New Delhi: In the recent Budget speech by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, a total of Rs 810.23 crore was allocated for the purchase of two new aircraft for Special Extra Section Flight (SESF) operations. This provision is on top of an estimated Rs 4,741.85 crore allocated by the government over the past two years -- 2018/19 and 2019/20. The two aircraft (Boeing 777-300ER), which would replace the nearly 25-year-old Boeing 747 used by Air India to ferry President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are likely to be inducted by July.
These aircraft will go with Air India One sign. Air India One (also referred to as AI-1 or AIC001) is the call sign of any aircraft with the President or Prime Minister of India on board.
The aircraft are reportedly part of Air India's 2006 order of 68 aircraft given to US-based aircraft maker Boeing. Once they are inducted, these aircraft will be reportedly used exclusively for the travel of VVIPs unlike now when the Boeing 747s are used for more than just 'VVIP travel'.
Thus far, the national carrier has denied sharing the cost of these aircraft but a back-of-the-envelope calculation show they are going to cost about $1.18 billion (over Rs 8,458 crore at the current exchange rate) to the exchequer.
How? There are four key components of these special aircraft: the engines, cabin configuration, missile defence system, and the aircraft themselves.
While the deal for the aircraft was reportedly struck in 2006, it's unlikely that the prices negotiated at that time will be applicable on the deliveries scheduled this year.
As per Boeing, the current list price of Boeing 777-300ER (ER stands for extended range) is $375.5 million. The list price of this aircraft has gone up substantially since the 2006 deal. For instance, between 2014 and 2020, the list price has moved up $55.3 million apiece. Of course, these are "rack-rates" and the actual price will be different -- depending on the negotiations between Boeing and Air India (or in this case, the government of India).
The second big element of the aircraft is the missile defence system - Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCAM) and Self-Protection Suites (SPS) - which is expected to cost $190 million, as per some reports that appeared last year when the deal for these systems were signed between US and India.
The advanced system will make the aircraft of Indian VVIPs as safe as Air Force One (Boeing 747-200B) used by US President Donald Trump. It's because of these missile defence system that the aircraft will be operated by IAF (Indian Air Force) as they only have the capabilities to operate such systems.
Air India has been training IAF pilots to operate the long-haul aircraft since the national carrier has pilots with type-rated training to fly Boeing 777. Air India has been operating them for several years now; the first such aircraft was inducted in its fleet way back in 2007.
03/02/20 Manu Kaushik/Business Today
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These aircraft will go with Air India One sign. Air India One (also referred to as AI-1 or AIC001) is the call sign of any aircraft with the President or Prime Minister of India on board.
The aircraft are reportedly part of Air India's 2006 order of 68 aircraft given to US-based aircraft maker Boeing. Once they are inducted, these aircraft will be reportedly used exclusively for the travel of VVIPs unlike now when the Boeing 747s are used for more than just 'VVIP travel'.
Thus far, the national carrier has denied sharing the cost of these aircraft but a back-of-the-envelope calculation show they are going to cost about $1.18 billion (over Rs 8,458 crore at the current exchange rate) to the exchequer.
How? There are four key components of these special aircraft: the engines, cabin configuration, missile defence system, and the aircraft themselves.
While the deal for the aircraft was reportedly struck in 2006, it's unlikely that the prices negotiated at that time will be applicable on the deliveries scheduled this year.
As per Boeing, the current list price of Boeing 777-300ER (ER stands for extended range) is $375.5 million. The list price of this aircraft has gone up substantially since the 2006 deal. For instance, between 2014 and 2020, the list price has moved up $55.3 million apiece. Of course, these are "rack-rates" and the actual price will be different -- depending on the negotiations between Boeing and Air India (or in this case, the government of India).
The second big element of the aircraft is the missile defence system - Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCAM) and Self-Protection Suites (SPS) - which is expected to cost $190 million, as per some reports that appeared last year when the deal for these systems were signed between US and India.
The advanced system will make the aircraft of Indian VVIPs as safe as Air Force One (Boeing 747-200B) used by US President Donald Trump. It's because of these missile defence system that the aircraft will be operated by IAF (Indian Air Force) as they only have the capabilities to operate such systems.
Air India has been training IAF pilots to operate the long-haul aircraft since the national carrier has pilots with type-rated training to fly Boeing 777. Air India has been operating them for several years now; the first such aircraft was inducted in its fleet way back in 2007.
03/02/20 Manu Kaushik/Business Today
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