Aerospace Diary

Posted by Neelam Mathews Jan 10, 2014

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Dec 31, 2013

Posted by- Neelam mathews Dec 25, 2013

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Dec 22, 2013

Posted by-Neelam Mathews Jul 7, 2013 Lessons to be learnt on crisis management. SFO mayor speaks to press within hours of crash

Neelam Mathews June 1, 2013 Cessna 177B to Dulles International Airport crashes into private building-ALLsafe!

Neelam Mathews March 3, 2013 Great video on board a US aerial refueller as the flying boom tanker refuels a French Air Force Rafale. Video by Tech. Sgt. Oneika Banks Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa  KC-135s Supporting French Mission in Mali, EUCOM Combat Camera, Southwest Europe.   Video shot by Sgt David Clark.

Neelam Mathews Feb 17, 2013 Air Works India Engineering Pvt Ltd. (Air Works) is continuing its acquisition spree. It has acquired Aero Technique Espace (ATE) a French aircraft painting company, AerospaceDiary learns. This move is sure to strengthen Air Works’ market position as a provider of painting services to the European commercial and military aircraft market. It acquired Air Livery recently. Air Works can be assured of long-term contracts as ATE is a well established paint application company, painting new aircraft for Airbus and ATR at its facilities in Chateauroux and Toulouse in southern France. The company, which employs around 150 people, is a recognized brand within its target market and as is AWs policy, will continue to retain the “ATE” brand name post acquisition. Christian Lalane, who has now taken over as the Managing Director, ATE, said: “The recent modernization of the complete Chateauroux site now offers a state-of-the-art, environmentally compliant wid...

Neelam Mathews Jan 26,2013 China's large 4-engined military transport- Y-20- developed by 603 Institute, XAC and SAC, smaller than the C-17 and based on some IL-76MD technology, made its first flight on Jan 26. Assistance was also sought from Antonov Design Bureau in 2008. Its max payload was expected to be 50~66t and max TO weight 180~200t. It is capable of taking off from relatively short and unpaved runways, like the C-17. It is  unclear whether the aircraft will have an IFR probe installed. The Y-20  appears shorter than  Il-76MD , bearing some resemblance to Japanese C-2 transport. 

Neelam Mathews Jan 20, 2013 Enjoy!

Neelam Mathews Jan 13, 2013 According to news sources, a French Gazelle helicopter pilot from 4RHC based at Pau, got killed during a raid in Mali. The raid was part of the intervention of French forces in the Mali conflict to repel rebels occupying the north of the country. The name of this operation is Serval, after an an African wild cat. The French intervention began in the afternoon of 11 January by a helicopter raid in the region Konna, near Mopti in the center of the country. A ir strikes began in the areas where the fighters operate,led by French forces in Chad, where France has Mirage 2000s stationed.  

Neelam Mathews Jan 13, 2013 Sad for the snake though. Wonder if somebody has filed a case against Qantas for mental distress?

Neelam Mathews Jan 7, 2012 The RFP released to Honeywell and HAL for the reengining of 120 Jaguars with  F125IN engines ( 280 turbofans including 40 spare engines) that expired today, has been extended by a month as HAL has “yet to fill in the blanks” that include details on man hours etc, AerospaceDiary learns. The upgraded Jaguars will feature a Glass cockpit with DARIN-3 navigation and attack avionics suite HOTAS controls and an Integrated Defensive Aids Suite (IDAS) being co-developed by the DRDO’s Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE) and Cassidian (formerly EADS Defense Electronics). The approximate over $2billion project has a 30% offsets clause. Already, Honeywell has fitted two RAF Jaguars with the engines.  Once the project is signed, two IAF Jaguars will be modified, before the complete fleet is refitted.

Neelam Mathews Jan 7, 2012 Airbus Military is in the process of working on draft contracts for the MMRT and for (30%) offsets to present to the MoD after having being declared the lowest bidder in the race for IAF tankers. The contract is expected to be signed by April, AerospaceDiary learns. The Airbus-330 MRTT won the race against competitor Ilyushin-78 mid-air refueling aircraft in an approximate Rs 8,500-crore contract. Had this tender not been repeated, India would have saved considerable money given the depreciation of the Indian rupee by around 25% in just the past 12 months. However, the lifecycle costs included this time around, were key to Airbus winning the deal.

Neelam Mathews Jan 5, 2013 Specially-designed livery was launched by Prime Minister of Malaysia to commemorate the start of ‘Program Integrasi 1Malaysia’ with AirAsia to promote the diversity of Ithe country. What a way to flaunt it! Tony Fernandes, Group CEO of AirAsia commented, “I am very proud to be Malaysian and I am sure my extended family of AirAsia Allstars (our staff), whether they are Malaysians or not, are also proud to embrace the concept of 1Malaysia – which personifies the true identity of our country. The success of AirAsia is also attributed to Dato’ Sri Najib’s decision to open up our skies before year 2015, when the Open Skies policy will be implemented throughout the Asean region and I would like to applaud him for that move." Fernandes stressed the reduction of airport tax was also a catalyst that propelled AirAsia “to what we are today. And having this special 1Malaysia aircraft livery is just a small gesture for the support the government has gi...

Neelam Mathews Dec 30, 2012 The fifth crew member of the charter Red Wings, Tu-204 that crashed yesterday, has died.   It is being said bad brakes may be to blame for the incident, in which the plane failed to decelerate on the runway, crashing through a perimeter fence before breaking into fragments and bursting into flames.  The plane, a 200-seater was empty barring the crew.

N eelam Mathews Dec 27, 2012 The U.S Department of Defense has made a proposal to Congress for the sale of  Northrop Grumman Corporation ’s Global Hawk surveillance drones to the government of South Korea   under the foreign military sale program. This is the  first order from Asia Pacific. The deal is worth around $1.2 billion. If the request is approved, Northrop will sell four RQ-4 Block 30 Global Hawk drones. Northrop will also supply equipment, parts, training and logistical support, which would include infrared and electro-optical sensors, imagery analysis systems and moving target indicators on board the Global Hawk Block-30 unmanned aircraft says Zacks. Despite An interest, Australia has not as yet placed an order for the drones.

Neelam Mathews Dec 25, 2012 Even as India signs for 42 more Sukhoi 30-MKIs which will take the total in the IAF  inventory to 270  along with 100 Migs and    plans to add Fifth Gen fighters,  is raising eyebrows on whether the MMRCA will really take off in its present form. Maybe the French will sell us the 50 Rafales their air force cancelled? Who knows? And one wonders, who cares, except the military. Slowly but steadily, it seems pretty clear we are turning back to Russia for our arms procurement. At least it looks like that even as contracts like the MRTT and LUH lie in cold storage.  We are told the kitty is empty to pay for the first installment of the MMRCA. We are also told HAL needs to be clear what it can and cannot do. We are informed Dassault wants to deal with a private partner that in turn seems to have little inclination nor the resources to tap tier 2 and 3 business which may or may not be available as yet in the country. So where do...

Neelam Mathews Dec 23, 2012