Aerospace Diary

Neelam Mathews Sept 12, 2014 Our beloved Jasjit Singh must be smiling benevolently at many sessions of the recently held CAPS-CII conference, as straight talk was the order of the day. Must confess it took many a yawn away! Thanks to a lively session led by Retd Air Marshal Vinod Patney, who was not leaving any speaker off. Perhaps the one to receive maximum counter queries was Capt Todd Squire, Chief Office of Defense Cooperation,US Embassy, apparently not given too much leeway by his government to indulge in 'small talk'. “Co-development and production must be ‘co’.    If there is a desire on both sides to co-produce, problems will sort themselves out…or Indians will ask “Do I really need the equipment,    or shall I go elsewhere?...... We have known US to often say: We have our laws, you change yours,”…… said a candid Patney, Director General, CAPS.  Even as the US takes forward talks on NG weapon production, there are many holdups including Ind...

AIN DEFENSE PERSPECTIVE  »  SEPTEMBER 12, 2014 by    NEELAM MATHEWS Indian companies may manufacture parts for the ShinMaywa US-2 amphibian under a recent agreement between India and Japan. (Photo: Chris Pocock) September 11, 2014, 11:33 AM With a clear mandate from the 100-day-old government to make aerospace manufacturing a focus area for domestic and export markets, there is renewed interest by manufacturers to be in the forefront. This was clear at a recent conference the Center for Air Power Studies and the Confederation of Indian Industry held in New Delhi. India is taking stock of aerospace manufacturing opportunities that are expected to arise in offsets from the $72 billion worth of contracts signed or about to be signed for work running through 2021. State-owned Hindustan Aeronautics’ ( HAL ) current commitments will keep it busy for the next decade, and private-sector involvement in the manufacturing arena is imm...

FARNBOROUGH AIR SHOW  »  2014 by    NEELAM MATHEWS July 14, 2014, 7:00 AM A slowdown in reforms in India over the past five years–and a virtual pause in procurement–may be about to change following renewed optimism and confidence as the new government shows, for the moment at least, that it is serious. As hectic activity takes place in the ministries of commerce, finance and defense, increasing manufacturing, exports and foreign direct investment ( FDI ) are focus areas of the new regime. A proposal to increase  FDI  levels from the present 26 percent to 49 percent, and possibly later, 74 percent for transfer of production (build to print) and 100 percent in the case of a single-source-hub transfer, including transfer of technology, is being viewed with interest. While India has moved steadily in automobile and automotive components manufacturing, with auto giants leveraging the country’s strengths in  I...

Neelam Mathews Oct 1,2012 As the clock ticks with just 113 days left for Aero India, our premier defense show, Aerospace Diary learns CII has not addressed the RFP for event management. No decision has been made as yet on who will be the event manager though word has it FICCI and IQPC may be front runners. Aerospace Diary could not confirm this. Only in India can we be so lethargic, blissfully unaware and so sure of running a world-class show with such arrogance. When our planners go to attend shows abroad with our tax money, it might do them so good to check out how the other nations run their shows, what really goes into it and how much advance time is required for planning and coordination. Is it little wonder then, that we have the world's worst washrooms to showcase at an event attended by top officials of the world. And ofcourse, set an example of how not to offer the best facilities to people paying through their nose? Hopefully, the issuance of passes will be mor...

By Neelam Mathews Photo courtesy of RAHI Issues surrounding compensation to landowners are delaying work on regional airports and other infrastructure. Land acquisition issues appear to be a growing factor in the delay of millions of dollars of infrastructure and industrial projects in India. Officials are pushing new legislation to boost compensation to landowners, but concerns over cost impacts may keep the provisions bottled up in the country's parliament. A recent study by the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation says the proportion of federal projects running behind schedule increased to over 53% in December 2010 from 34% in March 2007. Further, while environmental and funding issues remain major obstacles, procuring land is becoming a key challenge for more projects. India 's plan to boost the number of regional airports to nearly 500 from 130 by 2025 is running into the problem of land acquisition. One regional operator, Regional Airport Holding Int...