Private planes set for big flight

New Delhi: As the air traffic continues to grow at a fast pace, an explosive rise of 40 per cent is also projected in the number of privately-owned planes, like small aircrafts or business jets in the next couple of years.
Such a whopping growth would, however, put a further strain on the already low availability of infrastructure and manpower.
As against an overall growth of 25-30 per cent in the sector, the non-scheduled charters or private operations, also known as general aviation, is slated to grow by about 40 per cent, as per projections based on official statistics.
The fleet acquired for private use, especially by business houses, doubled last year, as against only 50 business aircraft in 2005.
The estimates show that one aircraft would be added in the overall fleet strength of the country every three days for the next two years, thereby tripling the total fleet.
Industry sources said about 300 applications for aircraft import for general aviation were pending before the Government, which had last year cleared about 100 such applications.
Almost all major business houses and high net worth individuals are joining the queue to become aircraft owners, the sources said, adding that even some medium and small companies were buying planes.
03/05/07 PTI/The Hindu

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Categories: General Aviation May 2007, New May 2007