Aerospace Diary

Posted by-Neelam Mathews Jan 31. 2014 BAE Systems has named John Brosnan Managing Director of the Company’s India operations with effect from January 2014. He replaces Dean McCumiskey who will be taking on a new assignment within BAE Systems. Previously, as a Senior Vice President for Offset and Operations for BAE Systems, John managed the delivery of the Company’s multi-billion dollar industrial partnership programmes in 20 countries across the globe. Having joined the Company in 2008 as Director for Corporate Development, John focused on identifying key international markets such as India and developing the Company’s strategic approach to growth markets. Further, Mark Simpkins has been appointed Vice President & General Manager for India and will lead the Company’s business development activities in the country.   Brosnan joined BAE Systems from the UK Government where he worked in a variety of roles, including over ten years in the UK Ministry of Defe...

Posted by Neelam Mathews      Jan 29, 2014 Apparently the threat of downgrade has finally made MoCA act- Here's a Press Release- The Government has approved creation of 75 posts in Flight Standards Directorate (FSD) in the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) comprising of Chief Flight Operation Inspector (CFOI), Deputy Chief Flight Operation Inspectors (Dy.CFOIs), Senior Flight Operation Inspectors (Senior FOIs) and Flight Operation Inspectors (FOIs). These 75 posts have been created on the basis of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards and are meant for both, aircraft and helicopter operations. It has also been decided, in principle, to pay the incumbents to be recruited against these posts as per the industry standard. The details of 75 posts are as follows:-   Name of Post No. of Posts Aeroplanes CFOI 01 Dy. FOIs 06 SFOIs 17 FOIs 40 Helicopters Dy. FOIs 01 SFOIs 03 FOIs 07 Th...

AINONLINE by    NEELAM MATHEWS Emirates Airline, the largest A380 operator in the world, cannot fly its superjumbos to India in the absence of a new bilateral air services agreement. (Photo: Airbus) January 27, 2014, 12:00 PM India has lifted restrictions on the Airbus A380 airliner to land at four Code F compliant airports, the country’s Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) announced Monday. But while the industry has applauded the move, the government has not made it an effortless exercise, as major carriers wanting to fly their A380s to India run short on service entitlements. “Bilateral air service agreements ( ASA s) that prohibit operation of A380s to India will need to be amended before permission is granted,” the MoCA said in a statement. “Rationalization of traffic rights from services per week to seats per week shall be done through mutual negotiations through memoranda of understanding.” Airports will require Directora...

AINONLINE by    NEELAM MATHEWS Lufthansa CEO Christoph Franz (far left) greets Rohit Nandan, Air India chairman and managing director (far right), following the December 13 Star Alliance board meeting in Vienna as Star Alliance CEO Mark Schwab (center left) and Air Canada CEO Calin Rovinescu (center right) look on. (Photo: Star Alliance) January 10, 2014, 12:19 PM The Star Alliance has set a new target of 2015 for Air India to join its ranks following a unanimous vote by member airlines to restart the process of integrating the Indian flag carrier. The alliance suspended integration in 2011 on grounds that Air India had “not met minimum joining conditions agreed in December 2007.” With signs of stability and fleet rationalization, however, Star has agreed to give Air India a second chance. “When we stopped integration, we thought Air India needed more time for its merger and preparation for its future growth and development…We feel t...

Posted by Neelam Mathews Jan 10, 2014

AIN DEFENSE PERSPECTIVE  »  JANUARY 10, 2014 by    NEELAM MATHEWS India chose Dassualt's Rafale for its medium multi-role combat aircraft in 2012. (Photo: Neelam Mathews) January 9, 2014, 8:15 AM With national elections looming in India, speculation is growing that contracts for the long-delayed medium multi-role combat aircraft ( MMRCA ), as well as the multi-role tanker transport ( MRTT ), could soon be signed. India announced  its choice of the Rafale  in January 2012. But negotiations  subsequently stalled  over offsets, the transfer of technology and the role of Hindustan Aeronautics ( HAL ).  Delays in procurement are taking a toll on military force levels as Indian Air Force ( IAF ) squadrons deplete. This has resulted in pressure on the Ministry of Defense to increase the pace for awarding pending contracts. A government code of conduct prevents any contracts being awarded within 45 day...

Neelam Mathews Jan 7, 2014 While many have been skeptical about the MMRCA contract - not without reason- AerospaceDiary is hearing there is a CCS today to view the contract/project. This could not be confirmed from an official source. Should this come through, India's defense industry, hopefully, will get the much needed push- given that all issues related to the DPP are cleared with sane thinking. Hopefully vested interests will not stall the project. We are hearing the MMRCA is quoted in international circles as one of the best evaluations done on a military project.

AIN AIR TRANSPORT PERSPECTIVE  »  JANUARY 6, 2014 by    NEELAM MATHEWS Air Astana plans to take delivery of a third Boeing 767-300ER this year. (Image: Boeing) January 6, 2014, 1:30 PM Resolved on tapping the booming Central Asian market, global alliances SkyTeam, OneWorld and Star Alliance have approached Kazakhstan national carrier Air Astana with offers to join their ranks. In response, the airline recently commissioned U.S.-based Seabury Group to prepare a report on whether it should enter an alliance “and which one, because all alliances want us to join them,” Air Astana president Peter Foster told  AIN  in Astana recently. “The year 2014 will be a big year for us as we will decide how to structure our medium-haul fleet,” said Foster. “Our first consideration will be range and then costs when we evaluate our options.” Over the past two years Air Astana rolled over virtually its entire fleet, replacing all its...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Jan 6, 2013 Enjoy!

Aerospace Diary: Lust for own statue by Anna in life-time : Written by- Subhash Chandra Agrawal RTI Activist Hope springs eternal in the human breast? I'm not so sure any more. Here&#3...

Written by- Subhash Chandra Agrawal RTI Activist Hope springs eternal in the human breast? I'm not so sure any more. Here's a release we received -. Here goes- This refers to media-reports about Anna Hazare writing to BJP President Rajnath Singh to prevent BJP workers from creating hurdles in stalling his statue in Gurgaon by his supporters. If reports are true, then it tends to establish that the veteran social-activist is crazy for his self-glorification like politicians. Reports have also appeared that Union government may honor Anna Hazare with Bharat Ratna for his support to government-sponsored Lokpal Bill passed by Parliament. Honouring Anna Hazare with Bharat Ratna amongst such controversies may unnecessarily give rise to speculations of Bharat Ratna being misused for bargains in political necessity.   System of erecting statues in one’s life-time should be altogether banned. Naming public institutions and erection of statues of their favorites and...

ROTORHUB 02 January 2014 - 11:12 by  Neelam Mathews  in New Delhi India has terminated the  $750 million agreement  signed with AgustaWestland in 2010 for 12 AW101 VVIP/VIP helicopters  on the grounds of a breach of the pre-contract Integrity Pact.  The termination, which comes into ...,,,,.read more in RotorHub (subscription)

Neelam Mathews Jan 2, 2014 While nothing can ever be confirmed in the world of defense procurement in India till the ink dries on paper, it is becoming increasingly clear that a basic contract will be signed with Dassault Aviation in the next 45 days for the MMRCA. This is simply because the 45 day election morotarium starts on Feb 15, we are being told. HAL will be in the picture as the RFP clearly says, and we are also hearing some large private companies are in the picture for supplying aerostructures. Even as the AgustaWestland deal has been cancelled, a source tells us: “The government wants to ensure Dassault gets the contract so that the deal cannot be questioned by subsequent governments.” We are also hearing internal discussions on the basic contract have been completed by the IAF.