Aerospace Diary

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Here's a press release from Dassault  to confirm the selection- Rafale selected to equip the Indian Air Force Saint-Cloud (France), January 31, 2012 - Following the announcement of the final selection of the Rafale in the frame of the MMRCA program, Dassault Aviation and its partners are honored and grateful to the Indian Government and the people of India to be given the opportunity to extend their long-lasting cooperation. Dassault Aviation and its partners reiterate their commitment to meet the operational requirements of the Indian Air Force and underline their pride in contributing to India’s defence for over half a century.

Neelam Mathews Jan 31, 2012 The MoD has kept its date for making a decision on its single largest defense deal yet. According to frantic and hectic agency and electronic media reports, the Dassault representative was handed over the letter by the MoD for being the lowest bidder of the around $18 billion 126 medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft for the Indian Air Force, over its competent adversary, Eurofighter. The contract is yet to be signed and might take longer than envisaged given the defense coffers for this financial year are nearly empty. So have the heads of states started calling up the PMO? No one knows how geo-politics will rear its head as the four member European Consortium leading the Eurofighter are big trade ($40billion) partners of India versus the $5billion trade France has with India. “Now the trade between the two countries will increase,” says an Indian defense-related industry official. The thorny issue of offsets will be the next big hurdle. Dassault’s Rafa...

Neelam Mathews Jan 30, 2012 Hyderabad's privately owned Small and Medium Enterprise company, Raghu Vamsi Machine Tools into manufacturing of precision engineering parts for Aerospace and Defense industries has entered  into a joint venture with Industria de Tuberias Aeronauticas(ITA), a Spanish company and Reginson Engineering Ltd ("Reginson"), a British Company. The JV will be named "Reginson India" and will have three partners, each contributing the right mix with ITA providing the market access , Reginson providing the product know how, and Raghu Vamsi providing the local market knowledge and industrial capabilities. The JV will manufacture machined components designed to be assembled into rigid and flexible pipes or ducts, i.e. End Fittings for Aircraft Engines. The JV will invest Rs 25crore in 3 phases - Rs 10 Crores in the first year with a target of Rs 100 crores in the next 5 years. The joint venture is (possibly) the first of its kind in engine compo...

  Posted by- Neelam Mathews’ Jan 29, 2012 A high level delegation led by Admiral Hisayasu Suzuki, the Commandant, Japan Coast Guard (JCG), is visiting India from 26-30 Jan 2012, for the 11 th High Level Meeting and Combined Exercises, with the Indian Coast Guard. “The visit, was in pursuance of the Memorandum of Cooperation, signed between the two Coast Guards on 24 November 2006, which stipulates that the heads of the two organizations meet alternately in India and Japan, to discuss maritime issues of mutual concerns and formulate a cooperative approach to address these”, says a statement. The Memorandum of Cooperation between the two Coast Guards encompasses issues of maritime search and rescue, combating marine pollution, technical assistance for responding to natural disasters and exchange of information regarding crimes at sea, including smuggling and illicit trafficking. The first ICG-JCG combined exercises were carried out in November 2000 off Chennai, in which one JCG...

AIN Air Transport Perspective » January 23, 2012 by  Neelam Mathews   India’s DGCA cited 11 engine changes among IndiGo airplanes as cause for an ETOPS review. (Photo: Neelam Mathews) January 13, 2012, 10:05 AM Indian budget carrier IndiGo has called for an upgrade of the archaic 1982 Air Safety Circulars (ASC) of the subcontinent's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). It recommends that the DGCA adopt the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) April 2010 circulars, tailored to India’s specific requirements. “Aircraft technology has undergone major changes and what was relevant three decades ago may no longer be significant,” Aditya Ghosh, IndiGo president, told AIN . Two weeks ago, mayhem broke out following the accidental leak of a six-week-old DGCA unaudited report on “financial surveillance from safety perspective of scheduled airlin...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Jan 27, 2012 Lockheed Martin Corporation announced that its board of directors has approved the appointment of Larry A. Lawson to serve as the executive vice president of the Aeronautics business area. The appointment follows the announcement of Ralph D. Heath’s  retirement; the transition is effective on April 1, 2012.  Heath retires after a distinguished 37-year career with the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics business area and its heritage companies. In addition to leading the consolidation of the three business units to create the current Aeronautics business area, Heath led the revitalization of the C-130 program, international expansion of the F-16 program, and the development and delivery of the F-22 and F-35 fighter aircraft to secure the long-term future of the business.  Lawson, currently the vice president and general manager of the F-35 program, will be succeeded by Orlando Carvalho, who currently serves as vice president and deputy, F...

Posted by – Neelam Mathews Jan 26, 2012 EADS has announced its Board of Directors has designated Tom Enders to take over the role of CEO when Louis Gallois steps down at the end of his mandate. Concurrently, Arnaud Lagardère will assume the role of Chairman of the Board presently held by Bodo Uebber. This will take place after the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 31 May, 2012. These new mandates carry a five-year term. EADS CEO Louis Gallois stated: “Tom Enders not only has a wide range of experience across our businesses, but strong leadership skills and charisma with an established track record. I am sure that he will extend his vision for EADS in the best interest of all its stakeholders and in particular of the great community of employees working together across our nations.“ Other top management positions Following the recommendations of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee, the Board also announces further evolutions of the management team effective...

Neelam Mathews Jan 26, 2012 Cassidian, the defense and security division of EADS, has developed a new-generation Vehicle Protection Jammer that significantly enhances the protection of military vehicles against attacks by Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Devices. After passing extensive field trials, the series production ramp-up started in December 2011. "Lessons learnt in recent conflicts prove that radio-controlled explosive devices remain one of the major threats in asymmetric scenarios," explained Elmar Compans, head of Sensors and Electronic Warfare at Cassidian. "Progress in digital technology now gives us the means to counter this threat by far more effectively than hitherto possible", he said in a statement. Cassidian's Vehicle Protection Jammer uses the new, ultra-fast Smart Responsive Jamming Technology to enhance the protection level substantially. It detects and classifies radio signals intended to ignite a roadside bomb. Then, it respond...

Neelam Mathews Jan 26, 2012 Dear All, I seriously recommend that you all click this link to see how Finnair regaled their passengers on the Delhi- Helsinki flight on Jan 26. Think I'm going to make it my preferred carrier to Europe/US! Please tell me- why couldn't any of our airlines think of this brilliant idea?!! Please  click on- http://t.co/NviWvGBH

Neelam Mathews Jan 26, 2012 Media Statement issued by AirAsia: AirAsia Berhad is currently investigating allegations in Court documents filed by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) in the Federal Court of Australia on 17 January 2012 in connection with published fares for certain flights on the company's website to consumers in Australia. The company takes its legal and everyday commitment to its consumers very seriously and will be carefully reviewing the contents of the ACCC's claims. AirAsia always seeks to conduct its business fairly and in an ethical and proper manner and in full compliance with all applicable laws. The particular issues with the relevant flights related to whether  all taxes and charges were displayed for customers which appears to have arisen from an IT issue in September 2011. As soon as we became aware of the matter based on the ACCCs complaint we have taken corrective action and are focused on ensuring  that our custome...

Credit- DRDO                                         

  Posted by- Neelam Mathews Jan 26, 2012 Growing its international footprint and developing services businesses and optimizing internal operations led Eurocopter to generate a record high annual turnover in 2011. The deliveries of 503 rotary-wing aircraft in 2011, along with Eurocopter’s enhanced support and services activities, generated a turnover of 5.4 billion euros – representing a growth of 12.5 percent from the previous year. Deliveries included the 1,000th Dauphin, received by Indian operator Pawan Hans; the 1,000th EC135, provided to the German ADAC automobile club – one of Eurocopter’s longest-standing customers; and the 100th EC225, accepted by the Bristow Group. New helicopter orders also picked up last year, with the 457 net bookings representing a value of 4.7 billion euros, compared with the 346 helicopters sold in 2010. The year’s business included initial firm orders for the new EC175; major bookings for the EC225 from CHC Helicopter, CITIC Offshore Helicopte...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Jan26, 2012  SriLankan Engineering has been awarded its largest ever contract for aircraft maintenance by IndiGo.The expertise, experience and efficiency ofthe MRO provider was cited as a reason for the choice, Aerospace Diary learns. IndiGo has awarded SriLankan Engineering 26 C-checks on Airbus A320 aircraft forg the year 2012. This is the fourth consecutive year that IndiGo contracted SriLankan Engineering for the lion’s share of maintenance programs on its fleet. “IndiGo’s annual major maintenance contract for four consecutive years to us is a tribute to the extraordinary performance of our staff during the preceding years. We have achieved an excellent record of on-time completion of maintenance programs, as well as the highest quality of work. This has been the result of the efforts of aircraft engineers, technicians, managers, and all other staff in every department of SriLankan Engineering,” says Priyantha Rose, Head of Engineering. “We are...

Neelam Mathews Jan 25, 2012 Flying at a sea skimming height of about 15 m. at DRDO’s test range near Balasore, Lakshya-II the advanced version of DRDO’s Pilotless Target Aircraft today demonstrated its full capability, says DRDO. “In a flight lasting over 30 minutes, it was made to dive down from an altitude of around 800m. to just 12m. and maintained required altitude for the specified time before demonstrating auto climb-out,” adds the DRDO statement. The flight demonstrated various technologies and sub-systems including software correction to auto rudder scheme done to prevent loss of mission, engaging and flying in way point navigation mode while carrying 2 tow targets.  During the flight one of the tow targets was released and the other was deployed while way point navigation was on. This was the 10 th flight of Lakshya-II PTA and the first time that the ultimate capability of the Lakshya-II, was demonstrated achieving all the user’s objectives. Lakshya-II has be...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Jan 25, 2012 “Sequestration budget cuts are poised to strangle the U.S economy and devastate our military,” says Aerospace Industries Association. AIA President and CEO Marion C. Blakey released the following statement:  “The State of the Union can be measured in many ways, but first and foremost is the security of the nation. By that measure, the future of our country is unclear. The President’s Budget Request scheduled for release Feb. 13 targets defense for a $487 billion reduction over ten years.    “However, that isn’t the end. Defense faces more than five hundred billion dollars of additional cuts under a sequestration scenario driven by politics rather than security. Simply put, this will jeopardize the nation’s security, knee-cap the technological edge we’ve enjoyed for generations in aerospace and defense and risk as many as one million American jobs. As a nation, we need to put our foot down when it comes to any more defense...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Jan 25, 2012 Etihad Airways is acquiring a 40 percent stake in Air Seychelles as part of a strategic partnership between the two carriers.  Etihad will increase frequencies between Abu Dhabi and Mahé from four per week to dailies. Etihad picked up   a 29% stake in Air Berlin, on 24 January.

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Jan 24, 2012 Russia has finally transferred the K-152 Nerpa nuclear-powered Akula-II Class submarine - on a 10-year lease to the Indian Navy, Russian news agencies have said. The Nerpa was handed over to the Indian Navy at the Zvezda shipyard in the far eastern territory of Primorye. India becomes the sixth country in the world to operate the nuclear submarine after the US, Russia, Britain, France and China.

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Jan 23, 2012  The U.S. space industry is losing its competitive edge and risks falling short of future national security requirements unless government reforms our export control system and promotes the international competitiveness of U.S. industry, according to a new report released by Aerospace Industries Association (AIA). “A strong and globally competitive space industrial and supplier base is a major national security asset,” said AIA President and CEO Marion C. Blakey.  “Reforming America’s export control system and promoting space exports will better serve our national security and bolster our economy and technological leadership.”  The report, Competing for Space: Satellite Export Policy and U.S. National Security , surveys U.S. satellite systems and components manufacturers about the challenges the space industrial base faces as a result of U.S. export policies. Among the adverse impacts on industry are loss of global market share...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Jan 23, 2012 Dean McCumiskey has been appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive of BAE Systems’ India operations with effect from March 2012. Dean is currently Group Chief Information Officer based in the company’s London headquarters and will succeed Andrew Gallagher who takes up new responsibilities as BAE Systems’ Director of Audit, based in the UK. McCumiskey will be responsible for leading the next phase of BAE Systems’ business development in India, where the defense, aerospace and security company directly employs around 100 people and has a growing presence through strategic investments in technology sharing and industrial partnerships, says a statement.   Dean McCumiskey has experience of the global defense, aerospace and security industry, having held senior management positions in both the US and Europe. Prior to taking up the role of Chief Information Officer, he was responsible for business winning activities in Europe, Canada and...

  Posted by – Neelam Mathews Jan 23, 2012 On Jan 19, nEUROn, the technology demonstrator for a European UCAV (Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle) was officially presented by Charles Edelstenne, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dassault Aviation, to the representatives of the six countries collaborating in the project (France, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Switzerland and Greece). This represents a triple "first" for the aerospace industries of the countries participating in the project: the first stealth combat aircraft, the first UCAV developed through cooperation between several European countries and the first combat aircraft entirely designed and developed on a virtual platform, says Aermacchi. The nEUROn's Roll-Out comes after five years of design, development, assembly and static testing. Very soon the first engine tests will be carried out, with plans for a maiden flight in mid 2012. Subsequently a complete flight test program will be effected over a period of ...

By Lisa Curtis and Derek Scissors, Ph.D. (Heritage Foundation) Posted by- Neelam Mathews Jan 20, 2012 China ’s concerns over Pakistan’s future stability will likely limit the extent to which it will help Pakistan out of its economic difficulties. While China has an interest in maintaining strong security ties with Pakistan, the economic relationship is not very extensive and the notion that Chinese ties could serve as a replacement for U.S. ties is far-fetched. Instead of wringing hands over Chinese influence on Pakistan, the U.S. should seek cooperation from Beijing in encouraging a more stable and prosperous Pakistan—which will benefit all parties involved.   In the wake of the U.S. raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound last May and deteriorating relations between Islamabad and Washington, Pakistani leaders have sought to play up their country’s relations with China, touting Beijing as an alternative partner to Washington. However, China’s concerns about the future stabilit...