Aerospace Diary

Neelam Mathews March 11, 2013 The ministry of civil aviation's decision to permit airlines form a JV, a subsidiary or "a consortium," for ground handling in Oct last year, was echoed by minister Ajit Singh at a recent conference in Delhi. The case, subjudice, is expected to come for a hearing in the Supreme Court in a few days and bring the matter to rest. That there will be congestion in the apron area if every airline handles on its own, was brought out by the minister who made it clear that airlines could not independently do the ground handling. His suggestion that airlines create a consortium has resulted in more queries. A fact that is little known is that the airlines will only be allowed to form a JV when the ministry releases a new bid! If this were to happen, questions remain. "How does an airline handle two flights at a time for instance? Besides, they are all competitors! Also, can an airline afford all the expensive equipment that is mandated now ...

Does anybody care anymore?  From an AI engineer's point of view Neelam Mathews Sept 24, 2012 There is little doubt   there is dissatisfaction among the  ranks of the erstwhile Air India and Indian Airlines engineers, upset with the formation of the MRO subsidiary for which they were not consulted nor made aware of where they would stand in seniority. Like it or not, this could become a safety issue. Interestingly, most of the engineers we spoke to, had little confidence the AI MRO would make money “especially with the high taxes “and the incapable Air India Engineering Management.” “Unless the MRO is handed over to a professional management, it will not be able to breakeven even after 10 years,” moans an engineer. VRS is not applicable for licensed category of employees like AMEs. There is trepidation that while the government  has promised to protect salaries and extend financial support to the MRO for the first three years, th...