Aerospace Diary

Posted by-Neelam Mathews Nov 30, 2012 The much discussed Etihad Airways, rumored to be picking upa stake in Jet Airways, is substantially increasing and upgrading flights to key cities in the Indian subcontinent. Starting from January 1, 2013 flights to the southern Indian city of Kozhikode will more than double, from 3 to seven a week. Colombo will also be serviced by daily flights when services  increase from four to seven per week starting from January 2, 2013.  James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ President and CEO  said: “India and Sri Lanka are important destinations for us due to strong local demand and growing traffic beyond Abu Dhabi to many key destinations across our global network. “Kozhikode and Colombo are fast growing cities that serve as major business and trade hubs with many of their inhabitants working in the Gulf region. We are confident that these additional flights will be immensely beneficial to them and will offer them more options to visit the...

Neelam Mathews Nov 30, 2012 A Jaguar of the IAF has  crashed near Jongu Village, North Sikkim at  approximately 1330 hrs today. The aircraft was on a routine sortie  from Air Force Base Hashimara. The Pilot Flight Lieutenant Yogesh  Yadav ejected.  

Neelam Mathews Nov 30, 2012 Calin Rovinescu, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada, has been elected as the new Chairman of the Star Alliance Chief Executive Board (CEB). He succeeds Rob Fyfe, CEO Air New Zealand, who held the post for the last two years. Gulf Air CEO, Samer Majali will step down at the end of 2012 after three years with the airline. Majali, joined Gulf Air in 2009, and has been heading an ambitious restructuring. Gulf Air and SITA, have signed an agreement that will allow Gulf Air to use SITA’s network services to optimize its operations across 48 destinations where it operates.The agreement includes the provision of all private network, internet, voice, messaging and reporting services for Gulf Air. SITA will provide a variety of connectivity methods to the airline’s offices at airports in more than 20 countries across four continents.  Air Astana continues to phase out the fleet of  Fokker 50 turboprops, with the last two ...

AVIATION INTERNATIONAL NEWS  »  OCTOBER 2012 by    NEELAM MATHEWS Maldivian Air Taxi’s Twin Otters work hard in a challenging salt-water environment. (Photo: Neelam Mathews) October 2, 2012, 3:45 AM Arguably nowhere on earth is the business case for seaplanes more compelling than in the Indian Ocean archipelago of the Maldives with its 1,190 islands (200 of them inhabited). The scattered nation, situated 250 miles southwest of India, has the world’s largest fleet of de Havilland Canada  DHC -6 Twin Otters, offering high-end tourists a time-saving alternative to the boat connections between its low-lying islands spread over 35,000 square miles. Maldivian Air Taxi operates 20 Twin Otters, flying approximately 2,500 hours each month and making between 150 and 200 flights each day (with sectors ranging from 30 nm to 110 nm). The airline carries approximately 400,000 passengers a year. At more than $130 for a 30-minute r...

Richard Branson Many a Chairman will say he looks at his company like a family and then acts in a way which makes you glad you're not related! I have always pushed Virgin companies to walk the talk on that and ensure everybody feels part of the team.  Colleagues should take care of each other, have fun, celebrate success, learn by failure, look for reasons to praise not to criticise, communicate freely and respect each other. This is doubly important for the  Virgin Galactic team  in Mojave, where we are busy creating the world’s first commercial spaceline. The team spirit and sense of togetherness instilled in such a young, innovative group is really inspiring to see. My daughter  Holly and I visited Mojave  recently and, as well getting hands-on with the business of building spaceships, were able to spend time with some really inspiring people. Even in a space-age company aiming for the stars, it is your staff who are the key  to success. I...

Neelam Mathews Nov 28, 2012 Northrop Grumman Corporation is to supply advanced shipboard navigation systems for 20 fast patrol vessels for the Indian Coast Guard. The fast patrol vessels will be built at Cochi Shipyard Under the contract, awarded through the company's Indian reseller Marine Electricals Ltd., Northrop Grumman's Sperry Marine business unit will provide a navigation package including VisionMaster Total Watch multifunction displays, electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS), autopilot, magnetic compass and the new NAVIGAT 3000 fibre optic gyrocompass. The contract also includes spares, factory testing and engineering support services. The first shipset delivery is expected in late 2012. Deliveries will continue into 2015.   Saab has appointed Niklas Nieminen as Managing Director of Saab India Technologies Pvt Ltd from November 1.  Niklas will be working losely with Lars-Olof Lindgren, designate Head of Market Area, India. A...

Neelam Mathews Nov 28, 2012 Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) carried out the  maiden flight of avionics upgraded Jaguar aircraft “Darin III” today. “This is significant moment for HAL as the upgrade will result in major operational improvement with regard to all weather air to ground, air to sea and air to air capabilities through incorporation of multi mode radar”, said R. K. Tyagi, Chairman, HAL. The upgrade incorporates new state-of-the-art avionics architecture including Mission Computer (MC), Engine and Flight Instrument System (EFIS), Solid State Digital Video Recording System (SSDVRS), Solid  State Flight Data Recorder (SSFDR) and additional functions in inertial global positioning system (INGPS), autopilot, radar and RWR, says HAL.

Neelam Mathews Nov 28, 2012 While IndiGo stole the halo from Jet Airways as the most  preferred domestic airline, “passengers consider Kingfisher and Air India as unsafe bet in the air, “ says a survey by TripAdvisor. “However travellers have voted Jet Airways as the best on most in-flight comfort & service parameters as well as website experience and safety,” said  Nikhil Ganju, Country Manager, TripAdvisor India. Call it the devil’s luck, the survey shows respondents consider  Kingfisher resilient and are positive about its comeback. National carrier Air India continues its legacy as Least Favourite Domestic Airline for third year in a row. Jet Airways emerged as the best airline for  Ground handling,  In- flight maintenance,  Seat comfort/Leg room,  In-flight food/beverage and website experience.  IndiGo was voted on its On time performance (hardly a surprise!),  Value for money and  Landing / Take Off quality...

AIN AIR TRANSPORT PERSPECTIVE  »  NOVEMBER 26, 2012 by    NEELAM MATHEWS Singapore Airlines’s recent acquisition of a 10-percent stake in Virgin Australia is a prime example of the wave of strategic realignments now happening in the Asia Pacific air transport sector. (Photo: Airbus) November 26, 2012, 6:00 PM Tough economic times are resulting in innovations by carriers in the Asia Pacific region looking beyond traditional business models through strategic realignments and new product offerings. Recent ground-breaking deals include Virgin Australia selling a 10-percent stake to Singapore Airlines ( SIA ) and buying 60 percent of Tiger Airways; the new partnership between Emirates Airline and Qantas; and Etihad Airways purchasing a 10-percent stake in Virgin Australia. “It is hard to say who is next. Qatar Airways said it would never enter into an alliance, and within a week it was in bed with British Airways,” commented ...

Neelam Mathews Nov 28, 2012 A Norwich International Airport GBP15 million project, called Norwich Aeropark, with 100 acres being developed for aviation-related businesses, will see Air Livery, a subsidiary of  Air Works, the first to move into the park, Aerospace Diary learns. Air Livery facility design at Norwich International airport-  Copyright Feilden and Mawson Last week, a public exhibition was held at the airport exhibiting plans of the business park on the north east corner of the airport. The airport’s CEO, Andrew Bell, said: “It (Air Livery) makes a huge contribution to the airport’s future.” The first phase of the Aeropark has to be submitted in detail, “though the building’s future tenant has been confirmed as Air Livery, a long established refinishing company with extensive experience in repainting all commercial and VIP aircraft. Their new state-of-the-art hangar will comprise of a terrace of 5 hangars which will accompany the company’s  exis...

Neelam Mathews Nov 27, 2012 Bombardier has announced today the largest business aircraft sale in its history. Vista Jet, a world-leading luxury aviation company and exclusive operator of Bombardier  business aircraft, has signed a deal for up to 142   Global  business jets which includes firm orders for 56  Global  jets and options for a further 86   Global  jets at a 2012 U.S. list price value of more than $7.8 billion if all options are exercised. The value of the firm order is approximately $3.1 billion at 2012 list prices. The firm order comprises 25   Global 5000 , 25   Global 6000  and six   Global 8000  jets. Deliveries of these aircraft will begin in 2014. The agreement also includes options for 40   Global 5000 , 40   Global 6000  and six Global 8000  jets. For Vista Jet, the order signifies a key part of its expansion plans and ambitions to make business aviation more accessible to the em...

Neelam Mathews Nov 26, 2012 Today a number of people were foxed when they read reports on the so called 56 Avros replacement RFP. Fortunately, AerospaceDiary was able to confirm with the IAF spokesman who made an effort to check it out and let us know that it is still in the "final stages" of processing. So what is happening to that much touted RFP that was to have private sector participation? Last year in December, OEMs were assured it would be released in 3-4 months. When they met 8 months later, they were assured it would be released in 3-4 months again.  Hopefully like Rip Van Winkle, the MoD will wake up from its slumber. For things aren't that hunky-dory anymore and money is running out even from the cows they've been used to milking.

Spreading the pie across India   WORDS / Neelam Mathews   Income trends hold the key to how consumption patterns unfold in India. Here, it’s all about the aspirations of a growing upper-middle class and High Net Worth Individuals – and is a reason why the market for the smaller four- to eight-seater jets and turboprops accessible to millionaires (not billionaires) is also increasing.   India has 7,730 Ultra-High Net Worth individuals. 109 are billionaires with a combined wealth of $925 billion, according to the Wealth-X 2012 study. Meanwhile there are 6,150 Indians worth between $30 million and $100 million, and nearly 900 that are worth between $100 million and $200 million, with a combined net worth of at least $420 billion.   A recent research report with a 10-year forecast released by Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) reveals India is showing a slow, but sustained growth in business aircraft. There are currently 261 business turbine aircraft registered in Indi...

WORDS / Neelam Mathews   There is an air of minimalism in Joy Alukkas’ office with everything understated, including the man himself. He is made of a different metal, and it is not gold.   He has no gold ornaments on him as would be expected in South India, where even men don gold ornaments on their wrists, fingers and neck. (They might even have a waistband of gold!) It is hard to believe he produces high-end gold jewellery that touches the lives of over 10 million customers across nine countries.   “I believe in simple living, high thinking,” says the billionaire, whose turnover is rumoured to be over $1billion - something he does not comment on. Joy Alukkas - whose stores are named after him- is now the world’s number one 22-carat jewellery maker with over 100,000 designs in his portfolio, and growing. By the end of 2012, he will have added ten more showrooms in India and 25 by the end of 2013, of which 15 will be in India.   As a matter of fact, his futu...