Aerospace Diary

Neelam Mathews July 31, 2012 At a recent meeting during the second visit this year of DG IATA Tony Tyler, Jet Airways Chairman Naresh Goyal told Aerospace Diary when queried, that the carrier was in talks with an international alliance. When queried when the announcement would be made, Goyal dismissed it with a: "We will announce it...." With Jet not permitted to talk to Star Alliance following the Air India fiasco, OneWorld still holding its umbilical cord with shamed (by IATA) Kingfisher, this leaves only SkyTeam. There has been another school of thought that is convinced Jet will not join an alliance easily as it tends to make partnerships with airlines the world over to suit its routes and ambitions.

By- John Williams Williams Global Advisors 1.      Objectives of the Offset Policy have been clarified.  The objectives are: a.      Development of globally competitive industries b.      Enhancement of India’s R&D and Design capabilities c.      Encouraging the development of synergistic sectors (I’m assuming this could include sectors such as homeland security, but possibly even energy, and communications down the road) 2.      A new nodal agency has been introduced with responsibility for offset discharge management (post-contract) a.      The new Defense Offset Management Wing (DOMW) will have full responsibility for offset contract management b.      A new position (JS – DOMW) has been created for this purpose c.      Pre-contract responsibility still rests with DDP and Acquisition Wing 3. ...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews July 30, 2012 Emirates has announced management changes to its Commercial Operations department. The airline has promoted Essa Sulaiman Ahmad, as Vice President India and Nepal and Orhan Abbas as Senior Vice President Commercial Operations - The Americas. In addition to this Ahmed Khoory, has been appointed as the Senior Vice President Commercial Operations West Asia and Indian Ocean. The changes include the creation of several new Commercial Management roles that will form a crucial part of the airline’s route development strategy. "I am honored to have been given the opportunity to take over Emirates operations in India – One of the airline’s largest and most vital markets. In India, I am confident the fast-paced growth of the economy will continue and bring with it exciting challenges and new learnings," said Sulaiman.

Neelam Mathews July 31, 2012 As reported by Aerospace Diary last week, the new offsets policy has been released by the MoD today. We shall evaluate it with our experts and hopefully pray for power to come on to get back to you all! Regards Neelam

Opinion By- Subhash Chandra Agrawal (Guinness Record Holder & RTI Activist) Silence of Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on ‘the mystery woman in red’ marching in front row of Indian contingent at inaugural function of London Olympics is equally mysterious, especially when Indian Olympics Association (IOA) has officially lodged a complaint in this regard. It is even more significant that the woman was prominently highlighted in the shortest 22-second TV-coverage of marching Indian sportspersons in largely-viewed ceremony across the world. There are many possibilities about the mysterious woman including also her being some close relation or friend of some prominent Indian personality, bureaucrat, diplomat or politician. Matter affects security of Indian sportspersons at a time when sword of global terror and militancy hangs over London Olympics as well. Union government should also report the matter at Interpol. MEA should take up both the matters...

Neelam Mathews July 27, 2012 Now that the striking Air India pilots are being taken back, so much for the 'gutsy' minister of civil aviation who "refused to bend to the Air India pilots demands'! Aerospace Diary learns that the AI pilots may have got their way and it'll be back to training just Air India pilots and not the erstwhile Indian Airlines pilots on the 787s. Which, to most in the aviation sector, makes a lot of sense. It is also likely that all the Airbus-trained  (IA) pilots who trained on the 787, will return to where they came from. So much for spilt milk ...er ...I mean money. Why then, was this drama enacted? And for whom? Air India in the past two traumatic months of a country's lifetime, has managed to further lose its image in the international market and given its customers a treatment they hardly deserve for being loyal to the carrier. It certainly brought a smile on its competitors lips who saw their yields spiral as customers frown...

Neelam Mathews July 26, 2012 Etihad Airways says it has welcomed the decision by the Australian Government to allow the airline to increase its equity stake in Virgin Australia Holdings to a maximum of 10 percent. Etihad Airways currently has a 4.99 percent stake in Virgin Australia, acquired earlier this year, and had applied to the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) to raise the level of its investment. The purchase was made following the development of a highly successful multi-tiered partnership. Etihad Airways and Virgin Australia currently operate 24 flights per week between Australia and Abu Dhabi offering Australian travellers and visitors to Australia greater choice and access to a combined network of more than 285 global destinations. The strategic partnership has already delivered significant revenues to each airline. It is expected that the equity stake in Virgin Australia will lead to further revenue generating opportunities. The first Etiha...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews July 26, 2012 Starting today, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passport holders can enjoy a 14 day visa free visit to the Republic of Kazakhstan and Kazakh nationals can similarly spend 14 days in Hong Kong on a visa free basis. The visa free agreement between the HKSAR and Kazakhstan governments was signed in May 2012. Air Astana will launch a twice weekly flights between Almaty and Hong Kong service on 28th August, with the service to be operated by Boeing 757 configured in a 16 business class / 150 economy class configuration.  The duration of the Almaty to Hong Kong flight is 6 hours 10 minutes, while Hong Kong to Almaty flight is 7 hours 10 minutes.  Passengers arriving in Hong Kong will enjoy convenient connections on partner airlines to southern China and south east Asia.  For passengers arriving in Almaty, Air Astana offers a rapidly expanding network of international services to Russia, Central Asia and the Caucasus, a...

This was posted on Facebook. Neelam

Neelam Mathews July 25, 2012 For all those who did not attend the CII- IATA meeting at the Leela Palace, one of the speakers announced the decision to permit foreign airlines to invest in Indian carriers would be made on July 26. Aerospace Diary could not confirm this. The race is on.

Neelam Mathews July 25, 2012 IATA DG and CEO Tony Tyler - on a rushed visit to India- made it clear the world beyond the sub-continent sees Indian aviation in crisis. Airline losses were around $2 billion in the year ended March 2012, following a loss of $3.5 billion over the previous three years. “(As far as Air India goes), a long-term state-aid has not rehabilitated the business and in the meantime it is having a destructive impact on the market. Governments must lay the foundations for fair competition and regulate safety, security and sustainability,” said Tyler.  He suggested the carrier could follow the example of the restructuring of Japan Airlines (JAL), which made a profit last year. The JAL case has some parallels with Air India. Both merged with a primarily domestic partner - JAL with Japan Air System in 2002 and Air India with Indian Airlines starting in 2007. The 2008 fuel price spike, global financial crisis and subsequent recession hit both carriers...

Press Release Posted by Neelam Mathews ( Hong Kong ) Dragonair announced that its flight operation continues to be disrupted due to strong and gusty crosswind conditions and availability of ground services in support of flight operations at Hong Kong International Airport . Flights on 24 July are expected to be delayed .  Passengers are advised to first check the airline’s website, www.dragonair.com, to get the latest flight information before leaving for the airport. Passengers who are booked on flights departing July 24 and 25 are encouraged to postpone non-essential travel. The airline will waive re-booking, re-routing, cancellation and refund charges for all tickets issued worldwide (irrespective of fare type) on or before 24 July for travel on Dragonair on 24 and 25 July. Passengers whose flights are cancelled are advised not to go the airport. Dragonair will assist with alternative arrangements for affected passengers. To ensure customers receive t...

AINALERTS  »  JULY 19, 2012 by    NEELAM MATHEWS July 19, 2012, 4:25 PM India’s Business Aircraft Operators Association ( BAOA ) is threatening legal action against financial penalties imposed since July 1 by Mumbai International Airport ( MIAL ) on transient aircraft parked at Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport beyond an agreed number of days. The penalty is seven times more than the present cost of parking,  BAOA  said. The airport, which cannot be expanded beyond its single runway, has been a concern for many years as commercial and business aviation traffic has increased. A second airport is at least seven years away from completion. “We understand there is congestion at Mumbai. However, you cannot arbitrarily impose penalties without consent of the regulator [India’s Airports Economic Regulatory Authority],”  BAOA  president Rohit Kapur told  AIN . “Mumbai has a problem of space....

N eelam Mathews July 24, 2012 Data Patterns has emerged as the lowest bidder (L1) for Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) cockpit display system for the Light Utility Helicopter, Aerospace Diary learns. The approximate value of the procurement is Rs 160 crores. Competitors, Samtel-BEL were disqualified on technical grounds, while HALBIT Avionics Pvt. Ltd., a   joint venture   between HAL, Elbit   Systems Limited, Israel and Merlinhawk Associates was about 30% more expensive, an official told Aerospace Diary. The LUH is to have a glass cockpit with multifunction displays, a target acquisition and designation system with FLIR, Laser rangefinder and laser designator. T h e helicopter in 3 Ton Weight class with Glass Cockpit with MFDs will be deployed for Reconnaissance and Surveillance role. It will be powered by a single engine. The helicopter will be capable of flying at 220 Kmph; service ceiling of 6.5 Km and a range of 350 Km with 500 kg payload...

Neelam Mathews July 23, 2012 Following U.S Secretary Panetta’s visit to   India   in June , visiting Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said Ballistic Missile Defense was an “important  potential area for cooperation (between India and the US ). It has great strategic importance …the two governments should discuss strategic before technical (aspects) and I think they intend to.” Carter was speaking at a meet organized by the CII. A central tenet of the U.S new strategy is its rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region. The U.S intends to have 60 percent of its naval assets in the Pacific by 2020.  “We are developing new concepts of rotational presence, with Marines in Australia and four littoral combat ships in  Singapore as well as forward stationing in Guam .  We are investing in new platforms and technologies relevant to the region, like the new bomber, new submarine-launched conventional weapons, cyber capabilities, and a host of upgra...

Neelam Mathews July 23, 2012  The much-awaited Defense Procurement Policy 2012 has been cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), Aerospace Diary learns. "The offsets policy will be released very soon. There were a few points that needed to be ironed out, a reason why it was late," a senior official in the MoD told Aerospace Diary. The policy will not be retroactive and will be valid from the date it is introduced, we are told. While the policy is expected to include  transfer of technology (TOT), vendors remain unclear how this will be implemented without any body to monitor it nor the method of payment for TOT. The question of IPR also needs to be addressed. The  2012 USIBC  advocacy agenda advancing the U.S. – India defense commercial relationship had asked for  India to formulate a robust offset policy that promotes transparency and  predictability, leading to a meaningful build-up of India’s indigenous industry capabilities  ...

Neelam Mathews July 23, 2012 Having just returned from the Farnborough Air Show, I must confess there were a few moments when questioned about the happenings on Indian aviation, it was difficult to put on a brave face. Today the world is in a capsule and it is amazing how much outsiders know about our inside going-ons. The major topic of discussion is ofcourse, our once five star airline, Kingfisher. “How can it survive? How come your government doesn’t shut it down? Don’t your laws protect people working in a company close to bankruptcy?  Insurance rates are high and investors now have little confidence? What about FDI? Which airlines are up for grabs? Most queries to which one has few answers. Almost being a month away, I came back to hearing more depressing news- the DGCA had been fired, Kingfisher had more pilot issues and was now flying with barely 10 aircraft (couldn’t confirm this) and fares have touched the skies. A businessman flying to Bangalore ...

Neelam Mathews July 19, 2012 Looking for opportunities to promote ‘aligned advocacy’ with other stakeholders such as IATA, UNWTO and WTTC,  Pacific Asia Travel Association’s (PATA’s) CEO Martin J Craigs met with Lord Stephen Green, UK Minister of State for Trade and Investment in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London on July 9. Craigs said he  recognised the vital importance of London as a regional and global hub, and as an international center city of influence, reach and business opportunities. Craigs, a UK national, described how the controversial UK Air Passenger Duty (APD) was having a detrimental impact on the travel and tourism industry, not least because of the rise in the tax by 8% as of April 1, 2012. The amount raised from this tax was more than the combined projected profits of all 233 IATA airlines in 2012.  Craigs asked for the APD to be capped or, as a minimum, not to be raised at a higher rate than UK inflation. The PATA CEO presse...

by Neelam Mathews   Few companies can lay claim to having as many as 10 aircraft planned or under development simultaneously, but India’s state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) is doing just that. However, while the Bangalore-based group’s ambitions may be laudable, it remains to be seen how it will face the formidable challenges of its current and planned projects.   To achieve its goal of being a global defense firm with revenues of $6 billion within the next 10 years, HAL is planning to produce a light combat aircraft (LCA), a light utility helicopter (LUH), a medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA), a fifth-generation fighter, a multi-role transport aircraft and a basic trainer. It has 19 production facilities and 10 research-and-design centers at eight locations in India. The company also has manufactured numerous aircraft under license.   However, recently there have been indications that the Indian industry isn’t managing to join up the dots in its ...

http://issuu.com/ain_publications/docs/farnborough_airshow_news_07_12_12#download Apologies for this. Do click link above. reworking of Hawk jigs, problems establishing production of complex engine components and radar software for the Su-30 MKI, certification delays with the Shakti engine, changes in design standards for the LCA and engine delays for the HJT-36 IJT. Other Projects At the same time, HAL is developing its planned multirole transport aircraft and fifth-generation fighter jointly with Russia, while also looking to codesign and coproduce a 10-metric-ton-class medium-lift helicopter. However, it now seems likely that a private company will handle the latter program. Given delays in completing projects, HAL’s effective monopoly over state-backed programs is increasingly being questioned. For instance, some industry observers have suggested that the LUH program should be reassigned to one of India’s growing body of private aerospace co...