Aerospace Diary

AIN DEFENSE PERSPECTIVE  »  SEPTEMBER 27, 2013 by    NEELAM MATHEWS This full-scale model of the Rustom 2 Male UAV being developed by the DRDO was displayed at the 2010 Aero India event. September 27, 2013, 1:00 PM India’s own medium-altitude long-endurance (Male)  UAS  has experienced another delay, with first flight now expected toward the end of next year. A senior official from the Defense Research Development Organization ( DRDO ) told  AIN  that the Rustom-2 project has suffered from lack of access to technology for sensors and engines. “Requirements for  ISR  are huge in India, given threats from the border. However, Hale, micro and nano  UAV s require powerful algorithms. That is where we require help,” added  V.S.  Chandra Shekhar, associate director of the  DRDO ’s Aeronautical Development Establishment ( ADE ). Shekhar said that taxi trials of the Rustom-2 are now sche...

AIN AIR TRANSPORT PERSPECTIVE  »  SEPTEMBER 23, 2013 by    NEELAM MATHEWS At Asia's current rate of growth, training capacity in the region, particularly in China, won’t keep pace with demand, according to Boeing. (Photo: CAE) September 23, 2013, 11:05 AM Ailing infrastructure in rapidly growing economies in the Asia-Pacific region has not kept in step with demand, creating huge challenges for airlines running out of pilots as fleets expand. Led by China and India, the region’s economies will grow 4.5 percent per year over the next 20 years, while Chinese airlines triple the size of their fleets, according to the 2013 Boeing Pilot  & Technician Outlook on Asia-Pacific. China alone will require 77,400 pilots and 93,900 technicians of the 192,300 new airline pilots and 215,300 new technicians needed in the region through 2032, said the Boeing report. “There is a very real, urgent demand…and the industry will n...

AINALERTS  »  SEPTEMBER 26, 2013 by    NEELAM MATHEWS September 26, 2013, 3:20 PM Overriding a three-month-old directive that resulted in difficulties and delays in obtaining crew visas and temporary landing permits ( TLP s), India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation ( DGCA ) has authorized the nation’s consulates abroad to grant business visas to crew of nonscheduled and chartered flights. Not to be confused with the landing permit for the aircraft, the  TLP  permits customs to allow entrance into India by crew members of nonscheduled flights, the  DGCA  said. The  TLP  costs $40 per crewmember and should be issued within three days of submission, according to Universal Weather  &  Aviation. This comes as a relief to  U.S.  and European operators that have in the past experienced numerous cancellations stemming from difficulties in obtaining crew visas, since there was no clear ...

By Yash Patel Sept 22, 2013 Breakdown of the $900mn investment $380mn           –          24% Stake in Jet Airways (India) Ltd. $150mn           –          Investment up to the tune of 49% stake in Jet Privilege Pvt. Ltd.                                       (A wholly owned subsidiary of Jet Airways (India) Ltd.) $70mn             –          Sale and Lease Back of London Heathrow (LHR) Slots $300mn           –          Further com...

        Neelam Mathews Sept 19, 2013   Prasad R Menon is Chairman of Tata Quality Management Services. He also serves on the boards of several Tata companies, including Tata Industries, Tata Chemicals, Tata Projects and Tata Consulting Engineers. He is also on the boards of Axis Bank, SKF and the Sanmar Group. Menon has over 40 years of experience, working at some of the world’s leading companies in the chemical and power industries, including ICI, Nagarjuna Fertilizers and Chemicals, Tata Chemicals (where he served as managing director), and Tata Power (from where he retired as managing director in January 2011). Menon studied engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur.  

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Sept 19, 2013 Here's a press release that has taken the industry by storm. Sure we'll have much more in the next few days. Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines have signed a Memorandum of Understanding and applied for Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval to establish a new airline in India that will help further stimulate demand for air travel. Subject to FIPB and other regulatory approvals, the airline will be based in New Delhi and will operate under the full-service model. Tata Sons will own 51% and Singapore Airlines will own 49%. The initial Board will have three members, two nominated by Tata Sons and one nominated by Singapore Airlines. The Chairman will be Mr. Prasad Menon, nominated by Tata Sons. “It is Tata Sons’ evaluation that civil aviation in India offers sustainable growth potential. We now have the opportunity to launch a world-class full-service airline in India. We are delighted that we are partnering in th...

Neelam Mathews Sept 19, 2013 Former CEO of  SpiceJet, Neil Mills has for the past month been appointed as Chief Executive Advisor at Phillippine Airlines in Manila. Our congratulations. We suspect that he won't be pestered as he was in Delhi by well-meaning but enthusiastic journos. Trust that will give him more time for productive pursuits like diving or just lazing on a beach-perhaps in Cebu!

Neelam Mathews Sept 18, 2013 It's the return of the native, we are hearing. Kingfisher House in Mumbai is abuzz with the news that a Saudi investor is looking at investing $500 million in the grounded airline. "At current share prices (Rs 4), this will prove a good deal for the investor even as shares are expected to jump once the market gets news of this deal," said a financial consultant to AerospaceDiary. We could not confirm this. So what will the new branding be? A Kingfisher pecking at profits? Or another icon? We're hearing, it is likely the name of the new airline if its starts, will be Kingfisher Air or King Air- closest to its old recognizable brand. Wonder if that's a good thing even as images of lessors holding begging bowls in hand come to mind. Looks like the prayers of the some 1800 employees still at KFA are being heard by a bigger power. Last friday, we learn, the employees held a prayer session where they asked the good lord to shower hi...

Neelam Mathews Sept 17, 2013 Lion Technic has taken another step forward to achieving its goal of becoming an EASA-certified maintenance organization, says the airline. Lion Technic is planning to employ eight EASA-certified maintenance personnel from Europe who will work with Lion Technic’s line maintenance personnel at Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.  “Their role is to be mentors and help ensure that Lion’s line maintenance is in keeping with EASA standards,” said Lion Technic president Romdani Adali Adang. The eight will comprise of five B1 mechanical engineers and three B2 avionics engineers. The decision to employ maintenance personnel, who are already EASA certified, is part of Lion Group’s ongoing commitment to training and to meeting the highest international standards. EASA, along with US FAA certification, are the two most internationally accepted standards in the global aviation industry. Lion Technic aims to get its line maintenance base at Soekarn...

Neelam Mathews Sept 16, 2013 Procurement by Chinese carriers should rise 7 percent a year through to 2032, totaling 5,580 planes for $780 billion, accounting for one-sixth of global sales. Boeing said today the Asia Pacific region will continue to lead in demand for new commercial airline pilots and maintenance technicians to support expanding demand for new airplane deliveries over the next two decades. China alone will require  77,400 pilots and 93,900 technicians. The 2013 Boeing Pilot & Technician Outlook, a bellwether industry forecast of aviation personnel demand, calls for 192,300 new commercial airline pilots and 215,300 new technicians in the Asia Pacific region through 2032. "There is a very real, urgent demand for competent aviation personnel globally, and the Asia Pacific region is particularly impacted," said Bob Bellitto, global sales director, Boeing Flight Services. "While Boeing is investing in cutting-edge technologies to attract and...

Neelam  Mathews Sept 13, 2013 India is to purchase six more Lockheed Martin C-130J medium lift aircraft that will based at   Panagarh in West Bengal for operations along the India-China border. Panagarh is the HQ of the recently created Mountain Strike Corps. The decision was made by the Defense Acquisition Council today. It will now have to be cleared by the CCS and finance ministry. An advance of 12.5 percent-$125 million- will be paid by India Delivery is expected within 3 years of signing of the contract, AerospaceDiary learns. India had sent a Letter of Request to the US government in September 2011 for procuring six additional C-130Js. The DAC also cleared the acquisition of another 230 Russian made T-90 tanks to be produced by the Heavy Vehicles Factory Avadi in Tamil Nadu.

Neelam Mathews Sept 13, 2013 A reader has written to us saying the delivery of  Air Costa's 3rd Embraer ERJ 170 has delayed plans for launch. Air Costa, we hear, conducted trail runs in Vijayawada airport yesterday. It is awaiting the final NOC for airport slots expected by the of this month. The average fleet age is 4.6 years. DGCA norms mandate regional carriers to have a minimum of 3 aircraft, while scheduled operators must maintain 5 aircraft on their fleet.

AIN AIR TRANSPORT PERSPECTIVE  »  SEPTEMBER 9, 2013 by    NEELAM MATHEWS Myanmar’s flag carrier, Myanmar Airways, flies seven Airbus A320s. (Photo: Myanmar Airways) September 9, 2013, 10:10 AM As it embarks on a series of reforms under a new government that took office in March 2011, Myanmar has set its sights on next year for the release of a national civil aviation policy to prepare for a traffic boom that threatens to overwhelm its woefully inadequate air transport infrastructure. The country’s fast growing airline industry now counts seven domestic carriers, and four more airlines owned by Myanmar nationals have submitted applications to launch operations. Government forecasts predict an increase in annual visitors to six million in 2017. Overcrowding has already become so dire that the Department of Civil Aviation ( DCA ) has restricted the number of airlines that can operate out of Yangon International Airport ( YIA )...