Aerospace Diary

by  Neelam Mathews  -  January 6, 2016, 1:34 PM The sole current operator of the US-2 amphibian is the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). (Photo: Chris Pocock) India's aerospace industry stands to miss out on a production partnership for Japan's ShinMaywa  US -2 amphibian aircraft, according to sources close to the situation. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi last month and stressed “the full potential of an India-Japan strategic and global partnership.” However, a deal proposed  during their previous meeting  in 2014 for final assembly in India of the  US -2 remains unsigned. Indian defense industry sources speaking to  AIN  on condition of anonymity said that the delay might cause the Japanese to turn instead to Indonesia as a production partner. Japan’s Ministry of Defense presented a detailed report on production arrangements for the amphibian in India last year, but ...

SINGAPORE AIR SHOW  »  2014 by    NEELAM MATHEWS February 12, 2014, 10:50 PM Thai Civil Aviation Authority auditors have completed the appraisal of independent complete aircraft spares support specialist  AJW  Technique’s facility in Montreal. The audit comprised a review of quality systems and processes; no areas were in need of corrective action. Committed to an “evolving customer base in Southeast Asia,” the company’s  DCA  certification is the most recent in a list of regionally specific approvals that include  TCCA / FAA ,  EASA  and DGCA  Indonesia. In addition, approval by Brazil’s  ANAC authority is underway and is expected to be awarded imminently, said the company. “Concluding an approval process such as this without any minor procedural findings is testament to the quality of work we are driving at every level,” said Allan Pennycuick, engineering and quality manager. La...

Neelam Mathews Dec 18, 2012 Crashed Sukhoi Superjet Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Committee has completed the investigation of the Sukhoi Superjet 100 RRJ-95B aircraft, registered 97004 with flight number RA 3680, that crashed into Mount Salak, West Java in May killing 45. The inquiry finds the crew switched off the terrain-warning and was distracted by conversation, before hitting the mountain. The pilot of the Russian-made aircraft may have been distracted as he was talking to a potential customer, said Tatang Kurniadi, head of Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Committee. The pilot’s lack of familiarity with the West Java region and poor planning were other factors. The 90-seat SuperJet was carrying reporters and potential customers as part of a regional promotional tour. The report used information obtained from air traffic services transcripts, Indonesian National Search and Rescue (Basarnas) reports, flight records, the flight data recorder and the...

Neelam Mathews  Nov 27, 2012 Russian Helicopters, part of state defense holding Oboronprom has made its first civil medium multirole Mi-171 helicopter delivery to Indonesia. One of the largest mining companies acquired this certificated Mi-171 built by the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant.T he Mi-171 is an updated version of the renowned Mi-8. The new medium multirole Mi-171 can be deployed in various climates and temperature ranges - an important competitive advantage that was a deciding factor in the choice of an advanced Russian helicopter for use in Indonesia. Mi-171 series helicopters can be used to carry passengers and cargo, for geological surveying and patrol missions, and for fire-fighting and transfers to offshore drilling platforms. The Asia-Pacific region is a major driver of growth for helicopters. Of the 1,200 registered Russian-built helicopters operating in the region, more than 700 are from the Mi-8/17 series and almost 20 of this type for the military use in I...

Neelam Mathews Nov 8, 2012 India’s leading airport infrastructure developer, GVK that manages and operates the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) in Mumbai and the Bengaluru International Airport has signed an operations and management contract with the Airports Authority of Indonesia, (Angkasa Pura Airports AP1), the Indonesian government airport operator to manage the non-aeronautical commercial operations at Indonesia’s second busiest Bali (Denpasar) International Airport. GVK is also developing an international greenfield airport in Yogyakarta in central Java in collaboration with the Government of Indonesia.  This follows the MoU that GVK had signed in January 2011 with the Government of Indonesia. The MoU for the Yogyakarta airport is an agreement between Angkasa Pura Airports (Government of Indonesia owned Airport Operations and Management Company) and GVKPIL.

Neelam Mathews Oct 15, 2012 AirAsia plans to acquire ailing Indonesian carrier Batavia Air and its Flying School with a $40 million debt and aging fleet announced in July, has been called off. “This is not the end of the world for Batavia because we will still continue our business without the acquisition,” a senior representative of Batavia Air was quoted saying.   At singing of MoU in July Group CEO AirAsia Tony Fernandes said: “Our aggressive focus in Indonesia remains and we will push our Indonesian IPO plans while still maintaining close co-operation with Batavia Air….. In our minds, the timing was perhaps not appropriate as it would have induced too many risks and would ultimately be earnings dilutive to our shareholders.” “With all that is happening, we are happy and do not want management to be bogged down as an acquisition of this nature can be very time consuming. We felt it is best to spend time doing other things,” Fernandes was quoted saying. T...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Aug 7, 2012 Embraer Defense and Security has delivered four light attack and tactical training A-29 Super Tucano aircraft to Indonesia’s Air Force at a ceremony held in its facility in Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo, Brazil. Indonesia is the first operator of Super Tucano in the Asia-Pacific region. These four A-29 Super Tucano are from the initial batch of eight aircraft purchased by the Indonesian Air Force (IAF) in 2010. The IAF has since ordered a second batch of eight Super Tucanos as part of their equipment modernization exercise, bringing the total number of orders to 16 aircraft. “We are honored that the Indonesian Air force has selected the A-29 Super Tucano as the preferred choice in their fleet modernization program”, said Luiz Carlos Aguiar, President of Embraer Defense and Security. “The Super Tucano is a mature, proven and mission-ready aircraft with more than 160 units in operation globally.” The Super Tucano was chosen by the Indon...

Posted by- Sitanshu Kar from Singapore Saturday, June 02, 2012 Defense Minister AK Antony  said contentious issues relating to maritime domain should only be ‘resolved through the process of dialogue, consensus building and within the framework of accepted principles of international law’. Addressing the 11th Asia Security Summit, also known as Shangri La Dialogue, in Singapore,  Antony said the international community must ‘remain sensitive to the problems of smaller nations and ensure that their rights, as equal members of the global community, are not overlooked or compromised’. He said the spirit of cooperation among international community shown in anti-piracy measures can be extended to ‘de-conflict contentious maritime issues’. “Large parts of the common seas cannot be declared exclusive to any one country or group. We must find the balance between the rights of nations and the freedoms of the world community in the maritime domain. Like individual freedoms, the ...

Neelam Mathews April 9, 2012 AirAsia is offering more connectivity and convenience through its enhanced Fly-Thru service between China and Indonesia. Fly-Thru eases flight connections with no transit visa requirement, baggage check-through and quick transit. The major convenience factor that Fly-Thru offers would be the ease of having their check-in baggage tagged to final destinations, which would mean guests no longer need to pick up their bags and check-in again to their onward destination. This ultimately saves time as guests can skip the immigration clearance process as well. The service was introduced by AirAsia last year with connecting flight options from selected destinations in the AirAsia route network which spans across 150 routes, 76 destinations and 22 countries. Guests are also able to enjoy the Fly-Thru service from Chennai, India to Singapore with the Fly-Thru connection via Kuala Lumpur as well.           ...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews March 1, 2012 The Armies of India and Indonesia have concluded a week-long joint military exercise. The operational part of the first-ever platoon-level joint training exercise, Exercise ‘Garuda Shakti’, was conducted at the Indian Army’s elite 'Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School’ (CIJWS), Vairengte in Mizoram. Training together to counter the scourge of insurgency in various contemporary scenarios including jungle warfare, Chakravyuh, the three-day outdoor validation exercise, tested the weeklong training, imparted at various Counter Insurgency (CI) modules and at the plethora of firing ranges in the guerrilla warfare school. Chakravyuh ended with the busting of a simulated insurgent hideout in Mizoram’s Lushai Hills, in the wee hours today, after a grueling nightlong march. The Indonesian National Army troops led by Lt Col Gatot Heru Puana of KOSTRAD (Indonesian Army’s Strategic Reserve Command) belonging to the 13th Infantry Brigade com...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Sept 25, 2011 IATA has emphasized the need for attention to safety oversight, particularly as the industry is rapidly developing. Between 2005 and 2010, Indonesia recorded a total of 33 accidents. It has called on Indonesia to implement coordinated policy measures in aviation. Between 2010 and 2014, Indonesia is expected to be the sixth fastest growing market for international passengers. In 2014 Indonesia will rank as the ninth largest domestic market and among the top 10 for international freight.  “Indonesia is 1.4% of global traffic but accounted for 4% of all accidents in 2010. Every accident is a reminder of the need to improve. Many efforts have been made in recent years to improve Indonesia’s safety record. An indication of the success of these efforts is seen in the removal of five Indonesian carriers from Europe’s list of banned airlines. Now we need a coordinated initiative by all stakeholders to solve the safety issue once and fo...