Aerospace Diary

by  Neelam Mathews  -  September 12, 2018, 2:58 PM The AMCA stealthy fifth-generation fighter project aims to provide a replacement for India's Sukhoi SU-30MKI fighters, one of which is seen here with an Australian F/A-18 Hornet. (photo: Royal Australian Air Force) With the number of the Indian Air Force’s fighter squadrons expected to decrease quickly from the present 31 as the current fleet ages, there has been a decisive endeavor to accelerate the recapitalization of the fighter fleet. The majority of the new fighters are to bear the “Make in India” label. By 2032, the Indian Air Force plans to have at least 18 squadrons of Indian-made fighters, said the Deputy Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal R. Nambiar, at a conference held in Delhi this month. Nambiar said that the squadrons of the indigenously built fleet would include the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1, Mk1A, and Mk2 that, in 10 years, “would be the mainstay of our inventory.” LCA variants would r...

by  Neelam Mathews  -  September 10, 2018, 2:26 PM SpiceJet unveiled the first SpiceXpress Boeing 737-700 freighter in Delhi on September 10. (Photo: Neelam Mathews) As India’s GDP hits a high of 8.2 percent and airline cargo belly space starts to exceed demand, Budget SpiceJet has become the first commercial airline to launch a dedicated domestic and international cargo airline, SpiceXpress. It will start operations to Bangalore from Delhi on September 18 and this year launch international destinations, including Hong Kong and Afghanistan. Israel Aerospace Industries' (IAI) Bedek Aviation Group converted the SpiceXpress Boeing 737-700 freighter, which it acquired on an operating lease from Austin Texas-based Spectre Air Capital. The deal represents the first Spectre has ever completed in India, Spectre Cargo Solutions Kevin Casey told AIN. The airline has ordered ten freighters and will receive a total of four by the end of the year, SpiceJet chairman and ma...

by  Neelam Mathews  -  September 5, 2018, 11:27 AM As Indian airlines’ operational costs rise and fares fall following an increase in fuel prices by 50 percent over the past year, industry leaders such as International Air Transport Association director general Alexandre de Juniac continue to express serious concern about their financial health. In Delhi on September 4 to attend the International Aviation Summit, co-hosted by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, IATA, and Airports Authority of India, de Juniac called the current trajectory of Indian carriers “unsustainable.” “[Fuel] comprised 34 percent of India’s airlines' operational costs against an average of 24 percent for global airlines in January,” he said. “Any increase in fuel price is highly sensitive for India in particular more than in other countries due to its prevalent taxes and lack of competition at airports for fuel supply and fees and more taxes at different stages of fuel delivery.” He repeatedly...

by  Neelam Mathews  -  August 31, 2018, 10:33 AM African air charter company Major Blue Air is adding Mahindra Aerospace Airvan 10 turboprop singles to its fleet. (Photo: Mahindra Aerospace) Maun, Botswana-based air charter company Major Blue Air has accepted its first 10-seat Mahindra Aerospace Airvan 10. The turboprop single received type certification from both the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and U.S. FAA last year. The charter operator already has five eight-seat Airvan 8 piston singles in its fleet; other models on property include the Cessna 172 and 206, Hawker 800XP, and Beechcraft King Air B200 and Baron 58. Major Blue Air’s base hangar is situated at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport in Gaborone. “Over last few years, we have enhanced our focus and attention to the important [air charter] market. With increasing traffic, this market needed a bigger and turbine aircraft. And the larger Airvan 10 complements the Airvan...