Aerospace Diary

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Nov 30, 2011 Defense Minister A.K Antony replies to queries- The contract for procurement of two aerostats was signed with Rafael, Israel on 15 lh March, 2002. The first Aerostat system was commissioned on 15 1h May, 2007 while the second Aerostat was commissioned on 15 lh May, 2008. While one aerostat system is working well, the other system was damaged due to sudden strong gust of wind on 27 lh May, 2009 and became non-operational. Steps have been initiated for recovery of the system. The CAG has commented on certain aspects of IAF's Aerostat Radars. Requisite action is being taken.                         The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) has not invited India to become a partner in its missile defense program. The US has not offered India a partnership in the development of the world’s most advanced fighter plane, F-35 j...

Below is an article that has been shared with Aerospace Diary. Could this logic be applied to FDI in airlines? Would love to hear from you. Neelam By- Derek Scissors Research Fellow in Asia Economic Policy in the Asian Studies Center at The Heritage Foundation WASHINGTON , November 29, 2011 A beleaguered Indian federal government tried last week to break out of its rut and boost what is finally recognized as a struggling Indian economy. It did so with a bold and valuable decision to expand foreign participation in retail. Foreign companies will be able to wholly own single-brand stores and majority-own multi-brand stores. There are a number of qualifiers to this long-awaited liberalization, including the right for Indian states to say no, which several have already exercised loudly. These state governments are making an error, as are the national opponents of the move. Foreign competition in retail will hurt one group: uncompetitive domestic retailers. Employment in domestic ...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Nov 30, 2011 US Senate Committee on Commerce,  Science and Transportation Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV released this statement following American Airlines’ announcement to seek bankruptcy protection:  “I was disappointed to learn that American Airlines filed for bankruptcy.  I know that Gerard Arpey, CEO of American Airlines, worked hard to avoid it.  I commend him for trying to restructure the company in order to preserve his employees’ hard-earned pensions.   I also know he cares about his employees and that he regrets taking this action.   Seeking bankruptcy protection is not an easy decision and is a difficult and painful process for workers, retirees, shareholders, and the communities American Airlines serves.   I’m confident that the company will work through this restructuring and emerge a stronger and better airline.  Ensuring that the U.S. has a healthy airline industry is one of the reason...

Neelam Mathews Nov 29, 2011 As it tries to cut costs and reduce the massive debt, American Airlines the third largest airline in the US, and its parent company has filed for bankruptcy protection.  There will be no impact on travelers for now, the company says. “American expects to continue normal business operations throughout the reorganization process, and the business will continue to be operated by the Company’s management. The United States Chapter 11 reorganization process enables a company to maintain normal business operations while it establishes a competitive cost and debt structure. This action has no direct legal impact on any American Airlines operations outside the United States,” says the carrier.  American Airlines is operating normal flight schedules, honoring tickets and reservations, and making normal refunds and exchanges. American’s frequent flyer program is not affected. American remains part of the oneworld alliance, of which it is a founding m...

Neelam Mathews Nov 29, 2011 As General Md Abdul Mubeen, Bangaldesh Army Chief visits India from Nov 28 to Dec 2, the visit assumes special significance in light of improving military cooperation. Aerospace Diary learns that Bangladesh is looking to India for help in maintenance, repair and overhaul of its Mi-17s. A tender was released last month. According to Wikipedia, Bangladesh Air Force has 17 Mi17s and several Mi-8 MTVs operated by the 31st squadron based in BAF Base Bashar in Dhaka and the 1st squadron based in BAF Base Zahurul Huq in Chittagong. BAF also operates 6 Mil Mi-171SH Armed Helicopter and 2 Mil Mi-172 VIP transporters. Military-to-Military Cooperation between Bangladesh and Indian Armed Forces encompasses exchange of high and medium level visits, joint training courses, witnessing designated exercises by military observers from both sides, exchange of War Veterans, UNPKO, sharing experience in disaster management, sports and adventure activitie...

On Aerial reconnaissance pods …defense minister Contracts for the procurement of aerial reconnaissance pods along with Ground Exploitation System was signed with ELTA, Israel on 31st December 2004 and with Rafael, Israel on 06 th February 2009. A third Contract was signed for procurement of reconnaissance equipment from IAI, Israel, in 2010. The procurements are in accordance with the Defense Procurement Procedure. The equipment procured meets the operational requirements of the Indian Air Force (IAF).     On IAF – Radar Shortage ….…defense minister The IAF is in the process of procuring aerial reconnaissance aircraft, additional Aerostat Radar systems as well as various types of radars that are expected to provide a gap-free Air Defense coverage along the Eastern and Western borders. The capability build-up of IAF envisages procurement of radars of various classes. The induction of these systems along with network centricity is aimed at a gap-free Air Defense cover a...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews On Procedure for Defense Shipbuilding- Minister of State for Defense, Pallam Raju For indigenously building ships and other naval crafts, in accordance with the Defense Procurement Procedure, 2011, Chapter-Ill, Procedure for Defense Shipbuilding - Defense shipyards are awarded some contracts on nomination basis while other contracts are awarded on competitive basis. Defense shipyards are participating with private yards in an open competition. In some of the cases they have lost out to private shipyards. Defense Shipyards quoted for Naval Offshore Patrol Vessels, Barges, Hovercraft, Fast Patrol Vessels, Interceptor Boats, Cadet Training Ships and Fast interceptor crafts but lost to private yards. The Defense shipyards have indicated that major reasons of losing out are: (i) Higher wage rates for the labor and thereby increase in overheads; (ii) Longer time taken to procure the materials by observing the laid down procedures thus pushing up their prices...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Nov 28, 2011   Even as the Defense minister AK Antony said in parliament today that there is no information regarding a joint military exercise of Pakistani and Chinese armies nearly 25 kms away from the border area of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, t housands of Indian soldiers in tanks and fighter jets are getting ready for manoeuvres in the desert sector near the border for the long-scheduled exercise SUDARSHAN SHAKTI, says MoD. Around 50,000 troops along with T-90, T-72, Arjun Tanks and BMPs will carry out simulated assaults on their objectives with the Artillery and IAF providing the support. "This exercise will be a trendsetter for the Integrated Theatre Concept". The transformation of the force is at making the Army a more agile, versatile, lethal and networked force. In this exercise, we will be trying out new structures, strategies, and test beds of an integrated, seamless air-land battle," says a spokesman.

Neelam Mathews Nov 26, 2011 Air Seychelles will terminate flights to Europe from 2012 as it completes a major restructuring of its international network including Paris, Heathrow and Milan. The carrier suspended its flights to Singapore recently and will be left with just domestic and African destinations from spring 2012.  “Air Seychelles has seen its market share decrease continuously for the last few years.  The result has been that profitability on the long haul routes of Air Seychelles for more than two years has dwindled from marginally profitable to serious losses,” said Bram Steller, CEO, Air Seychelles. Air Seychelles may also codeshare with Etihad Airways . Qatar Airways has revealed its network expansion with CEO Akbar Al Baker announcing it was finalising the launch of seven new routes for 2012. The new flights include services from Doha to Perth, Helsinki, Zagreb; Gassim in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and three East African cities – Zanzibar, Kigali...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Nov 24, 2011 The joint exercise of Southern Army and South Western Air Command(SWAC) Exercise SUDARSHAN SHAKTI , has entered its crucial phase, says MoD In this overall effort, Network Centric Warfare (NCW) is one of the crucial aspects being validated. The training was structured to build on from the smallest unit upwards followed by the entire Southern Army, being put through a simulated battlefield environment. The endeavour has been to validate and integrate the use of all available assets, including Satellites, UAVs and HUMINT(human intelligence) to assist commanders at all levels in taking dynamic and proactive operational action in a fluid battlefield. Another facet being validated is the real-time sensor-to-shooter loop, which enables commanders to take instant decisions even as information is shared among platforms and personnel to order the weapons to be deployed. Network Centric Warfare provides shared information of the battle space among arm...

Neelam Mathews Nov 24, 2011 With the long delayed upgrades of 51 Mirages signed, down payment paid and Indian Air Force team in France, the project is finally on its way. The CCS has also cleared procurement of 450 MICA multitarget air-to-air intercept and combat missiles from MBDA, learns Aerospace Diary. MICA supports a maximum operating range of 60km. The upgrade includes the RDY-3 multimode radar, as well as new navigation and electronic countermeasures systems. The MPDU mission computer, also fitted on the Rafale, will be on the Mirage. The first two aircraft will be upgraded in France within 44-months. The next two aircraft will be modified over 14 months by Dassault and Thales at HAL in Bangalore. HAL will upgrade the rest at its premises. Dassault and Thales will modernise the on-board equipment and systems to bring the aircraft to Mirage 2000-5 standards.

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Nov 23, 2011 On Upgradation- Mid-life upgradation of the fleet is a continuous process and is undertaken to retain the combat relevance of the aircraft, said Defense minister A.K Antony. Contracts have been signed with RAC MiG Russia for upgrade of the MiG-29 aircraft, with Spets Techno Export, Ukraine, for upgrade of the AN-32 aircraft and with Thales, France, along with HAL, India, for upgrade of the Mirage 2000 aircraft. These contracts are under implementation. There is no proposal before the government to buy Mirage 2000 V aircraft, said Antony. Delays- MDL There have been initial delays in modernization, program of Mazagon Docks Limited (MDL). However, the delay in Modernization has not contributed directly to the delay in ongoing warship construction projects. According to the Minister of State for Defense MM Pallam Raju, the major reasons for delay are-. (i)                ...

  Posted by- Neelam Mathews Nov 22, 2011   Positioning to take advantage of the soaring demand for air travel in both the Asia Pacific region, the fastest-growing market for the airline industry, and China, one of the single strongest air travel regions in the world, Hong Kong Airlines, a division of China’s giant HNA Group, says it will acquire 51 new aircraft over the next four years, as part of a major expansion of its operations on international and Chinese domestic routes. From 2012 until 2015, the Hong Kong Airlines group will acquire 30 wide-bodied Airbus and Boeing jets for long haul operations and 21 narrow-bodied Airbus A320s for short haul routes. The majority of the new wide-bodies will be A330-200, with 20 due for delivery in the next four years, as well as six Boeing 787s and up to four Airbus A380s. Among the destinations it is considering for future expansion is Australia. Together with its sister carrier, Hong Kong Express (UO), Hong Kong A...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Nov 21, 2011 Airbus says it has completed installation of the first set of ‘Sharklet’ wing-tip devices on the A320 development aircraft (MSN 001 ), preparing for the flight-test campaign in the coming weeks. Sharklets, which have been specially designed for the Airbus A320 Family, will reduce fuel burn by up to 3.5 percent. These new wingtip devices are around 2.5 metres tall and will replace the aircraft’s current wingtip fence. Offered as an option on new-build aircraft, as well as being standard on the A320neo Family, Sharklets will also enhance the aircraft’s payload-range and take-off performance.