Aeronautics commission likely to take off soon

Bangalore: The proposal to have a commission was driven by the idea of promoting and integrating various organisations related to aviation and aeronautics sectors that are working under different ministries.
The commission, which will have representatives from the government, industry and research organisations, is expected to bring various scientific institutes and the industry involved in aeronautics sector under one umbrella. Apart from formulating policies for management of airspace, the commission will also help in optimising resources in aviation sector.
According to sources, the scientific advisory committee to the prime minister had recently reviewed a proposal in this regard. The committee has made certain recommendations that will be sent to the prime minister in next couple of weeks.
"The scientific advisory committee to the prime minister has reviewed it and the review recommendations will soon be submitted to the prime minister. We are all enthusiastic about it," a source close to the development told Business Standard.
The scientific committee to the prime minister in its proposal has recommended that the aeronautics commission should work as an autonomous body. the committee will also report to the defence minister.
"The structure proposed by the committee envisages that the commission will be the nodal body of the aeronautics agencies in the country, and will report to the Raksha Mantri," the source added.
30/06/08 Bibhu Ranjan Mishra/Business Standard

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Air India's cargo service delayed

Nagpur: Air India's ambitious freighter (cargo) service project with Nagpur's Dr Ambedkar International Airport as its hub has been postponed for an indefinite period again. This project, it has been claimed, has the potential to place Nagpur on the global aviation map even before the Multimodal International Hub Airport at Nagpur (Mihan) starts operations.
Air India (AI) was supposed to launch its much-awaited cargo services within the country from July 1. It was planning to connect six major destinations initially with Nagpur.
A senior Air India official requesting anonymity confirmed that the project launch has been postponed for some as yet unannounced reasons. However, the official informed that Air India has completed converting four of its B-737 Boeing aircraft into cargo planes. Each aircraft has a payload capacity of 12 to 15 tonnes.
Sources at the airport said, "The project may have been postponed in view of airlines suffering from huge losses, and the recent hike in ATF rates, which will further increase the cost of operating a cargo service."
As per plans that had been announced, the freighter service - Air India Cargo - was to be launched in March 2007. The launch was postponed to November 2007, to await delivery of new aircraft for use on passenger routes, so that the old aircraft could be reconfigured for cargo operations.
30/06/08 Sachin Dravekar/Times of India

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Lighter version of Saras aircraft to fly out next year

Bangalore: The third weight-optimised prototype of Saras, the 14-seater multi-role light transport aircraft, is being manufactured and is expected to fly in June next year.
Dr A R Upadhya, the Director of the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), said the Indian Air Force had conveyed its intention to procure 15 Saras aircrafts for operational use, followed by 30 more of the aircraft.
Talking to reporters here at the launch of golden jubilee celebrations of the NAL Wednesday, Dr Upadhya said the third prototype is expected to receive its full certification from the Director General of Civil Aviation by mid 2010.
26/06/08 PTI/The Hindu

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NAL looking for partners in its turbo-powered aircraft project

Bangalore: National Aerospace Labs (NAL), India’s only civilian aerospace lab, is looking for partners for its turbo-powered civil aircraft project.
Dr. A. R. Upadhya, NAL’s Director, said that they were looking for partners, domestic or international, who would be able to assist in the design, technology, production and marketing of the aircraft.
Named RTA-70, the 90-seater aircraft will cost around Rs. 2,500 crore and will be developed over the next five to seven years. Taking into consideration the ever increasing fuel costs, Dr. Upadhya was of the opinion that turbo propeller- powered aircraft are the way ahead for short- haul flights and regional air transport. Unlike the expensive and high maintenance turbo prop aircraft used today, the RTA-70 will be a low-cost aircraft with newer, cleaner and more efficient technologies.
Meanwhile, NAL’s other project, the 14-seater Saras aircraft, may go for flight certification by the middle of 2010. Two of the prototypes that have been built have completed more than 100 flights. The third version of the Saras aircraft ,which will be 500 kg lighter, will be ready for test flights by June 2009.
27/06/08 Anand/Machinist.in

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Mandakalli airport to take off by this Dasara

Mysore: Mandakalli airport, which is being upgraded with various infrastructural facilities, will be ready for landing and taking off private aircrafts by this Dasara, beginning on Sept. 30, disclosed Lok Sabha member C.H. Vijayashankar.
Commercial flights will start by February 2009, the MP said, while addressing a press meet after taking part in a meeting of officials to review the progress in the works relating to upgradation of Mandakalli Airport in the office of the Deputy Commissioner here yesterday.
Work on the first phase of upgrading the airport is almost completed. That includes the runway, taxiway and the peripheral road. The work relating to the terminal building was to be completed by December. However, as the officials of Airports Authority of India (AAI) urged for construction of additional three floors to the terminal building in keeping with the second phase work, the terminal building will be ready by February, the MP said.
Land measuring 162.32 acres in five villages and in the vicinity of Chamundi Hill has been identified for shifting stretch of Mysore-Ooty National Highway 212 passing alongside airport to a distance of 2.5 km. The approval from Government for acquiring land has been obtained.
Approval has also been given by the government for construction of 60 metre wide four-lane road. The National Highways Engineer has taken steps to acquire the land after determining the exact width of the road.
26/06/08 Star of Mysore

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Shirdi airport project gets approval

Shirdi, renowned for its Sai Baba temple, will soon be on India’s air map, proving a boon to religious tourism in Maharashtra.
The state government Wednesday announced its decision to construct an airport at Mauje-Kakdi village at an investment of Rs.2.64 billion ($62.8 million).
It will come up on an area of over 400 hectares, 15 km from Shirdi town.
The project will be undertaken by the Maharashtra Airports Development Co Ltd as a public-private partnership.
26/06/08 Indo-Asian News Service/Fresh News

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HAL secures copter order from Peru

After several false starts, aircraft maker Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) has finally hit pay dirt for its much-publicised defence project. The Bangalore-based PSU has bagged two orders for its Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) from Peru, sources said.
The orders for the 5.5-tonne class (dry weight 3.3 tonne) ALH, christened Dhruv, are for two heli-ambulances to be used by the country's health services.
This is the first international civilian contract bagged by the PSU.
According to sources, the craft has been priced around Rs 40 crore apiece, 10-15 per cent lower than similar machines in its class.
The interiors of the ALH ambulances to be delivered to Peru will be done up in Europe. HAL is in talks with a few firms specialising in interiors and other accessories typically required by heli-ambulances.
Earlier, supply and service contracts with the Myanmarese and Chilean governments fell through either because of political pressure or competitor's lobbying.
24/06/08 Praveen Bose & Ravi Menon/Business Standard

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HAL secures copter order from Peru

After several false starts, aircraft maker Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) has finally hit pay dirt for its much-publicised defence project. The Bangalore-based PSU has bagged two orders for its Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) from Peru, sources said.
The orders for the 5.5-tonne class (dry weight 3.3 tonne) ALH, christened Dhruv, are for two heli-ambulances to be used by the country's health services.
This is the first international civilian contract bagged by the PSU.
According to sources, the craft has been priced around Rs 40 crore apiece, 10-15 per cent lower than similar machines in its class.
The interiors of the ALH ambulances to be delivered to Peru will be done up in Europe. HAL is in talks with a few firms specialising in interiors and other accessories typically required by heli-ambulances.
Earlier, supply and service contracts with the Myanmarese and Chilean governments fell through either because of political pressure or competitor's lobbying.
24/06/08 Praveen Bose & Ravi Menon/Business Standard

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Global MRO major Lufthansa Technik to set foot on Indian soil

New Delhi: Lufthansa Technik, the world’ s largest maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) company, will set up a facility in the country, in a joint venture with the Hyderabad-based GMR group. This will be the country’s first foreign-owned, airport maintenance facility.
In the joint venture, Lufthansa Technik will have a 75%, stake, while the rest will be held by its Indian partner. Both the Companies are expected to invest Rs 100 crore in the venture in the initial phase. The 20,000 square meter facility will be located at the New Hyderabad International Airport in Shamshabad, Andhra Pradesh.
The facility will provide base maintenance services (including C- and D-checks) for Airbus A320 family and Boeing 737 aircraft—including 737 Classic and 737 NG (next generation) and is expected to commence operations by the end of 2008. At present, Lufthansa Technik serves the Indian carriers through its facilities outside the country. The Indian MRO market is projected at around $100 million a year at present, and is expected to grow by at least 15% over the next three years.
An MRO ideally needs around 200 aircraft to be viable A report by Ernst & Young has stated that the aviation sector in India, is slated to draw an investment of more than $120 billion by 2020.
24/06/08 Shauvik Ghosh/Financial Express

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Now, developers plan low-cost airports

New Delhi: The financial turbulence that airlines are experiencing these days due to soaring fuel cost, is pushing airport developers to think on lines of building low cost airports.
GMR Group is looking at this model, where efficient greenfield airports could be built in smaller cities for anywhere between one-fifth to half the cost of the Rs 2,500-crore airport it has built in Hyderabad.
Such airports would mean lower charges for airlines, helping their survival and also no extra charges for passengers that would help reverse the trend of lower demand. Cities that already have an operational runway could get a new low-cost terminal for as low as Rs 150 crore, said a senior GMR official.
This thinking comes shortly after airlines are bleeding heavily due to high global oil prices and delayed payments to airports by them have become common. Recovering costs of fancy airports through levy of user development fee (UDF) has also become a touchy issue in these times of high surcharges and taxes.
While the blueprint is being finalised, the group estimates that in a city like Pune a low-cost airport could be built for Rs 1,000 crore, while cities of size of Coimbatore, Amritsar or Udaipur could get an airport for half this cost.
The GMR group said it would be adding a low-cost terminal at its Hyderabad airport once annual traffic reaches the 12-million mark by 2011-12. Delhi, where the same group is modernising the IGI Airport, is also likely to get a low-cost terminal.
Creation of low-cost airports with economical charges has been a major demand of Indian LCCs as they offer relatively cheaper tickets while paying the same amount as airport charge as full service carriers.
23/06/08 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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Now, BIA charts an Airport City

As the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) gets into an expansion mode, the promoters of the new greenfield aerodrome have announced grandiose plans to construct an ‘Airport City’ within the premises of BIA.
The new announcement comes close on the heels of the BIA going public with its move to immediately construct a separate terminal for budget airlines, besides a second runway and terminal building later.
The Airport City, meanwhile, will be spread over 215 acres and witness over a million people live and work in BIA. “What a passenger sees on the airport premises today is only phase one — the tip of the iceberg! The future vision of this airport is on the lines of building an aerotropolis. An aerotropolis is a city in which the layout, infrastructure and economy are centred around a major airport,” according to officials of the BIA.
Aviation experts in the field are of the opinion that airports of the 21st century will shape business location and urban development, as much as sea-ports did in the 18th century, railroads in the 19th century and highways in the 20th century.
The Airport City will create one lakh jobs for qualified people. It can be accessed by a ringed network transport system consisting wide three lane roads, dedicated perimeter bus lanes with bus stands located at strategic points with overbridge/underpass pedestrian connections.
23/06/08 S Praveen Dhaneshkar/Deccan Herald

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Boardroom in the clouds

The country’s high net worth individuals (HNI) are acquiring their own private jets at record speed.
So how can the aircraft makers be far behind. US-based Cessna and Hawker Beechcraft are running neck and neck in their fight to dominate the Indian market. Other players, especially Gulfstream, Embraer and Bombardier, are fast catching up in their segments too.
All the major players have already announced or are preparing to launch major distribution and after-sales maintenance facilities in the country to expand and catch a major chunk of the Indian private aircraft market. Recently, Hawker Beechcraft opened its exclusive maintenance and distribution office through its exclusive franchise partnership with Gurgaon based Interglobe Aviation at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. But India still has a long way to go in terms of developing the market.
The country’s more than 1,00,000 HNIs with assets worth more than $1 million are snapping up these mean flying machines at mind-boggling prices for their business and personal use without a thought for banalities like the environment.
So after the Bentleys and the Rolls Royces, India’s super rich are now looking at Gulfstreams and Aerion jets. From sleek VLJs (very light jets) that come with a price tag of around $5 million to Gulfstreams with a price tag of $50 million, travelling in style never got better. At least six HNIs from India have already placed orders for the supersonic Aerion jet priced at a whopping $80 million. The aircraft is expected to come into production in 2012, but already six Indians among 80 globally have put up around $5,00,000 to book their Aerion.
22/06/08 Shauvik Ghosh/Financial Express

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Foundation stone laid for Shimoga Airport

Shimoga: Hon'ble Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri B S Yeddyurappa today laid the foundation stone for the Shimoga Airport to be constructed by a Consortium led by Maytas Infra Limited, a Hyderabad based construction and infrastructure development Company in association with NCC Infrastructure Holdings Ltd (NCC) and VIE India Project Development and Holding LLC (VIE). The estimated cost of the project is Rs. 110 crores.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Teja Raju, Vice Chairman, Maytas Infra said, "We at Maytas Infra are proud to be contributing to the development of Shimoga, the rice bowl of Karnataka and known for its architectural splendour and tourist spots. Shimoga Airport would essentially enhance the tourism scenario here and provide a strong impetus to the development activity in the region. The project will be executed with highest standards of terminal technologies and transport facilities.''
During the first phase, the airport will provide facilities for ATR-72 type aircrafts with a runway length of 1500 m. The second phase will render facilities for A320 type aircrafts with a runway length of 3100 m. A separate Special Purpose Company has been set up for the above said purpose where the Consortium partners Maytas Infra, NCC and VIE will have a shareholding pattern of 37%, 37% and 26% respectively. The Construction Period of the project is 24 months from the date of signing the Agreement with a Concession Period of 30 years extendable by an additional 30 years term.
Speaking on the occasion Yeddyurappa said that his Government was committed to create a congenial atmosphere for investors to start their ventures in Karnataka without being under anybody's obligation.
20/06/08 Mangalorean.com

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Panel moots commercial flights to Kargil

New Delhi: Finding a tourist upsurge in the terrorism-torn Jammu and Kashmir, a parliamentary standing committee has asked the central government to start commercial flights for Kargil, the border town better known as the hot-spot of the last Indo-Pak war. It should be connected with a daily hopping flight between Jammu, Srinagar and Leh to mainly provide the local tourists a smoother way to explore the state, suggests the committee.
Currently, the Kargil airbase is used exclusively by the military for its troop and cargo movements. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Tourism, Transport and Culture has, however, not suggested any transfer of ownership of this key forward airbase to the Airports Authority of India, but has asked the civil aviation ministry to immediately start commercial operations to enable civilians enjoy an air-ride over the picturesque land.
"The current arrangement of flights is such that only outside tourists are encouraged to come to Jammu and Kashmir. But the locals are now showing interest in visiting different parts of the state. This trend should be promoted," Sitaram Yechury, chairman of the parliamentary panel, said.
20/06/08 Business Standard

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Indigenous combat jet flies with improved engine

New Delhi: India’s indigenously developed combat jet Tejas has made its maiden flight with an improved engine, it was announced here Thursday. “During the 44-minute flight, the F404-GE-IN20 engine demonstrated full aircraft system and instrumentation functionality, climbed to numerous mission altitudes, achieved Mach 1.1 speed and established the engine performance baseline for future flight-testing,” a GE statement here said.
“The engine has performed extremely well during all phases of testing, and we look forward to delivering the benefits of -IN20 power throughout the remainder of the rigorous program,” Tony Mathis, general manager of the F404/F414 programme, said in the statement.
Delivery of initial production engines is earmarked to Tejas manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) later this year, where they will be readied for aircraft installation.
Flight-testing is expected to continue into 2009 under the direction of Bangalore’s Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), with three aircraft scheduled for flight in the third quarter of 2008, the statement said.
HAL ordered an additional 24 F404-GE-IN20 afterburning engines to power the first operational squadron of Tejas fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force in February 2007.
19/06/08 IANS/Thaindian.com, Thailand

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No bid for airline services in northeast: minister

Kolkata: Airlines operators have shown no interest in starting services in the northeast, Minister for Development of the North Eastern Region and Panchayati Raj Mani Shankar Aiyar said here.
'The first tender did not evoke any response, so we floated another one,' Aiyar said Wednesday during an interactive session organised by three chambers of commerce.
'Till date we have not received any bid, it is closing on June 30. We hope we will be able to get some bidders,' he said.
The minister invited investment in the northeastern states, and identified infrastructure and roadways development as two areas that entrepreneurs could look at.
The region has the potential to generate Rs.500 billion worth of business, but no private or public sector company was interested in tapping this, he said.
Aiyar also said northeast India wasn't benefiting from the government's 'look east' policy, even though it's 'where southeast Asia begins'.
19/06/08 India PRwire

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AI, Boeing MRO pact likely in 3 months

Air India and Boeing, according to industry sources, are seeking a majority stake in the proposed maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) venture that is supposed to come up at Nagpur.
The two firms are yet to find a third partner for the JV, sources said. Lufthansa Technik, Essar Group and SIA Engineering are said to be in the running.
Also, the memorandum of understanding may be signed within three months.
However, Jitendra Bhargava, executive director, corporate communications, Air India, told DNA Money, "All we can say at this moment is that we are making a steady progress. I regret we cannot share any more details on the MoU till it is finalised or sealed."
Once operational, the venture will be able to undertake the entire range of MRO activities, including structural repairs and interior modifications to aircraft.
Industry sources estimate Boeing's investment in the MRO venture could go up to $185 million. The aircraft manufacturer, say analysts, is keen on taking advantage of India's rising MRO requirement.
19/06/08 Madhumita Mookerji/DNA MONEY/Sify

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New private airlines likely to get international wings

New Delhi: Domestic airlines may get some help in getting more passengers and business.
Sources in the Civil Aviation Ministry have told CNN-IBN that it is in favour of scrapping a clause which says an airline must have operated in the domestic market before it can go global.
If the proposal is accepted by a Group of Ministers, it will now allow airlines like Kingfisher, Spice Jet, Indigo and Go Air to operate flights abroad. This move will put these airlines, now operating at a loss, on the fast track road to profit as they can fuel at the international rate, which is 35 per cent lower than the domestic rate offered. They can also divert aircraft sitting idle due to saturation in some domestic sectors on the international route. Also there are many international low cost carriers which are coming to india and flying out Indian passengers. This new move will allow Indian carriers to keep the outbound Indian passenger.
Only Air India, Indian and Jet Airways currently meet the minimum eligibility criteria to operate international flights.
18/06/08 CNN-IBN

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BIA is Bangalore’s new advertising hotspot

Bangalore: The airport operator, BIAL, which has picked world number two in outdoor advertising, JC Decaux, as its advertising concessionaire for seven years, says almost 70 per cent of its space is sold out. “We have received a very encouraging response from the market. Some of the best foreign and local brands from a wide spectrum of industries — banks, cosmetics, telecom, construction and IT — are already visible at the airport. Close to 70 per cent of the space has been blocked,” BIAL’s spokesperson told Business Line.
Without divulging the brands it would sport, BIAL said: “We are in discussions with other large clients for the same space.”
While obvious advertisers would be airlines, hotels and restaurants, banking products and brands retailed within airport outlets, “I would also expect fashion-wear, cosmetics, lifestyle items and — being in the IT capital — some technology products as well,” said brand consultant, Mr Ramanujam Sridhar.
BIA is the first airport catch in India for JCDecaux, Europe’s leader that is present in 145 airports in 16 countries. Its two-year-old Indian entity builds and manages all media space throughout the 4,000-acre airport campus and the long four-lane approach road.
17/06/08 Madhumathi D.S./Business Line

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Maytas Infra to construct Gulbarga airport

Mumbai: A consortium led by Maytas Infrastructrure will construct the Gulbarga airport in Karnataka. The partners in the consortium will be NCC Infrastructure Holdings, VIE India Project development Holdings and Maytas Infrastructure. The consortium would develop and operate the airport on a BOT basis which would be a greenfield project under PPP.
A separate special purpose company has been set up for this reason where the consortium partners - Maytas Infra, NCC and VIE will have a shareholding pattern of 37 per cent, 37 per cent and 26 per cent respectively. The construction period of the project is 24 months from the date of signing the agreement with a concession period of 30 years extendable by an additional 30 years term.
16/06/08 Business Standard

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