BSF air wing

New Delhi: After over six-month delay, two new advanced military choppers have landed in India to be inducted into the elite air wing of the Border Security Force, which is tasked to carry air support missions for troops along the borders and in the hinterland for anti-Naxal operations.

The Russian-made Mi-17 V5 choppers will boost the flying capability of central paramilitary forces that are deployed for a variety of internal security tasks in some of the most arduous and inhospitable conditions at numerous locations.

"Two new Mi-17 V5's are in India now. The choppers are flying for trials in various parts of the country and will be soon inducted in the BSF air wing," a senior official said.

The official said the choppers have been initially based at the BSF hangar at Safdarjung airport here and are expected to be formally inducted into the fleet by Home Minister Rajnath Singh on April 9.
05/04/15 PTI

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India's domestic air travel demand growth highest worldwide: Iata

New Delhi: Domestic air travel demand surged in India by 14.8 per cent in February, the highest worldwide, partly on the back of airlines keeping ticket prices lower to stimulate market in lean travel season, global airlines body Iata said in its monthly traffic report on Thursday.

According to Iata, the overall global demand rose 6.2 per cent in February 2015 over the same month last year with international demand up by 6.8 per cent while domestic demand seeing a growth of 5.3 per cent in the reporting month.

“The strongest growth occured in India and Brazil, followed by China, which benefitted from Lunar New Year-related travel,” Iata said in a release.

“Demand in India began to improve in the latter part of 2014, partly owing to market stimulation, and that has continued in 2015,” it said.

March and September quarters of the fiscal are traditionally lean seasons for the airlines in the country, and people are wooed with low fares.

05/04/15 PTI/Khaleej Times

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Helipads to spur giant leap for healthcare in city

Ahmedabad: Helipad on the hospital roof is the next big leap for healthcare in Ahmedabad. Hospitals in the city have planned new-generation facilities including air ambulance services and are building helipads. 

With several government and private hospitals considering helipads for their projects, the usage of helicopters in the hospital market of Ahmedabad is set to rise. For instance, Zydus Hospitals in Ahmedabad has built a helipad on the rooftop of its 15-floor facility at a total cost of about Rs 70 lakh. The 550-bed hospital, set up at an investment of Rs 55 crore, plans to start an air ambulance facility in future. 

"We have plans to offer the air ambulance service but will not start immediately and wait for the economy to grow," said Pankaj Patel, founder of the hospital and chairman of Cadila Healthcare. "We have already built a helipad at Zydus Hospital and will keep a watch on the demand for air ambulance services." 
05/04/15 Chitra Unnithan/Times of India

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HAL Records Over Rs 15k Cr Turnover

Bengaluru: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) registered its highest ever profit in the financial year 2014-15. According to a release issued here, the public sector undertaking recorded a turnover of Rs 15,480 crore (provisional) in 2014-15, as against Rs 15,128 crore achieved in FY 2013-14. ?Our performance is in line with the MoU signed with the Ministry of Defence and we expect an ?Excellent? rating for FY 2014-15. The capital expenditure (CAPEX) target of Rs 900 crore has been achieved and we are happy on the indigenisation front. Over 2,000 items were produced, resulting in savings of Rs 100 crore,? said HAL chairman and managing director T Suvarna Raju. 05/04/15 New Indian Express

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Modi?s France visit gives wings to IAF dream project

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi?s visit to France next week will herald a new chapter for the Indian Air Force, as its dream project of having 360 degree ?eye in sky? is likely to take off with both countries finalising a deal for procuring two Airbus-330 aircraft to be used as platforms for AWACS-India programme. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), in its meeting held last Saturday, has given a go ahead to the proposal of acquiring the aircraft for Rs 5,113 crore and the formal signing of the deal is likely during Mr Modi?s three-nation tour, that will also take him to Germany and Canada. The DAC has also approved ?Project Maitry?, under which, India and France will be working on development of Short Range Surface to Air Missile (SR-SAM) for the Indian Navy. The two Defence deals are being seen as a consolation for France as the hectic efforts to seal a deal of acquiring 126 Rafale fighter jets for the IAF were unlikely to get the desired results. The French leadership was particularly keen to finalise the 20 billion dollars defence deal for Medium-Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) during Mr Modi?s Paris visit, as the long-drawn talks for finalising the contract remain inconclusive even after three years of tough negotiations between the two sides. 05/04/15 Day and Night News

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Flier alleges he lost valuables during security check

Mumbai: A Muscat-bound flier, Johny Borges, 57, has alleged that his silver bracelet and a collector's pen went missing during the security check at the Mumbai airport, on Tuesday night, and that he was warned of having to pay up a fine if he insisted on examining the CCTV camera footage.
Travelling on a Jet Airways flight 9W540, Borges, who is working in Muscat since 1983, has forwarded the complaint to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), responsible for the Mumbai airport security, and the Indian Embassy in Oman. "I placed my bags on the belt for scanning and proceeded for frisking. At this point, I noticed that my passport pouch had been opened by security personnel," he said.
The pouch was open as it came out of the x-ray scanner, he said. "When pointed out that a pen, a Cross collector's piece, was not there, the officials claimed that the pouch was already open and the pen might have fallen out," he said, adding that he didn't pursue the matter as he had to board the plane, but in the course of discussion, he mentioned wanting to check the CCTV camera footage.
Borges's daughter Jane, a journalist with a Muscat daily, alleged that the security officials told Borges that he was free to view the footage but wouldn't be able to prove anything. "They threatened him with a fine, and made him sign on a register stating that all his bags and their contents were in order," she said.
05/04/15 Aditya Anand/Mumbai Mirror

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Hinterland turns lucrative for domestic airlines

New Delhi: With the near-saturation on the metro routes, domestic airlines have started looking at expanding on the regional sector to propel growth and profits, along with complying with the government's route dispersal guidelines (RDG) and earn credits under the proposed domestic flying credit (DFC) rule for flying abroad. A senior airline executive, who did not want to be named, said the economics of flying on regional destinations has started to make sense with the revenues earned on them easily covering the operational costs. "Many of the airports in some of these remote places are offering better rates and even the jet fuel taxes are lower. Most airlines operating on these routes use smaller aircraft that weigh under 40 tonne and so taxes on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) are lower at 4%. All these incentives keep the cost low and so they have to earn lower revenues to make profit," he said. 04/04/15 Praveena Sharma/Daily News & Analysis

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Private jet Four Seasons to take 52 travellers out on a world trip

Mumbai: Hospitality major Four Seasons' branded jet, that has embarked on its maiden world tour with 52 enthusiastic travellers who have paid $120,000 for a ticket, has touched down at the Maximum City on Thursday night. The guests on this $6.2-million tour, including top businessmen, entrepreneurs and some eminent personalities will be in Mumbai for two days and will be visiting architectural sites at Elephanta Caves, taking lessons in Indian cooking, going on hot air balloon trips over Lonavala, and visiting Asia's largest slum Dharavi. The Four Seasons Jet, a completely custom-designed Boeing 757, is the hospitality industry's first fully branded private jet that started its maiden trip from Los Angeles, on to Hawaii, Bora Bora, Sydney, Bali, Chiang Mai, and now in Mumbai before taking off for Istanbul and finally London. "Making India part of the first Four Seasons branded jet aroundthe-world experience reaffirms the significance of India and Mumbai. 04/04/15 Kailash Babar/Economic Times

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Centre’s civil aviation policy faces stiff resistance from 24 states

New Delhi: The Modi government’s policy to take states on board has put a spanner on the new civil aviation policy with as many as 24 states opposing a proposal to develop only six international airports in the country.
The civil aviation ministry’s plan to develop Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad as international hub airports has seen stiff resistance even from BJP-ruled states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Punjab (in partnership with Shiromani Akali Dal). The opposition has delayed the announcement of the policy which was initially scheduled for notification by the end of January this year.
Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has communicated to the civil aviation ministry that no such proposal should be considered at the cost of harming connectivity out of other states.
“Their contention is that since most Indian airlines have their bases out of Delhi and Mumbai, to what extent can such a proposal restricting access of foreign carriers out of other states help? Even if such a policy is being considered to help Indian carriers, MP has said it should not be done at the expense of international connectivity out of other states”, said an official in the ministry of civil aviation who did not wish to be identified.
03/04/15  Sharmistha Mukherjee/Indian Express

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