Aerospace Diary

by  Neelam Mathews  - December 25, 2014, 9:00 AM An Air Astana Boeing 757 takes off from Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport. (Photo: Flickr:  Creative Commons (BY-SA)  by maarten-sr ) As the ruble continues to depreciate, the economy of Russia’s oil rich neighbor Kazakhstan has held firm, as have the fortunes of that country’s market leading airline, Air Astana. Unlike its fellow carriers in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), including Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Armenia and Azerbaijan, Air Astana is consolidating its domestic and regional footprint. Initiatives include a visa waiver program for ten countries by the government, increased code shares, fleet orders and joint ventures—all expected to propel the carrier in 2015. “2014 proved to be a superb year,” said Air Astana president Peter Foster. “Our sixth freedom business was up by 25 percent, contracts for spares...

by   Neelam Mathews  -  December 18, 2014, 3:06 AM                      The VIP-configured Superjet 100 offers room for 19 passengers. Photo: Sukhoi Sukhoi Civil Aircraft ( SCAC ) showcased its 19-seat  VIP -configured Sukhoi Superjet 100 in India in December, making use of the opportunity presented when the aircraft transported Russian Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov and United Aircraft ( UAC ) president Mikhail Pogosyan to the Russia-India Summit in Delhi. The Russian interstate aviation committee aviation register issued approval, equivalent to certification, for the aircraft in November. The Russian government is the first customer for the airplane. The company recently announced the sale of three  VIP  versions to the King of Thailand and plans to roll out five VIP  versions annually starting in late 2015. According to the  OEM ’s in...

Neelam Mathews Dec 19 2014 Read full story on- http://www.runwaygirlnetwork.com/2014/12/19/star-alliance-sees-unity-in-diversity-of-culture-and-product/ NEW DELHI: In an era of globalization, increasingly there is a tendency to standardize culture. In this rush to be part of an international cluster, one could easily lose track of the city one is visiting given the disappearance of the national dress and to an extent, local cuisine. It comes as a breath of fresh air when airlines take that extra step to retain a whiff of the best of their national identity. This is apparent in Star Alliance, a membership club of 28 airlines that propagates unity in diversity. Easier said than done? “Not so,” said Star spokesman Christian Klick this week during the alliance’s CEO board meeting in New Delhi. Klick firmly believes that each member airline projects its attitude in service, food, cabin interiors, and crew uniforms, and each makes a big effort to project its ...

by   Neelam Mathews  -  December 18, 2014, 12:24 PM Russian president Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi(Photo: Indian Prime Minister’s Office) India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi was quick to reaffirm friendly ties during President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Delhi on December 11 by signing defense agreements that include possible licensed production of the Kamov Ka-226T helicopter. But Russia’s policy tilt toward Pakistan, with the lifting of an embargo on the supply of military hardware and the start of talks with Islamabad for the sale of Mi-35 helicopters, seems to have rung alarm bells in Delhi. The Ka-226T is a competitor for the Reconnaissance Surveillance Helicopter (RSH) requirement that has been postponed twice in the past decade. The new Indo-Russian defense agreement could result in scrapping of theRFP for 197 RSHs for the Indian Army and Air Force. The Airbus Helicopters AS550 C3 Fennec and the Bell 407 ...

Some of SpiceJet's Boeing 737-800s stand subject to repossession in the next ten days. (Photo: Boeing) By  Neelam Mathews   December 17, 2014, 1:07 PM Travelers faced serious disruption   at major airports in India on Wednesday when low-fare airline SpiceJet canceled operations for the day as oil companies refused to supply aviation fuel until it paid past dues. A skeleton service started by late evening, however, after India’s civil aviation ministry asked fuel providers to extend credit to the airline for 15 days. SpiceJet defaults have created a panic reaction as lessors flock to repossess their aircraft “before a situation arises similar to Kingfisher Airlines when aircraft were cannibalized and up to $40 million an aircraft was borne by the lessors to refit aircraft,” one aircraft lessor told  AIN ,  speaking on condition of anonymity. Of the airline’s 19 Boeing 737s, 17 remain in operation and five stand subject to repossessi...

Neelam Mathews ALMATY: Oil and mineral rich Kazakhstan in the heart of Central Asia placed geographically in one of the most dynamic, yet little revealed regions, unfolds many surprises, the first of which come from its national carrier, Air Astana. Air Astana flight crew Forget budget, low-cost and even hybrid service. Here, the supreme rules whether it be three options for breakfast, well-endowed Chopard toiletries, iPads for IFE, large-sized blankets and Taittinger champagne on a three-hour Airbus A320 flight! This retro service brings back the nostalgia of flying two decades ago when service was king. According to Margaret Phelan, director inflight service delivery, leadership forums were recently conducted “to heighten the importance of good leadership”. Fitting into the mood easily on the Delhi-Almaty flight, purser Daniel embodies an attitude passengers associate with the past – no plastic smiles and an unpretentious approach. Air Astana added 11...

By Neelam Mathews   /  December 17, 2014 On the move, Indian travellers wait to board the Mandovi Express in Goa Online travel agent Cleartrip says 78% of Indians have planned their year-end travel 40-90 days in advance, both for domestic and international travel. On the move, Indian travellers wait to board the Mandovi Express in Goa Goa continued to be the year end destination of choice in the domestic segment and Dubai topped the chart for international destinations. The survey, Cleartrip Insight on year-end travel bookings, says 50% of bookings were made through the Cleartrip app on mobile.  Goa continued to be the year end destination of choice in the domestic segment and Dubai topped the chart for international destinations. Another trend for year-end travel showed that while solo travellers chose destinations like Bangkok, couples were more in favour of Colombo and Kathmandu. Families of three and more are heading to Singapore and Dubai. “The volu...

15 December 2014 - 10:39 by  Neelam Mathews  in New Delhi  THE Indian Navy is strengthening the country’s coastal security by installing 46 coastal radar stations and 51 automatic identification centres.  It has also set up an Information Management Analysis Centre (IMAC) on the outskirts of Delhi to track the movements of some 250,000 fishing boats along the 7 ...for more subscription Shephardmedia.com

Latecomer faces challenges in making a difference By Neelam Mathews   /  December 16, 2014 Tata-Singapore Airlines-owned domestic carrier Vistara has finally received its Air Operator Permit (AOP) from the regulatory authority, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) after numerous delays. Vistara set to fly. With more than 70% of the Indian domestic market flooded with budget seats, Vistara is entering the market as a full service carrier.    The AOP will enable the carrier to start commercial operations in India. Vistara is headquartered in Delhi and has two A320s parked there. Operations can start once it gets its slots.  The carrier expects to introduce two to three more aircraft by March 2015. AirAsia India, another startup this year has just two A320s following its launch six months back. With more than 70% of the Indian domestic market flooded with budget seats, Vistara is entering the market as a full service carrier.  Prasad Menon,...

Japanese golfers could be teeing off in Almaty By Neelam Mathews   /  December 15, 2014 With business to Asian destinations like Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh and Seoul collecting good yields, Kazakhstan’s largest carrier, Air Astana, is looking at servicing Tokyo from Almaty in 2016, the airline's president Peter Foster told Travel Weekly. Peter Foster, president Air Astana “We are in talks with the two main carriers (ANA and JAL) to enter into partnership with one of them. Japan is a different market. We joined the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) recently to give us exposure to that market,” Foster said.   “We are in talks with the two main carriers (ANA and JAL) to enter into partnership with one of them. Japan is a different market. We joined the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) recently to give us exposure to that market,” Foster said. "Almaty would be of interest to the Japanese market. They can also play a game of golf there,” Foster...

Scary image- not sure I'd like to be in that plane!

by  Neelam Mathews  -  December 10, 2014, 8:09 AM                                            Sikorsky has clinched a sale of S-70B Seahawks to the Indian Navy. (Photo: Sikorsky)     The Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk has been selected to meet the Indian Navy’s multi-role helicopter ( MRH ) requirement. A contract for 16 with an option for eight more is expected to be signed within eight months and will include a complete logistics support and training program. The selection was held up for two years following the controversy over India’s purchase of   AgustaWestland  AW 101  VIP  helicopters . The other shortlisted contender was the   NH -90 from   NH   Industries, which is 32 percent owned by AgustaWestland. The request for proposal mandates that deliveries begin within three years of signing the contract....

Kazakhstan carrier spreads its wings By Neelam Mathews   /  December 08, 2014 Air Astana, new services to Bangkok and Paris The Stopover Holidays programme launched by Air Astana Holidays, a division of Kazakhstan’s largest carrier, Air Astana, in October last year, is proving popular for some of the 100,000 transit passengers to Almaty and Astana. Air Astana, new services to Bangkok and Paris The two-day package provides visitors with hotel accommodation, including breakfast at a choice of hotels, arrival and departure airport transfers by private car and optional half-day sightseeing tours in the two cities.    The two-day package provides visitors with hotel accommodation, including breakfast at a choice of hotels, arrival and departure airport transfers by private car and optional half-day sightseeing tours in the two cities.  Richard Ledger, vice president worldwide sales, says, “There are flows we would not have sold otherwise.”  In su...