Aerospace Diary

by  Neelam Mathews  -  April 19, 2018, 10:01 AM A model of a Rafale in Indian colors displayed on the Dassault stand at an Aero India show. (Photo: Neelam Mathews) The training of Indian pilots and maintenance personnel in preparation for delivery of Rafale fighters is in progress in France, Dassault Aviation chairman and CEO Eric Trappier told  AIN  in describing progress with the Indian air force contract for 36 Rafale fighters. He also commented on the latest Indian request for information (RFI) for more new fighters while visiting India as head of a delegation from the French Aerospace Industries Association (French acronym: GIFAS). However, Trappier made only passing reference to the financial and legal troubles that have recently beset the Reliance Group, Dassault’s partner in India for the Rafale contract.  In addition to the training in France, India is preparing a hangar at the Reliance Defence facility at Nagpur, where part...

Neelam Mathews March 28, 2018 India's LCA, also known as the Tejas, has suffered delays and technical issues. (Photo: Neelam Mathews) PS- The RFI for fighters was released soon after the story was published (no connection!) Watch this space for more analysis. Indian military fighter procurement is fast becoming a comedy of missed deadlines. A commitment to manufacture the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) as opposed to producing a foreign design in the country has led to a series of reversals on procurement for the Indian Air Force’s fighter requirements. The delays in decision-making come against a background of the IAF’s depleted squadrons and the need to replace aging aircraft such as the MiG-21. The Indian Navy, too, is awaiting the release of a r  equest for p  roposal for 57 fighters for its aircraft carriers, for which it has issued a r  equest for i  nformation (RFI). This followed delays to the single-engine, tailless delta LCA (Tejas) that i...

 - Neelam Mathews  April 11, 2018, 11:00 AM The arrival of new aircraft technology, emergence of new business models, and the increasing ambition of India’s budget carriers appear likely to lead to a new wave of expansion on international long-haul routes. As India’s outbound leisure traffic grows following demand of the fast-growing middle class, budget carriers SpiceJet and IndiGo have begun preparing to fly long haul. Plans for widebody aircraft could come soon. According to Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA), SpiceJet and IndiGo will probably launch their first European long-haul flights to London Gatwick. SpiceJet chairman Ajay Singh confirmed at the recent Wings airshow in Hyderabad that his airline will introduce low-cost, long-haul flights “as early as this winter.” A government official told AIN that the carrier is looking at flying to the U.S. According to a CAPA report, by 2025 Indian budget carriers will operate approximately 4...

Posted Apr 5, 2018 Media Release Nb- on behalf of the aviation community, wish you all success in coming years. Nobody likes disruption unless it is in technology! Neelam Pratt & Whitney joins Widerøe in celebrating the delivery of the first Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, powered exclusively by Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan™ (GTF) engines.  The delivery was commemorated in a ceremony attended by Embraer, Widerøe and Pratt & Whitney officials at Embraer's headquarters in São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil. "We are thrilled to be the first airline in the world to put the E190-E2 into commercial service. We will be able to fly farther, faster, and more often, and are proud to offer an improved passenger experience," said Widerøe President & CEO Stein Nilsen. "The GTF engine consumes less fuel, generates fewer emissions and produces much less noise, reinforcing our commitment to lowering our carbon footprint and impact on the en...