Aerospace Diary

AINONLINE by    NEELAM MATHEWS March 13, 2014, 3:32 PM Bombardier Business Aircraft is confident India’s general aviation market will revive following national elections in India that are to be held during April and May. Nilesh Pattanayak, Bombardier’s Asia-Pacific regional vice-president said there has been a big change in the regulatory environment and infrastructure since 2007, when he first came to India. Despite the country’s recent economic setbacks, he told  AIN  at this week’s India Aviation show in Hyderabad that he remains optimistic about further growth in private aviation. “We believe there will be a revival at the end of the 2014 elections [to be concluded on May 12] and that 2015 is going to be a very strong year for business aircraft in India,” he said.  “There is a high level of activity and interest in our products. Traditionally the larger cabin aircraft, such as our Global aircraft, have been the most...

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...