Aerospace Diary

AIN DEFENSE PERSPECTIVE  »  MAY 30, 2014 by    NEELAM MATHEWS Arun Jaitley, India’s new defense and finance minister, meets Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha. (Photo: Indian MoD) May 29, 2014, 3:55 PM A lack of decision-making on large Indian defense procurement deals in the past two years is expected to end with the swearing-in of the new government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Changes in procurement and offset policies are also expected. Major projects that are in the final stage of processing and require a signature for conclusion include the 126-aircraft  medium multi-role combat aircraft ( MMRCA ) won by Dassault Aviation’s Rafale ; the Airbus A330 multi-role tanker transport ( MRTT ); and naval multi-role helicopters. While these are likely to be signed this financial year, a crash crunch could hold other decisions until next year. To fast-track some projects, the Ministry of Defence has proposed an approxim...

Posted by Neelam Mathews May 27, 2014 A MiG 21 has crashed in South Kashmir. Fatalities not known.

AINONLINE by    NEELAM MATHEWS Mubadala's Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies is to form the new maintenance, repair and overhaul division of Etihad Airways. [Photo: Mubadala] May 21, 2014, 1:13 PM At face value, the recent acquisition of Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies ( ADAT ) from Mubadala Development Co. by Etihad Airways is straightforward portfolio realignment between two state-owned entities in the United Arab Emirates. But Etihad’s reputation as an aggressive empire-builder with deep pockets to fund a string of airline buyouts suggests that the move is part of a wider master plan that will underpin the flag carrier’s prolific fleet growth and its ambitions to compete in the market for third-party maintenance, repair and overhaul ( MRO ) services. In a deal agreed on May 8, Etihad will.... read more - http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/2014-05-21/etihad-expands-maintenance-and-flight-training

Neelam Mathews May 16, 2014 Even as the US President,possibly, is weighing the wordage of a congratulatory letter to India's soon to be Prime Minister Narendra Modi, proactive 'India First Group' has written a note to NaMo, perhaps reverbrating the sentiments of the private sector in the US anxious to do business with India. Founder and CEO of the company Ron Sommers who spent a long stint with USIBC, writes from Washington apparently talking of what's uppermost in most minds- hope and change: Dear Sir: I write this congratulatory note with great excitement and anticipation. I can only imagine your sense of accomplishment. The hard work of three terms as Chief Minister and the hundreds of rallies carried out across India will now hopefully allow you some brief respite to reflect on the historic mandate delivered to you by the Indian electorate. Clearly, the people have voted for change -change from scandal, change from status quo, change for the hope of pr...

AINONLINE by    NEELAM MATHEWS Established Indian carriers like SpiceJet and Air India will now face tougher competition on both domestic and international routes. [Photo: Neelam Mathews] May 13, 2014, 3:00 PM Indian airlines are facing stiffer competition and downward pressure on air fares with 40 new aircraft due to join the country’s fleet, taking the total capacity to around 400 jets by year-end. Existing carriers are now facing new competition in the shape of AirAsia India , which has just received its air operator permit ( AOP ) for domestic services. The new joint venture between Indian group Tata and Singapore Airlines ( SIA ) is hoping to get its  AOP  ready to start service to nine Indian cities with 87 flights from the capital Delhi in September as a prelude to planned international routes. Further competition is coming from the new A380 service into India by both  SIA  and Emirates Airlines. The increa...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews May 9, 2014 At about 1115 hrs on 09 May 14, a loud noise was heard in the Boiler Room of INS Ganga, while the ship was in drydock undergoing repairs / refit.  The cause of the loud noise is possibly due to gas accumulation.  There has been no fire or any damage to any equipment in the ship.  Two sailors and two civilian dockyard workers were taken to hospital, only for precautionary checkup and have been immediately discharged.  The situation is normal. Press Statement

AINONLINE by    NEELAM MATHEWS SriLankan Airlines is modernising and expanding its fleet with a mix of new Airbus and Boeing jets. [Photo: Neelam Mathews] May 8, 2014, 2:23 PM SriLankan Airlines appears poised to expand its reach into the neighboring Indian air transport market after becoming the 14th member of One World alliance late last month. The move is a boost to a country trying to bounce back after a 25-year civil war and makes SriLankan the first carrier from the Indian subcontinent to gain admission into a global airline alliance—ahead of rival operators in the far larger Indian market. The April 30 joining ceremony happened at Sri Lanka’s new Hambantota Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, serving the south and east coasts of the country. But it is hub operations out of the capital Colombo that carry the potential to feed One World traffic to and from Indian cities. “India is an extended home market for us,” said...

Neelam Mathews May 7, 2014 The heat is on. We've just learnt that AirAsia India has been granted its AOP. So, the Indian skies are now for competitive days ahead. Good luck Indian aviation. Hope sanity prevails.

AVIATION INTERNATIONAL NEWS  »  MAY 2014 by    NEELAM MATHEWS May 6, 2014, 3:30 AM Indian helicopter operators have asked the country’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation ( DGCA ) to revoke a new requirement making pilots personally responsible for conducting security checks on passengers. Ahead of India’s long election campaign, which ends this month and involves extensive use of chartered helicopters by politicians, the  DGCA sent out a directive that obliges pilots to personally search passengers for guns and other illegal items. They are also required to enforce restrictions on charter customers bringing additional passengers on flights at the last minute, a common expectation for election campaign flights. The Rotary Wing Society of India ( RWSI ) lodged a complaint with the  DGCA  after a helicopter pilot and one of the operator’s mechanics were allegedly beaten up by aides working for an unidentified politi...

Neelam Mathews May 4, 2014 Add caption As Jet Airways turns 21, plans to start an all-business service between two metros have been put on hold as a Report by Seabury believed to have been commissioned by Etihad is awaited. The report, a source told AerospaceDiary will offer a complete evaluation of manpower, fleet utilization among others. “Till then, no major decision will be taken by Jet.” Etihad, that has by now, a combined fleet of 250 including its tie-ups and partners, is already consolidating routes. AerospaceDiary learns it is looking at buying equity in an Asian and a US carrier! We are also hearing joint purchase agreements are being looked into, including MRO. Meanwhile, three Air India B777s that are being bid will be likely sold to Etihad at $57.5 million- a part of the bilateral deal…….? Just speculating!