Aerospace Diary

Neelam Mathews AEROSPACE / FEBRUARY 2017 After years of procuring equipment from overseas, the Indian Navy is keen to modernise its capability using its own indigenous platforms. NEELAM MATHEWS reports. As security challenges in the region emerge, India is increasingly focusing on modernisation and capability building of its military. The Indian Navy’s guideline document, ‘Indian Naval Indigenization Plan (INIP) 2015-2030,’ articulates its requirement for advanced systems for its platforms and, while the policy priority is clear that there should be a commitment to maximise indigenous production, it does not underscore the need for quality. LCA v/s Global Fighter Clearly, speed is of the essence as delays in procurement decisions in the past have plagued the growth of upgradation. For instance, the naval single engine, Compound-Delta-Wing, tailless Light Combat Aircraft (LCA Mk2) being designed and developed by the government-Aeronautical Development Agency, along with state def...

Neelam Mathews Feb 20, 2017 Feb Air India is planning to add Dornier 228 twin turboprops to the fleet of its Alliance Air subsidiary to boost service to second- and third-tier cities under the government-backed  Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS), which begins in March . Air India chairman and managing director Ashwani Lohani told  AIN  that the flagcarrier expects to lease 10 of the 19-seat aircraft from government-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), which already produces military-configured versions under license from Switzerland Ruag Aviation. India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation is now working on a requested civil type certification for the aircraft. “The certification from DGCA could well be facilitated and speeded given HAL and Air India are both government owned,” R.K Bali, managing director of India’s Business Aviation Operators Association (BAOA) told  AIN . He said that HAL, which is in the process of creating...

by  Neelam Mathews  -  February 16, 2017, 6:02 PM A full-scale mockup of the Indian multirole helicopter (IMRH) was displayed on the HAL stand at Aero India. (Photo: HAL) Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. ( HAL ) has launched an Indian multirole helicopter ( IMRH ) program by displaying a full-scale mockup at the Aero India show in Bangalore. The  IMRH  is being designed to fulfill a long list of missions and could replace India’s large fleet of Mil Mi-8/17s, as well as some naval helicopters. The company did not indicate a timescale for development, flight trials and production.   HAL  previously stated (on its website) that it was seeking a partnership with an international helicopter manufacturer for the  IMRH , to shorten the development time frame. HAL  said that the twin-engine  IMRH  would be in the 12-ton class  IMRH  with a service ceiling of approximately 20,000 feet, a pa...

by  Neelam Mathews  -  February 13, 2017, 4:31 PM Business aircraft operators are encountering barriers to participating in India’s Regional Connectivity Scheme ( RCS ), which is supposed to stimulate cost-effective air service to second- and third-tier cities. The first flights under the program, which is intended to boost service to some 325 airports and airstrips around the vast country, are due to be made in March, according to the Airport Authority of India ( AAI ). To date, prospective operators have bid to add service at just 19 of these airports. “ It is a good policy plan that has fallen short of implementation,” said Rohit Kapur, former president of India’s Business Aviation Operators Association ( BAOA ). For instance, charter companies wanting to operate under the  RCS  now need to complete a new certification process to qualify under the new designation of scheduled commuter airline ( SCA ). “This is an extra conservativ...

by  Neelam Mathews  -  February 15, 2017, 7:47 AM This BAE Systems development aircraft ZJ100 has been upgraded to Advanced Hawk configuration, with combat training potential. (Photo: Neelam Mathews) At the Aero India show in Bangalore, in collaboration with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd ( HAL ),  BAE  Systems has unveiled the Advanced Hawk  that it first described in the  UK  last June . Painted in Anglo-Indian colors, the British company’s development aircraft  ZJ100  is on display at  HAL ’s stand, and there is also a simulator displaying the aircraft’s new capabilities. These include active leading-edge slats and combat flaps on the wings, and a large-area display in the cockpit. “ Together with  HAL , we are looking forward to showing this industry-funded demonstrator to the Indian and other air forces and seeking their feedback on the combination of features that will better prepare...

by  Neelam Mathews  -  February 13, 2017, 1:49 PM Indian aircraft management and charter company Invision Air last week launched a joint venture with Canadian business aviation services group  ACASS . The Mumbai-based operator holds the majority stake in the new  ACASS  India enterprise. Montreal-based  ACASS 's services include sourcing flight crew, providing regulatory and management support and handling aircraft sales, as well as delivering and preparing them for entry into service.  CEO  Andre Khury told  AIN  that despite slower-than-anticipated growth in the Indian business aviation sector, he believes that the new venture will allow  ACASS  to capitalize on opportunities in a potentially huge marketplace. Sourcing qualified flight crew and support personnel is a particular challenge in India.  ACASS  believes it can alleviate this situation by drawing on a database of a p...