Aerospace Diary

Neelam Mathews Feb 16, 2016 Faced with regulatory bottlenecks and high taxation, and a fledgling infrastructure, India’s aviation industry–having grown by 20 percent in 2015–is set to get a boost a new civil aviation policy. While the government has said it aims to provide a level playing-field to aviation-related sectors including airlines, airports,  MRO  organizations and  GA , systems and processes will need to be simplified and made transparent. This is believed to be one of the conclusions of the draft aviation policy that is expected to be released imminently. The policy recognizes an eco-system will be needed to handle a high-growth market that saw 70 million domestic tickets sold last year, with forecasts for 300 million by 2022 and 500 million by 2027. International ticketing is expected to touch 200 million by 2027 also. Thorny issues remain, however. The government has not decided on the 5/20 rule that disallows start-ups from flying in...

AINALERTS  »  APRIL 17, 2014 by    N eelam Mathews April 17, 2014, 10:38 AM India’s Invision Air has abandoned plans to build a wholly owned fleet of Embraer Phenom light jets, switching its business model to one based largely on aircraft management and a scheme to provide flights connecting smaller cities within the state of Maharashta.  Under a deal signed in 2007, Invision held options for 18 Phenoms. But these are now “deferred and in abeyance,” according to Invision managing director Vinit Pathak, who added that Embraer understands the economic pressures that have forced the change of plan. He also told  AIN  that the manufacturer has been “very flexible.” Invision is now evaluating other aircraft for the new services it intends to operate within the state of Maharashtra in the west of India. It intends to use 19-seat twin turboprops and expects to make its fleet decision in November, with plans to buy two or ...

ABACE CONVENTION NEWS  »  2014 by    NEELAM MATHEWS With the lack of fixed-base operators in the country, general aviation aircraft experience congested parking at Delhi International Airport. April 10, 2014, 3:15 PM With general aviation regulations in India caught up in a web of complex rules, the industry has expressed a need for a stable regulatory framework that would allow it to grow in a sound, more straightforward regulatory regime. Addressing this, an  ICAO -led group drafted a set of recommendations for a policy on general aviation–including fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and seaplanes–and submitted them to the Ministry of Civil Aviation in April 2012. While no action has been takenas a consequence of changes in leadership over the past few months, 2014 could bring in good tidings, Rohit Kapur, president, Business Aviation Operators Association ( BAOA ) told  AIN . In addition, hopes are high, he said, that...

Neelam Mathews March 23, 2014 It is now nearing two years since the ICAO team alongwith Indian General Aviation (GA) experts sat down and through 3 months of painstaking work, worked on a draft of the GA policy. Where is it? The 45-day model code of conduct seems to have become an excuse for putting down pen and paper or rather laptops. AerospaceDiary addressed the buried policy at the Hyderabad air show to a senior government official. The question was not even understood, giving an inkling on how little focus there is. And, that in the background of the FAA downgrade, which sadly started with issues related to GA. The answer, we got, by the way, related to the draft aviation policy- which is another issue festering in the cobwebs of India's aviation history. As a nation we should by now, matured enough to understand that, yes GA is for those who can afford it, but, it also helps in productivity and efficiency of industry that gives employment to thousands who are ultimat...

AINALERTS  »  MARCH 13, 2014 by    NEELAM MATHEWS March 13, 2014, 1:55 PM Infrastructure and regulatory issues continue to stifle general aviation in India, and for the first time in a decade the industry contracted by one percent last year, according to Rohit Kapur, president of the country’s Business Aviation Operators Association ( BAOA ). Kapur told a press conference at this week’s India Aviation show in Hyderabad that 13 aircraft were imported into the country last year and 19 were sold. The  BAOA  estimates the inventory values of  GA  aircraft in India to be around $2 billion. Noting that there has been a decline in industry projections, Kapur said, “In 2011 we predicted there would be 786 aircraft in the inventory [by 2013]. Unfortunately, we have not reached even half that number.” Calling for a roadmap for general aviation, Kapur stressed the need for regulations that do not lump  GA ...

AVIATION INTERNATIONAL NEWS  »  DECEMBER 2013 by    NEELAM MATHEWS December 3, 2013, 12:15 AM India’s newly acquired status as a host for one of each season’s Formula One Grand Prix car races has provided a prime opportunity for the country to demonstrate its readiness to embrace business aviation. The world’s highest profile auto sport has continued to be a strong magnet for private and corporate jets, and the race in Delhi on October 27 was no exception. From an aviation perspective, the event ran relatively smoothly, especially compared with its first staging in India in 2011 when delays related to clearing customs and onerous taxes soured the experience for visiting operators. However, the difficulties race organizers encountered in meeting their obligations to operate special helipads around the race venue–primarily to allow for emergency medical flights–revealed the continued inadequacy of the regulations covering Indian roto...

AINALERTS  »  APRIL 11, 2013 by    NEELAM MATHEWS April 11, 2013, 3:20 PM India has reduced the advance application requirements for foreign-registered aircraft from seven to three business days for landing permits and from three days to one business day for overflight permits. The legislation, which has been cleared by the state cabinet, is now awaiting amendment to the civil aviation requirements by India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation ( DGCA ) to enable it to be enforced. That process is likely to take around two months, sources have told  AIN . The faster approval times are being implemented on a trial basis for six months, after which the waiting period is likely to come under review and could be abolished altogether, paving the way for instant approvals. The seven-day restriction was imposed 18 years ago, following security concerns when a low-flying private aircraft air-dropped illegal arms in Bengal, East Ind...

                                                 

Neelam Mathews Feb 10, 2012 Air Works India Engineering has become the first independent General Aviation MRO to obtain EASA Part 145 approval for its Delhi Facility. “This represents a new benchmark for Indian General Aviation …… It opens our Delhi Hangar doors to carrying out maintenance on European registered aircraft and releasing them to service. This beginning will allow us to release Hawker 750-900XP family aircraft to European operators but it is just the beginning as we will quickly add additional aircraft types.” Nick White, Vice President, General Aviation, who led this effort, said Nick White, Vice President, General Aviation, who led this effort. EASA certification is globally recognized and is a benchmark for aviation safety standards. Air Works, over the past two years, has been focusing on enhancing capabilities through accreditations and services to make the company a one- stop shop for all aircraft maintenance work. This certification supplements EASA approva...