UTC Aerospace Systems gets FAA nod to manufacture products in India

The Indian subsidiary of United States-based UTC Aerospace Systems (UTAS) said the recent approval from the US Federal Aviation Authority to one of its products being manufactured in the country will give a push to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Make in India' campaign. The US regulator has for the first time given approval for two aircraft parts manufactured in India — a four-person life raft developed by the Indian arm of UTAS and nickel-cadmium batteries developed by Hyderabad-based HBL Power Systems.

"Manufacturing for commercial aviation is primarily limited to the US and Europe. An FAA approval to our product is an acceptance of the India manufactured product for the world and will definitely give a big boost to the 'Make in India' initiative, as we will see many more companies applying for such permissions," Chris Rao, vice-president and head of UTAS India told ET.
Rao added that his company will apply for approvals for quite a few other products they manufacture in the country.
04/02/15 Economic Times

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Air passengers association demands transparent airfare structure

Chennai:  The Air Passengers Association of India (APAI) has urged ministry of civil aviation to bring about a transparent and passenger friendly airfare structure.

In a letter to minister of civil aviation Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati and Directorate General of Civil Aviation ( DGCA), APAI president D Sudhakara Reddy said, "Airlines should have an all-inclusive base fare except for user development fee, airport development fee, passenger service fee, service tax, wherever applicable, which are based on the miles travelled and the cost of the fare mentioned in the ticket."

"There is no need for confusing classifications like base fare, fuel surcharge and others. Base fare and fuel surcharge should be merged to enable passengers understand what is the cost of air fare. The passenger need to know only the route specific or airport specific taxes and fees separately," he added.
31/01/15 V Ayyappan/Times of India

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Need to have look at tax of aviation turbine fuel: Ashok Gajapathi Raju

Guwahati: With Northeastern states complaining about the "steep" increase in the fare of airlines, Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati said that operational cost of airlines has to be come down and there is need to have look at tax of aviation turbine fuel (ATF) as it ranges from 2 percent to 30 percent.

The minister who was in Guwahati on Friday said both state government and Centre has to be aviation friendly.  "Airlines companies say that 45 percent of their operational cost is consumed by fuel. Air service operators have also said that airport charges are high."
 The minister added that there is need to have a look at taxes of ATF. "In those states were aviation has grown taxes on ATF has been lowered."
31/01/15  Bikash Singh/Economic Times

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US-India Cooperation on Naval Aviation: Game Changer?

One of the potentially most interesting developments to emerge from President Obama’s recent trip to India was news that the United States and India have decided to embark on cooperative efforts with respect to naval aviation.  Of course, India and the United States already enjoy some degree of collaboration, as the U.S. has assisted the Indian Navy with pilot training and deck management for several years. Still, the open discussion of this relationship implies a more expansive, longer-term cooperative framework than has previous been clear.

India has taken a much different road with its carrier force than the United States. It’s current carriers are transplants from the United Kingdom and Russia, albeit with significant modification.  Instead of pursuing a common design for its three carriers, the Indian Navy has settled on three different designs, with potentially serious implications for compatibility and air crew training. Both INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant will use a ski-jump to launch aircraft, a system never employed on a U.S carrier.

It will be interesting to see whether the discussion about carrier cooperation and development simply reaffirms the existing degree of collaboration, or whether it extends to operations and even naval architectures.
31/01/15 Robert Farley/The Diplomat

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Raju route to 'vibrant' skies

Guwahati: The Centre and state governments of the Northeast should reduce operational costs of airlines to provide them incentives to fly in the region and make the skies "vibrant", Union minister for civil aviation P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju said here today.

"The government of India and the state governments in the region have to be aviation-friendly in order to make the sector vibrant. The Centre needs to upgrade infrastructure to make it affordable for airlines to serve the people. The states need to reduce taxation on aviation turbine fuel, which comprises 45 per cent of the operational cost of airlines," Raju said.

The taxation rates, as far as aviation turbine fuel is concerned, vary from state to state. "In some states, it is two per cent and in others it is over 30 per cent," he said.

Before his visit to the city, the Union minister, along with a team from the ministry, met representatives of the state government in Dibrugarh to take stock of the problems affecting the region's aviation sector.

"We had meaningful discussions but there are plenty of impediments to the sector's progress in the Northeast. Apart from improving connectivity by reaching out to the interiors and making air travel, including emergency services, affordable, there is a need to develop the cargo scene as the demand continues to be zero. Tourism also needs to be encouraged," Raju said.
31/01/15 Telegraph India

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Security officials at IGI airport fail basic security test

New Delhi: "WHAT is RDX?" "What does BCAS stand for?"
Twenty-four security officials hired at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport could not answer these questions and failed the aviation sector (AvSec) test conducted by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) for Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) officials.
One of those who failed to clear the test was the chief security officer responsible for security at the airport. Only two managed to pass the test whose results were announced last week.According to BCAS, this is a basic test necessary for every security official deployed at the airport. The AvSec test of the 26 DIAL officials was held on January 17 and the staff had attended classes before appearing for the same.

A BCAS official said, due to shortage of qualified staff, the agency is forced to deploy failed staff on airport duty. "Not just DIAL officials, there are other senior officials, including DIGs and assistant commandants of CISF, who have also not cleared the exam but continue to head security at airports," the official added, requesting to stay anonymous.

"This is the easiest test mandatory for security personnel posted at airports. If the staff is unable to answer such easy questions even after taking proper classes by trained instructors, then the aviation industry is not the place for them. In recent tests taken by DIAL staff, almost 95% examinees have failed. It shows the seriousness of the agency towards the test," a senior official in the Ministry of Civil Aviation told MAIL TODAY.
31/01/15 Ankur Sharma/India Today

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Suvarna Raju is new Chairman of HAL

Bengaluru:  T Suvarna Raju has taken charge as Chairman, HAL. Raju, known for speeding up the company’s patent filing, has taken over the reins from Dr R K Tyagi.

“Given the high expectation built around the company, my priorities would be to concentrate on operational excellence, and build the company as a technology powerhouse,” he said.

He said he wanted HAL to stand out as an example of the Government’s ‘Make-in-India’ endeavour, even while admitting that it would be a challenging task to achieve in the field of aviation.
31/01/15 Business Line

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Bring down VAT on ATF to 5% to enhance and increase air traffics: PHD Chamber

Mumbai: GMR Aviation Summit 2015 held here today recommended drastic VAT cuts on ATF from average rate of 22% to less than 5%, arguing that states that have so done, seen immediate connectivity and traffic impact of this incentive.

The white paper released on the occasion on ‘Developing Regional & Remote Connectivity’ by senior government functionaries and industry representatives under aegis of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, demanded that lowering ATF taxes would fuel connectivity to regional air and cargo hubs and increase their traffic drastically.

The white paper which was released jointly by Ambassador of Turkey to India Dr. Burak Akcapar, Joint Secretary Ministry of Civil Aviation Mr. Balwinder Singh Bhullar, Vice President, PHD Chamber Mr. Gopal Jiwarajka, Secretary, Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Mr. Alok Shekhar, Chairman & Co-Chairman, Civil Aviation Committee, PHD Chamber Mr. K Narayana Rao and Mr. Bhupesh Joshi, however, adds that with a reduction of VAT on ATF from 20% to 4%, Chhattisgarh has seen almost 100% increased in air connectivity.
31/01/15 Indiainfoline

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5/20 Rule Hits Proposed Air Kerala's Gulf Aspirations

Kochi/Bengaluru: Proposed state-run carrier Air Kerala is eager to take wings to the Gulf  albeit it has not received final clearances to commence operations from competent authorities.  A key stumbling block for the aspiring carrier is the contentious 5/20 (5-year operation with 20 aircraft) rule required for international route operations.

Air Kerala has been fancying its chances to get clearances to operate international routes in the wake of rising voices to aviation authorities asking for a rethink on this rule. However, many desi airline operators who had long sought for relaxation of this rule, seem to have a change of heart as the easing of the 5/20 rule will give ‘undue advantage’ to new carriers.

With keen interest in flying to the Gulf region over domestic operations, government authorities are leaving no stone unturned to give wings to their airline proposal.  “We are hopeful that the government will relax these (5/20) norms. The original purpose of Air Kerala is to serve Non Resident Keralites (NRKs) in the Gulf region by protecting them against exploitation. If domestic operations are started, they will not serve the true purpose of the project,” KC Joseph, NRK Affairs Minister of  Kerala told Express.

According to airline operators and analysts, India that aims to become one of the biggest civil aviation markets in the world by 2020 is said to have some of the most regressive regulations impeding the growth of the sector. Malaysia-based low cost carrier AirAsia had said that the 5/20 rule is not allowing India to tap the potential of tourism.
30/01/15 Pramod Thomas/Sharan Poovanna/New Indian Express

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Ratan Tata’s sky-high ode to JRD Tata

Corporate and aviation elite assembled at Mumbai's Taj Lands End on Wednesday evening to celebrate the launch of Vistara, the full-service airline started by the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines.

The evening's highlight was a short, evocative speech by Ratan Tata. When it ended, invitees gave the eminence grise a standing ovation.

"My mind goes back to over 20 years ago," Tata said in the speech, "when Mr JRD Tata and myself were called by the cabinet secretary at that time, who said they were going to privatise the airline industry. Prime Minister Narasimha Rao had been in Singapore and signed a protocol of doing something together."

JRD Tata, a passionate aviator, was excited by the opportunity to start another airline. But he was also aware that the Tatas had been out of the business for a long time. They decided to look for a capable partner and provide India a world-class domestic airline.
30/01/15 Economic Times

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Airlines Announce Discounted Fares to Tide over Lean Season; Lakhs Of Tickets go on Sale

Airfares of domestic carriers have gone down by almost 50% as the airline sector seeks to fill maximum seats during the lean season – January to April -- thereby improving the load factor.
On Wednesday, SpiceJet announced 5 lakh tickets going on the block with fares starting as low as ?1,499 all inclusive. To avail the offer flyers have to book the tickets by 30 January for travel between 15 February and June 2015.

Full service airline, Jet Airways has also announced an all-inclusive return ticket offer, starting from ?4,459. The scheme is open till 31 March. Its Goa-Mumbai tickets have been priced at ?4,459 and Delhi-Leh route costing ?6,826.

India's largest carrier by market share – Indigo Airlines -- has also dropped its 90-day advance fare, with the important Delhi-Mumbai route costing ?3,002.
Flying costs over the summer season is expected to break through the upper ceiling. With the aviation ministry deciding to scrap the proposal on capping the maximum domestic fares at ?20,000; airline fares for the seasonal period is expected become very expensive.
29/01/15  Kuganandhan Paramanandan/International Business Times

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Wait gets longer for Indian e-tailers to deliver via drone

New Delhi: E-commerce players may not be allowed to use unmanned aerial systems (UAS) like ‘drone’ for commercial purposes even after the United Nations’ global body for airlines, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), came out with standards and policies for UAS, owing to the country’s poor civil aviation standards.

Top government sources said India’s poor civil aviation standards has made external agencies firmly believe that use of UAS in India’s air space will be a risky venture. India’s aviation sector was downgraded by United States Federal Aviation Administration (USFAA) in January last year over air safety oversight.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) banned the use of drones in September last year and said it is working on formulating rules and regulations in this regard but will wait till the ICAO publishes Standards And Recommended Practices (SARPs) for their certification and operation.
30/01/15 Sanjay Singh/Financial Express

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Hawaizaada fails to take off

Taking wild liberties with both history and science, Hawaizaada is a film that flies off at a tangent in its ill-advised bid to labour the point that it was an Indian who was the world's first man to fly an aircraft.

The inspiration for writer-director Vibhu Virender Puri's first film is the real-life Shivkar Talpade, a grassroots inventor whose fascination for flying drove him to try the impossible way back in the 1890s almost a decade before the Wright brothers marked the beginning of aviation. But that is where the film's connection with any semblance of reality ends.
The rest of Hawaizaada is a fluffy, over-the-top re-imagining of how the maverick might have fared with his adventures.

If the film is to be believed, Talpade and the woman in his life were actually in the aircraft when it took off over the sea in Mumbai on November 7, 1895.

The original title of Hawaizaada was Bambai Fairytale. Had the makers stuck to it, the film might have been easier to understand. Hawaizaada is after all a musical fantasy that seeks to pass off fiction as reality.

It swings between the severely laboured and the overly flashy all through its running time, which goes beyond the two-and-a-half-hour mark.
30/01/15 PTI/Deccan Herald

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Wait gets longer for Indian e-tailers to deliver via drone

New Delhi: E-commerce players may not be allowed to use unmanned aerial systems (UAS) like ‘drone’ for commercial purposes even after the United Nations’ global body for airlines, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), came out with standards and policies for UAS, owing to the country’s poor civil aviation standards.

Top government sources said India’s poor civil aviation standards has made external agencies firmly believe that use of UAS in India’s air space will be a risky venture. India’s aviation sector was downgraded by United States Federal Aviation Administration (USFAA) in January last year over air safety oversight.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) banned the use of drones in September last year and said it is working on formulating rules and regulations in this regard but will wait till the ICAO publishes Standards And Recommended Practices (SARPs) for their certification and operation.

The DGCA  is now taking help on the civil operation of UAS from air navigation service providers, the ministry of defence and ministry of home and other concerned security agencies, who have sought feedback from the aviation regulator concerning  the use of UAVs.
30/01/15 Sanjay Singh/Financial Express

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Ecuador ‘restricts’ Dhruv choppers

Ahead of India's biggest air expo — Aero India 2015, Bengaluru-based Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) suffered a major setback with Equador deciding to 'restrict' flying of HAL made Dhruv helicopters following repeated mishaps. The decision comes as a shock at a time when the Indian government is planning and pushing for export of military hardware. Ecuador's move is expected reflect on the quality of aviation components made in India at the upcoming Aero India-2015 where multicrore aviation deals are expected to be struck.
Ecuadorian Air Force had procured seven Dhruv choppers from HAL during Aero India 2009 as part of a deal estimated to cost about US$ 45 million. According to sources, two of the Dhruvs had crashed previously while two choppers met with repeated mishaps in less than a fortnight period. "Three aircraft have had their operations restricted because they are undergoing a complete check," Security Minister Cesar Navas was quoted as saying by El Universo newspaper after the accident on January 27. It was the fourth Dhruv to suffer an accident since 2009.
Dhruv helicopter FAE 605 allegedly caught fire in Ecuador's Amazon region on January 27 after taking off at a military base in Tena, according to local media. Two people were injured in the mishap. Incidentally, this mishap occurred at a time when an Indian team was already there to probe the incident that took place on January 13.
30/01/15 Niranjan Kaggere/Bangalore Mirror

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Jet Airways, GoAir join the fare war

Mumbai: Jet Airways and GoAir have joined rival SpiceJet in lowering fares on advance bookings for travel in the next few months.

The two Mumbai-based carriers came up with the offer a day after SpiceJet, under its new promoter Ajay Singh, unveiled the first round of discounts for 2015.

Budget airline SpiceJet is offering 500,000 seats at a one-way fare starting at ?1,499 for a three-day period ending January 31.

Similarly, full services player Jet Airways is offering return tickets on certain routes starting at ?4,459 for travel till March 31.

For instance, flights on the Kochi-Mumbai route are starting at ?2,999, says the company’s website.

GoAir said it will offer discounted airfares to 22 cities for travel till April 15.

Flights on the Mumbai-Delhi leg start at an all-inclusive fare of ?2,999, according to the GoAir website.
29/01/15 Business Line

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Experts seek budgetary support for aviation sector

Mumbai:  Experts have asked the government to notify aviation turbine fuel as a declared good and lay a clear road map for sale of Air India among other measures to be considered in the forthcoming Union budget.

“The notification on declared good should be with immediate effect. It is much more prudent to generate tax from downstream goods and services than an industrial raw material (ATF). ATF in India is 55-60 per cent costlier than the Gulf and ASEAN region. The cascading effects of ATF taxes have brought ruin to the airline sector. ATF should have a uniform levy of 4 per cent across India,” said Amber Dubey, partner and India head of Aerospace and Defence, KPMG.

“The government should announce a clear road map for auction of Air India to the private sector. Else Air India will continue to bleed under increasing competition, falling market share and increasing costs. Low fare offers by the taxpayer-funded- airline distorts the market. The taxpayers’ funds should be used for development of the entire aviation sector and not just one player,” Mr. Dubey added.
29/01/15 Lalatendu Mishra/The Hindu

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Airlines get a chance to revive flagging fortunes

New Delhi: The buzz among the optimists in the aviation sector is that some airlines could report improved results for the quarter ended December, numbers for which will be out soon. Both Jet Airways and SpiceJet, the two carriers listed on the stock market, have seen a sharp rise in their share price in the last one month. While Jet Airways has soared 30.5 per cent, SpiceJet, which is in the midst of changing hands from the Maran family to a group of investors led by Ajay Singh, has recorded a gain of 17 per cent. If aviation industry executives are to be believed, the current quarter will be even better - "simply rocking". Of course, given the troubled history of the industry, it means the airlines will break even or make some money, that too unless nobody launches a foolhardy tariff war.

The biggest contributor to the turnaround is the dramatic drop in the prices of aviation turbine fuel, or ATF, which constitutes 50-55 per cent of an airline's operating costs. As oil producing countries pump out huge quantities of crude oil, apparently in a bid to finish off the nascent shale gas sector, ATF prices have fallen sharply in the last four months: from Rs 67,500 a kiloliter in October to Rs 52,000 now, a drop of 22 per cent. In the December-ended quarter, ATF, on an average, was 14.3 per cent cheaper than the year-ago quarter. In the current quarter, the expectation is that it will be 24 per cent cheaper when compared to the same quarter of the previous financial year.
28/01/15 Surajeet Das Gupta/Business Standard

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Air Kerala more keen to switch to Gulf flights at first opportunity

 Air Kerala, a proposed regional carrier, is likely to obtain the clearances and may launch operations in the middle of April.

The domestic air traffic is controlled upto 80% extent by IndiGo, Jet Airways, SpiceJet and GoAir as members of the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), with Air India have left them a couple of months ago.  FIA are lobbying against the withdrawal or amendment to the 5/20 Rule that the Civil Aviation Ministry may introduce as this will give an unfair advantage to both Vistara and Air Asia India.

It is a question of time before this change is brought about.  In addition to Vistara and Air Asia India, a strong contender to support this move would come from Air Kerala when it begins its operation.  Practically, every single family in Kerala has at least one member of the family working in the Middle East and the expatriate population of Keralites is the largest segment of Indians in the region.  Air India will therefore face toughest competition from this new airline, which will start as a regional carrier, only to switch to Gulf flights at the first opportunity, when the rules are changed!

As was expected by the air travellers, the Tata-SIA partnered Vistara began its maiden flight on 9th January with its brand new A 320-200s with 148 passengers. It has three aircraft, which will expand to six by April.  Presently the flights are from Mumbai, Ahmedabad and New Delhi.
Because of the wintry conditions in the next few weeks Vistara has plans to start its flight schedules to cover new destinations like Goa, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Pune and Guwahati.  It may be remembered that Vistara is the only domestic airline that has 3 separate classes to meet the exacting needs of its customers.
29/01/15 moneylife

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NTSB issues new recommendations to find missing planes

Washington: Amid several recent high-profile incidents where planes have mysteriously vanished, the US aviation safety authority has issued new recommendations designed to help find wreckage faster and determine what caused crashes.

"Recent events have highlighted that recovering flight data can be costly and difficult when an accident occurs in a remote area, outside radar coverage," the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) wrote in the letter to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Malaysian Airlines flight 370 remains the most notable recent missing plane and its disappearance has driven aviation authorities worldwide to consider changes to how aircraft are tracked.

The ill-fated Boeing 777 is thought to have crashed in the South Indian Ocean, far from land and far from radar coverage. Search crews continue looking for it, but so far have found no wreckage or sign of the 239 people on board. Malaysian government today declared the disappearance of Flight MH370 an accident, nearly 11 months after the mishap.
29/01/15 PTI/Business Standard

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Birlas' Dakota aircraft, used in 1947 Kashmir war, flies into history

A 1946 Dakota aircraft, owned by B.K. Birla Group, and extensively used by G.D. Birla and his family members, is being dismantled in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain.

The unused aircraft had gone under the hammer in July 2013. The auction was held following instructions of the Madhya Pradesh High Court to disburse the pending salary of former employees of Bharat Commerce & Industry (BCI).

The BCI that falls under the Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs was shut down in 2000. Rajesh Sharma, general manager, Grasim Industries, Nagda in Ujjain district of the state, told mediapersons: "The parts of the plane are being dismantled by engineers of Dakota itself. Its parts will be taken to Gulbarga.

The bid for the aircraft was reportedly bagged by a West Bengal-based firm. This week, two years after the bidding, a team of engineers from Dakota started dismantling the plane that is standing on the Nagda airstrip once used by the Birla Group.
According to old timers, the Dakota aircraft took its last sortie from Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1990.
In all likelihood, the parts of the rare aircraft will be transported to the Kesoram Cement plant in Gulbarga district of Karnataka where it might find a home.
29/01/15 Anup Datta/Mail Today

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'Hawaizaada' to be screened for Aviation Minister

Vibhu Puri's directorial debut 'Hawaizaada' is about the achievement of an Indian, Shivkar Bapuji Talpade, who flew the first plane for 20 minutes eight years before the Wright Brothers.

We were told that Vibhu feels that it is extremely important that Shivkar Talpade is recognized for his efforts. Hence the director is very keen to host a screening? of his film? for the Aviation Minister of India. And following which, his team is trying to arrange a screening so that the aviation department of India can acknowledge Shivkar Talpade's contribution to India.

Vibhu has done a thorough research on Shivkar Talpade. In fact, he even met his family and went to Bhandarkar Institute in Pune to do an extensive research about him and his creation. Vibhu has encapsulated the life of Shivkar Talpade on screen and has recreated the era of 1895 brilliantly.
29/01/15 IndiaGlitz

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India to hard sell Tejas, Dhruv at air show

India will showcase and try to hard sell its indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv at the air show here in February to prospective buyers from abroad, an official said Wednesday.

"Tejas will be on flying and static display at the Aero India Show here Feb 18-22 to solicit foreign buyers, as we have started producing them (fighters) for the Indian Air Force (IAF)," outgoing chairman of state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) R.K. Tyagi told reporters here.

The defence behemoth will also display military and civil variants of Dhruv at the biennial international event where producers, buyers, users and other stakeholders the world over will participate in thousands.

The multi-role fighters, which are part of the first series production for induction into the IAF fleet soon, will be seen in action at the five-day aerospace event.

"We delivered the first aircraft (Mark-1 version) to the IAF recently (Jan 17). Prospective buyers will be briefed on the fighter's unique features and abilities in combat role," Tyagi said.
28/01/15 Web India 123

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Akshay to fly first,will wear bling later

In the past few weeks, speculations have been rife that Akshay Kumar's upcoming romcom, Singh Is Bling, has been shelved. However, Mirror has learnt that the Prabhudheva-directed film, co-starring Kriti Sanon, which was to flag off in January has been pushed to April as Akki is not happy with the way the script has turned out. And while that script is being fine-tuned, he's allotted the dates to the Raja Menon directed evacuation drama, Airlift. Producer Ashvini Yardi told Mirror, "Yes, we were to start early this year but we had to give away our dates so Akshay could complete his other film.

We are now starting in April and will make it in time for our October 2 release." Yardi however refused to comment on script changes. Meantime, Airlift which features Nimrat Kaur of The Lunchbox and Homeland fame as Akshay's leading lady, has been advanced by three months and will now go on the floors in Bhuj on February 21. The film revolving around the evacuation operation undertaken by Air India to rescue Indians trapped in Kuwait during the first Iraq war in 1990. Nikhil Advani, one of the producers on the film, confirmed this, saying, "Airlift is an ambitious project and will be mounted on a lavish scale.
29/01/15 Ankur Pathak/Ahmedabad Mirror

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No consensus yet between govt and airline operators on removal of 5/20 rule

New Delhi: The government has given domestic airlines one more week to come up with final suggestions on the removal of the 5/20 rule and subsequent changes to the route dispersal guidelines (RDGs). This comes after a meeting between airline officials and civil aviation ministry officials on Wednesday failed to yield a consensus.

The 5/20 rule, which allows domestic airlines to fly overseas only after five years of operations and after they have a fleet of 20 aircraft, has long been a subject of contention within the industry. The aviation minister, P Ashok Gajapathi Raju has said the rule is archaic, and new airlines such as Vistara and AirAsia, are also batting for its removal.

But, incumbents such as GoAir and IndiGo, led by industry association Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), have said the rule should stay both because it has helped in developing regional air connectivity, and because its removal will give newer players an unfair advantage. Flying overseas will give new players access to cheaper fuel and higher paying passengers.

“Airlines have been given one more week to submit their response after they sought more time from us today,” a government official said, after a meeting attended by all seven carriers, Air India, Jet Airways, GoAir, IndiGo, SpiceJet, AirAsia and Vistara.
Both FIA and Vistara have already submitted their responses. “The Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) on behalf of its member airlines strongly recommend that the current regime of 5/20 and RDG be continued as is, with minimal changes as recommended in the enclosed submission to ensure continued servicing of National Interests,” the letter sent by FIA to the ministry said.
28/01/15 Business Standard

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Old carriers oppose easy overseas flying rights for new players

New Delhi:  All 'old' Indian carriers, including Air India, Jet Airways and IndiGo, have firmly opposed the aviation ministry's move to relax the rule that an Indian airline must be at least five-year-old and have 20 planes in its fleet as a pre-condition to fly abroad. The ministry called a meeting of all airlines on this 5/20 rule on Wednesday and gave them one more week to give their views on the issue.

"Aviation secretary V Somasundaran categorically told us Wednesday that 5/20 will have to go and we must now give our views on what the change should be like. Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju had earlier said that 5/20 will go. All old airlines have opposed this change as they suffered huge losses meeting the requirement of flying to uneconomic routes in remote areas for five years after which they got rights to fly abroad. The change is to benefit new players," said a senior official of an airline, who attended the meeting.

National carrier AI has also opposed this change. "UPA did massive damage to Indian carriers' interests in general and AI's in particular by giving massive flying rights to Gulf carriers. So much so that a leading Gulf airline is now called India's de facto national carrier.
29/01/15 Times of India

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Airlines get a week more to file response on intl ops norms

New Delhi: Government today gave one week's more time to domestic carriers to file their submission on its proposed new norms for international operations and revision of route dispersal guideline (RDG).

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Indian airlines called by the government here today.

"The airlines sought some more time to file their response to the issue at the meeting. They have been given time for one more week to do so," a ministry official said.

The meeting was attended by all seven domestic carriers - Air India, Jet Airways, GoAir, IndiGo, SpiceJet, AirAsia India and Vistara.

Recently, the government had proposed to replace the 5/20 rule which makes it mandatory for airlines to have five years of domestic operations and a 20 aircraft fleet to become eligible for flying international.
    Besides, it had also proposed to revise the RDG which makes it compulsory for domestic airlines to deploy a certain percentage of their capacity in under-served areas in the North East, J&K and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
28/01/15 PTI/Business Standard

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Flyers' body seeks uniform, customer-friendly fare structure

New Delhi: Charging the airlines with hiking the cancellations fee by a whopping 300 per cent in the last four years, flyers' body APAI today asked the government to direct the carriers to formulate a uniform, transparent and customer-friendly fare structure.

Air Passengers Association of India (APAI), in a letter to the Civil Aviation Ministry, also sought reduction in fuel surcharge by the airlines, which came into being in 2008 after the oil prices jumped to USD 147.02 per barrel.

"It is also pertinent to note that the cancellation charges levied by airlines have gone up by more than 300 per cent in the last 4 years and this must be addressed specially when they (the airlines) have special low-fare offers," the APAI letter said.

Some of the airlines in the country charge fee for cancelling a ticket which is as high as Rs 5000 for international travel and Rs 1,750 for a domestic journey.

Private carrier Jet Airways had recently announced waiving off the cancellation charges both for domestic and international tickets but only when done within a stipulated time.
28/01/15 PTI/Business Standard

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Airlines body for uniform fare

Chennai: Air Passengers Association of India has urged the aviation ministry to ensure airlines have a uniform policy in air fare structure, which is passenger friendly and transparent.

The cancellation charges levied by airlines have increased by over 300 per cent in the last four years. This must be addressed when they have special low fare offers. “We are certain that the Ministry will formulate a policy by advising the regulator,” the association’s president D Sudhakara Reddy, said in a press release.

Some of the airlines are charging transaction fee and convenience fee that are totally unjustified. They relate to booking on the website for which they must offer a special reduction considering the fact that they have no one else to pay for issuing the ticket, the release said.
28/01/15 Business Line

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Airlines' issues will be addressed in time-bound manner: Civil Aviation MoS

Mumbai: Invoking the Prime Minister’s vision of taking India’s story of heritage and culture through tourism globally, Dr Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State with Independent Charge for Tourism and Culture and Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Government of India, said “It cannot be a one-way traffic when we talk of increasing tourism to India. It has to be a win-win situation for all of us.” He was speaking at the ‘Interaction Between Tourism and Airlines’ - a first-of-its-kind initiative by the Union Ministries of Civil Aviation and Tourism, and Federation of Associations of Indian Travel and Hospitality (FAITH), organised last week at Le Méridien New Delhi.

The high-powered meeting was attended by about 50 top national and international carriers and stakeholders from the industry, Secretaries of the two ministries, Additional Secretary, Additional Director General, Joint Secretary from Tourism, and other top officials from the two ministries.

The meeting was aimed at bringing tourism and aviation sectors closer and devising a ‘draft of working’ where both industries work together for the growth of Indian aviation and tourism, create opportunities for India tourism for stakeholders, and unleash the sector’s potential for the socio-economic development of the country.
28/01/15 TravelBizMonitor

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Food in high places

At 30,000 feet, the first to go are your taste-buds. Add to that the white noise — a steady, unvarying sound — inside the cabin distorting a passenger’s perception of food, and you can explain the notoriety of in-flight meals.

Though nearly 100 years have passed since food began to be served on flights, experts around the world are still tweaking their recommendations on what will work at altitudes that make even five-star meals taste ordinary. The fact that most dishes are pre-cooked and reheated does not make it any easier. 

In India, the arrival of Vistara — a joint venture between the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines — has seen the war for winning customer loyalties intensify with the meal tray turning into one of the crucial battlefronts. Before its launch on January 9, the youngest airline in India conducted extensive research on what would work and what may not. A survey found, among other things, that the food not only had to be healthy and different, but also presented well.  “Fliers wanted something different,” says Daman Pathak, Manager, In-flight Services and Standards, Vistara. During a visit to the flight kitchen, Arun Batra, Executive Chef of TajSats Air Catering, which handles in-flight catering for Vistara, showed BusinessLine how even a touch of paprika can add colour to the food served. The team at Vistara attended the biggest in-flight catering show in Hamburg, Germany, for ideas. Giam Ming Toh, the airline’s Chief Commercial Officer, also gave inputs based on his interactions with fliers when he headed Singapore Airlines in India before joining Vistara.
28/01/15 Ashwini Phadnis/Adith Charlie/Business Line

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DGCA yet to formulate regulatory mechanism for private drones

New Delhi: Even as the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has banned use of drones for commercial purposes, it is yet to formulate a mechanism to regulate their operations in keeping with the associated security concerns.

The issue has gained significance particularly after a drone, being flown for recreational purposes, crashed into a tree in the White House lawns in the United States on Monday. It reportedly went undetected by the highly sophisticated radar system installed at the seat of power.

“The incident is, in a way, a confirmation of our concerns over approval for use of drones by private entities without having a regulatory mechanism in place,”said an official, adding that the commercial use of drones was banned last September by the DGCA citing air-space security reasons till a regulatory mechanism was devised.

Commercial use of drones was brought to the notice of the government after the Mumbai Police raised questions on a restaurant carrying out a test delivery of pizza to a customer using an unmanned aerial vehicle. Global e-commerce giant Amazon also had plans to use drones as part of goods-delivery mechanism.
28/01/15 Devesh K Pandey/The Hindu

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FL Technics Jets Enters the Indian Business Aviation MRO Market

FL Technics Jets, a global provider of tailor-made maintenance, repair and overhaul services for business aviation, is delighted to announce the start of cooperation with its first customer from India – B. G. Shirke Construction Technology Pvt. Ltd. Under the recently signed agreement, FL Technics Jets will support the customer’s business jet fleet with various spare parts and components supply solutions.

B. G. Shirke Construction Technology Pvt. Ltd., India’s largest precast concrete producer, operates a fleet of 5 aircraft, including two Hawker 800XP aircraft. FL Technics Jets will support the Indian company with routine and AOG spare parts supply solutions in the home country and abroad. The range of the supplied inventory will cover airframe, engines, landing gears, APU as well as other components and rotable materials.
27/01/15 AviationPros

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No proof that Shivkar Bapuji Talpade flew world's first unmanned aircraft says Ayushmann Khurrana

Kolkata: Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana says they do not have any proof whether Shivkar Bapuji Talpade, on whom his next film 'Hawaizaada' is based on, flew the world's first unmanned aircraft. "We have no proof that he flew the first plane. We do not know if it was true or not but we should know that someone like him existed. The film is about a conspiracy theory," Khurrana told reporters here.

He is playing Talpade in 'Hawaizaada' which releases on January 30.  Directed by Vibhu Virender Puri, it is an inspiring story of the maverick Indian scientist-engineer who is believed by some people to have built and flown the world's first unmanned aircraft, eight years before the Wright Brothers in 1895.

"We were told that he flew the plane in Mumbai's Chowpatty in 1895. Hundreds of people including Bal Gangadhar Tilak were present that time. He could not get it patented as India was then a British colony. The media was controlled by the Britishers and so there were no reports. How come all inventions are made by the West?," Khurrana, 30, said.
He said very little is known about the life and personality of Talpade.

"It is very difficult to make a film on him. It is very easy to make a film on Gandhi, Mary Kom and Milkha Singh because we all know them. Here we don't know much about him," he said. The actor who has made his mark in films like 'Vicky Donor' and 'Nautanki Saala' said he has been playing the conventional urban guy in his recent films.
28/01/15 PTI/Deccan Chronicle

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AAI approves Chennai-Tiruchi radar data transfer

Tiruchi: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has accorded in principle approval for transfer of radar data from the Chennai airport to Tiruchi international airport.

The data transfer will enhance air traffic surveillance mechanism of the Tiruchi international airport which is not equipped with radar facility.

Airport sources said the AAI gave its nod for transfer of radar data in December as Tiruchi airport witnessed an increase in movement of flights over the years besides recording an upward trend in the number of travellers.

Tiruchi airport was equipped with advanced automation system allowing it to receive radar data from the nearby station — Chennai international airport — through the optic fibre cable mode.

The Tiruchi airport authorities have discussed with the BSNL for providing a dedicated leased line to enable transfer of radar data through OFC link.

A proposal seeking funds for providing a leased line for transfer of radar data has been forwarded to the AAI authorities.

One of the fastest growing airports in the country, Tiruchi, which is categorised under ‘Type-A’ airport, already has in place the next generation automatic dependent surveillance broadcast system.
28/01/15 R Rajaram/The Hindu

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Kolkata police not to allow private drones

Kolkata:  Days after the Chennai police said that it was considering regulation of private use of drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), Kolkata Police banned any private use of UAVs or drones in the city. This comes in the wake of a private drone crashing into the White House compound in Washington D.C. on Monday.

“Private companies or private users are not allowed to use any kind of Unmanned Ariel Vehicles (UAVs) in the city. Only government agencies are allowed to take help of Unmanned Ariel Vehicles. The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will soon issue guidelines for regarding the use of UAVs,” Joint Commissioner of Kolkata Police (Headquarters) Rajiv Mishra told journalists.

The Mumbai police also imposed a ban on private use of drones or UAVs as it posed a security threat. The decision came after a pizza outlet used an UAV to deliver a pizza as a publicity stunt in May last year.
28/01/15 The Hindu

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We filed 773 patents this year against two in 2012: RK Tyagi, HAL

State-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, after contributing to the success of Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) and GSLV Mk III launch in 2014, is now taking steps to open an Integrated Cryogenic Engine Manufacturing (ICEM) facility at Bengaluru. The facility, which will focus on manufacturing, integrating and testing the Cryogenic Engine CE20 and Semi Cryogenic Engine SE2000, would  make HAL one among the technologically prudent companies across the globe. On the R&D front, the company, under outgoing chairman RK Tyagi, has done extremely well during 2014 by focusing on patents and intellectual property rights. Over the last three years, HAL has transformed itself into a technology company from a manufacturing company. The number of patents filed by HAL increased from 71 in FY13 to 209 in FY14 and to 773 in FY15. In an interview with FE’s Huma Siddiqui, Tyagi discusses HAL’s business plans. Excerpts:

Any updates on HAL’s exports?
In line with HAL’s mission to become a global player, exports have been identified as a key thrust area. HAL has entered the global market with a diverse portfolio of products and services in the aerospace sector. With the emerging opportunities in the aviation sector and the scope in expanding HAL’s business spectrum, exports are expected to reach new heights progressively.

HAL’s exports have seen a steady growth over a period of time and the company is aiming to consolidate its position by leveraging its capabilities. Major exports during the last one year includes, supply of additional Dhruv–Advanced Light Helicopter Mk III—to the Nepal Army, handover of a second Dhruv helicopter for the Maldives and mid-life upgradation of the first Do-228 aircraft supplied to the Mauritius Police Force, besides overhaul of aircraft/helicopters/engines, supply of avionics for Su-30 and MiG-29K/KUB and upgrades. Avionics items manufactured by HAL are fitted as original equipment on Su-30 aircraft supplied by Russia to other countries.
28/01/15 Huma Siddiqui/Financial Express

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MD, Kuoni- India clears air about its B2C business unit ‘Exit’ decision

“It is business as usual at Kuoni,” stated Rajeev Wagle, managing director, Kuoni- India, in an exclusive with Express TravelWord. The recent announcement by the Kuoni headquarters (Kuoni’s board of directors and group executive board) based in Zurich to exit from its tour operating activities created a stir in the industry. The company has taken a decision to part with its B2C businesses and focus completely on the B2B and B2G business units namely Global Travel Distribution (GTD), Global Travel Services (GTS) and VFS Global. These core businesses already represent around 60 per cent of Kuoni’s current consolidated turnover. “The decision taken by the headquarters was clearly strategic to accelerate growth and profitability and take the other core business performing units to the next level of growth. M&As, ownership changes are a part of any form of business across sectors, the travel space being no exception,” mentioned Wagle, adding that the headquarters, based in Zurich, will start the formal process of seeking bids and tenders in the coming months.
28/01/15 Reema Lokesh/Financial Express

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UP Tourism shortlists three airline operators for intra-state services

As the deadline for enlisting operators for intra-state airline services in Uttar Pradesh (UP) ended last week, three airline companies have approached the State Tourism Department with interest to commence operations as per guidelines of the new Intra-state Aviation Policy announced by the government. The State Tourism Department has identified 12 routes to be covered through intra-state air operations.

According to Dr Shashank Vikram, Managing Director & Special Secretary, UP Tourism, the routes, which have been identified, include Agra, Lucknow, Varanasi, Meerut, Jhansi, and Khushinagar, among others.  “These operators have to fulfill the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) guidelines to start operations. We are hopeful of completing the process in the next one month,” he said. As far as infrastructure at these destinations are concerned, Dr Vikram said that UP has the highest number of airstrips in India.

Terming the intra-state aviation policy an open-sky policy, Dr Vikram said that various incentives are offered to operators who come forward to start operations. The state government has already announced reduction in VAT (Value Added Tax) on Air Turbine Fuel (ATF) from 21 per cent to four per cent. This is currently available for both scheduled and non-scheduled airlines, he added. Under the Intra-state Aviation Policy, the government would underwrite nine seats or 50 per cent, whichever is lower, to make operations economically viable. The government will offer Rs 20 per km for each empty seat under Viability Gap Funding (VGF), Dr Vikram added.
27/01/15 P Krishna Kumar/TravelBizMonitor

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'It was the best time to enter the Indian aviation market'

Vistara, the Tata Sons-Singapore Airlines joint venture, has hit the skies after waiting in the wings for about 16 months. It believes that for a full service airline and value-based offering, its fares are “quite competitive” compared to other airlines. Phee Teik Yeoh, the CEO of Vistara, spoke to Deccan Herald’s Shemin Joy. Excerpts:

Two weeks into operations, how is the market responding to you?
We are delighted that our customers are responding positively to our product and service. At Vistara, customer satisfaction is a key priority and we diligently monitor feedback we receive from them. Each feedback coming in makes us optimistic of the customer confidence and even more determined to focus our energies on exceeding customer expectations again and again and win their loyalty.

There are some concerns that the Vistara fares are a bit high. How do you react to it?
We are closely watching the market dynamics since we started sales almost a month ago. Fixing fares is a complex and dynamic exercise and depends upon various factors. We aim to be disciplined in pricing as our strategy is determined by the unique value proposition we offer. We hope travellers in India find our fares, value for money. Since launch, we have received overwhelming response to our product and service and through our competitive fares we hope to reach out to more and more travellers to try our unique product and service propositions.
27/01/15 Shemin Joy/Deccan Herald

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Express Industry demands domestic airlines to cut fuel surcharge

Following the sharp fall in global crude oil prices by nearly 35% over the last one year, the Express Industry Council of India (EICI), the apex body of companies providing express delivery services, have asked for an immediate withdrawal of Fuel Surcharge (FSC) levied by domestic airlines. Currently, domestic airlines in India charge between Rs. 13/- to Rs.16.50/- per kilogram as fuel surcharge.

The industry has also sought the intervention of the Civil Aviation Ministry and the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for an immediate redress of the current issue and the long term demand for the trade to have a transparent and market driven mechanism for determining such pricing.

Fuel surcharge on shipments is levied on a per kilogram basis and was introduced in May 2008 to mitigate volatility in fuel prices. Air Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices then was Rs. 58,387/kl (referenced to Delhi Airport) and the FSC was fixed by airlines at Rs. 5/kg for cargo shipments. "Currently, the ATF price is at Rs. 52,423/kl which is 10% lower than the 2008 price but the FSC charged is as high as Rs. 16.50/kg for the cargo shipments. In the past as well when fuel prices fell, airlines continued to increase their FSC. Airlines need to appreciate that FSC is purely a tool to mitigate volatility and cannot be part of cargo rates", said Vijay Kumar, chief operating officer, Express Industry Council of India.
27/01/15 My Iris

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Flypast mesmerises spectators despite weather woes

New Delhi: Despite a heavily overcast sky and light drizzle, the flypast, which marks the culmination of the Republic Day parade, as usual mesmerised the spectators Monday.

The flypast had around 30 aircraft, a mix of surveillance, transport and fighter planes.

With US President Barack Obama as the Chief Guest, the flypast included three American aircraft acquired over the last few years - P-8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft, C-130J special operations aircraft and the C-17 Globemaster heavy-lift aircraft.

The flypast commenced with three Mi-35 helicopters in a vic formation, followed by three C-130J Super Hercules.

The P-8I came next flanked by two Mig 29Ks, the newly inducted Russian fighter jets of the navy in a victor formation.

The C-17 Globemaster was next, flanked by two Su-30s, followed by five Jaguar fighter jets in arrowhead formation.
26/01/15 IANS/ZeeNews

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Mumbai-based Navy pilot, Commander Kasutubh Gosavi receives Shaurya Chakra

Mumbai: Commander Kasutubh Gosavi, a Mumbai-based Navy pilot, has been awarded the Shaurya Chakra for saving 15 lives during various helicopter search and rescue missions.

"During the month of July last year, the officer was involved in four separate gallant and courageous acts wherein he was successful in saving lives of 15 personnel in a short span of 16 days," an official statement said.

"On July 3, 2014, 842 Squadron was tasked to undertake medical evacuation of a patient who was suffering acute abdominal pain onboard MV Star Eagle.

"The officer whilst navigating through adverse weather, low visibility, rains and strong winds, winched up the patient after ascertaining his medical condition from doctor and successfully evacuated the Philippine national to base. The patient was subsequently transferred to hospital for immediate surgery thereby saving his life," the statement said.

On July 14, a distress message was received from MV Priyanka that the ship was grounded off Revdanda close to Mumbai and was listing dangerously, thereby endangering the lives of crew onboard.
26/01/15 PTI/Business Standard

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Chopper surveillance called off as US objects

Ghaziabad: The Uttar Pradesh government has junked the plan to carry out an aerial surveillance of Ghaziabad and Noida around Republic Day, after permissions were denied in view of the heightened security for US President Barack Obama.

"The plan to use a Pawan Hans helicopter for aerial surveillance of Ghaziabad and Noida has been stalled after US security agencies denied permission," said assistant superintendent of police Vipin Tada.

The state government had decided to carry out an aerial surveillance of the two cities from January 20-31 but Pawan Hans Ltd, the helicopter provider, failed to get necessary clearances from the concerned authorities.

"Unprecedented security arrangements have been put in place in and around the national capital in view of Obama's visit and no plane can fly within a radius of 400km of the Rajpath," Tada said. Airports as far in Jaipur, Agra, Lucknow and Amritsar may have to shut for few hours on Republic Day.
26/01/15 Times of India

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Scrap 5/20 rule, reduce taxation to make airlines turnaround

What is 5/20 in Indian civil aviation? Air Corporation Act of 1953 was repealed in 1994 which abolished the monopoly of Indian Airlines and Air India and allowed private airlines to operate in India.

However, Air India maintained its monopoly over international flights as no other airline was allowed to fly abroad. Slowly, domestic airlines led by Jet started demanding that they should also be allowed to go abroad. Since overseas fights involved a bilateral air service agreement between two countries, the airline of a country have to be designated in the agreement.

In order to enable private airlines to go abroad, some criteria was required and this was evolved as the formula of 5/20. This meant that an India airline could qualify for an international flight only if it has completed 5 years of domestic service and has 20 aircraft. This policy formulation was unprecedented as it was not found in any other country. It remains so even now.

Around the time the repeal of Air Corporation Act took place in 1994, the Ministry of Civil Aviation found that private airlines would not undertake unviable routes to regional cities which Indian Airlines was undertaking (after the demise of Vayudoot which is an airline owned by Air India and Indian Airlines) as part of their CSR.
26/01/15 Sanat Kaul/Deccan Herald

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Maharashtra farmer who dreamed of flying starts a school for wannabe gliders

When he was a child, Govind Yewale would watch with wonder as paragliders took off from the Panchgani hills in Satara district of Maharashtra and land in their fields.

He always wanted to experience for himself what it would be to fly like the birds.

However, when an European tourist agreed to give him a joyride, Yewale’s flight of fancy took wings and paved the way for him to pursue a career in aviation adventure sports.

“The first flight is still etched in my memory. I was a bit anxious as we lifted off the ground but then, it was an exhilarating experience to be in the sky like a bird,” said Yewale, speaking by phone from the Rann of Kutch.
That 15 minutes in the air completed his dream to be air-borne. Two decades later, Yewale is among a handful of people in India to own a paratrike, a paraglider powered by an aircraft engine with a seating for two, and one of three who rents it out for joyrides.

The Gujarat government has roped him to fly tourists on his paratrike at the Rann Utsav in Kutch.

Yewale said: “Since December 1, 2014, I have already flown 1,200 hours on the paratrike at the Rann Utsav.”

Its popularity can be judged from the fact that each five minute ride costs about Rs 2,000.
25/01/15 Ganesh N/Daily Mail

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VIP flights: DGCA raps Karnataka for not following protocol

Bengaluru: A fortnight after chief minister Siddaramaiah's helicopter caught fire, the director general of civil aviation (DGCA) has come down heavily on the Karnataka government for not maintaining protocol in flying choppers for VIPs in the state.

While most states have a wing with qualified aircraft maintenance engineers (AME), Karnataka is managing operation of VIP choppers with civil engineers of public works development (PWD) department. Asking the state to wake up before any untoward incident, the civil aviation authority reminded the PWD department officials about death of leaders GMC Balayogi, YS Rajashekara Reddy and Madhavrao Scindia in air crashes. The PWD officials got the rap when they were in New Delhi recently to get permission to get helicopter on wet lease basis for VIPs.

The government has hurriedly decided to lease an aircraft on wet lease basis after the CM's chartered helicopter caught fire. Confirming that the DGCA has warned them for lack of safety measures, a senior PWD official, who is part of the team monitoring VIP choppers, told STOI that the authority has asked the state to set up an exclusive civil aviation wing for operation, maintenance, monitoring and keeping track of movements of VIPs in helicopters.
25/01/15 Anil Kumar/Times of India

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MHA bans business jets for 3 days

Although US President Barack Obama is scheduled to meet industry leaders Monday, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has banned business jets from flying in and out of New Delhi during his visit. This is the first time that civilian airspace has been blocked for business and general aviation aircraft — planes operated by non-scheduled or charter — for a three-day period around Republic Day.

A senior official of the Civil Aviation Ministry said, “A NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) has been issued banning all non-commercial flights out of Delhi till January 28.” The MHA directive restricts aircraft weighing less than 7,000 kg from flying between January 25 and January 27. The only exception has been made for Governors and CM who can fly in lighter aircraft in this period after MHA clearances.

Security agencies have extended the no-fly zone to a radius of 400 km to cover cities such as Jaipur, Agra, Lucknow and Amritsar till the border with Pakistan this year. Previously, the no-fly zone used to be limited to a 300-km radius.
25/01/15 Sharmistha Mukherjee/Indian Express

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Air fare war may continue on low crude oil prices

The fare war in the Indian aviation sector has well and truly begun. Whether it is due to the lean period or the sharp drop in aviation fuel prices, airlines across the board are slugging out to offer lowest fares. Even full-service carriers such as Jet Airways and Air India, and even the newly launched Vistara, are luring customers with fares comparable to low-cost carriers or LCCs.

Take Jet Airways, for instance. The Naresh Goyal-promoted airline is offering tickets for Rs 4,424 for a Delhi-Mumbai flight one month from today. The fares are available at nine different time slots across the entire day. State carrier Air India's lowest fare for the same day is Rs 4,956 while Vistara's is Rs 5,481 per ticket.

Economy fares offered by LCCs such as GoAir and SpiceJet are in the same range. GoAir's economy fare varies from Rs 3,339 to Rs 6,084 on Febraury 23 for Delhi to Mumbai, and SpiceJet's economy fares are Rs 3,343 and Rs 5,559 on that day. LCC market leader IndiGo's range varies from Rs 3,051 to Rs 5,428 per ticket.
23/01/15 Manu Kaushik/Business Today

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Northeast blips on Delhi air plans

Guwahati/Agartala: The Northeast is poised to witness a major development in civil aviation with the Centre according top priority to the sector.

An Airport Authority of India (AAI) source told The Telegraph that the Narendra Modi government is taking steps to improve air connectivity in the region.

He said Union civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju would visit the region on January 28 and 29 to get a first-hand perspective of the hurdles in developing civil aviation in the Northeast.

The issue of connectivity in the region is a matter of concern since the road and rail network is not present at many places owing to difficult terrain, which has resulted in a lot of dependence on air travel.

The Union minister will also supervise the progress of work related to the development of civil aviation facilities in the Northeast. "The minister will inaugurate a new hanger and airport operations control centre (AOCC) at the LGBI Airport in Guwahati on January 28," he said.
23/01/15 Pankaj Sarma and Sekhar Datta/Telegraph

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Only CM, governor may fly over West UP during Obama visit

Lucknow: US President Barack Obama's visit to New Delhi and Agra during Republic Day celebration will turn almost whole of western UP a no-fly zone for non-scheduled aircraft and government choppers for a week beginning Friday.
The Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), issued by the Airport Authority of India (AAI), has imposed restriction for such aircraft and choppers flying within an aerial distance of 300 km from Delhi.

According to AAI sources, the restrictions will come into play from January 23 to January 29 on two time slots - 7 am to 12.30 pm and 2 pm to 6.30 pm. "No chartered or government aircraft and choppers will be allowed to fly within the radius of 300 km from Delhi," said a senior AAI official, quoting the NOTAM.  Sources, however, said that UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and Governor Ram Naik would be exempted from the restriction. Government officials, including UP chief secretary, will not be allowed to take an aerial route to a major part of west UP districts.
23/01/15 Times of India

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SpiceJet dilemma will test global aircraft investments rules

Dublin:  India faces growing pressure over financial uncertainty at budget carrier SpiceJet after leasing company BOC Aviation demanded the return of three leased aircraft, in what is seen as a test of global rules on aircraft investments.

The leasing arm of Bank of China warned in an interview that India's fast-growing airline industry could struggle to attract funds unless India upholds a pact designed to protect the owners of leased jets, widely used across the world.

"SpiceJet is a very frustrating situation," Chief Executive Robert Martin told Reuters.

"Obviously when we lease planes we like people to pay us. And if they don't pay us, then generally the way an operating lessor reacts is by moving its planes to somewhere else in the world."

BOC Aviation said it had asked for three Boeing 737s to removed from the Indian register, a step towards repossession.

The Singapore firm is among half a dozen lessors with exposure to SpiceJet, which is trying to finalise a new shareholder structure and cash lifeline.
23/01/15 Reuters/Business Standard

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Delhi no-fly zone on Republic Day, flights affected

Lucknow: light operation of as many as two scheduled flights from Delhi to Lucknow is set to be affected on January 23 and January 26 following Centre's decision to declare Delhi a no-fly zone because of US president Barack Obama's visit during Republic Day celebration.

According to the Notice to Airmen ( NOTAM) issued by the Airport Authority of India (AAI), there will be no flight movement from Delhi between 10.45am and 12.15pm on Friday and Monday (Republic Day). Therefore, no flight will be allowed to fly in or out of Delhi during this period.

The Air India flight AI 431 flies from Delhi at 12.10pm and reaches Lucknow at 1.15pm. This flight will now take off from Delhi at 12.15 pm and reach Lucknow airport at 1.20pm. The impact will be bigger on Indigo flight that flies from Delhi at 11.40am and reaches Lucknow airport at 12.45pm. This flight, therefore, will have to wait for more than half an hour at Delhi before flying at 12.15pm. It would reach Lucknow at 1.20pm.
23/01/15 Times of India

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Mahesh Sharma assures tourism, airline industries to address their concerns

New Delhi: Minister of State for Tourism (Independent Charge), Culture (Independent Charge) and Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma has said that the coordination between tourism and airlines industries is crucial for promoting tourism in the country.
He said the Government believes in bringing all stakeholders together to discuss how the air transport industry can best contribute to the development of tourism.

He was speaking at an "Interaction between Tourism and Airlines" organized by the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Civil Aviation in association with Federation of Association in Indian Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH) here on Friday.

The Minister informed that the Government has set up an agenda of 25 actionable points for the year 2015 to promote tourism.

Sharma said that the implementation of Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) enabled Visa on Arrival, for 43 countries, is showing excellent results and the Government is hopeful that this facility will be extended to all remaining countries in the near future.
23/01/15 New Kerala

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Delhi HC provides relief to DIAL on charges from airlines

The Delhi HC has provided relief to the Delhi International Airport (DIAL) from downward revision of tariffs that it charges from airlines. This relief has been extended for 3 months, even as various airlines continue to argue for lowering of tariffs. Between 2009 and 2014 the airports regulator era had fixed tariffs and had seen an increase of 346 percent. Post 2014 these tariffs were due for revision. The Delhi high court had been moved by the DIAL seeking a stay on various tariffs, on various questions of law and fact and the High Court has granted an extension of the first round of fares between 2009 and 2014. A three-month window has been granted to DIAL to continue charging these additional fares of 2009 and 2014.
23/01/15  Ashmit Kumar/CNBC-TV18/moneycontrol

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Getting ready for Obama: India agrees to no fly zone, high rise buildings to be shut

Security agencies of India are bracing for one of its biggest challenges when US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi share the dais this Republic Day.

New Delhi will be a sealed fortress on 26 January. Not just on the ground, the security arrangements even in air on Republic Day will be like 'never seen before'.
Here are some of the security arrangements that have been planned for Republic Day:

A no-fly zone around Rajpath and nearby areas will be imposed on 26 January. Apart from the unprecedented ground-to-air security drill during his visit on Republic Day, American authorities had earlier demanded a no-fly zone around Rajpath. After rejecting the demand earlier, Indian authorities gave in on Tuesday. No drones will be used, as had been suggested by American security agencies.

No plane will be be allowed within a radius of 400 kms of the venue of Rajpath as against 300 kms on earlier occasions. This means airports adjoining Delhi like Jaipur, Agra and as far as Lucknow or Amritsar may not operate flights when the function will be on in the national capital.

Sticking to past practice, no plane will land or take off at the Indira Gandhi International Airport during the time when Republic Day will be on at Rajpath.

Earlier, US authorities had demanded a 5-km-radius no-fly zone imposed around Rajpath which would have led to the traditional fly past being cancelled. A request that the Indian military authorities shot down saying that it lasted only for around 10 minutes. Even on Wednesday as Indian officials agreed to a no fly-zone, they made sure the fly past was not cancelled.
22/01/15 First Post

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Air Space Around Rajpath to Be Monitored on R-Day

For the first time, Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) are likely to be deployed here on the Republic Day for vigil from the skies during the parade where US President Barack Obama will be the Chief Guest.

The AWACS will monitor air space on and around Rajpath where the parade will be witnessed by Obama along with President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a host of other dignitaries.

Noting that it will be for the time that AWACS would be deployed for the Republic Day, official sources said the step is being taken in view of the heightened threat perception and apprehensions of aerial attack by terrorists.

The sources said the decision to deploy AWACS was taken at the request of the Americans who wanted India to tighten air space in Delhi when Obama is exposed during the Republic Day celebrations.

The AWAC detects incoming cruise missiles and aircraft from over 400-km away in all-weather conditions, and direction of air defence fighters besides picking up any low flying object which go undetected by normal radars.
21/01/15 Outlook

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Delhi airspace closed for 90 mins for 7 days

New Delhi: Delhi airspace will remain closed for commercial airlines for one and half hours daily for seven days beginning on January 19, allowing the armed forces to hone their flying skills for the Republic Day flypast that would be watched by US President Barak Obama.


The Director General of Civil Aviation issued a NOTAM (notice to airmen) on January 15, specifying the dates and time when take-off and landing would not be permitted at the Indira Gandhi international airport in Delhi.

The airspace will not be available for commercial flights between 10:45 am to 12:15 pm for six consecutive days between January 19 and 24 as well as on January 26. There is no restriction for January 25 and there would not be any flight disruption.

Since the NOTAM was available to everybody in the aviation industry and air traffic controllers well in advance, the commercial airlines should have already adjusted their flight schedules to prevent inconvenience to common passengers, said an Indian Air Force official, insisting that it was a standard practice that happens every year. However, unlike previous years, the duration of flight restriction is almost double this time.
22/01/15 Deccan Herald

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Obama in India: Federal Aviation Authority gives nod for upgrading Indian Aviation to category I

New Delhi: The Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has expedited the process of upgrading India's aviation sector to category I from II in view of US President Barack Obama's state visit to India as chief guest for this year's Republic Day celebrations.

The FAA, which met the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) last week, has said that the US regulator would be working faster to ensure that the Indian aviation sector gets upgraded as early as possible.


"An FAA representative, based in New Delhi, have indicated to us that the team from FAA will be visiting India for the final consultations during the middle of February. We should be able to get our Category I status back as soon as consultations get over," said a DGCA official, who did not wish to be identified.

The earlier plan was to upgrade India by March this year. The official said the fact that FAA wants to start the consultative meeting in February is a good enough an indication that the US regulator is expediting the process.
22/01/15 Mihir Mishra/Economic Times

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AI to Sell Assets to Prune Rs40k crore Debt; SpiceJet Receives Initial Approval for Revival, Shares Jump

The Indian civil aviation industry has finally found some tailwind.
While SpiceJet on Wednesday received necessary approvals from the civil aviation ministry to continue operating under the new management led by Ajay Singh, Air India has decided to sell some of its real-estate to reduce debt.
The state-run carrier has decided to sell real-estate assets to bring down its outstanding debt, estimated at Rs40,000 crore.

Interest payments on loans taken for buying aircraft stood at Rs3,800 crore. Losses suffered for the previous year amount to Rs36,000 crore.

Ever since the 2007 merger with Indian Airlines, Air India has never turned a profit. AI flies a combined fleet of both Boeing and Airbus planes, considered neither efficient nor an industry practice.

Filing for major orders in 2005 and 2006 has seen its debt grow disproportionate to its scale of operations, and today it has one of the most-skewed staff-to-aircraft ratio.

Currently, AI's fleet stands at 108 planes, comprising Boeing and Airbus planes, with about 23,500 employees on the rolls.
22/01/15  Kuganandhan Paramanandan/International Business Times

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Russia and India Defence Ministries to cooperate in air safety

On Wednesday, the Defence Ministries of Russia and India signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of aviation safety in New Delhi. 

Major-General Alexander Berzan, the Chief of Aviation Safety in the Russian Armed Forces, signed the document from the Russian side. The agreement was signed in the presence of defence ministers of Russia and India – Sergey Shoigu and Manohar Parrikar.

The Russian Defence Ministry spokesperson Igor Konashenkov explained that the agreement is based on the provisions of the declaration of strategic partnership between Russia and India signed on October 5, 2000.

He noted that this agreement defines the procedure for the mutual exchange of information on facts and causes of accidents and incidents related to the operation of the specific types of aircraft. Here the two sides also spelled out the principles of mutual assistance in the investigation of accidents and incidents, as well as monitoring compliance with safety requirements during joint bilateral exercises.
21/01/15 Russia & India Report

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Continue with existing norms on international ops: FIA

New Delhi: FIA, an umbrella organisation of Indian air carriers, today strongly favoured continuation of the existing norms for domestic airlines wanting to fly abroad even as Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma said that no decision was taken on the issue.

The Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), which filed its response to the new proposed norms on international operations, said that the existing rules, which make it mandatory for local airlines to first operate within the country for five year and also maintain 20 planes in its fleet, serve "national interest" and play an important part in the "socio-economic development" of the country.

"...It is, therefore, strongly recommended that the current regime of 5/20 (rule) and Route Dispersal Guideline (RDG) be continued with minimal changes as recommended (by the FIA) for servicing the national interest," the Federation said in its response submitted to the Civil Aviation Ministry.
 As per the new proposed policy, an airline will be allowed to go overseas if it has accrued two billion domestic flying credits (DFCs), has five planes in the fleet and an accident- free, one-year record.
National carrier Air India, private carriers Jet Airways, GoAir, IndiGo and SpiceJet are the FIA members. However, new entrants Vistara, which launched its operations early this month, and AirAsia India, which launched its services in the country last June, are still not part of the umbrella body.
22/01/15 PTI/India Times

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Pawan Hans needs to provide better connectivity in North-East, islands

New Delhi: The government today stressed on the need to increase the services of state-run helicopter operator Pawan Hans especially in north-east and inter-island regions for better air connectivity and give a boost to tourism.

Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Mahesh Sharma today reviewed the performance of Pawan Hans.
 The minister during the review meeting, discussed the future business strategies of the company to promote regional connectivity, specifically in north-east region and inter island, an official release said.

There is need to develop a road map and connect rural India with strategic towns to explore heritage site to give a boost to tourism sector and create more job opportunities at the local level, Sharma said.
20/01/15 PTI/Economic Times

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BOC Aviation says repo row could hurt Indian airlines

Dublin: India faces growing pressure over financial uncertainty at budget carrier SpiceJet after leasing company BOC Aviation demanded the return of three leased aircraft, in what is seen as a test of global rules on aircraft investments.

The leasing arm of Bank of China warned in an interview that India's fast-growing airline industry could struggle to attract funds unless India upholds a pact designed to protect the owners of leased jets, widely used across the world.

"SpiceJet is a very frustrating situation," Chief Executive Robert Martin told Reuters.

"Obviously when we lease planes we like people to pay us. And if they don't pay us, then generally the way an operating lessor reacts is by moving its planes to somewhere else in the world."

India's Economic Times this week reported lessors wanted permission to retrieve 11 jets.
22/01/15 Tim Hepher/Reuters

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Formulating rules, says civil aviation authority

Thiruvananthapuram: The Director General of Civil Aviation, in a public notice issued in October last, pointed out that ‘lots of interest was being shown for civil use (both commercial and recreational) of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in the country.’

The notice read as follows: “The International Civil Aviation Organization was yet to publish Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), as far as certification and operation of civil use of UAS is concerned”.

“UAS have potential for a large number of civil applications. However, its use besides being a safety issue, also poses a security threat. The airspace over cities in India has a high density of manned aircraft traffic. Due to lack of regulation, operating procedures/standards and uncertainty of the technology, UAS poses threat for air collisions and accidents.”
21/01/15 Business Line

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Eye in the sky could spell trouble

Thiruvananthapuram: Connoisseurs of aerial photography, a growing tribe as seen from an increasing number of drone-made photos and videos on social media including YouTube, could be asking for trouble in Thiruvananthapuram if they fail to get permission from authorities before manoeuvring their cameras across the city skies.

The City police, though yet to announce a ban on drones, are keeping an eye on use of camera-fitted drones and unmanned aerial vehicles/aircraft systems (UAV/UAS) by the public. Those without permission would face legal action, said H. Venkatesh, City Police Commissioner.

Pointing out that regular use of drones or UAV/UAS was yet to be brought to his notice, Mr. Venkatesh said their use was banned by the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

“We cannot rule out misuse of these devices. There are security issues. We will take legal action if drones are used without permission,” he said. The City police, interestingly, are yet to move onto the next level of restricting use of drones, like their counterparts in Chennai, Bengaluru, and Mumbai. Drone owners in Chennai were recently asked to notify to the police the specifications — category, power, flight range, purpose and so on — of their devices while in Bengaluru, the police are reportedly moving towards a ban. In Mumbai, private drones are already banned.
21/01/15 Dennis Marcus Mathew/The Hindu

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60 Planes in the Air: The Juggling Feat of Republic Day

New Delhi:  Over nine minutes on Monday next, 30 aircraft of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force will roar over Rajpath during the Republic Day parade, watched by US president Barack Obama, President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and many others.

Unseen, 30 more aircraft will be in the air as back up. All 60 - a medley of helicopters, surveillance aircraft and supersonic fighters - will be managed in a tight juggling act by a small make-shift Control Tower that has been set up at Vayu Bhawan - the Indian Air Force Headquarters - at Moti Lal Nehru Marg that flanks Rajpath.

Not only will the aircraft fly at different speeds and height in a limited airspace, each type will take off from a separate base spread over Delhi and neighbouring Rajasthan and Punjab.
"All the 60 odd aircraft depending on their sequence will take off and be holding over at various heights in Jhahhar in Haryana, Jaipur in Rajasthan and Charki Dadri near Bhiwani in Haryana," a senior IAF officer said.

While only 30 aircraft will take part in the fly-past, each will have a back-up in air. "In case one of the planes develops a snag the replacement will swing in immediately," another officer told NDTV.
21/01/15 NDTV

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Helicopter operator Pawan Hans eyes law and order, medical services

Mumbai: Helicopter operator Pawan Hans Ltd has posted its highest turnover of Rs 530 crore in the last year, around 15% increase from Rs 465 crore last year.

The company plans to use more of its helicopters for law & order and medical emergency purposes, a company executive said. In India only 1% helicopters are used for such services against the global average of 30%.

Mahesh Sharma, minister of state for civil aviation, was briefed about the performance of the company on Monday by B S Bhullar, chairman and managing director of Pawan Hans. The review meeting also touched up discussed the future business strategies of the company to promote regional connectivity specifically in North East region and inter island.

Pawan Hans was incorporated in 1985 with the objective of providing helicopter support services to the oil sector for its off-shore operations, services in the remote and hill areas and chartered tourist services for the promotion of tourism.
21/01/15 Shahkar Abidi/Daily News & Analysis

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Air fares unlikely to fall alongside oil prices: Experts

Dublin:  Airlines are unlikely to cut fares following the dramatic fall in oil prices, aviation experts said on Tuesday, despite calls from politicians and consumer groups to pass on the savings to passengers.

The global airline industry is expected to report a near $5 billion increase in profits this year to $25 billion, benefiting from cheaper fuel after crude oil prices slumped 60 per cent since June last year.
 Executives and analysts at the Airline Economics conference in Dublin said carriers would keep prices high as long as there was sufficient demand, except when paring back fuel surcharges on long flights.

"Ticket prices are market-driven not cost-driven," said Peter Davies, former chief executive of Air Malta, adding that lowering fares was not necessarily the correct response to lower oil prices.

Ted Christie, chief financial officer at low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines, said airlines had "very expensive systems and people thinking about how to maximise revenue, and they should do that regardless of the oil price."

Politicians and consumer groups in the United States and Europe have called on airlines to cut fares. New York Senator Chuck Schumer called for a federal investigation into why lower fuel costs were not being passed on to passengers last month.
21/01/15 Reuters/Economic Times

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What India Will and Won't Allow for Air Force One

New Delhi:  When President Barack Obama arrives in India on January 25, it will be in Air Force One- that jetliner so advanced and iconic that it has been granted leading man status in several films. In India, Air Force One will be treated very much as a VVIP - it will  be  accorded the same protocol in Indian air space that is set aside for the President of India and the Prime Minister. (Also read: Air Force One to Fly Obama to Agra, 'Beast' Will Have Doctor)

That means that as soon as Air Force One enters the Indian airspace, it will get priority over all other air traffic - simply put, any other plane flying that time will have to wait until Air Force One touches down.

The President's plane - a Boeing 747-200 or Jumbo Jet - has 4,000 square feet of space spread over three storeys and is equipped with a conference room, presidential suite, a medical suite and private cabins for senior aides of the President. At any given point of time, the food galley can feed up to 1,00 people simultaneously.
21/01/15 Sandeep Phukan/Sugam Singhal/NDTV

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Indian Government Woos Bollywood, Airlines to Northeast

New Delhi: The Indian government will provide special incentives to airlines for increasing air connectivity to the Northeast and to Bollywood for shooting films in the region.

Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jitendra Singh said the government is trying to woo industries to the eight Northeastern states so that enough jobs are created for the youths of the region.
"The issue of connectivity in the Northeastern states is a matter of major concern for us. The road and rail network is not there due to difficult terrain.

"A lot of dependence is on air travel. That is why we are requesting airlines to increase the number of aircrafts and frequency to these states. We are ready to provide more incentives to the airlines," Singh said.

He said DoNER is discussing the issue of providing air connectivity with the civil aviation ministry as well.

Singh said road and rail networks are also being given the top priority for the region and efforts are being made in this regard at a fast pace.
21/01/15 India West

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Tour operators, portals see a jump in bookings around Jan 26 weekend

Mumbai: Online travel portals have witnessed a surge in bookings for travel around January 26  on the back of lower airfares with demand for destinations including Puri, Puducherry and Gangtok.

"Keen holiday planners are exploring interesting and offbeat destinations for the Republic Day weekend.  On Cleartrip, we are seeing places like Puducherry, Puri and Gangtok debut amongst the Top 10 destinations that Indians are visiting this January while destinations like Goa and Jaipur continue to be amongst the favourites. Advance purchase for this weekend has spiralled too. At Cleartrip, over 82% people booked their travel for the Republic Day Long Weekend, over 30-days in advance. Interestingly, over 25% of these bookings were made on Cleartrip Mobile,'' said Samyukth Sridharan, president of Cleartrip.

Last week airlines led by Air India halved their fares across domestic network. Other airlines followed suit reducing fares. Lower fares has led to an uptick in holiday planning, said travel agents.

"Domestic and outbound tourism is on an upswing. Excluding Goa we are seeing 5-7% growth in inbound tourists. People are taking short trips to hill stations and destinations like Bangkok, Singapore and Sri Lanka are also popular,'' said Gour Kanjilal, executive director of Indian Association of Tour Operators.
20/01/15 Aneesh Phadnis/Business Standard

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Flash ticket sales boost air travel by 10% in 2014

New Delhi: Flash sale of tickets last year by SpiceJet turned out to be a boon for the air carrier which is otherwise going through a crisis period.

It created a record by making 6.7 crore people to fly within India in 2014. In the month of December, it saw the highest ever, 64.4 lakh people having flown within the country in a month.

The constant low fare strategy followed by the carrier even led others to follow the suit.

However, as is known, till November, SpiceJet was on the peak of crisis and running out of cash which even led some of the companies which leased Boeing 737 aircrafts to SpiceJet, repossess them back.

To mention about the market value, till July last year, market share of SpiceJet was 20.4% which fell to an almost half 10.4% by December.

Since then a number of flights offered by the carrier have reduced subsequently. In December it had maximum number of flight cancellations of around 32%.
20/01/15 India TV

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Barack Obama's visit: UP police to hire chopper

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh police is all set to hire a helicopter to secure the air in view of the likely visit of US president Barack Obama to Agra later this month.

"The state government has authorised the police to hire Pawan Hans helicopter for the next 11 days to assist in the air security," IG (Law & Order) A Satish Ganesh said.
 "IG, Meerut zone, has been made the nodal officer to work out the route and sorties by the helicopeter in view of the inputs with regard to the security," he said.

The helicopter would start making sorties soon, he said adding that an air support unit team is being developed.

Two rounds of talks at the DGP level were held to review security arrangements, and a demand for ten companies of RAF for Agra and the same number of CRPF for districts adjoning the NCR region has been made, he said.

The IG said that work on all dimensions of security for the foreign dignitary was being done.
20/01/15 PTI/Economic Times

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