Aerospace Diary

Neelam Mathews Dec 31, 2012 The saga continues. The last release issued by Kingfisher this year: Kingfisher Airlines applied for renewal of its License as a scheduled carrier. Subsequently, Kingfisher Airlines submitted a restart and rehabilitation Plan to the DGCA and also attended meetings to respond to queries. The plan itself clearly states that the funding required would be provided by The UB Group.The DGCA has asked for certain no objection letters which are in the process of being procured. Further, a few additional questions have been raised which will be answered to the regulators satisfaction. Despite the impending expiry of its License tonight, there is no cause for concern as the regulations permit License renewal within two years of expiry. Kingfisher Airlines is co tart plan, License approval and reinstatement of its AOP . nfident of securing approval from the DGCA on the  restart plan, License approval and reinstatement of its AOP.

Neelam Mathews Dec 30, 2012 The fifth crew member of the charter Red Wings, Tu-204 that crashed yesterday, has died.   It is being said bad brakes may be to blame for the incident, in which the plane failed to decelerate on the runway, crashing through a perimeter fence before breaking into fragments and bursting into flames.  The plane, a 200-seater was empty barring the crew.

Neelam Mathews Dec 30, 2012 As India reels in shock following the death of the gang rape victim and the apathy of its government, we close our day in mourning and pray for 2013 as a year without shackles.

Neelam Mathews Dec 28, 2012 Starting Jan 18, Jet Airways, will introduce a second service between Delhi and Dubai with a 737-800 enhancing its connectivity to the UAE with a day time flight. This will complement the night flight presently operating between Delhi and Dubai. The introduction of this new flight between Delhi and Dubai further strengthens the presence of Jet Airways in the Indo-Gulf sector. Jet will offer a twin class  configuration of 16 Premiere and 138 Economy seating. Sudheer Raghavan, Chief Commercial Officer, Jet Airways said the new service “will offer guests wider options of preferred departure time whilst travelling to Dubai, or travelling onwards throughout our ever-expanding global network.”

Neelam Mathews Dec 27, 2012 The ghost of the adage, ‘You scratch my back, I scratch yours,’ continues to flutter in India’s corridors of power. Is it fact, imagination or  just a strange coincidence that the day the two Italian marines held for the killing of two fishermen off Kerala’s coast were allowed to ‘go home for Christmas’  even as two of the 12 ordered VVIPs AW101s flew to India? Wonder if the day will come when all those on bail are permitted to fly to Bangkok or the US to celebrate Diwali or Eid with their families? Suppose they miss their relatives too. Coming back to this issue, what in the blazes happened to defense minister A.K Antony ensuring the bribery- report that emanated in Italy on the procurement of the 12 helicopters was shared with the Indian government before it accepted delivery of the helicopters? Here at AerospaceDiary, we do feel that the government should put its foot down when OEMs create issues to derail procurements when rejected....

N eelam Mathews Dec 27, 2012 The U.S Department of Defense has made a proposal to Congress for the sale of  Northrop Grumman Corporation ’s Global Hawk surveillance drones to the government of South Korea   under the foreign military sale program. This is the  first order from Asia Pacific. The deal is worth around $1.2 billion. If the request is approved, Northrop will sell four RQ-4 Block 30 Global Hawk drones. Northrop will also supply equipment, parts, training and logistical support, which would include infrared and electro-optical sensors, imagery analysis systems and moving target indicators on board the Global Hawk Block-30 unmanned aircraft says Zacks. Despite An interest, Australia has not as yet placed an order for the drones.

Neelam Mathews Dec 26, 2012 The Burmese government has it has formed a commission to investigate on a crash of an Air Bagan Fokker 100 on Dec 25 which left two dead, raising questions on safety standards. Business as usual—Air Bagan's flight W9-011 took off as scheduled from Heho airport at 9:35 am on Wednesday, a day after the crash, carrying tourists and other passengers to Rangoon. (PHOTO: Xiao Ting Shirley / Mizzima) According to official reports, Air Bagan flight no. XY-AGC was carrying six crew members, 48 foreign passengers and 17 local passengers. It departed from Mandalay International Airport for Heho at about 8.28 am, and was forced to attempt an emergency landing on a road at about 8.51 am. According to state-run  The New Light of Myanmar : “The plane hit [the] Kalaw-Aungthabye 66 KVA power grid that links from east to west about one mile from Heho airport runway and trees on Taunggyi-Meiktila roadside and then hit the ground as mist covered the runway.” T...

Neelam Mathews Dec 26, 2012 The recent visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India saw Russian Helicopters, a subsidiary of Oboronprom, part of Russian Technologies State Corporation, and Elcom Systems set up in India, a modern industrial facility for manufacturing of Russian helicopter models of the Ka- and Mi- brands. The joint venture will have the capacity to produce key helicopter units and carry out final assembly of the machines as well as engage in ground and flight testing. It is expected that the enterprise will start with production of components for the multirole Ka-226T helicopter. The enterprise will serve as an industrial base for hi-tech Russian rotorcraft products in India, we are informed. "India is a traditional partner of Russian Helicopters in terms of helicopter deliveries. The creation of a joint Russian-Indian enterprise marks a new stage and also a logical continuation of our joint efforts in light of the growing demand for Russian helicopter ...

Neelam Mathews Dec 25, 2012 Even as India signs for 42 more Sukhoi 30-MKIs which will take the total in the IAF  inventory to 270  along with 100 Migs and    plans to add Fifth Gen fighters,  is raising eyebrows on whether the MMRCA will really take off in its present form. Maybe the French will sell us the 50 Rafales their air force cancelled? Who knows? And one wonders, who cares, except the military. Slowly but steadily, it seems pretty clear we are turning back to Russia for our arms procurement. At least it looks like that even as contracts like the MRTT and LUH lie in cold storage.  We are told the kitty is empty to pay for the first installment of the MMRCA. We are also told HAL needs to be clear what it can and cannot do. We are informed Dassault wants to deal with a private partner that in turn seems to have little inclination nor the resources to tap tier 2 and 3 business which may or may not be available as yet in the country. So where do...

Neelam Mathews Dec 24, 2012 With numerous bids pending, news is coming in that a contract to buy additional 42 Sukhoi 30 MKI fighters and previously announced 71 Mi-17 helicopters has been signed with India's old ally, Russia. India has already signed a pact for delivery of 80 Mi-17 V5 helicopters, of which 42 have already been inducted since February this year.

Neelam Mathews Dec 24, 2012 Airbus delivered the first A320 equipped with Sharklets to AirAsia on Friday, which becomes the first operator of the new fuel-saving large wing tip devices. Sharklets are an option on new-build A320 Family aircraft, and are standard on all members of the A320neo Family.

Neelam Mathews Dec 24, 2012 Oman Air is likely to increase frequency of flights to India in 2013 following the air transport bilateral services MoU signed in Nov, Aerospace Diary learns. The MoU provides for an increase the number of flights between the Sultanate and India as the national carriers of both countries will operate weekly flights towards a total of 16,016 seats a week.This is up from the previous 11,550. Oman will divide these seats into 14 weekly flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai, 7 weekly flights to Bangalore, Calicut, Jaipur, Kochi, Trivandrum and Lucknow, in addition to six weekly flights to Goa. From Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai, Oman Air currently operates two flights a day or 14 weekly flights to Mumbai alone, while seven weekly flights operate on the remaining routes. And on the Bengaluru, Calicut, Jaipur, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Lucknow routes, the airline operates seven flights a week to all except Bengaluru and Jaipur,...

Neelam Mathews Dec 23, 2012

Neelam Mathews Dec 23,2012

Neelam Mathews Dec 22, 2012 Christmas came early this year for 20-year old Flight Cadet R K Herojit Singh, who met with a flying accident, leaving his limbs permanently damaged, when Santa Claus came in the form of the IAF Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne. Browne's request to the Defense Minister to grant Singh a commissioning after a six month training for ground duties, received special approval. Kudos Chief! In the season of caring and sharing, you have done both. The case is special, Aerospace Diary was told, as Herojit did not meet the medical norms for commissioning due to the spinal cord injuries, which left him paralysed waist downwards (Paraplegia), which occurred during his flying training, prior to his course completion and subsequent commission into the IAF.  We are happy to note that though presently hospitalized in MH Kirkee and mobile on a wheel chair, his intellectual and motor capabilities are fully intact. A budding flying ...

Neelam Mathews Dec 22, 2012 Singapore Airlines will be investing nearly SGD$95 million to refit ten Boeing 777-  200ER aircraft with new long-haul cabin products to provide customers with  additional space and comfort. S ervice between Singapore and  Mumbai SQ 422/ 421   will start on March 31, 2013.   The cabin upgrade program will provide greater product consistency across the a irline’s long-haul fleet, with Business Class seats that convert into full-flat beds  and larger in-flight entertainment screen sizes for both Business Class and  Economy Class. The first refitted B777-200ER will operate between Singapore and Amsterdam  from 13 Jan 2013. Upgraded B777-200ERs will be deployed to more  destinations in Europe and to points in India, South Africa, Australia and New  Zealand as additional aircraft are refitted. In Business Class, the seat reclines up to 125 degrees and unfolds into a 76-inch full-flat bed.  In Econom...

Neelam Mathews Dec 21, 2012 Dassault’s 2013 Falcon Calendar has been especially designed around the upcoming celebration of Falcons' 50th Anniversary. For this, the company turned to Wilfrid Buch, a talented artist who used as his inspiration, a variety of 1960s design motifs. Calendar recipients will enjoy the series of vintage and avant-garde posters Buch created. In his mind, these are today's Falcons as they might have looked a half century ago.   The zany graphics, atypical fonts, psychedelic lines, improbable color blends are all evocative of a world the media labeled the "jet age".   “Yes, we admit to a healthy dose of nostalgia, as we conjure up the long path journeyed by our Falcons in five decades. And with Buch’s artistry, we acknowledge the strong value Dassault has always placed in creativity. And our obsession with pushing the limits, “ says Dassault.

Neelam Mathews Dec 21, 2012 Air India's fourth 787 is on its way from Charleston via Frankfurt to India, AerospaceDiary learns. AIC 170 is one of the six 787s to be delivered by Boeing within 14 hours.The others include United, Qatar, ANA, JAL and LOT. History made by Boeing!

Neelam Mathews Dec 20, 2012 Virgin Chief Richard Branson is a sport and even winner of the bet Tony Fernnades, acknowledges this. Branson, after losing a bet on F1, will wear a red skirt and serve as a stewardess on AirAsia in May. The two had agreed in 2010 that whichever of their teams (then Virgin and Lotus) finished lower in the constructors’ championship in their debut season, the losing owner would serve on the other’s airline. The tickets for the flight will be auctioned off for charity. Wouldn't we all love to be on that historical flight!

Neelam Mathews Dec 20, 2012   As we wrote yesterday, Boeing has confirmed it made an  on-site delivery of the first P-8I aircraft to the Indian Navy in Seattle, in accordance with the contract. India will receive this aircraft and two more of its eight contracted P-8Is in 2013. The program is progressing on schedule as Boeing assembles the fourth and fifth P-8Is, which are designed for long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare. The photo (left to right) depicts the P-8I being used for weapons testing, the P-8I delivered on-site, and the third P-8I aircraft, which recently entered the company’s mission systems installation facility.

Neelam Mathews Dec 20, 2012 Statement: Luc Vigneron, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Thales, having acknowledged the absence of support of the Group's two main shareholders, tendered his resignation to the company's directors at a meeting of the Board of Directors on 20 December , and his resignation was accepted. At this same meeting, the Board of Directors co-opted Jean-Bernard Lévy as a director and subsequently elected him to the position of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Thales. Thales's two main shareholders, the French State and the Dassault Aviation, welcome this appointment and will work in agreement with senior management to pursue the continued recovery of the Group and its future development.

Neelam Mathews Dec 20, 2012 The Indian Army’s Strategic Forces Command (SFC) successfully test-fired the Prithvi-II missile from the DRDO range facility at Chandipur off the Odisha coast today, says a statement. The entire trajectory of the missile was tracked by a battery of sophisticated radars, telemetry observation stations, electro-optic instruments and naval ships. The Prithvi-II missile is equipped with advanced high accuracy navigation system and guided by an innovative guidance scheme.  The improved Circular Error Probability (CEP) achieved is a testimony to the efficacy of this missile system.

Neelam Mathews Dec 20, 2012 Reliance and the government can squabble till the cows come home, but what about the aam aadmi (the common man)?     Urban development minister Kamal Nath informed the Lok Sabha the Delhi airport metro express will resume but at reduced speed of 80kmph, which is considered "safe." Really? Why was there no timeline given?  According to the ministry that had appointed Hong Kong Technical University for an analysis of the damaged clips, “no report has been submitted.” I don’t know what a clip is, but by the looks of it, I don’t want to be on a train that has the word “broken clips” attached to its reference! After missing several deadlines — starting with the run ahead of the Commonwealth Games in 2010, the prestigious Metro train service, which was started in February 2011, was suspended this July. Why do we keep doing this to ourselves, Why? Why?

Neelam Mathews Dec 20, 2012 ST Aerospace today announced that it has injected an additional $73.5m into the capital of wholly-owned subsidiary, ST Aerospace Rotables Pte. Ltd. (STAR).  This brings ST Aerospace’s total share capital contribution in STAR to $75m (S$91.6m).   STAR will utilise the additional funds to build up the rotables asset pool as it broadens the scope of its component total support capability.  Established in September 2012 in Singapore, STAR is a global asset services company that focuses on rotable assets leasing, asset trading, rotables loan and exchange.  It will also be leasing assets to support the aerospace sector’s Maintenance-By-the-Hour program..  

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Dec 19, 2012 Thales has issued the following clarifications regarding the ‘Angle Of Attack’ (AOA) probes that equip Airbus A320 and A330 aircraft following the airworthiness directives issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on December 4th and 17th. Here goes- Thales wishes to make the following clarifications- - The EASA directives regard the removal of the conic plates that equip the AOA probes, they do not concern the probes themselves. - EASA has demanded the removal of the conic plates that protect the probes; the Agency has not demanded the removal of the Thales-manufactured probes themselves. - Thales supplies the AOA probes alone and is not responsible for the probe’s conic plates. - Contrary to initial assertions made by certain media articles, Thales is not the supplier of the probes equipped on the A330 of the Asian carrier, which experienced the event that caused the EASA to issue...

Neelam Mathews Dec 19, 2012 Boeing will deliver the first of the 8 ordered P-8I at noon on Dec.19 to the Indian Navy in the US. The delivery is ahead of schedule as the first aircraft was scheduled for 2013 and the remaining seven by 2015,  Aerospace Diary learns.  Boeing signed a contract Jan. 1, 2009 India is the first international customer for the P-8, a long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft capable of broad-area, maritime and littoral operations. The P-8I is a variant of the P-8A Poseidon that Boeing is developing for the U.S. Navy. The second aircraft has yet to complete some mission tests, we hear,and will ready for delivery in 2013.

Airbus Corporate Foundation appointed Fabrice Brégier, Airbus President and CEO, as its new Chairman of the Board, succeeding Tom Enders, CEO of EADS, who headed the Foundation since its creation in 2008 and who has been appointed Honorary Chairman of the Foundation.  “I am thrilled to take over this great mission to head the Airbus Corporate Foundation. I will continue to work hand in hand with our Airbus employees as well as with our partner airlines and organisations in order to take the Foundation further”, said Fabrice Brégier. “With a strong footing on the Foundation’s humanitarian and environmental objectives, the organisation will now focus more on local initiatives in Airbus home countries, especially ones that help young people from difficult areas”.

Neelam Mathews Dec 19, 2012 Russian Helicopters has delivered another consignment of Mi-17B-5 helicopters to India as part of a contract signed by Rosoboronexport and India's Ministry of Defense in 2008. The final delivery is scheduled for 2013. The Mi-17B-5 has been built to the requirements of the Indian Ministry of Defense. Th e helicopters are equipped with new VK-2500 engines that have an electronic control system and deliver enhanced power performance, important in hot climates and at high altitudes. "Should one engine fail, the reserve power provided by the second engine ensures safe operation through to landing. The on-board systems allow the helicopter to operate day and night in all weather conditions. A new navigation system has been developed for this version of the Mi-17B-5 that shows all of the piloting and navigation information on four multifunctional display screens, significantly reducing the crew's workload," says a spokesman. The medium mult...

Neelam Mathews Dec 19, 2012 Defense minister A.K Antony said in Parliament while three AWACS already stand operationalized in the Indian Air Force (IAF), there is a proposal for procurement of two additional AWACS. Simultaneously, DRDO is engaged in indigenous development of three AEW&C systems. “The Long Term Integrated Perspective Plan (LTIPP) of Ministry of Defense envisages deployment of a mix of large i.e. Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft and small i.e. Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) System aircraft. In addition, the project proposal for indigenous development of AWACS (India) has been submitted by Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) for Government's approval.”

Neelam Mathews Dec 19, 2012 The Ministry of Defense plans to procure  Passive Surveillance and ELINT System (PSES) for the Indian Air Force, for which an RFI has been released. The last date for submissions is Dec 31. The first part of the RFI incorporates operational characteristics and features that should be met by the equipment.  Some technical parameters are also mentioned. The PSES will be used by the Indian Air Force as a ground based system deployed in field areas intelligence, early warning, air  defense, and ground and marine surveillance missions.  Passive surveillance role will be capable of generating a comprehensive Air Situation Picture (ASP) with the help of  reception and processing of chance reflections of other transmissions in the RF spectrum.  The ELINT system will intercept, process, analyse and report all types of Radar transmissions across the complete band of Radar Operation Radio Frequency bands (70 MHz to 40 MHz),says...

Neelam Mathews Dec 18, 2012 Malaysia Airlines has signed an MoU with ATR for 36 new ATR 72-600s. MAS subsidiaries Firefly and MASwings will get 20 and 16 respectively. The aircraft are scheduled for phased delivery from the end of mid 2013.

Neelam Mathews Dec 17, 2012 The Indian Army is planning to procure Electro Optical Systems to be                   co-mounted on the 17 Meter MAST for simultaneous electronic surveillance display feed alongwith input of BFSR (MR).  “With a view to identify probable vendors who can undertake the said project the OEMs/Vendors are requested to forward information on the product which they can offer.,” says the RFI of which the last date of submission is Jan 31, 2013. Some of the RFI queries: Q1. Is the Electro optical system (EOS) passive or active?    Q2. Can the EOS be integrated on the existing 17 meter mast alongwith the BFSR (MR) radar for simultaneous functioning? Does it lend itself to be easily fitted without jeopardizingthe functioning of the BFSR (MR) radar? Q3. Are  the ranges of the EOS ( TI and CCD Camera) capable of achieving the following in ...

Neelam Mathews Dec 18, 2012 Crashed Sukhoi Superjet Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Committee has completed the investigation of the Sukhoi Superjet 100 RRJ-95B aircraft, registered 97004 with flight number RA 3680, that crashed into Mount Salak, West Java in May killing 45. The inquiry finds the crew switched off the terrain-warning and was distracted by conversation, before hitting the mountain. The pilot of the Russian-made aircraft may have been distracted as he was talking to a potential customer, said Tatang Kurniadi, head of Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Committee. The pilot’s lack of familiarity with the West Java region and poor planning were other factors. The 90-seat SuperJet was carrying reporters and potential customers as part of a regional promotional tour. The report used information obtained from air traffic services transcripts, Indonesian National Search and Rescue (Basarnas) reports, flight records, the flight data recorder and the...

Neelam Mathews Dec 18, 2012 Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde deserves all compliments for giving utmost respect even to militants when in his Parliamentary reference he did not forget pre-fixing ‘Shri’ or ‘Mr’ before name of mastermind of infamous 26/11 Mumbai-attack namely Hafiz Saeed. It seems that ruling Congress has adopted such a policy when its leader Digvijaysingh used to call Osama-bin-laden as Osama ji. Pakistan authorities must welcome such unusual respect shown to their hard-core militant-citizens by responsible Indian leaders as a positive spirit of cordiality and friendship. SUBHASH CHANDRA AGRAWAL (Guinness Record Holder & RTI Activist)

Neelam Mathews Dec 17, 18, 2012 Even as the bad old 2012 nears an end, and Mr Mallya celebrates his birthday, followed by a new year bash and then the launch of the Kingfisher calendar, he has reason to celebrate-. “We will restart in a phased manner and will provide funding ourselves. We have not asked the Banks for any support. We have also shared a full recapitalization plan which will be further discussed with a small designated group of Bankers,” said a crisp statement from Kingfisher to Aerospace Diary this evening. No mention of how many aircraft- we hear it will be around 6 in “the first phase”. No mention of when they will take off- we suspect soon, since the carrier’s license expires end of this year. And though it is valid for 2 years after expiry, nobody will be in a hurry to renew it once it expires, we are told. No mention of how many staff will be retained. We hear they have not been informed. “Kingfisher is ready to infuse Rs 425 crore into the airline an...

Neelam Mathews Dec 17, 2012 Replies to questions in Lok Sabha by Defense Minister A.K Antony: The Indian Air Force (IAF) presently operates Embraer Executive Jets and Boeing Business Jets for VIP I WIP duties. All these aircraft are equipped with Traffic Alert Collision Avoidance Systems and Ground Proximity Warning Systems as anti-collision features. The total cost of procurement of these aircraft and the associated equipment is inclusive of the collision avoidance systems mentioned above.  IAF has decided that all aircraft to be procured by them in future will have anti-collision technologies incorporated in them. The type of equipment will depend on the role and operational employability of the aircraft. The US Government has requested to conduct search and recovery missions in the North East region to recover the remains of US service personnel presumed to have been killed in aircraft crashes in the region during World War II. So far, three such missions have be...