Aerospace Diary

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Sept 30, 2011 An international meeting of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council and other non-EU Member States was held in New Delhi on 29th -30th September to discuss the inclusion of aviation in the European Union Emission Trading System (EU-ETS). The meeting was chaired by Dr. Nasim Zaidi, Secretary, M/o Civil Aviation. A detailed agenda was deliberated upon including discussions on the legal objections to EU-ETS, policy objections, the role of ICAO- the way forward and discussions on next steps. The countries present were: Argentine Republic, Brazil, Canada, China, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and United States of America. It was attended by over 70 delegates. There was wide concern expressed by all countries present, without exception, that the un...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Sept 30, 2011 Starting Oct 2 on Gandhi Jayanti, budget IndiGo, is set to further expand its international footprint with the launch of daily direct flights on the Mumbai-Bangkok-Mumbai and Mumbai-Dubai-Mumbai routes.  September marked the airline’s launch of international flights on the Delhi-Dubai, Delhi-Bangkok and Delhi-Singapore routes.  IndiGo has launched its international services with a return fare of INR 9999.  Aditya Ghosh, President IndiGo said , “We are indeed very excited about our new journey as a part of our expansion program. We have received great response from our customers on our recently launched international flights and we feel quite encouraged. We hope to receive a similar response for our international flights to and from Mumbai.”

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Sept 30, 2011   The final demonstration of the SMAT F1 project (advanced land monitoring system, phase 1) was conducted successfully on September 30 with aircraft flying over Levaldigi (CN), Benevagienna (CN) and Turin. The project simulated a joint land-monitoring mission for civil purposes, based on three unmanned systems operating at different altitudes; Alenia Aeronautica's Sky-Y,   SELEX Galileo’s Falco (Both Alenia Aeronautica and SELEX Galileo are Finmeccanica Group companies) and the small C-Fly UAS from Nimbus. Giuseppe Giordo, CEO of Alenia Aeronautica and Alenia Aermacchi and head of Finmeccanica’s Aeronautics division said; “Alenia Aeronautica has added another important piece to the wider project of developing innovative unmanned systems, the most challenging technological frontier for aeronautics products in the 21st century". This represents an important European record as it is the first time that several unmanned systems have opera...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Sept 30, 2011-09-30 Defense Minister AK Antony starts his three-day visit to Moscow (Oct 3-5) to co-chair the 11 th meeting of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-MTC) with his Russian counterpart AE Serdyukov.  Antony will be accompanied by an official delegation including the Defense Secretary Shashikant Sharma, Secretary Defense Production Shekhar Aggarwal, Lt Gen MS Buttar, Air Marshal RK Sharma, Vice Admiral NN Kumar, Chief Controller of Research & Development of DRDO Avinash Chander, CMD Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Ashok Nayak and DG Acquisition Vivek Ray. Besides regional and global security issues, the progress of ongoing projects such as Admiral Gorshkov, delivery of frigates and Multi-Role Transport Aircraft will come for discussion at the meeting.  Aspects relating to licensed manufacture and maintenance of T-90 Tanks and Su-30 MKI Aircraft in India, are also in the agenda for discu...

Airbus Military has been informed that a C212 aircraft operated by PT Nusantara Buana Air has had an accident in the north Sumatran region of Indonesia. The company and its employees express their deep sympathy for all those affected by what has happened. Any speculation on what happened would be premature. Airbus Military is currently awaiting further information on the situation from Indonesian authorities and industry.

Neelam Mathews Sept 30, 2011 The Asia Pacific region has become the largest market outside Europe for ATR Regional Aircraft, manufacturer of 50-70 seat turboprop airliners. Almost one third of the ATR aircraft currently operating around the world are now based in the Asia Pacific area. Of the 854 ATR aircraft in service today, 244 –29 percent – are in the Asia Pacific region, stretching in an arc from Pakistan and India, through China, South East and North Asia to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, says ATR. In the first nine months of 2011, ATR has booked some 70 additional orders with Asia-Pacific carriers.   Today, Asia Pacific represents more than 110 aircraft in ATR’s backlog, 40% of the total. “Turboprop aircraft are in strong demand, as airlines around the world seek to increase their short haul services while reducing operating costs,” said John Moore, Head of Sales for ATR Regional Aircraft. Moore claims ATRs burn significantly less fuel “not only tha...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Sept 30, 2011 Hexcel -leading global supplier of advanced materials - Carbon Fiber, Epoxy resins and adhesives, glass, aramid and carbon fabrics, prepregs, aircraft flooring addressed the impact the new re-engined narrow body aircraft will have, indicating that ship set values could go up by as much as 50%. “This had been one of the key questions investors have focused on recently, and a major reason, in our view, for the stock being up 5.25% on a day when the S&P 500 only saw a 0.81% move,” says Kenneth Herbert of  Wedbush. He adds that however, it is important to note that these estimates are preliminary, “and we believe the 50% represents to the upper end of the possible increase.” The company indicated that it will take another 1-2 years before it knows for sure what the precise impact will be, but management feels confident with what they know now to at least put a preliminary estimate out. The upside will be basically the same whether it i...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Sept 30,2011 DRDOs Agni II was launched once again, successfully today, from Wheeler Island off the coast of ORISSA. This follows the successful launches of SHOURYA & PRITHIVI-II in the past seven days. “The successful launch once again proved reliability of the medium range surface to surface missile,” says DRDO. The 2000 km range surface to surface missile, already inducted and part of countries arsenal for strategic deterrence, was launched as a training exercise by the armed forces. The two stage missile equipped with advanced high accuracy navigation system, guided by a novel scheme of state of the earth command & control system was propelled by solid rocket propellant system. The missile reached an apogee (peak altitude) of 220 km and hit the target. All the radar, telemetry systems, ectopic system tracked & monitored all parameters throughout the trajectory. Two ships located near the target point have tracked the missile in the f...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Sept 30, 2011 Starting Oct 1, Saab’s wholly owned India subsidiary Saab India Technologies Pvt. Ltd. will start operations in India. “We are intensifying our operations in India with a long-term perspective contributing with technological know-how to the Indian defense industry,” says Jan Widerström, Chairman of the board for Saab India Technologies Pvt. Ltd. “In Saab’s ambition to enable India to develop a strong distinct position with its developing defense industry, the company continues to develop its competence in India …..”,says Inderjit Sial, Managing Director for Saab India Technologies Pvt. Ltd.,   Link to video interview of Jan Widerström, Chairman of the board for Saab India Technologies Pvt. Ltd. and Inderjit Sial, Managing Director for Saab India Technologies Pvt. Ltd: http://www.saabgroup.com/ About-Saab/Newsroom/Press- releases--News/2011---9/Saab- deepens-its-commitment-with-a- new-Indian-entity--Saab-India- Technologies-Pvt-Ltd...

Neelam Mathews Sept 29, 2011 AirAsia a nd Malaysia Airlines (MAS) are   said to be discussing joint collaboration in maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services. Tony Fernandes of AirAsia Group said to a Malaysian publication if that happened, a mega MRO between MAS and AirAsia could challenge Singapore's MROs. MAS has a JV in MRO with GMRs Hyderabad International Airport. With both companies having skills in training, it is likely they will tap their joint assets for the region. AirAsia is also looking at collaboration in cargo and catering with MAS to help cut costs said Fernandes. Fernandes said more details on cost and revenue joint ventures with MAS would be announced soon. Recently, under a share-swap deal, Khazanah Nasional Bhd, the major shareholder of MAS, said it would take up 10% stake in AirAsia while Tune Air Sdn Bhd , the investment vehicle of Fernandes and Kamarudin Meranun, would own a 20.5% stake in MAS.

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Sept 29, 2011 Lockheed Martin has delivered four C-130J Super Hercules airlifters to the State of Qatar, the first C-130J operator in the Middle-East The Qatar Emiri Air Force’s new Super Hercules are the longer fuselage or “stretched” variant of the C-130J. The aircraft will be used for humanitarian relief and military missions for the defense of the State of Qatar. The new airlift fleet will ferry to Qatar in October, says Lockheed Martin in a statement.  Lockheed Martin is providing a complete solution package that includes the four aircraft; aircrew and maintenance training; spares; ground support and test equipment; and a team of technical specialists who will be based in Qatar during an initial support period.

Neelam Mathews Sept 29, 2011 The proposed inclusion of international aviation in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme without consent of governments, has led to a growing barrage of  objections. At the same time governments have expressed their objection to the EU-ETS being imposed unilaterally by the EU, in breach of the international treaty obligations and bilateral agreements. As the DGCA-led two-day conference on the EU-ETS starts today in New Delhi, the world is expecting fireworks to begin. Almost all the (Non-EU) ICAO Council members have expressed their open and unambiuous support to India's initiative to convene the meeting to devise a strategy to counter EU-ETS which starts on Jan 1, 2012.  The non-EU ICAO council member states, which include top 25 economies based on Revenue Ton Per Kilometer, will be meeting in a closed-door session, to strategize what retailiatory steps (read economic measures) they could undertake, on individual and collective bas...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Sept 29, 2011 The first Boeing P-8I aircraft for the Indian Navy has completed its initial flight. It took off  from Renton Field in Seattle. "The P-8I will provide India with the necessary speed and reliability to satisfy the Indian Navy's maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare requirements," said Dinesh Keskar, Boeing India president. The P-8I is the first of eight long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft Boeing is building for India as part of a contract awarded in January 2009. An option for four additional P-8I aircraft was included in the original contract. During the flight, Boeing test pilots performed airborne systems checks including engine accelerations and decelerations and autopilot flight modes, and took the P-8I to a maximum altitude of 41,000 ft prior to landing. In the coming weeks Boeing will begin mission systems installation and checkout work on the aircraft at a company fac...

Neelam Mathews Sept 28, 2011 The announcement made by Vijay Mallya, Chairman Kingfisher Airlines to pull out of budget operations following the AGM (today) hardly comes as a surprise. Suffice to say competitors must be smiling as they wait to fill the space vacated by the carrier. There is speculation that the decision to slash the present fleet of 66 to 35, might be the first phase of a face-saving exit. Presently, Kingfisher has over 14 aircraft on ground including ATRs. How they will be returned to lessors without putting them back in faultless condition they were delivered in, is another question. This is a given- as the buzz in the market says- that the carrier has no cash to pay for spares. Today the blood bath in fares covers so called full service carriers and budget alike as they both battle to get a share of the same pie. So, Mallya might just end up facing the same warriors –this time with a blunt sword (of higher overheads)!. Kingfisher (KFA) has also made the fatal m...

Neelam Mathews Sept 27, 2011 With 1300 engines in India, of which over 1000 are installed and operating in defense, along with a recent initiative with L&T, and Tata Consulting, Rolls Royce Defense Aerospace says it  has doubled its workforce in India, an indication of the level of importance of India and the level of collaborations As defense budgets shrink the worldover, “it is important to maximize our customer base and India is a key strategic market for us,” says John Gay, Sr. VP, Customer Services. Rolls responded to an RFP in early September (T800) alongwith contender Turbomeca for Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) Light Utility Helicopter. HAL is presently evaluating the technical bids for a turboshaft engine. Embraer Defense and Security has selected the IAE V2500-E5 engine to equip the KC-390 military transport jet. Gay says there are opportunities in India if the Medium Transport Aircraft is a twin engine. The first deliveries of the V2500-E5 engines for the KC-...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Sept 27, 2011 Mumbai International Airport says it will construct a new taxiway between Twy E1&E3 for the secondary runway 14/32 at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. As a result of the taxiway, aircraft will be able to vacate the runway, reducing runway occupancy time. To facilitate this infrastructure work, runway 14/32 will be closed for flight operations from October 10, 2011 – January 20, 2012. Flight operations will not be impacted as the primary runway 09/27 will continue to remain open for operations, says MIAL.

Posted by Neelam Mathews Sept 27, 2011 The first Engine Ground Run (EGR) of the first LCA(Navy) prototype NP1 has been carried out. The primary objective was to check the aircraft for engine integration and activation of various systems like Flight control, Hydraulics, Fuel, Electrical, Avionics. The aircraft will now go through a phase of refinements based on feedback identified during the course of the build up and also observed during the EGR, followed by a series of final integration checks and taxi trials before its maiden flight shortly, says DRDO. The team steering LCA(Navy) project   comprises , members of Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, HAL, DRDO, CEMILAC, DGAQA, CSIR Labs, Educational Institutions, other Public and Private Sector partners.

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Sept 27, 2011 ST Aerospace’s commercial pilot training arm, ST Aerospace Academy is investing $ 15million   over six months to expand its operations to better meet the increasing demand for its programs. As part of capacity expansion, STAA recently added a new facility at the perimeter of Ballarat Airport in Australia.  It comprises 1,300sqm of administrative space and 7,700sqm of classroom facilities.  It is also developing a new Flight Operations Center at Ballarat Airport, which is expected to be ready by end 2011.   The FOC will feature an aircraft apron that can accommodate a fleet of up to 40 aircraft.  STAA’s current facility is about 200m from the new location and can accommodate up to 20 aircraft.   In line with its plan to establish a simulator centre in Singapore, STAA has acquired an Airbus A320 flight simulator, which will be delivered in July 2012.  Upon delivery, it will be housed in the centre curre...