Aerospace Diary

Spreading the pie across India   WORDS / Neelam Mathews   Income trends hold the key to how consumption patterns unfold in India. Here, it’s all about the aspirations of a growing upper-middle class and High Net Worth Individuals – and is a reason why the market for the smaller four- to eight-seater jets and turboprops accessible to millionaires (not billionaires) is also increasing.   India has 7,730 Ultra-High Net Worth individuals. 109 are billionaires with a combined wealth of $925 billion, according to the Wealth-X 2012 study. Meanwhile there are 6,150 Indians worth between $30 million and $100 million, and nearly 900 that are worth between $100 million and $200 million, with a combined net worth of at least $420 billion.   A recent research report with a 10-year forecast released by Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) reveals India is showing a slow, but sustained growth in business aircraft. There are currently 261 business turbine aircraft registered in Indi...

EBACE Convention News » May 16, 2012 by  Neelam Mathews May 15, 2012, 1:30 PM   Mumbai-based charter start-up Invision Air , which has started to take delivery of 12 Phenom 100s and 300s it ordered from Brazil’s Embraer, has launched its Jet Card membership program, one of the first such offerings in India. While the program offers flexibility and a price advantage to regular fliers, it will benefit owners of private aircraft while their own aircraft undergo maintenance, according to company co-founder Vinit Phatak. “Using a Jet Card provides all the primary benefits of owning a jet....

Aviation International News » May 2012 by  Neelam Mathews May 5, 2012, 5:51 AM Invision Air is seeking to bring economies of scale to kick-start India’s executive charter sector. For the most part, the industry consists of small operators with no more than two or three aircraft each. But the Mumbai-based start-up has a 12-aircraft order with Embraer for a mix of Phenom 100 and 300 light jets. Last year, Invision tested the market with two Phenom 100s and the results were sufficiently encouraging for it to take the next step. However, it did adjust its original order from 18 of the four-passenger Phenom 100s and two of the eight-passenger Phenom 300s to just six of each type. “We want to [offer] the entry-level segment [a price of] $3,000 an hour [rather than] the present $4,500,” Invision cofounder and managing director Vinit Phatak told AIN . “We expect this segment to gradually move up as the ma...

ABACE Convention News » March 29, 2012 by  Neelam Mathews Invision Air is seeking to bring economies of scale to kick-start India’s executive charter sector. For the most part, the industry consists of small operators with no more than two or three aircraft each. But the Mumbai-based startup has placed an order with Embraer for 12 aircraft, a mix of Phenom 100 and 300 light jets. Vinit Phatak plans to develop Invision Air as a large, networked operator of Embraer’s Phenom 100 and 300 light jets. It expects to have six bases throughout India by year-end. Invision Air is seeking to bring economies of scale to kick-start India’s executive charter sector. For the most part, the industry consists of small operators with no more than two or three aircraft each. But the Mumbai-based startup has placed an order with Embraer for 12 aircraft, a mix of Phenom 100 and 300 light jets. Last year, Invision tested the market with two Phenom 100s and the results were sufficiently encourag...

Neelam Mathews Feb 27, 2012 Invision Air, “India’s first entry level business jet service using a fleet of light jets from Embraer,” was launched today. Vinit Phatak, Founder and Managing Director said “We feel this is the right time to launch our service as our target market has no real pan-India operator with a fleet of business jets. Our plan of six bases in India with two aircraft in each base will create many cost and logistical advantages which we shall pass on to our customers.” Jayant Nadkarni, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, added that “Our new generation jets have extremely fuel efficient engines and an ease of maintainability that allows for low cost of operations and a long product lifecycle. Their advanced avionics and safety equipment facilitates increased pilot awareness providing a high level of safety for our passengers.”