Aerospace Diary

Posted by Neelam Mathews Oct 4, 2013 The AW 101 saga just doesn't go away. The issue is complicated, creating challenges for the IAF and AW.  Air Chief NAK Browne replying to a query by AerospaceDiary today said how spares for the 3 AW 101 VVIP helicopters would last just for a few months. And then what? Nobody knows. Even as trials in Italy continue on the AW deal , Agusta Westland is getting fidgety. While we can't blame them given that more helicopters are ready for delivery and the contract has a provision for bilateral discussions, India is playing the 'wait and see'  game. MoD might have its reasoning,though I can never understand why they do not as a form of sheer courtesy, ever reply to emails or telephone calls. Here's what an Agusta Westland release today, reads- "Following the suspension of the contract to supply AW101 VVIP helicopters to India – a sanction not provided for the under contract – a request was made to India...

Neelam Mathews Dec 27, 2012 The ghost of the adage, ‘You scratch my back, I scratch yours,’ continues to flutter in India’s corridors of power. Is it fact, imagination or  just a strange coincidence that the day the two Italian marines held for the killing of two fishermen off Kerala’s coast were allowed to ‘go home for Christmas’  even as two of the 12 ordered VVIPs AW101s flew to India? Wonder if the day will come when all those on bail are permitted to fly to Bangkok or the US to celebrate Diwali or Eid with their families? Suppose they miss their relatives too. Coming back to this issue, what in the blazes happened to defense minister A.K Antony ensuring the bribery- report that emanated in Italy on the procurement of the 12 helicopters was shared with the Indian government before it accepted delivery of the helicopters? Here at AerospaceDiary, we do feel that the government should put its foot down when OEMs create issues to derail procurements when rejected....