Delhi airport proposes “noise” tax on old aircraft (Lead)
December 23rd, 2009 - 5:13 pm ICT by IANS
By Neelam Mathews
Frankfurt, Dec 23 (IANS) The consortium running the Indian capital’s airport proposes a new tax on older aircraft by 2012, especially on those landing late evenings and early mornings, to curb noise pollution and encourage efficient engines, officials said.
“Our plan envisages noise-monitoring and encouraging the use of new generation, low-noise aircraft by tying landing charges to actual noise emission levels,” an official of Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) told IANS.
The official also indicated that the environmental cue would be taken from their joint venture partner, Fraport, that is already implementing a similar programme at Frankfurt airport for the past few years.
“We are committed to active noise abatement measures by taxing carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide components. This will encourage new generation aircraft to fly to Frankfurt airport,” said Stefan Schulte, chief executive of Fraport.
“Emissions are expected to reduce by 30 percent by 2020,” Schulte, whose company manages the airport here and also holds a 10-percent stake in the airport venture in the Indian capital, told IANS.
Power, realty and infrastructure major GMR has a 54-percent stake in DIAL, the Airports Authority of India holds a 26-percent share and Eraman Malaysia has 10 percent. The Indira Gandhi International Airport handles some 650 aircraft movements daily.
Officials explained that India currently has no noise emission standards at its airports and all rules and regulations needed clearance from a variety of authorities.
These include the Airport Economic Regulatory Authority, the aviation ministry, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the Airports Authority of India and the environment ministry.
India’s aviation industry has comparatively higher number of fuel-efficient aircraft, but many of the flying machines from abroad are of vintage descent. Newer aircraft make less noise because they are equipped with quieter engines.
“Our policy of noise-related airport charges ensures that those airlines that operate quieter equipment enjoy substantial financial benefits,” said Ansgar Sickert, the managing director for Fraport India.
He said Fraport runs an efficient environmental audit system, which is a tool for companies to evaluate, report and improve their environmental performance. The scheme has been available for participation by companies since 1995.
The airport here has eight defined noise categories, and landing charges go up progressively. The charges for Category Four are as much as 22 times higher than that for Category One, officials said. There is also an additional night charge.
Since 2006, Fraport also implemented a passive noise abatement program. “We just insulated the roofs of homes around the airport. But this won’t be possible in Delhi where walls are thinner and windows have no insulation,” said Sickert.
At London’s Heathrow airport, too, comprehensive noise management measures are in place, wherein night flights are subject to restrictions between 11 pm and 7 am.
In May this year, the working group of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation recommended that the use of new Runway 29 in Delhi for landings be restricted at night to benefit residents of localities in the approach path.
The airport consortium has also suggested fewer hours of landing for old craft but a large number of such aircraft are with the Indian Air Force, which shares the airport space with the civilian enclave.
Noise from aircraft while taking-off and landing is the most significant source of noise pollution at airports, in addition to the high decibel levels at the taxiways and aprons.
Read more: http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/business/delhi-airport-proposes-noise-tax-on-old-aircraft-lead_100293646.html#ixzz0aaCLZUV4
News Breaking
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Lufthansa To Optimize Network
News
Lufthansa To Optimize Network, May Be First A380 Operator To India
Aviation Daily Dec 23 , 2009 , p. 14
Neelam Mathews
Lufthansa, which is due to receive three Airbus A380s in May 2010 of 15 on order, expects to start flying the plane in the summer schedule configured for 526 passengers and first- and business-class seats on the upper deck.
Tokyo, Shanghai and New York are likely to be the initial destinations, Axel Hilgers, the carrier’s South Asia director, told The DAILY. There are two scenarios being discussed, at the moment, said Hilgers.
The Aviation Authority of Germany last week formally sought a clearance from the Ministry of Civil Aviation in India to fly the A380 to Delhi. This will make Lufthansa the first carrier to fly the A380 to India.
Asked whether he thought there would be some objections to the clearance, Hilgers said, “I don’t think [there’s] any reason why [India] will not give permission. Maybe we shall wait till Terminal 3 is ready to handle to the A380. We expect the rights to be given in early 2010, and [we] may consider flying in the winter schedule.”
Air India was invited by Lufthansa to join the Star Alliance but has delayed its entry by two years because IT integration with Indian Airlines is not yet complete.
Lufthansa, which recently integrated Austrian Airlines into its network in India, will increase frequencies on the Vienna-Delhi route from five to six in the next summer schedule, starting at the end of March. Affiliate Swiss International Air Lines will increase flights between Mumbai and Zurich from five to six a week from June 2010. The Swiss flight from Delhi to Zurich will increase from five to six weekly frequencies in the current winter schedule.
“We are defending what we have and working closely with group partners to optimize our network operations. We still need a strict cost controls regime. When we start to refuse passengers, then the time has come to increase frequencies,” said Hilgers.
Changes on the Frankfurt-Pune route further demonstrate how flexibly Lufthansa reacts to market trends. In the upcoming summer schedule, Lufthansa’s Business Jet Service on the route will be modified. The Boeing 737-800s will be converted to a two-class configuration. Lufthansa will increase the number of seats on the Frankfurt-Pune route from 56 business-class-only seats to a total of 92, reducing frequencies between Frankfurt and Pune from six to three per week.
“We dont want to be too optimistic. We don’t see us using our full rights — 69 frequencies a week — in the next 12 months, as we are not there in the level of 2006 and 2007,” said Hilgers. “We need more time to get back to our [original] yields. 2010 will be a challenging year.”
Lufthansa currently operates 52 flights a week to India.
Lufthansa To Optimize Network, May Be First A380 Operator To India
Aviation Daily Dec 23 , 2009 , p. 14
Neelam Mathews
Lufthansa, which is due to receive three Airbus A380s in May 2010 of 15 on order, expects to start flying the plane in the summer schedule configured for 526 passengers and first- and business-class seats on the upper deck.
Tokyo, Shanghai and New York are likely to be the initial destinations, Axel Hilgers, the carrier’s South Asia director, told The DAILY. There are two scenarios being discussed, at the moment, said Hilgers.
The Aviation Authority of Germany last week formally sought a clearance from the Ministry of Civil Aviation in India to fly the A380 to Delhi. This will make Lufthansa the first carrier to fly the A380 to India.
Asked whether he thought there would be some objections to the clearance, Hilgers said, “I don’t think [there’s] any reason why [India] will not give permission. Maybe we shall wait till Terminal 3 is ready to handle to the A380. We expect the rights to be given in early 2010, and [we] may consider flying in the winter schedule.”
Air India was invited by Lufthansa to join the Star Alliance but has delayed its entry by two years because IT integration with Indian Airlines is not yet complete.
Lufthansa, which recently integrated Austrian Airlines into its network in India, will increase frequencies on the Vienna-Delhi route from five to six in the next summer schedule, starting at the end of March. Affiliate Swiss International Air Lines will increase flights between Mumbai and Zurich from five to six a week from June 2010. The Swiss flight from Delhi to Zurich will increase from five to six weekly frequencies in the current winter schedule.
“We are defending what we have and working closely with group partners to optimize our network operations. We still need a strict cost controls regime. When we start to refuse passengers, then the time has come to increase frequencies,” said Hilgers.
Changes on the Frankfurt-Pune route further demonstrate how flexibly Lufthansa reacts to market trends. In the upcoming summer schedule, Lufthansa’s Business Jet Service on the route will be modified. The Boeing 737-800s will be converted to a two-class configuration. Lufthansa will increase the number of seats on the Frankfurt-Pune route from 56 business-class-only seats to a total of 92, reducing frequencies between Frankfurt and Pune from six to three per week.
“We dont want to be too optimistic. We don’t see us using our full rights — 69 frequencies a week — in the next 12 months, as we are not there in the level of 2006 and 2007,” said Hilgers. “We need more time to get back to our [original] yields. 2010 will be a challenging year.”
Lufthansa currently operates 52 flights a week to India.
ST Kinetics Howitzers Approved For Indian Trials
ST Kinetics Howitzers
Approved For Indian Trials
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, Dec 23, 2009
NEW DELHI — India’s defense ministry has approved
Singapore Technologies (ST) Kinetics to go ahead with the
trials for 39 155mm caliber ultra-light howitzers that were
postponed from June.
The delay in trials followed ST Kinetics being implicated in
the Central Bureau of Investigation’s probe of the ministry’s
former Ordnance Factory Board chairman. The investigation
resulted in a temporary ban on procurements from ST and
six other companies (Aerospace DAILY, June 23, 29).
The government now has said that while the investigations
will carry on, tests of the Howitzers should move
ahead. In June, India received a consignment of ST 155s to
participate in the trials.
The request for proposals (RFP) for 155mm ultra-light
Howitzers was first issued by the defense ministry in January
2008 with an original deadline of April 7, 2008.The submission
deadline was extended twice and the final deadline
was set on June 30, 2008.
After the withdrawal of competitor BAE Systems, ST was
the only vendor left to offer its lightweight 155mm — the Pegasus
SLWH — which is self-propelled and is transportable
by C-130 and CH-47.
“We believe this six-month period would have provided
sufficient time for any serious contender to prepare and put together
a proposal that would meet the RFPs requirements,” ST
spokesman Gaius Ho told Aviation Week in July. “ST Kinetics
abided by the deadline and the tender requirements, and duly
submitted a proposal that fully met the RFP requested.”
After about 10 months of evaluation by the defense ministry’s
Technical Evaluation Committee, ST was informed of its
qualification on April 15, 2009, via a letter from the technical
manager at the defense ministry. In a subsequent letter dated
April 27, the ministry invited ST to present the Pegasus for firing
trials, to take place starting in mid-June, Ho said.
Indian Army chief Gen. Deepak Kapoor has said that the
ban on ST would delay Indian plans to acquire light howitzers
for modernizing its artillery.
While India has gone without a new artillery gun for the past
two decades, Pakistan last year received 67 M-109 A5 self-propelled
artillery guns. The guns were transferred under U.S. foreign
military financing, a Pentagon program that entails U.S. lending to
allied governments to buy U.S. military goods and services.
The M-109 self-propelled medium howitzers are mobile
combat support weapons with a range of 220 miles at speeds
up to 35 mph. Combat loaded, the M-109 weighs 27.5 tons.
- Neelam Mathews (mathews.neelam@gmail.com)
--
Approved For Indian Trials
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, Dec 23, 2009
NEW DELHI — India’s defense ministry has approved
Singapore Technologies (ST) Kinetics to go ahead with the
trials for 39 155mm caliber ultra-light howitzers that were
postponed from June.
The delay in trials followed ST Kinetics being implicated in
the Central Bureau of Investigation’s probe of the ministry’s
former Ordnance Factory Board chairman. The investigation
resulted in a temporary ban on procurements from ST and
six other companies (Aerospace DAILY, June 23, 29).
The government now has said that while the investigations
will carry on, tests of the Howitzers should move
ahead. In June, India received a consignment of ST 155s to
participate in the trials.
The request for proposals (RFP) for 155mm ultra-light
Howitzers was first issued by the defense ministry in January
2008 with an original deadline of April 7, 2008.The submission
deadline was extended twice and the final deadline
was set on June 30, 2008.
After the withdrawal of competitor BAE Systems, ST was
the only vendor left to offer its lightweight 155mm — the Pegasus
SLWH — which is self-propelled and is transportable
by C-130 and CH-47.
“We believe this six-month period would have provided
sufficient time for any serious contender to prepare and put together
a proposal that would meet the RFPs requirements,” ST
spokesman Gaius Ho told Aviation Week in July. “ST Kinetics
abided by the deadline and the tender requirements, and duly
submitted a proposal that fully met the RFP requested.”
After about 10 months of evaluation by the defense ministry’s
Technical Evaluation Committee, ST was informed of its
qualification on April 15, 2009, via a letter from the technical
manager at the defense ministry. In a subsequent letter dated
April 27, the ministry invited ST to present the Pegasus for firing
trials, to take place starting in mid-June, Ho said.
Indian Army chief Gen. Deepak Kapoor has said that the
ban on ST would delay Indian plans to acquire light howitzers
for modernizing its artillery.
While India has gone without a new artillery gun for the past
two decades, Pakistan last year received 67 M-109 A5 self-propelled
artillery guns. The guns were transferred under U.S. foreign
military financing, a Pentagon program that entails U.S. lending to
allied governments to buy U.S. military goods and services.
The M-109 self-propelled medium howitzers are mobile
combat support weapons with a range of 220 miles at speeds
up to 35 mph. Combat loaded, the M-109 weighs 27.5 tons.
- Neelam Mathews (mathews.neelam@gmail.com)
--
Saturday, December 19, 2009
LH Sees Alliance With Air India A Restraint To Gulf Carriers
News
LH Sees Alliance With Air India A Restraint To Gulf Carriers
Aviation Daily Dec 21 , 2009 , p. 18
Neelam Mathews
Lufthansa views its partnership with Air India as a line of attack against the hasty growth of Gulf carriers that are fast eating up market share of Indian and European carriers by offering cut-throat fares and using the Dubai hub successfully to divert onward traffic to the East Coast of the U.S. and Europe.
“We will not be able to push them [Gulf carriers] out of the market. We’re maintaining our market share [for the moment]. Also, there are limits to growth of the Gulf carriers. However, we not underestimate their power,” Karl Ulrich Garnadt, member of the Lufthansa Board told The DAILY.
Garnadt was responsible for Network Management at Lufthansa for five years up to 2004. He was also group representative and head of hub management in Munich and instrumental in signing an agreement with Air India in 2004 that resulted in code sharing and Lufthansa’s agreeing to provide a prime-time slot for Air India at Frankfurt to improve connectivity to U.S. and Europe.
On the signing of the bilateral cooperation, Wolfgang Mayrhuber, chairman of the executive board of Lufthansa, said, “We are banking on the dynamism of this market and can see considerable potential through the cooperation.’ He also said that India-Germany/Europe and India-U.S. were very important markets for Air India, which plans to serve them over Frankfurt in alliance with Lufthansa.
Currently, 350 weekly joint flights are operated to and from seven destinations in India to Germany, Europe and the U.S. And while Lufthansa’s 52 weekly flights to India make up 25% of all its flights to the Asia/Pacific region, the cooperation hasn’t been without its challenges. In 2009, Air India delayed by a year its plans to join the Star Alliance because the IT merger between Indian Airlines and Air India had not transpired. If Air India would have joined Star during the crisis period of the past year, it would have cut costs and helped stem the flood of capacity unleashed by Gulf carriers, said an airline official.
While Garnadt said the main priority and the joint vision was with Air India, he added Jet Airways was an option being considered as a second Star partner. At Lufthansa, priorities are clear. Now Emirates is connecting three times daily to Dubai. Gulf carriers will take away our business, and we, too, will suffer if Air India does not do the merger soon. We believe in working with partners..
Garnadt did acknowledge not all things had materialized with Air India. We received reasonable success with Fraport operations, he added.
Air India made Frankfurt its hub for the western countries last year.
LH Sees Alliance With Air India A Restraint To Gulf Carriers
Aviation Daily Dec 21 , 2009 , p. 18
Neelam Mathews
Lufthansa views its partnership with Air India as a line of attack against the hasty growth of Gulf carriers that are fast eating up market share of Indian and European carriers by offering cut-throat fares and using the Dubai hub successfully to divert onward traffic to the East Coast of the U.S. and Europe.
“We will not be able to push them [Gulf carriers] out of the market. We’re maintaining our market share [for the moment]. Also, there are limits to growth of the Gulf carriers. However, we not underestimate their power,” Karl Ulrich Garnadt, member of the Lufthansa Board told The DAILY.
Garnadt was responsible for Network Management at Lufthansa for five years up to 2004. He was also group representative and head of hub management in Munich and instrumental in signing an agreement with Air India in 2004 that resulted in code sharing and Lufthansa’s agreeing to provide a prime-time slot for Air India at Frankfurt to improve connectivity to U.S. and Europe.
On the signing of the bilateral cooperation, Wolfgang Mayrhuber, chairman of the executive board of Lufthansa, said, “We are banking on the dynamism of this market and can see considerable potential through the cooperation.’ He also said that India-Germany/Europe and India-U.S. were very important markets for Air India, which plans to serve them over Frankfurt in alliance with Lufthansa.
Currently, 350 weekly joint flights are operated to and from seven destinations in India to Germany, Europe and the U.S. And while Lufthansa’s 52 weekly flights to India make up 25% of all its flights to the Asia/Pacific region, the cooperation hasn’t been without its challenges. In 2009, Air India delayed by a year its plans to join the Star Alliance because the IT merger between Indian Airlines and Air India had not transpired. If Air India would have joined Star during the crisis period of the past year, it would have cut costs and helped stem the flood of capacity unleashed by Gulf carriers, said an airline official.
While Garnadt said the main priority and the joint vision was with Air India, he added Jet Airways was an option being considered as a second Star partner. At Lufthansa, priorities are clear. Now Emirates is connecting three times daily to Dubai. Gulf carriers will take away our business, and we, too, will suffer if Air India does not do the merger soon. We believe in working with partners..
Garnadt did acknowledge not all things had materialized with Air India. We received reasonable success with Fraport operations, he added.
Air India made Frankfurt its hub for the western countries last year.
Delhi Airport Considers Taxing Aircraft Noise Emissions
News
Delhi Airport Considers Taxing Aircraft Noise Emissions
Aviation Daily Dec 16 , 2009 , p. 14
Neelam Mathews
Delhi International Airport Ltd. is expected to operate an environmental management system similar to the European Eco Audit Directive (EMAS — Eco- Management and Audit Scheme) and the internationally applicable ISO 14001 standard, within the next three years, The DAILY has learned.
The system, which relates to noise-monitoring by encouraging the use of low-noise aircraft by tying landing charges to actual noise emissions, is being advocated by various activist groups and “persons of political importance” who live on the flight descent zone.
Noise from aircraft taking off and landing is the most significant source of noise at an airport, but by no means the only one. In addition, there is the noise of aircraft on taxiways and aprons, the noise made by tow trucks and buses used airside and the noise from maintenance and airfreight operations.
The cue is expected to be taken from Fraport Airport that is a 10% partner in DIAL, a joint venture consortium of GMR Group (54%), Airports Authority of India (26%) and Eraman Malaysia (10% ).
While India’s nascent aviation industry has a high number of fuel-efficient aircraft, many aircraft flying in from abroad are much older.
“Our policy of noise-related airport charges ensures that those airlines that operate quieter equipment enjoy substantial financial benefits, said Ansgar Sickert, managing director-Fraport India, told The DAILY.
The company’s (Fraport) environmental performance is continuously monitored by external auditors. It is not clear how monitoring will be done in Delhi.
In four years ending in 2006, Fraport implemented a passive noise abatement program for the airport neighborhood. Germany, being a cold country has insulated houses. “We insulated just the roofs for homes around the Frankfurt airport. This will not be possible in Delhi where the walls are thinner and windows have no insulation,” said Sickert.
Delhi Airport Considers Taxing Aircraft Noise Emissions
Aviation Daily Dec 16 , 2009 , p. 14
Neelam Mathews
Delhi International Airport Ltd. is expected to operate an environmental management system similar to the European Eco Audit Directive (EMAS — Eco- Management and Audit Scheme) and the internationally applicable ISO 14001 standard, within the next three years, The DAILY has learned.
The system, which relates to noise-monitoring by encouraging the use of low-noise aircraft by tying landing charges to actual noise emissions, is being advocated by various activist groups and “persons of political importance” who live on the flight descent zone.
Noise from aircraft taking off and landing is the most significant source of noise at an airport, but by no means the only one. In addition, there is the noise of aircraft on taxiways and aprons, the noise made by tow trucks and buses used airside and the noise from maintenance and airfreight operations.
The cue is expected to be taken from Fraport Airport that is a 10% partner in DIAL, a joint venture consortium of GMR Group (54%), Airports Authority of India (26%) and Eraman Malaysia (10% ).
While India’s nascent aviation industry has a high number of fuel-efficient aircraft, many aircraft flying in from abroad are much older.
“Our policy of noise-related airport charges ensures that those airlines that operate quieter equipment enjoy substantial financial benefits, said Ansgar Sickert, managing director-Fraport India, told The DAILY.
The company’s (Fraport) environmental performance is continuously monitored by external auditors. It is not clear how monitoring will be done in Delhi.
In four years ending in 2006, Fraport implemented a passive noise abatement program for the airport neighborhood. Germany, being a cold country has insulated houses. “We insulated just the roofs for homes around the Frankfurt airport. This will not be possible in Delhi where the walls are thinner and windows have no insulation,” said Sickert.
India’s Navy Ordering More MiG-29Ks
News
India’s Navy Ordering More MiG-29Ks
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report Dec 04 , 2009 , p. 12
Neelam Mathews
India’s navy has decided to order 29 additional MiG-29K aircraft, Adm. Nirmal Verma says.
The Phase Two purchase will come under an options clause of a previous order of 16 of the aircraft that will delivered soon. That would bring the total number of MiG-29Ks ordered to 45.
Aerospace Daily spoke to Verma recently during his first news conference after becoming Chief of Naval Staff.
The first four of the aircraft from the initial 16 ordered will be delivered by the end of this year, Verma confirmed. Two of the aircraft will be trainers and the other two single seaters. They are for the controversial Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier.
Some aircraft parts have already started to arrive, with assembly expected by the end of January 2010. Delivery of the rest will be made by 2011.
Virtually all trials have been completed, with the last trial conducted Dec. 2. Firing trials are over, Verma said.
Twelve of the first 16 fighters will be single-seat ‘K’ variants, and the other four twin-seater ‘KUB’ trainer versions. Similarly, four of the next batch of 29 will be ‘KUB’ trainer versions.
The MiG-29Ks are to operate from the 44,570-ton Gorshkov, renamed Vikramaditya, which has become caught in a financial web of uncertainty and political wrangling. Verma acknowledged that work on the carrier is behind schedule, but is expected to be completed by the end of 2012.
Meanwhile, with the naval version of the Light Combat Aircraft earmarked for the indigenous aircraft carrier likely to be delayed, a Request for Information had gone out to Boeing and Rafale. DRDO has indicated that compatibility trials of the naval LCA would be held in 2013, Verma said.
“It will be wise to look at options [for future aircraft carriers]. We have been interacting with the companies [OEMs],” Verma said.
The navy also expects to soon issue a request for proposals for six Medium Range Maritime surveillance aircraft. “Helicopters too, are our top procurement priority,” Verma said.
India’s Navy Ordering More MiG-29Ks
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report Dec 04 , 2009 , p. 12
Neelam Mathews
India’s navy has decided to order 29 additional MiG-29K aircraft, Adm. Nirmal Verma says.
The Phase Two purchase will come under an options clause of a previous order of 16 of the aircraft that will delivered soon. That would bring the total number of MiG-29Ks ordered to 45.
Aerospace Daily spoke to Verma recently during his first news conference after becoming Chief of Naval Staff.
The first four of the aircraft from the initial 16 ordered will be delivered by the end of this year, Verma confirmed. Two of the aircraft will be trainers and the other two single seaters. They are for the controversial Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier.
Some aircraft parts have already started to arrive, with assembly expected by the end of January 2010. Delivery of the rest will be made by 2011.
Virtually all trials have been completed, with the last trial conducted Dec. 2. Firing trials are over, Verma said.
Twelve of the first 16 fighters will be single-seat ‘K’ variants, and the other four twin-seater ‘KUB’ trainer versions. Similarly, four of the next batch of 29 will be ‘KUB’ trainer versions.
The MiG-29Ks are to operate from the 44,570-ton Gorshkov, renamed Vikramaditya, which has become caught in a financial web of uncertainty and political wrangling. Verma acknowledged that work on the carrier is behind schedule, but is expected to be completed by the end of 2012.
Meanwhile, with the naval version of the Light Combat Aircraft earmarked for the indigenous aircraft carrier likely to be delayed, a Request for Information had gone out to Boeing and Rafale. DRDO has indicated that compatibility trials of the naval LCA would be held in 2013, Verma said.
“It will be wise to look at options [for future aircraft carriers]. We have been interacting with the companies [OEMs],” Verma said.
The navy also expects to soon issue a request for proposals for six Medium Range Maritime surveillance aircraft. “Helicopters too, are our top procurement priority,” Verma said.
EADS Opening Innovation Center In India
News
EADS Opening Innovation Center In India
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report Dec 04 , 2009 , p. 11
Neelam Mathews
NEW DELHI – European aerospace giant EADS on Dec. 4 will formally open EADS Innovation Works India, part of the EADS research and development network, in Bengaluru.
The center, in the city formerly known as Bangalore, is the third such Asian branch for EADS after sites in Russia and Singapore. The new center will look at developing software and also develop technology for homeland security.
It will be a good fit for India and EADS, Chief Technology Officer Jean Botti told Aviation Week.
Biofuels and nanotechnology are other areas the company will start working on at its wholly owned facility. EADS is said to be working on algae-related fuels, and there is a possibility that India’s large water-based bodies would be fertile growth tanks. EADS is also looking at working with the Indian Space Research Organization on very fast planes.
Botti said the expected freeze on the research and technology budget in 2010 would not affect ongoing work because the budget is already large. He also rejected any assertion that the Indian center was a means to cutting costs.
“We had decided on India long back. The opening of the center is a part of our global research and technology strategy. India is an important part of our vision and it has highly educated people that will offer value to our R&T capabilities,” he said.
Botti said he saw innovation as a capability to put invention into practice. Innovators have to have entrepreneurs, he explained. EADS will look at licensing some noncore innovations to private manufacturers. The technology licensing initiative will offer opportunities for expanding industries in India to benefit from the company’s know-how.
Like the other centers, the Indian center is supposed to help spur promising technologies into products and services, in part by offering a highly skilled, transnational work force. For instance, the Singapore center, which works under the government’s A-Star program, is working on sensors that can detect objects behind a wall, and EADS has tapped Russia as a source for mathematicians.
Some of the projects carried out by EADS Innovation Works India will be with Indian partners such as the Indian Institute of Science and Indian Institutes of Technology. The projects will capitalize on Indian strengths in the fields of numerical simulations of complex physical systems, multidisciplinary optimization, high-performance computing and radar technologies.
Seventy percent of innovation is done outside Europe because there are so many centers of excellence, according to Botti, and with the U.S. being a major player, EADS is likely to try to tap that nation next.
EADS Opening Innovation Center In India
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report Dec 04 , 2009 , p. 11
Neelam Mathews
NEW DELHI – European aerospace giant EADS on Dec. 4 will formally open EADS Innovation Works India, part of the EADS research and development network, in Bengaluru.
The center, in the city formerly known as Bangalore, is the third such Asian branch for EADS after sites in Russia and Singapore. The new center will look at developing software and also develop technology for homeland security.
It will be a good fit for India and EADS, Chief Technology Officer Jean Botti told Aviation Week.
Biofuels and nanotechnology are other areas the company will start working on at its wholly owned facility. EADS is said to be working on algae-related fuels, and there is a possibility that India’s large water-based bodies would be fertile growth tanks. EADS is also looking at working with the Indian Space Research Organization on very fast planes.
Botti said the expected freeze on the research and technology budget in 2010 would not affect ongoing work because the budget is already large. He also rejected any assertion that the Indian center was a means to cutting costs.
“We had decided on India long back. The opening of the center is a part of our global research and technology strategy. India is an important part of our vision and it has highly educated people that will offer value to our R&T capabilities,” he said.
Botti said he saw innovation as a capability to put invention into practice. Innovators have to have entrepreneurs, he explained. EADS will look at licensing some noncore innovations to private manufacturers. The technology licensing initiative will offer opportunities for expanding industries in India to benefit from the company’s know-how.
Like the other centers, the Indian center is supposed to help spur promising technologies into products and services, in part by offering a highly skilled, transnational work force. For instance, the Singapore center, which works under the government’s A-Star program, is working on sensors that can detect objects behind a wall, and EADS has tapped Russia as a source for mathematicians.
Some of the projects carried out by EADS Innovation Works India will be with Indian partners such as the Indian Institute of Science and Indian Institutes of Technology. The projects will capitalize on Indian strengths in the fields of numerical simulations of complex physical systems, multidisciplinary optimization, high-performance computing and radar technologies.
Seventy percent of innovation is done outside Europe because there are so many centers of excellence, according to Botti, and with the U.S. being a major player, EADS is likely to try to tap that nation next.
Embraer Executive Jets Strike Gold In India
ews
Embraer Executive Jets Strike Gold In India
Aviation Daily Dec 02 , 2009 , p. 10
Neelam Mathews
Embraer has increased its marketing initiative in India, one of the fastest emerging growth markets in the Asia/Pacific region.
Its entry level jet, the Phenom 100, which it brought to Asia for the first time this month, made its foray into seven Indian cities, including two smaller ones – Indore and Madurai. “The market here is very broad-based. It includes training schools, fractional ownership, charters and business houses,” said José Eduardo Costas, Embraer’s VP-marketing and sales, Asia/Pacific, executive jets.
Embraer said it has decided to be a strong player in the Asia/Pacific market with its spectrum of aircraft that will enable customers to move up brand levels. “The beauty of our aircraft is it can hover around India,” added Costas.
Two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW617F-E engines power the jet, with 1,695 lbs. of thrust each. Its range with four occupants is 1,178 nautical miles. The aircraft is capable of flying at 41,000 feet, attained by a direct climb, even when fully loaded.
Costas added that economic growth, corporate profits and stock market performance are indicators of how demand for business jets behaves. “Here in India, the outlook is promising.”
While Costas is not overly optimistic about the market and hopes it will bounce slowly back in mid-2010, he said recovery in the next two years will not be the same as forecast earlier. “Besides, lack of understanding about the benefits business jets bring to the country has held up growth of infrastructure,” he said. Once infrastructure is up, it will give rise to qualified jobs, maintenance, handling, FBOs and events, he added.
Embraer has 30 firm orders for Phenom 100s and 300s from India. Aviators India recently ordered two Phenom 100 jets, and Invision Projects, which plans to use some aircraft as air taxis, had the largest order — 18 Phenom 100s. The deliveries are to start in the third quarter of 2010, and conclude by 2011.
Asia has about 700-800 business jets, or 12% of the world’s share. As deliveries grow by 9% per year in the next 10 years, Costas said he expects the number to double.
India and China are engines of growth and the most promising markets. While China plans to loosen some restrictions, it currently is heavily regulated, but is looking seriously at infrastructure. India will need to look at its infrastructure needs as well, said Costas.
With expected growth in the market, Embraer recently appointed Mumbai-based Indamer Company as its authorized service center and has invested in training mechanics and engineers.
Embraer has received more than 800 orders for the Phenom 100 and 300 jets. Its new Phenom 100 very light jet was launched, along with the Phenom 300 light jet, in May 2005. The first aircraft was delivered to a U.S. customer, Burt Rutan, in December 2008. The book value of the Phenom 100 is $3.6 million.
While the OEM claims it is not in the business of financing sales, it helps its customers. At the Phenom entry level, the customer pays 15%-20% before delivery and the rest after delivery, said Costas. He added that because the cost of the aircraft is low, the capability of its customers to generate financing is related to their relationship with banks.
The company expects to deliver 21 aircraft by the end of 2009.
Embraer Executive Jets Strike Gold In India
Aviation Daily Dec 02 , 2009 , p. 10
Neelam Mathews
Embraer has increased its marketing initiative in India, one of the fastest emerging growth markets in the Asia/Pacific region.
Its entry level jet, the Phenom 100, which it brought to Asia for the first time this month, made its foray into seven Indian cities, including two smaller ones – Indore and Madurai. “The market here is very broad-based. It includes training schools, fractional ownership, charters and business houses,” said José Eduardo Costas, Embraer’s VP-marketing and sales, Asia/Pacific, executive jets.
Embraer said it has decided to be a strong player in the Asia/Pacific market with its spectrum of aircraft that will enable customers to move up brand levels. “The beauty of our aircraft is it can hover around India,” added Costas.
Two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW617F-E engines power the jet, with 1,695 lbs. of thrust each. Its range with four occupants is 1,178 nautical miles. The aircraft is capable of flying at 41,000 feet, attained by a direct climb, even when fully loaded.
Costas added that economic growth, corporate profits and stock market performance are indicators of how demand for business jets behaves. “Here in India, the outlook is promising.”
While Costas is not overly optimistic about the market and hopes it will bounce slowly back in mid-2010, he said recovery in the next two years will not be the same as forecast earlier. “Besides, lack of understanding about the benefits business jets bring to the country has held up growth of infrastructure,” he said. Once infrastructure is up, it will give rise to qualified jobs, maintenance, handling, FBOs and events, he added.
Embraer has 30 firm orders for Phenom 100s and 300s from India. Aviators India recently ordered two Phenom 100 jets, and Invision Projects, which plans to use some aircraft as air taxis, had the largest order — 18 Phenom 100s. The deliveries are to start in the third quarter of 2010, and conclude by 2011.
Asia has about 700-800 business jets, or 12% of the world’s share. As deliveries grow by 9% per year in the next 10 years, Costas said he expects the number to double.
India and China are engines of growth and the most promising markets. While China plans to loosen some restrictions, it currently is heavily regulated, but is looking seriously at infrastructure. India will need to look at its infrastructure needs as well, said Costas.
With expected growth in the market, Embraer recently appointed Mumbai-based Indamer Company as its authorized service center and has invested in training mechanics and engineers.
Embraer has received more than 800 orders for the Phenom 100 and 300 jets. Its new Phenom 100 very light jet was launched, along with the Phenom 300 light jet, in May 2005. The first aircraft was delivered to a U.S. customer, Burt Rutan, in December 2008. The book value of the Phenom 100 is $3.6 million.
While the OEM claims it is not in the business of financing sales, it helps its customers. At the Phenom entry level, the customer pays 15%-20% before delivery and the rest after delivery, said Costas. He added that because the cost of the aircraft is low, the capability of its customers to generate financing is related to their relationship with banks.
The company expects to deliver 21 aircraft by the end of 2009.
India Beefs Up Security Budget
Global Dispatches
India Beefs Up Security Budget
Defense Technology International Dec 01 , 2009 , p. 21
Neelam Mathews
New Delhi
India makes big investment in homeland security
Printed headline: Futures Market
The November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai exposed shortfalls in India’s homeland security spending (DTI February, p. 44). While the $26.5-billion defense budget for fiscal 2008-09 (ended Mar. 31) represented a 10% hike over the previous year, it was only 1.9% of GDP—not enough, experts assert, for a country whose economic and regional responsibilities have grown in recent years, and which faces threatening neighbors and insurgents. The government, as a result, increased security spending 25% in the current fiscal year.
This money is funding a massive shopping spree by homeland security agencies. These include the paramilitary forces, state and central police, and intelligence agencies, all of which are part of the Home Affairs Ministry.
Indian soldiers of the 7th Mechanized Infantry Btn. take up positions during a village security exercise with the U.S. Army’s 14th Cavalry Regt. Credit: U.S. DEFENSE DEPT.
Paramilitary forces received $4.3 billion for fiscal 2009-10, an increase of $1 billion from the previous year. Among the beneficiaries is the Central Reserve Paramilitary Force, which received $1.4 billion, a 26% increase. The Border Security Force—which guards the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir and the 6,622-km. (4,115-mi.) border with Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar—received a 20% increase in funds to $1.3 billion. Allocations to the Central Industrial Reserve Force grew by almost 21.5% to $500 million. And the New Delhi police received $1.47 billion for security at the upcoming Commonwealth Games.
Internal threats from Maoist insurgents in the northeast resulted in the Assam Rifles, the local paramilitary, receiving $470 million, an increase of 34%. Tenders are planned for 10,000 pieces of body armor, 10,000 new-generation helmets and at least 80 mine-resistant vehicles for the unit—this last a fourfold increase from the current fleet.
Six major cities also benefit from the higher security budget—more than 500 surveillance cameras have been installed in Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore) alone.
Nevertheless, there is concern that the government has no integrated plan for security.
“The security market in India is skewed, as integrated requirements are not looked at,” says Partha Sarathi Guha Patra, vice president of strategic initiatives and offset programs at Indian conglomerate Wipro Ltd. “The market scenario today is to just procure a product.”
“Our policies and strategies need to prepare for the future,” says Shekhar Dutt, deputy national security adviser. “From box-based planning, we need to orient to a transformational mode where activity lines and time lines are well defined.”
Countering extremists requires a well-thought-out strategy, says Adm. Sureesh Mehta, former chief of naval staff. “The increasing demand on the military to assume law-and-order responsibilities is clearly an undesirable trend—this must always be a last resort. The military must never be used against our population.”
In a possible reference to reports that Pakistan has helped arm terrorists and insurgents in India, he notes, “We live in an era characterized by the rise of non-state forces. . .[and the] worrying phenomenon of the occasional coalescing of the state with some non-state entities, which has created an evil hybrid.”
The difficulty of integrating a comprehensive security makeover is evident in one plan, mired in turf wars, to give the navy overall responsibility for maritime security. The plan calls for integrating 16 now-separate coastal and offshore agencies, including the coast guard, marine police, customs, shipping and fisheries, with joint operation centers in Mumbai, Vizag, Kochi and Port Blair. A proposal to appoint a maritime security adviser is also being considered, says Defense Minister A.K. Antony.
Some gains are being made. A coastal surveillance radar station was commissioned in Karwar, Karnataka, last month by Vice Adm. Anil Chopra, director general of the coast guard. He says 14 more will be set up to fill the security gap along India’s western coast. Speedboats are also being procured for them.
Chopra recently launched an offshore patrol vessel designed and built by Goa Shipyard. The vessel has an automated bridge, room for a light helicopter and range of 4,500 nm.
The coast guard plans to buy 12 twin-engine helicopters and 12 Dornier surveillance aircraft to police India’s 7,500-km. coastline. The service has also ordered 204 interceptor boats from foreign suppliers, some of which have been delivered.
India Beefs Up Security Budget
Defense Technology International Dec 01 , 2009 , p. 21
Neelam Mathews
New Delhi
India makes big investment in homeland security
Printed headline: Futures Market
The November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai exposed shortfalls in India’s homeland security spending (DTI February, p. 44). While the $26.5-billion defense budget for fiscal 2008-09 (ended Mar. 31) represented a 10% hike over the previous year, it was only 1.9% of GDP—not enough, experts assert, for a country whose economic and regional responsibilities have grown in recent years, and which faces threatening neighbors and insurgents. The government, as a result, increased security spending 25% in the current fiscal year.
This money is funding a massive shopping spree by homeland security agencies. These include the paramilitary forces, state and central police, and intelligence agencies, all of which are part of the Home Affairs Ministry.
Indian soldiers of the 7th Mechanized Infantry Btn. take up positions during a village security exercise with the U.S. Army’s 14th Cavalry Regt. Credit: U.S. DEFENSE DEPT.
Paramilitary forces received $4.3 billion for fiscal 2009-10, an increase of $1 billion from the previous year. Among the beneficiaries is the Central Reserve Paramilitary Force, which received $1.4 billion, a 26% increase. The Border Security Force—which guards the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir and the 6,622-km. (4,115-mi.) border with Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar—received a 20% increase in funds to $1.3 billion. Allocations to the Central Industrial Reserve Force grew by almost 21.5% to $500 million. And the New Delhi police received $1.47 billion for security at the upcoming Commonwealth Games.
Internal threats from Maoist insurgents in the northeast resulted in the Assam Rifles, the local paramilitary, receiving $470 million, an increase of 34%. Tenders are planned for 10,000 pieces of body armor, 10,000 new-generation helmets and at least 80 mine-resistant vehicles for the unit—this last a fourfold increase from the current fleet.
Six major cities also benefit from the higher security budget—more than 500 surveillance cameras have been installed in Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore) alone.
Nevertheless, there is concern that the government has no integrated plan for security.
“The security market in India is skewed, as integrated requirements are not looked at,” says Partha Sarathi Guha Patra, vice president of strategic initiatives and offset programs at Indian conglomerate Wipro Ltd. “The market scenario today is to just procure a product.”
“Our policies and strategies need to prepare for the future,” says Shekhar Dutt, deputy national security adviser. “From box-based planning, we need to orient to a transformational mode where activity lines and time lines are well defined.”
Countering extremists requires a well-thought-out strategy, says Adm. Sureesh Mehta, former chief of naval staff. “The increasing demand on the military to assume law-and-order responsibilities is clearly an undesirable trend—this must always be a last resort. The military must never be used against our population.”
In a possible reference to reports that Pakistan has helped arm terrorists and insurgents in India, he notes, “We live in an era characterized by the rise of non-state forces. . .[and the] worrying phenomenon of the occasional coalescing of the state with some non-state entities, which has created an evil hybrid.”
The difficulty of integrating a comprehensive security makeover is evident in one plan, mired in turf wars, to give the navy overall responsibility for maritime security. The plan calls for integrating 16 now-separate coastal and offshore agencies, including the coast guard, marine police, customs, shipping and fisheries, with joint operation centers in Mumbai, Vizag, Kochi and Port Blair. A proposal to appoint a maritime security adviser is also being considered, says Defense Minister A.K. Antony.
Some gains are being made. A coastal surveillance radar station was commissioned in Karwar, Karnataka, last month by Vice Adm. Anil Chopra, director general of the coast guard. He says 14 more will be set up to fill the security gap along India’s western coast. Speedboats are also being procured for them.
Chopra recently launched an offshore patrol vessel designed and built by Goa Shipyard. The vessel has an automated bridge, room for a light helicopter and range of 4,500 nm.
The coast guard plans to buy 12 twin-engine helicopters and 12 Dornier surveillance aircraft to police India’s 7,500-km. coastline. The service has also ordered 204 interceptor boats from foreign suppliers, some of which have been delivered.
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