Mumbai: A delegation representing Federation of Indian Airlines met chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and made a strong case for a reduction in sales tax on air turbine fuel (ATF) in Maharashtra . The meeting held in Mantralaya on Wednesday.
The delegation , led by business tycoon Vijay Mallya , told Chavan that airlines preferred to refuel in other states due to the higher tax in Maharashtra .
The sales tax on ATFin the stateis 25%.Between 2008 and 2010, the state collected Rs 178 crore as sales tax on ATF. A total of Rs 44 crore has been collected as sales tax from the aviation industry during the first three months of 2011( January toMarch ). Whilethe average per liter ATF price during 2005-2007 was Rs 29 .70, it shotup toRs 34 .30 in 2008-2010 . For the first three months of 2011, the average per litre ATF price stood at Rs 42.20.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Empire Aviation Group expands operations
Empire Aviation Group (EAG), the Dubai-based private aviation specialist, has announced plans to expand into India with a new Mumbai branch office opening by mid 2011. The company aims to replicate its success in the Middle East, where EAG manages one of the region's largest managed fleets of business jets and which continues to grow with the addition of Dassault Falcon 7X jets.
The senior management team from EAG will attend EBACE 2011 as the company looks to develop its regional position and accelerate its expansion within and beyond the Middle East.
EAG's new branch in Mumbai - the company's first operation outside Dubai - will eventually offer the full range of Empire Aviation Group services in the subcontinent, and will have an initial focus on aircraft sales and management. The expansion into India comes as the Middle East market shows increasing levels of confidence and activity - and where EAG has just added two Falcon 7Xs to its managed fleet with a third set to join the growing fleet of more than 20 aircraft, based at Dubai International Airport.
The Falcon 7X offers 15-30% greater fuel efficiency than other aircraft in the large cabin, long range class. The range of 5,950 nm means the aircraft can comfortably connect 95% of the commonly used business aviation city pairs worldwide, such as Beijing-Paris, New York-Riyadh. It can also connect Shanghai with Auckland and Seattle with London City Airport.
The senior management team from EAG will attend EBACE 2011 as the company looks to develop its regional position and accelerate its expansion within and beyond the Middle East.
EAG's new branch in Mumbai - the company's first operation outside Dubai - will eventually offer the full range of Empire Aviation Group services in the subcontinent, and will have an initial focus on aircraft sales and management. The expansion into India comes as the Middle East market shows increasing levels of confidence and activity - and where EAG has just added two Falcon 7Xs to its managed fleet with a third set to join the growing fleet of more than 20 aircraft, based at Dubai International Airport.
The Falcon 7X offers 15-30% greater fuel efficiency than other aircraft in the large cabin, long range class. The range of 5,950 nm means the aircraft can comfortably connect 95% of the commonly used business aviation city pairs worldwide, such as Beijing-Paris, New York-Riyadh. It can also connect Shanghai with Auckland and Seattle with London City Airport.
Short-staffed DGCA seeks retired pros for critical posts
New Delhi: Plagued by severe staff shortage, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is looking to hire retired aviation experts as consultants for as many as 114 critical safety and oversight posts across the country.
Staff shortage, though being felt for months now, has become more annoying in the last few weeks after director general EK Bharatbhushan barred senior officials from taking decisions pertaining to airlines in which their children were employed.
The aviation regulator has now sought applications from retired government employees and other aviation industry officials who are not yet 65 years of age for several critical posts.
The gamut of safety related posts on offer is startling.
The regulator wants to hire short-term consultants for its air safety wing: director, two deputy directors, 5 assistant directors and six safety officers.
Notably, air safety director RS Passi was recently stripped of his position on charges that he influenced an airline to employ his daughter, who had failed the mandatory pilot test.
DGCA is also seeking applications for the posts of deputy director in operations, information & regulation, and aircraft engineering.
DGCA, which has around 130 people manning its offices across the country, has vacancies for an astounding 500 posts, created some months back. A long and tedious process of recruitment for these posts is making its task that much more difficult.
Staff shortage, though being felt for months now, has become more annoying in the last few weeks after director general EK Bharatbhushan barred senior officials from taking decisions pertaining to airlines in which their children were employed.
The aviation regulator has now sought applications from retired government employees and other aviation industry officials who are not yet 65 years of age for several critical posts.
The gamut of safety related posts on offer is startling.
The regulator wants to hire short-term consultants for its air safety wing: director, two deputy directors, 5 assistant directors and six safety officers.
Notably, air safety director RS Passi was recently stripped of his position on charges that he influenced an airline to employ his daughter, who had failed the mandatory pilot test.
DGCA is also seeking applications for the posts of deputy director in operations, information & regulation, and aircraft engineering.
DGCA, which has around 130 people manning its offices across the country, has vacancies for an astounding 500 posts, created some months back. A long and tedious process of recruitment for these posts is making its task that much more difficult.
Air India offers low fares to woo flyers
Mumbai : The badly bruised Air India (AI) is now gradually achieving normalcy in operations by offering special fares to woo flyers.
The airline is dumping its inventory in the lowest slab so that maximum passengers grab the offer. The special fare offer is on till May 12 and travel is valid for a month.
The lowest slab basic fare for the Mumbai-Delhi trunk route on short notice comes for as low as Rs 453 though passengers would need to shell out additional amounts towards fuel surcharge and taxes as charged by airlines.
Most of the low fares are getting sold out as the fares are competitive.
For example, a Mumbai-Delhi AI ticket for onward travel on May 12 and return on May 13 costs Rs 12,670 while it costs Rs 12,528 on Jet Airways Konnect, the low-fare arm of Jet Airways. Air India is a full service airline.
Similarly, in the non-peak Mumbai-Bhubaneswar sector an AI ticket for onward travel on May 14 and return on May 16 costs Rs 13,880. This is compared to Rs 12,648 charged by Kingfisher Red, the low-cost arm of Kingfisher Airlines.
The airline is dumping its inventory in the lowest slab so that maximum passengers grab the offer. The special fare offer is on till May 12 and travel is valid for a month.
The lowest slab basic fare for the Mumbai-Delhi trunk route on short notice comes for as low as Rs 453 though passengers would need to shell out additional amounts towards fuel surcharge and taxes as charged by airlines.
Most of the low fares are getting sold out as the fares are competitive.
For example, a Mumbai-Delhi AI ticket for onward travel on May 12 and return on May 13 costs Rs 12,670 while it costs Rs 12,528 on Jet Airways Konnect, the low-fare arm of Jet Airways. Air India is a full service airline.
Similarly, in the non-peak Mumbai-Bhubaneswar sector an AI ticket for onward travel on May 14 and return on May 16 costs Rs 13,880. This is compared to Rs 12,648 charged by Kingfisher Red, the low-cost arm of Kingfisher Airlines.
Govt approves GMR Airports proposal to receive $200 mn FDI
New Delhi: The government today approved a proposal of the GMR Airports Holding to receive additional foreign direct investment (FDI) of $200 million.
The decision was taken in the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs meeting.
This will be in addition to the earlier approval to induct foreign investment of $200 million. The two proposals will result in FDI inflows of Rs 1,920 crore, an official release said.
The FDI will be received from Standard Chartered Private Equity III (Mauritius, NYLIM Jacob Ballas India Fund III, LLC, Mauritius and JM Financial - Old Lane India Corporate Opportunities Fund I Ltd, Mauritius.
The decision was taken in the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs meeting.
This will be in addition to the earlier approval to induct foreign investment of $200 million. The two proposals will result in FDI inflows of Rs 1,920 crore, an official release said.
The FDI will be received from Standard Chartered Private Equity III (Mauritius, NYLIM Jacob Ballas India Fund III, LLC, Mauritius and JM Financial - Old Lane India Corporate Opportunities Fund I Ltd, Mauritius.
Jet plans to free up R600 cr via sale & leaseback of planes
Mumbai: Private carrier Jet Airways will soon do a sale-and-leaseback transaction for 10 Boeing-737 aircraft, freeing up around R600 crore for the airline. While the savings on interest would be insignificant, since it would need to pay rentals on the aircraft, the company could retire a small part of its debt. While the company’s total debt is estimated at close to R13,000 crore, the high-cost portion is approximately R3,000 crore. The company’s net debt-to-equity for the year to March 2011 is estimated by analysts to be over 1,100%, after the announcement of the company’s results for the December 2010 quarter.
According to sources, Jet is in talks with global aircraft leasing companies like GE Capital Aviation Services and the Dublin-based AWAS. The transaction is likely to be concluded in two months. However, this could not be confirmed independently with the company.
According to sources, Jet is in talks with global aircraft leasing companies like GE Capital Aviation Services and the Dublin-based AWAS. The transaction is likely to be concluded in two months. However, this could not be confirmed independently with the company.
Mumbai airport could handle 60% more flights
Mumbai: The city's airport could soon improve its flight handling capacity by 60%. But this can happen only if the recommendations made by the UK-based consultant appointed to study the airport's efficiency are accepted. Last week, NATS, which was appointed as a consultant by the Mumbai International Airport Ltd in January, submitted a preliminary report with two solutions to the civil aviation ministry. "The presentation appears to be feasible. We are waiting for the final report," said Alok Sinha, joint secretary with the civil aviation ministry.
The consultant’s main suggestion is to reduce the distance between the flights in the landing queue. Presently, the air traffic control officials maintain a distance of seven nautical miles between flights hovering above the airport to land.
The NATS presentation also stated that presently flights take too long to vacate the runway after landing and the runway occupancy time needs to be cut down. “The airport can increase its flight handling capacity from 30 flight movements (take-offs and landings) per hour to 48 movements an hour, as per the presentation," said a senior official with the Airports Authority of India, on condition of anonymity.
An increase in the number of daily flights would translate into availability of more passenger seats and could indirectly make air tickets cheaper.
Last November, the reduction in 12 flight movement slots daily was one of the reasons behind the sharp rise in airfares.
The consultant’s main suggestion is to reduce the distance between the flights in the landing queue. Presently, the air traffic control officials maintain a distance of seven nautical miles between flights hovering above the airport to land.
The NATS presentation also stated that presently flights take too long to vacate the runway after landing and the runway occupancy time needs to be cut down. “The airport can increase its flight handling capacity from 30 flight movements (take-offs and landings) per hour to 48 movements an hour, as per the presentation," said a senior official with the Airports Authority of India, on condition of anonymity.
An increase in the number of daily flights would translate into availability of more passenger seats and could indirectly make air tickets cheaper.
Last November, the reduction in 12 flight movement slots daily was one of the reasons behind the sharp rise in airfares.
Mumbai's new ATC Tower scales futuristic heights
Mumbai: Air traffic control towers that are also architectural statements in their own right have come to define airports born or reborn in the past decade. So if Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport boasts of the tallest Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower in the world with its stem shooting up to a height of 132 m, then the one at Abu Dhabi, shaped like a crescent moon, draws upon Islamic culture. And soon, Mumbai airport, too, will be part of this trend.
The airport's new tower with its futuristic design is set to grab eyeballs when construction will be completed by the end of this year. It will be the tallest structure in the vicinity. "The tower, which will be a striking landmark, will be 83 m from ground level. That is approximately the same height as a 30-storey building," said a Mumbai International Airport Pvt Ltd (MIAL) spokesperson.
The existing ATC tower, which stands uncomfortably close to the secondary runway of Mumbai airport , is a modest 60 m. Unlike skyscrapers , air traffic control towers cannot afford to be too ambitious while scaling new heights because of their proximity to low-flying aircraft . "The old tower was tucked away on the airside. The new one is at a more prominent location, which was why we chose such a unique design ," said the official. The cost of the fully equipped tower is estimated at Rs 400 crore. It is slated to be commissioned by July 2012.
By the end of 2011, motorists plying the Western Express Highway will be able to catch a glimpse of the part of the tower that will house the Air Traffic Control room-a triangular three-dimensional structure with soft vertices.
The airport's new tower with its futuristic design is set to grab eyeballs when construction will be completed by the end of this year. It will be the tallest structure in the vicinity. "The tower, which will be a striking landmark, will be 83 m from ground level. That is approximately the same height as a 30-storey building," said a Mumbai International Airport Pvt Ltd (MIAL) spokesperson.
The existing ATC tower, which stands uncomfortably close to the secondary runway of Mumbai airport , is a modest 60 m. Unlike skyscrapers , air traffic control towers cannot afford to be too ambitious while scaling new heights because of their proximity to low-flying aircraft . "The old tower was tucked away on the airside. The new one is at a more prominent location, which was why we chose such a unique design ," said the official. The cost of the fully equipped tower is estimated at Rs 400 crore. It is slated to be commissioned by July 2012.
By the end of 2011, motorists plying the Western Express Highway will be able to catch a glimpse of the part of the tower that will house the Air Traffic Control room-a triangular three-dimensional structure with soft vertices.
Pilots alert govt on axe order
New Delhi: The Air India pilots’ union that spearheaded a 10-day strike recently has sought the civil aviation ministry’s intervention in revoking suspension and termination orders against nine pilots.
The union alleged that the airline management was dragging its feet on the matter five days after the strike was withdrawn.
“We regret to inform you that despite an explicit agreement… the management of Air India has yet to revoke the terminations or suspensions of all the nine pilots,” Rishabh Kapur, general secretary of the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA), said in a letter to civil aviation minister Vayalar Ravi.
Demanding removal of Air India CMD Arvind Jadhav, the ICPA said: “His continued presence at the helm of affairs is a sure recipe for disaster for Industrial Relations and the very future of our beloved National Carrier.”
The union alleged that the airline management was dragging its feet on the matter five days after the strike was withdrawn.
“We regret to inform you that despite an explicit agreement… the management of Air India has yet to revoke the terminations or suspensions of all the nine pilots,” Rishabh Kapur, general secretary of the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA), said in a letter to civil aviation minister Vayalar Ravi.
Demanding removal of Air India CMD Arvind Jadhav, the ICPA said: “His continued presence at the helm of affairs is a sure recipe for disaster for Industrial Relations and the very future of our beloved National Carrier.”
Air Seychelles to stop service from Chennai
Chennai: Flying to Seychelles is going to be expensive by at least 50% as Air Seychelles withdraws its weekly flight from Chennai to the island nation from June 1.
Air Seychelles started a flight from Chennai to Seychelles in November 2010 and is operating a service every Wednesday. The airline also had plans to make Chennai a hub for Asia.
The move to withdraw its flight will affect Seychelles citizens who fly to Chennai for medical treatment and travellers from Chennai who used to fly to the island for leisure. The archipelago in the Indian Ocean is a favourite honeymoon destination.
"A couple travelled today to Seychelles on honeymoon. The direct flight made the world famous honeymoon destination affordable for Chennaiites. After the flight is withdrawn, travellers will have to fly via Dubai or Singapore. This will push up the cost by over 50%," said M K Ajith Kumar, president, Asia Pacific Tours. Currently a return ticket costs Rs 25,000.
Air Seychelles was operating Singapore-Chennai-Seychelles and Seychelles-Chennai-Singapore. But the airline did not have rights to pick up passengers from Chennai to Singapore and vice versa.
Sources say that this was a disadvantage to the airline which dented its profitability in the sector.
Air Seychelles started a flight from Chennai to Seychelles in November 2010 and is operating a service every Wednesday. The airline also had plans to make Chennai a hub for Asia.
The move to withdraw its flight will affect Seychelles citizens who fly to Chennai for medical treatment and travellers from Chennai who used to fly to the island for leisure. The archipelago in the Indian Ocean is a favourite honeymoon destination.
"A couple travelled today to Seychelles on honeymoon. The direct flight made the world famous honeymoon destination affordable for Chennaiites. After the flight is withdrawn, travellers will have to fly via Dubai or Singapore. This will push up the cost by over 50%," said M K Ajith Kumar, president, Asia Pacific Tours. Currently a return ticket costs Rs 25,000.
Air Seychelles was operating Singapore-Chennai-Seychelles and Seychelles-Chennai-Singapore. But the airline did not have rights to pick up passengers from Chennai to Singapore and vice versa.
Sources say that this was a disadvantage to the airline which dented its profitability in the sector.
Laggard airport fails to bridge the gap
Life after modernisation could be just as frustrating for fliers at Calcutta airport as it is now, warn airline officials.
The brains behind the city airport’s much-hyped new terminal could think of no more than 18 aerobridges to handle a projected traffic of 20 million passengers annually, which officials say will prove to be inadequate even with the current volume of traffic.
In contrast, Mumbai is prepared to handle 40 million passengers by 2013 with four times more aerobridges than its myopic metro cousin. Delhi’s Terminal 3 alone has 78 aerobridges for 35 million passengers annually.
“The integrated terminal in Calcutta has been designed in such a way that it has to make do with 18 aerobridges at the connecting bays. There is no provision for expansion. The other parking bays are far from the terminal, which means fliers have to be transported by bus,” an airport official involved in the modernisation project said.
The city airport currently has four aerobridges, three of them for domestic operations and one for the international terminal. On paper, 14 more aerobridges should make a big difference to terminal operations but officials foresee pressure building up during peak hours.
An aerobridge is a corridor connecting the terminal directly to the door of an aircraft. Not only does it spare airlines the trouble of ferrying fliers to the aircraft by bus, an aerobridge is also safer and a time-saver.
“Forget about what will happen when the number of flights in the city goes up. We need more aerobridges to maintain smooth inbound and outbound flier movement even in the present scenario. The morning and evening peak hours see more than 20 flights each, for which 18 aerobridges are inadequate,” an airline official said.
The brains behind the city airport’s much-hyped new terminal could think of no more than 18 aerobridges to handle a projected traffic of 20 million passengers annually, which officials say will prove to be inadequate even with the current volume of traffic.
In contrast, Mumbai is prepared to handle 40 million passengers by 2013 with four times more aerobridges than its myopic metro cousin. Delhi’s Terminal 3 alone has 78 aerobridges for 35 million passengers annually.
“The integrated terminal in Calcutta has been designed in such a way that it has to make do with 18 aerobridges at the connecting bays. There is no provision for expansion. The other parking bays are far from the terminal, which means fliers have to be transported by bus,” an airport official involved in the modernisation project said.
The city airport currently has four aerobridges, three of them for domestic operations and one for the international terminal. On paper, 14 more aerobridges should make a big difference to terminal operations but officials foresee pressure building up during peak hours.
An aerobridge is a corridor connecting the terminal directly to the door of an aircraft. Not only does it spare airlines the trouble of ferrying fliers to the aircraft by bus, an aerobridge is also safer and a time-saver.
“Forget about what will happen when the number of flights in the city goes up. We need more aerobridges to maintain smooth inbound and outbound flier movement even in the present scenario. The morning and evening peak hours see more than 20 flights each, for which 18 aerobridges are inadequate,” an airline official said.
BAPL in talks with Indigo and Spicejet
Kolkata: Bengal Aerotropolis Projects (BAPL) has initiated talks with SpiceJet and Indigo for starting operation at its proposed airport at Andal in the industrial belt of Asansol-Durgapur region of West Bengal, which is expected to be operational by July next year.
- SpiceJet looks at small cities, may raise airfare
“We had talks with SpiceJet in the last week of April. There was a second round of talks with Indigo also at that time to start operation. The response was reasonably positive,” Subrata Paul, Chief Executive officer (CEO) and director of BAPL said.
BAPL in its proposal also suggested route plans to the airliners. “We have gone with the route plans of our partner Changi Airport Planners and Engineers. There are suggestions of Bagdogra-Durgapur-Delhi and Guwahati-Durgapur-Bangalore flights,” he said. Changi Airport Planners and Engineers is a subsidiary of Changi Airport International which enjoys a 26 per cent stake in BAPL.
Though, nothing has been finalised on this, Paul said, “A low cost airliner will be the first one to start the operation.” It is expecting passenger traffic of about 3.5 lakh in the first year of operation as it is banking on its huge catchment area of Durgapur, Asansol, Dhanbad and Kulti.
“The terminal will have 5 lakh annual passenger capacity. We expect that in 2012-13 the annual traffic will be somewhere around 3.5 lakh. This will increase over the years and the terminal has been designed in a way that the capacity can be increased to about 20 lakhs,” Paul noted.
- SpiceJet looks at small cities, may raise airfare
“We had talks with SpiceJet in the last week of April. There was a second round of talks with Indigo also at that time to start operation. The response was reasonably positive,” Subrata Paul, Chief Executive officer (CEO) and director of BAPL said.
BAPL in its proposal also suggested route plans to the airliners. “We have gone with the route plans of our partner Changi Airport Planners and Engineers. There are suggestions of Bagdogra-Durgapur-Delhi and Guwahati-Durgapur-Bangalore flights,” he said. Changi Airport Planners and Engineers is a subsidiary of Changi Airport International which enjoys a 26 per cent stake in BAPL.
Though, nothing has been finalised on this, Paul said, “A low cost airliner will be the first one to start the operation.” It is expecting passenger traffic of about 3.5 lakh in the first year of operation as it is banking on its huge catchment area of Durgapur, Asansol, Dhanbad and Kulti.
“The terminal will have 5 lakh annual passenger capacity. We expect that in 2012-13 the annual traffic will be somewhere around 3.5 lakh. This will increase over the years and the terminal has been designed in a way that the capacity can be increased to about 20 lakhs,” Paul noted.
10 kg gold stolen from Ahmedabad's Sardar Patel Airport
Ahmedabad: In an unprecedented turn of events at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, a packet of 10 kg gold worth Rs 2 crore to Rs 2.5 crore was found missing from the air cargo complex on Tuesday. There were 20 packets — all similar — but one of them went missing. The incident is said to be the first of its kind at the air cargo complex, a highly secure zone.
Officials of the Gujarat State Export Corporation Limited (GSEC), which manages the air cargo complex at the international airport, confirmed the incident. GSEC general manager Sandip Chavda said that about 10 kg gold had been stolen from the air cargo complex. Chavda lodged a theft complaint with Meghaninagar police on Tuesday.
He said that on the midnight of May 7 a shipment containing 20 packets of gold had arrived by Singapore Airlines. The consignment was meant for MMTC, India's largest gold importer. Chavda said that the consignment had been cleared by the Customs and was awaiting delivery when on Tuesday officials found one of the packets missin
Officials of the Gujarat State Export Corporation Limited (GSEC), which manages the air cargo complex at the international airport, confirmed the incident. GSEC general manager Sandip Chavda said that about 10 kg gold had been stolen from the air cargo complex. Chavda lodged a theft complaint with Meghaninagar police on Tuesday.
He said that on the midnight of May 7 a shipment containing 20 packets of gold had arrived by Singapore Airlines. The consignment was meant for MMTC, India's largest gold importer. Chavda said that the consignment had been cleared by the Customs and was awaiting delivery when on Tuesday officials found one of the packets missin
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Airbus deal: Small rivals beat Infy, MSatyam
Two of India's biggest software firms -- Infosys and Mahindra Satyam -- have been outbid by smaller, niche rivals QuEST and Cades for an outsourcing contract potentially worth over $300 million from the world's largest commercial plane maker, Airbus. According to at least three people involved with the discussions, Airbus plans to outsource more design projects for its 380, A350 and A320 series of planes to vendors based in India to slash costs by up to 40% and focus better on competing with rivals such as Boeing.
These projects involve designing wings and other avionics systems for the planes and are more complex and better priced than traditional outsourcing work that include back office operations and writing software codes. "Airbus' strategy is two-fold -— give more work to hungry niche suppliers and develop a much bigger base of vendors in India for addressing the defense offset clause," said a person familiar with the aircraft maker's outsourcing strategy. He also confirmed that both QuEST and Cades have been given letter of intent (LoI) for this contract by Airbus.
Airbus and other Indian service providers had not responded to an email query sent by ET last week. By 2012, when Airbus readies its A350 planes, the company plans to send as much as 20% of all its projects to India. Much of this growth in outsourcing to India can be attributed to the country's defense offset clause that makes it mandatory for companies to source at least 30% of the value of contracts awarded from local suppliers
These projects involve designing wings and other avionics systems for the planes and are more complex and better priced than traditional outsourcing work that include back office operations and writing software codes. "Airbus' strategy is two-fold -— give more work to hungry niche suppliers and develop a much bigger base of vendors in India for addressing the defense offset clause," said a person familiar with the aircraft maker's outsourcing strategy. He also confirmed that both QuEST and Cades have been given letter of intent (LoI) for this contract by Airbus.
Airbus and other Indian service providers had not responded to an email query sent by ET last week. By 2012, when Airbus readies its A350 planes, the company plans to send as much as 20% of all its projects to India. Much of this growth in outsourcing to India can be attributed to the country's defense offset clause that makes it mandatory for companies to source at least 30% of the value of contracts awarded from local suppliers
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
In a first, NRG businessman buys flying car
Ahmedabad: In 2008, NRG businessman Subhash Shihora has become the first Indian to buy the world's first commercial flying car called 'Transition' from a company in Massachusetts, US.
Shihora now wants the car to be parked at his farmhouse off SG Road in Ahmedabad. But he fears getting permission may not be easy. He will need clearances from not just aviation agencies, but security agencies as well and has already started talking to officials.
"I fly down to Ahmedabad at least six times a year and then fly to Mumbai and Rajkot. I had taken a test drive of the flying car. By pressing just one button, the car turns into an aircraft. I have started taking flying lessons to get the licence," says Shihora.
The car, designed with foldable wings, successfully completed its first flight on March 5, 2009 and recently got clearance from the US Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration. The two-seater vehicle falls in the light aircraft category and requires a private pilot licence to fly it. The vehicle, which is big enough to fit into a home garage and runs on unleaded petrol, can travel up to 450 miles and can fly at 115 mph.
"With all taxes and duties paid, the car will cost me around Rs 6 crore in Ahmedabad," says Shihora.
Shihora now wants the car to be parked at his farmhouse off SG Road in Ahmedabad. But he fears getting permission may not be easy. He will need clearances from not just aviation agencies, but security agencies as well and has already started talking to officials.
"I fly down to Ahmedabad at least six times a year and then fly to Mumbai and Rajkot. I had taken a test drive of the flying car. By pressing just one button, the car turns into an aircraft. I have started taking flying lessons to get the licence," says Shihora.
The car, designed with foldable wings, successfully completed its first flight on March 5, 2009 and recently got clearance from the US Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration. The two-seater vehicle falls in the light aircraft category and requires a private pilot licence to fly it. The vehicle, which is big enough to fit into a home garage and runs on unleaded petrol, can travel up to 450 miles and can fly at 115 mph.
"With all taxes and duties paid, the car will cost me around Rs 6 crore in Ahmedabad," says Shihora.
MDLR resolves row with Trident Jet
New Delhi: Gurgaon-based MDLR Airlines has said it has resolved a dispute with aircraft leasing company Trident Jet (Dublin) for buying three airplanes owned by the latter. It has asked the country's aviation sector regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to register the jets in its name so that the airline could start regional air transportation service under brand name Jet Sapphire.
The DGCA had last year cancelled aircraft registration of three jets of MDLR following a United Kingdom (UK) court order. Subsequently the government permission to the airline to start regional air connectivity also expired.
“The cause for action of de-registering the aircraft no longer exists since the dispute with the lessors have been resolved and the company has now purchased all three aircraft,” MDLR chairman and managing director Gopal Goyal has written to the DGCA.
The DGCA had last year cancelled aircraft registration of three jets of MDLR following a United Kingdom (UK) court order. Subsequently the government permission to the airline to start regional air connectivity also expired.
“The cause for action of de-registering the aircraft no longer exists since the dispute with the lessors have been resolved and the company has now purchased all three aircraft,” MDLR chairman and managing director Gopal Goyal has written to the DGCA.
Elusive ‘Star’ turn costs Air India Rs2 crore per day
New Delhi: A delay in joining the global airline grouping, Star Alliance, is costing Air India (AI) Rs1.5-2 crore a day in revenue.
Officials say the airline’s inability to offer domestic connections in important markets like the US — where AI operates direct flights to New York but not to the West Coast — have hit revenue generation significantly.
The officials are hoping the airline woauld be able to join Star Alliance by July 31, the latest deadline set by the international body.
Star Alliance has already given AI three extensions to complete all formalities over the last two years, in a scenario where some private Indian carriers are also keen to join the airline grouping.
But Air India has faced several problems on this issue, the biggest being the absence of a single code till a few months back.
Erstwhile Air India and Indian Airlines flights were earlier being operated separately on ‘AI’ and ‘IA’ codes, which meant separate ticketing, among other things.
Star Alliance had made it clear from the beginning that in order to join it, India’s national carrier will have to first get a single code and an integrated passenger service system, or PSS, which includes integrated bookings.
An airline official said an AI team will be going to Frankfurt next month to conclude negotiations on joining the Alliance.
Officials say the airline’s inability to offer domestic connections in important markets like the US — where AI operates direct flights to New York but not to the West Coast — have hit revenue generation significantly.
The officials are hoping the airline woauld be able to join Star Alliance by July 31, the latest deadline set by the international body.
Star Alliance has already given AI three extensions to complete all formalities over the last two years, in a scenario where some private Indian carriers are also keen to join the airline grouping.
But Air India has faced several problems on this issue, the biggest being the absence of a single code till a few months back.
Erstwhile Air India and Indian Airlines flights were earlier being operated separately on ‘AI’ and ‘IA’ codes, which meant separate ticketing, among other things.
Star Alliance had made it clear from the beginning that in order to join it, India’s national carrier will have to first get a single code and an integrated passenger service system, or PSS, which includes integrated bookings.
An airline official said an AI team will be going to Frankfurt next month to conclude negotiations on joining the Alliance.
Jet may phase out JetLite, bring operations under Konnect
New Delhi: Jet Airways plans to bring all its low-fare operations under the Jet Konnect brand and phase out the JetLite brand completely.
The country’s largest airline by passengers carried believes that this move will simplify operations and remove the current confusion over two similar low-fare brands — Jet Konnect and JetLite.
Though no timeline is available for this transition, sources in the aviation industry and some officials of Jet confirmed that internal discussions have been held on phasing out JetLite.
These talks have gained momentum after the recent Bombay High Court order, which ended a messy legal battle between Jet and Sahara India Commercial Corporation.
The battle has its origins in Jet’s April 2007 purchase of Sahara Airlines — which operated Air Sahara — and later rebranding it to JetLite.
This court order will now enable Jet to carry out several business operations, including developing land, selling and leasing back of planes and rebranding JetLite, all of which had come under a cloud because of the litigation.
The country’s largest airline by passengers carried believes that this move will simplify operations and remove the current confusion over two similar low-fare brands — Jet Konnect and JetLite.
Though no timeline is available for this transition, sources in the aviation industry and some officials of Jet confirmed that internal discussions have been held on phasing out JetLite.
These talks have gained momentum after the recent Bombay High Court order, which ended a messy legal battle between Jet and Sahara India Commercial Corporation.
The battle has its origins in Jet’s April 2007 purchase of Sahara Airlines — which operated Air Sahara — and later rebranding it to JetLite.
This court order will now enable Jet to carry out several business operations, including developing land, selling and leasing back of planes and rebranding JetLite, all of which had come under a cloud because of the litigation.
Senai Airport at Johor Bahru, Malaysia to Go International Again
Mumbai: International flights are to resume from the Senai Airport at Johor Bahru, Malaysia here after a lapse of almost a year. Firefly Sdn Bhd, the low cost carrier, has confirmed that it will introduce it's maiden flight to the Indonesian cities of Surabaya and Bandung on Aug 12 and Aug 16 respectively. It will also fly to Bangkok, at the end of theyear.
The Senai Airport used to be the southern hub of budget airline AirAsia's international operations, with flights to Macau, Bangkok and Jakarta until it halted the services in the middle of last year. Sriwijaya, the Indonesia-based airline, also operated a flight to Surabaya from Senai but stopped doing so in August last year.
Since then, the Senai Airport has only catered to domestic flights but with Firefly's latest confirmation, the Johor state government's efforts to turn it into an international destination, is picking up pace. The Johor Tourism Department Director, Dr Shaari Mohd Nooh said that Firefly, a subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines, is serious in wanting to make the Senai Airport its
southern hub. "Firefly will have two planes for the international flights and a set of crew permanently stationed here," he added.
Shaari also said that China Airlines is interested in flying to Senai from the southern city of Guangzhou and is now in talks with the Malaysian Department of Civil Aviation for landing rights.
"Many Chinese citizens apply for visas at the Malaysian Consulate in Guangzhou. So, it's natural, that they want to fly out from Guangzhou airport.
"Having more international flights into Senai Airport will only increase tourist arrivals into Johor," he added.
The Senai Airport used to be the southern hub of budget airline AirAsia's international operations, with flights to Macau, Bangkok and Jakarta until it halted the services in the middle of last year. Sriwijaya, the Indonesia-based airline, also operated a flight to Surabaya from Senai but stopped doing so in August last year.
Since then, the Senai Airport has only catered to domestic flights but with Firefly's latest confirmation, the Johor state government's efforts to turn it into an international destination, is picking up pace. The Johor Tourism Department Director, Dr Shaari Mohd Nooh said that Firefly, a subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines, is serious in wanting to make the Senai Airport its
southern hub. "Firefly will have two planes for the international flights and a set of crew permanently stationed here," he added.
Shaari also said that China Airlines is interested in flying to Senai from the southern city of Guangzhou and is now in talks with the Malaysian Department of Civil Aviation for landing rights.
"Many Chinese citizens apply for visas at the Malaysian Consulate in Guangzhou. So, it's natural, that they want to fly out from Guangzhou airport.
"Having more international flights into Senai Airport will only increase tourist arrivals into Johor," he added.
SVPI rolls out red carpet for international airlines but none have started flights from Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad: When will new international flights start operations from Ahmedabad airport? This is the Rs400 crore question on the top of the minds of Ahmedabad airport officials and the Airports Authority of India(AAI). AAI has invested nearly Rs400 crore for improving infrastructure at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPI) in the past couple of years.
A large part of this money - Rs300 crore - was spent on building the new terminal building, which is of international standards. Large sums were also spent for the airport's makeover, including improving passenger and operational facilities. Infrastructure at the airport is fully in place and it is all ready to welcome more international airlines.
International airlines have been regularly visiting the airport to check the possibility of launching flights. In fact, over the past couple of months, officials of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Air France have visited and shown interest in starting their operations from Ahmedabad.
During their visits, the airlines collected data related to international and domestic flight movements at the airport, passenger movement, ground and air facilities, among others. But, their plans have not taken any concrete shape as yet.
"The airlines have shown interest, but they are yet to take a concrete decision with regards to starting flights," said Ahmedabad airport director, Anuj Aggarwal.
In terms of infrastructure, the airport now provides the facilities international airlines would need.
A large part of this money - Rs300 crore - was spent on building the new terminal building, which is of international standards. Large sums were also spent for the airport's makeover, including improving passenger and operational facilities. Infrastructure at the airport is fully in place and it is all ready to welcome more international airlines.
International airlines have been regularly visiting the airport to check the possibility of launching flights. In fact, over the past couple of months, officials of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Air France have visited and shown interest in starting their operations from Ahmedabad.
During their visits, the airlines collected data related to international and domestic flight movements at the airport, passenger movement, ground and air facilities, among others. But, their plans have not taken any concrete shape as yet.
"The airlines have shown interest, but they are yet to take a concrete decision with regards to starting flights," said Ahmedabad airport director, Anuj Aggarwal.
In terms of infrastructure, the airport now provides the facilities international airlines would need.
Space crunch stymies international cargo operations
Pune: City airport director P S R K Sudhakar said that the customs department has granted an in-principle approval to the Airports Authority of India (AAI), Pune, for the custodianship of all in-bound and out-bound bonded (sealed) cargo, meant for movement from the airport.
However, the airport continues to grapple with an acute shortage of space required for storage of such bonded cargo and for creation of allied facilities, which would eventually enable movement of international air cargo from the airport, he said.
As of now, the airport is catering to domestic cargo movement while all international cargo is being moved through customs bonded trucks from the Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Dighi, located 15 km from the city along the Alandi road. It goes to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust at Nhava Sheva near Mumbai.
International cargo movement from the airport is one of the long-pending demands by the city's corporate sector. There exists a vast potential for such cargo movement, considering that almost 40 % of the international freight moving out of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), originates from Pune and adjoining districts.
"We are pursuing the matter of securing a 10-acre piece of land at a location in close proximity to the airport with the state government," Sudhakar told TOI recently. "We need this space not only for the cargo complex but also for setting up residential quarters for the AAI as well as the Central Industrial Security Forces (CISF) staff," he added.
However, the airport continues to grapple with an acute shortage of space required for storage of such bonded cargo and for creation of allied facilities, which would eventually enable movement of international air cargo from the airport, he said.
As of now, the airport is catering to domestic cargo movement while all international cargo is being moved through customs bonded trucks from the Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Dighi, located 15 km from the city along the Alandi road. It goes to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust at Nhava Sheva near Mumbai.
International cargo movement from the airport is one of the long-pending demands by the city's corporate sector. There exists a vast potential for such cargo movement, considering that almost 40 % of the international freight moving out of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), originates from Pune and adjoining districts.
"We are pursuing the matter of securing a 10-acre piece of land at a location in close proximity to the airport with the state government," Sudhakar told TOI recently. "We need this space not only for the cargo complex but also for setting up residential quarters for the AAI as well as the Central Industrial Security Forces (CISF) staff," he added.
Will MTHL extend to e-way, Panvel airport?
Mumbai: The biggest infrastructure project in the metropolis — the 22-km Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) — may have been bagged by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), but its connectivity to the proposed new airport in Panvel and the Mumbai-Pune expressway still remains in question.
According to senior officials in the authority, this connectivity will mainly depend on a go-ahead from state public works department (PWD) as well as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
While the MMRDA has in the past announced that it will connect the MTHL to the expressway and the new international airport, there has been no formal communication with other agencies concerned.
“The distance between Chirle [where the MTHL ends] and the new airport site is 10.5km, while that from the link to the expressway is approximately 18.5km. There is basic connectivity up to the expressway available at present via National Highway-4B [also known as the Panvel bypass]. However, we may need a better road to carry the traffic coming from the MTHL.
For this, the MMRDA will have to initiate dialogue with the PWD and the NHAI,” said a senior authority official.
MMRDA chief engineer SR Nandargikar said that the existing roads are sufficient to bear the traffic.
According to senior officials in the authority, this connectivity will mainly depend on a go-ahead from state public works department (PWD) as well as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
While the MMRDA has in the past announced that it will connect the MTHL to the expressway and the new international airport, there has been no formal communication with other agencies concerned.
“The distance between Chirle [where the MTHL ends] and the new airport site is 10.5km, while that from the link to the expressway is approximately 18.5km. There is basic connectivity up to the expressway available at present via National Highway-4B [also known as the Panvel bypass]. However, we may need a better road to carry the traffic coming from the MTHL.
For this, the MMRDA will have to initiate dialogue with the PWD and the NHAI,” said a senior authority official.
MMRDA chief engineer SR Nandargikar said that the existing roads are sufficient to bear the traffic.
Air India operates 60% of its flight capacity
Air India today increased its domestic operations by flying over 60% of its daily services as ticket bookings picked up gradually after the ten-day pilots'' strike.
The national carrier operated 190 out of its 320 scheduled flights till 1700 hours today with its narrow-bodied aircraft, offering a little over 60% of its normal capacity. This amounted to about 25,000 seats on its network in the domestic sector and on flights to neighbouring countries.
"We are ready to operate our entire schedule. All aircraft and the full complement of pilots are available. But we are also looking at the loads on the flights to make the flights financially viable," an Air India official told PTI.
Air India operated 38 of 52 flights out of Delhi, with the official saying total normalcy in operations could be expected by Wednesday.
"We are enhancing our operations in a phased manner matching the ticket bookings which are gradually picking up, after remaining closed for a long period during the strike. There is no point in launching flights when seats are not filled up", he said.
The national carrier operated 190 out of its 320 scheduled flights till 1700 hours today with its narrow-bodied aircraft, offering a little over 60% of its normal capacity. This amounted to about 25,000 seats on its network in the domestic sector and on flights to neighbouring countries.
"We are ready to operate our entire schedule. All aircraft and the full complement of pilots are available. But we are also looking at the loads on the flights to make the flights financially viable," an Air India official told PTI.
Air India operated 38 of 52 flights out of Delhi, with the official saying total normalcy in operations could be expected by Wednesday.
"We are enhancing our operations in a phased manner matching the ticket bookings which are gradually picking up, after remaining closed for a long period during the strike. There is no point in launching flights when seats are not filled up", he said.
Bengal Aerotropolis to be operational by July 2012: BAPL
Kolkata: Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd (BAPL) today said the legal cases with Indian promoters would not affect the airport in West Bengal's Burdwan district becoming operational by July, 2012.
"The pending cases between the Indian promoters will not impact the progress of the project and the airport will be operational by July, 2012," BAPL chief executive Subrata Paul told reporters here.
He declined to divulge details of the cases. Paul said the first phase of the project will come up on 650 acres at a cost of Rs600 crore.
Paul said construction of the airport would cost Rs160 crore and land acquisition Rs170 crore while the rest would be utilised for other infrastructure.
"The pending cases between the Indian promoters will not impact the progress of the project and the airport will be operational by July, 2012," BAPL chief executive Subrata Paul told reporters here.
He declined to divulge details of the cases. Paul said the first phase of the project will come up on 650 acres at a cost of Rs600 crore.
Paul said construction of the airport would cost Rs160 crore and land acquisition Rs170 crore while the rest would be utilised for other infrastructure.
Woman arrested at airport for carrying firearm
New Delhi: A 42-year-old woman was arrested at the Delhi airport for carrying a country-made pistol and live ammunition in her cabin baggage, police said. Vandana Kaushal was set to board an IndiGo flight (6E 177) to Mumbai at the Indira Gandhi International Airport when a country-made pistol (katta) and one live round was found in her cabin baggage during screening on Sunday.
The undeclared firearm was detected in her baggage by officials of the private airport operator Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) during screening.
DIAL officials immediately informed the airline security who asked Kaushal if she was carrying necessary documents for carrying a firearm.
"The airline informed us and when the passenger was questioned about the firearm, she replied that her servant must have put it inside her cabin baggage by mistake," said a senior police official who didn't wish to be identified
The undeclared firearm was detected in her baggage by officials of the private airport operator Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) during screening.
DIAL officials immediately informed the airline security who asked Kaushal if she was carrying necessary documents for carrying a firearm.
"The airline informed us and when the passenger was questioned about the firearm, she replied that her servant must have put it inside her cabin baggage by mistake," said a senior police official who didn't wish to be identified
Authority warns Kingfisher Airlines on dues of Rs 105 crore
Pay up or face the consequences, that is the stern warning given to debt ridden Kingfisher Airlines by the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) has asked the carrier to pay outstanding dues of Rs105 crore by May 25, reports CNBC-TV18’s Swati Khandelwal.
MIAL had written to Kingfisher Airlines on May 7 stating that they need to pay this amount by May 25. Importantly, these outstanding dues do not just include the parking and the landing charges, but also the Passenger Service Fee (PSF) and ADF charges which the airlines have collected on behalf of the airport operator in Mumbai.
MIAL has asked the airline to pay this or else they will actually have to put the carrier on cash and carry basis starting May 14. Now the new schedule according sources is that they need to pay Rs25 crore by May 10. Another Rs25 crore will have to be paid by May 16 and the next Rs25 crore should be paid by May 20. And the balance of about Rs30.71 crore should come to MIAL by May 25.
MIAL had written to Kingfisher Airlines on May 7 stating that they need to pay this amount by May 25. Importantly, these outstanding dues do not just include the parking and the landing charges, but also the Passenger Service Fee (PSF) and ADF charges which the airlines have collected on behalf of the airport operator in Mumbai.
MIAL has asked the airline to pay this or else they will actually have to put the carrier on cash and carry basis starting May 14. Now the new schedule according sources is that they need to pay Rs25 crore by May 10. Another Rs25 crore will have to be paid by May 16 and the next Rs25 crore should be paid by May 20. And the balance of about Rs30.71 crore should come to MIAL by May 25.
Air India operates 210 domestic flights, lower fares to continue
New Delhi: National carrier Air India on Tuesday said it was operating 210 domestic flight and the number would eventually reach the designated daily schedule of 225 flights, even as the airline registered 80 percent ticket bookings through its promotional scheme offering reduced fares to make up for the crippling effects of a 10-day pilots strike it has emerged from.
Overall, the airline Tuesday operated 460 flights - the balance on the international sector, which was not affected by the strike,
"We are operating 210 flights today on our domestic routes, while on an average day our schedule is 225 flights per day. The remaining flights would also be operationalised very soon," an Air India official with the operations arm told media.
According to the official, the airline has managed to garner 80 percent ticket bookings through its reduced fares promotional scheme.
"Through this offer we have got 80 percent ticket bookings. This offer provides passengers 50 percent reduced prices on our domestic routes from that of an average day's one," the official said.
Overall, the airline Tuesday operated 460 flights - the balance on the international sector, which was not affected by the strike,
"We are operating 210 flights today on our domestic routes, while on an average day our schedule is 225 flights per day. The remaining flights would also be operationalised very soon," an Air India official with the operations arm told media.
According to the official, the airline has managed to garner 80 percent ticket bookings through its reduced fares promotional scheme.
"Through this offer we have got 80 percent ticket bookings. This offer provides passengers 50 percent reduced prices on our domestic routes from that of an average day's one," the official said.
N-E Ministry seeks PM help for better air connectivity
New Delhi: Days after former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Dorjee Khandu’s death in a chopper crash, the Ministry of Development for Northeastern region (DoNER) has sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s intervention in asking the Civil Aviation Ministry to direct scheduled airlines to expressly operate their flights from Tezpur and Lilabari airports in Assam bordering the hilly state.
In a letter to Singh, DoNER Minister B K Handique said three helicopters had crashed within 11 days, between April 19 and 30, which had triggered a strong resentment among the locals in Arunachal Pradesh, more so following Khandu’s death.
The Centre should urgently act to improve connectivity in the remote areas of Northeastern states in view of the sensitivities of the hilly state that borders China as well as the “sentiments of the locals facing deprivation and helpless situation.”
In a letter to Singh, DoNER Minister B K Handique said three helicopters had crashed within 11 days, between April 19 and 30, which had triggered a strong resentment among the locals in Arunachal Pradesh, more so following Khandu’s death.
The Centre should urgently act to improve connectivity in the remote areas of Northeastern states in view of the sensitivities of the hilly state that borders China as well as the “sentiments of the locals facing deprivation and helpless situation.”
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Take off isn’t far away
Aviation enthusiasts across the world fulfil their desire to get wings through virtual flying. India has been a late starter in the domain— here it is still at a very early stage to be called a trend.
Microsoft flight simulator software, easily available in video games stores, is what is required to get initiated into the virtual world of aviation. But it is only the beginning of a journey that invariably gets driven by the desire to get as close to real as possible.
Not many know it better than Vybhava Srinivasan. The Bangalorean chartered accountant’s girlfriend, now his wife, gifted him simulation software seeing his interest in aviation. Today, more than seven years later, Vybhava, who works in PricewaterhouseCoopers, has built at home a Boeing 737 NG (next-generation) cockpit.
It’s a complex mix of hardware and software he accumulated over a period of time. The 737 has an advanced instrument panel, yoke, throttle quadrant, multi-functional displays, auto-pilot and autothrottle panels and even original pilot’s seats—old Boeing 727 seats made available to him by a friend in Indonesia, but for a price.
The process took more than two years—and left a hole in his pocket.
Yet, for Vybhava, flight simulation is more than a hobby today. From being a “pilot”, he has grown into managing the affairs of global virtual aviation community. He is a director of International Virtual Aviation Organisation (IVEO), a Belgium based non-profit group that provides infrastructure to fliers through a network of 16 servers across the world including one in India. Vybhava is also executive VP (administration) of mycockpit.org, the world’s largest home cockpit building community.
IVEO is one of the biggest communities of online fliers, rivalled only by Virtual Air Traffic Simulation Network (Vatsim). “If IVEO is European, Vatsim is American,” says Vybhava, lamenting that the two networks have only minimal presence in India despite the huge world-wide popularity
Microsoft flight simulator software, easily available in video games stores, is what is required to get initiated into the virtual world of aviation. But it is only the beginning of a journey that invariably gets driven by the desire to get as close to real as possible.
Not many know it better than Vybhava Srinivasan. The Bangalorean chartered accountant’s girlfriend, now his wife, gifted him simulation software seeing his interest in aviation. Today, more than seven years later, Vybhava, who works in PricewaterhouseCoopers, has built at home a Boeing 737 NG (next-generation) cockpit.
It’s a complex mix of hardware and software he accumulated over a period of time. The 737 has an advanced instrument panel, yoke, throttle quadrant, multi-functional displays, auto-pilot and autothrottle panels and even original pilot’s seats—old Boeing 727 seats made available to him by a friend in Indonesia, but for a price.
The process took more than two years—and left a hole in his pocket.
Yet, for Vybhava, flight simulation is more than a hobby today. From being a “pilot”, he has grown into managing the affairs of global virtual aviation community. He is a director of International Virtual Aviation Organisation (IVEO), a Belgium based non-profit group that provides infrastructure to fliers through a network of 16 servers across the world including one in India. Vybhava is also executive VP (administration) of mycockpit.org, the world’s largest home cockpit building community.
IVEO is one of the biggest communities of online fliers, rivalled only by Virtual Air Traffic Simulation Network (Vatsim). “If IVEO is European, Vatsim is American,” says Vybhava, lamenting that the two networks have only minimal presence in India despite the huge world-wide popularity
Private jet demand increasing in corporate India
Mumbai: Shuffling between cities and visiting remote locations has become easier for corporate India that has turned towards executive jets to ferry them whenever and wherever they want. "India has realized a 46 percent increase in registered private jets in the past 36 months," Justin Lee Firestone, Group Managing Director, Firestone Management, which recently came out with a bi-annual report on Indian aviation said, as per an IANS report.
Though small in number, the niche is witnessing a boom, thereby attracting all major aircraft manufacturers to India. Firestone added "The growth opportunity for private jet manufacturers to deliver their products into India is tremendous.”
The report says that India currently has a total of 136 private jets made by global aircraft manufacturers like Hawker Beechcraft, Cessna, Bombardier and Gulfstream. The spurt in demand of these technologically advanced and luxurious aircraft is the realisation of an unmet demand and current travel needs of the industry, said Amber Dubey, Director for Aerospace and Defence with global consultancy KPMG.
"With the demand for business travel on the rise, corporate sector and high-net individuals have started to realise the benefits of owning an executive jet. It saves time and gives hassle-free travel," added Dubey. Dubey further foresees the demand for the executive jet sector to be on the higher side in the coming three-to-four years. Currently, private jets' range varies from around USD 4 million to USD 58 million.
The owners' club includes like DLF's KP Singh, Raymond's Gautam Singhania, Reliance Group's Mukesh Ambani and GMR group's GM Rao. According to the official data by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the private jet fleet in the country is around 135 out of a total of 1,146 aircraf
Though small in number, the niche is witnessing a boom, thereby attracting all major aircraft manufacturers to India. Firestone added "The growth opportunity for private jet manufacturers to deliver their products into India is tremendous.”
The report says that India currently has a total of 136 private jets made by global aircraft manufacturers like Hawker Beechcraft, Cessna, Bombardier and Gulfstream. The spurt in demand of these technologically advanced and luxurious aircraft is the realisation of an unmet demand and current travel needs of the industry, said Amber Dubey, Director for Aerospace and Defence with global consultancy KPMG.
"With the demand for business travel on the rise, corporate sector and high-net individuals have started to realise the benefits of owning an executive jet. It saves time and gives hassle-free travel," added Dubey. Dubey further foresees the demand for the executive jet sector to be on the higher side in the coming three-to-four years. Currently, private jets' range varies from around USD 4 million to USD 58 million.
The owners' club includes like DLF's KP Singh, Raymond's Gautam Singhania, Reliance Group's Mukesh Ambani and GMR group's GM Rao. According to the official data by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the private jet fleet in the country is around 135 out of a total of 1,146 aircraf
Kingfisher leases out planes to stricken AI
New Delhi: Air India's domestic services remained virtually grounded on Saturday as the pilots' strike entered the fourth day. Barely 10% of the 320 daily domestic and short-haul international flights, operated by the erstwhile Indian Airlines , operated, leaving thousands of flyers stranded.
The pilots' agitation received "a shot in the arm" on Saturday when UPA ally Trinamool Congress extended its support. "The government can talk to people from across the border... AI is the foundation of civil aviation in India. Thinking of privatizing or declaring a lock-out or even moving court is not a solution. The management has to understand that the pilots are their own people and not outsiders. Every pilot loves AI. The solution is very easy: talk to your own people. I can guarantee that if spoken to with respect, which everyone deserves, a solution can be reached in a matter of a few hours," Trinamool MP and minister of state for health Dinesh Trivedi said.
With the Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA), supported by the management pilots, striking work and the management refusing to budge from its stand, AI had to take two aircraft from Kingfisher on wet lease and operate them on the Delhi-Mumbai-Delhi and Delhi-Patna-Varanasi-Delhi sectors. However, the airline said the arrangement was on a transfer-of-passenger agreement.
The earlier plan of taking 25 to 26 sets of pilots from Kingfisher to fly AI's domestic planes, as both operate Airbus A-320 planes, did not, however, materialize.
The pilots' agitation received "a shot in the arm" on Saturday when UPA ally Trinamool Congress extended its support. "The government can talk to people from across the border... AI is the foundation of civil aviation in India. Thinking of privatizing or declaring a lock-out or even moving court is not a solution. The management has to understand that the pilots are their own people and not outsiders. Every pilot loves AI. The solution is very easy: talk to your own people. I can guarantee that if spoken to with respect, which everyone deserves, a solution can be reached in a matter of a few hours," Trinamool MP and minister of state for health Dinesh Trivedi said.
With the Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA), supported by the management pilots, striking work and the management refusing to budge from its stand, AI had to take two aircraft from Kingfisher on wet lease and operate them on the Delhi-Mumbai-Delhi and Delhi-Patna-Varanasi-Delhi sectors. However, the airline said the arrangement was on a transfer-of-passenger agreement.
The earlier plan of taking 25 to 26 sets of pilots from Kingfisher to fly AI's domestic planes, as both operate Airbus A-320 planes, did not, however, materialize.
Ketamine worth Rs 45 lakh seized at Tiruchi airport
Tiruchi: Officials of the air customs at Tiruchi airport on Sunday seized 11.4 kilograms of ketamine hydrochloride from a 63-year-old Malaysian national trying to smuggle out the drug to Kuala Lumpur. "The seized ketamine is worth about Rs 45 lakh in the international market while it is valued at about Rs 4 lakh in the Indian black market," said D Shivasankaran, additional commissioner of customs, Tiruchi. It is said to be the largest haul of its kind in the airport after 8.5 kg ketamine was seized from a foreigner in 2008.
The officials searched the baggage of Devalajar Devadanam of Malaysian as he was about to board a Kuala Lumpur bound Air Asia flight and found the ketamine in 11 air-tight parcels. "They were kept in a travel bag tucked inside a suitcase. While interrogating, the man said a stranger met him before entering the airport and handed over the baggage on instructions that a person would collect it from him at Kuala Lumpur airport. He was promised Rs 4000 on delivery," said Shivasankaran, adding that a preliminary investigation revealed that Devadanam was just a carrier, and not connected with any drug mafia. Devadanam had entered the country through Chennai airport on April 27, allegedly on a pilgrimage to temples in the south.
The officials searched the baggage of Devalajar Devadanam of Malaysian as he was about to board a Kuala Lumpur bound Air Asia flight and found the ketamine in 11 air-tight parcels. "They were kept in a travel bag tucked inside a suitcase. While interrogating, the man said a stranger met him before entering the airport and handed over the baggage on instructions that a person would collect it from him at Kuala Lumpur airport. He was promised Rs 4000 on delivery," said Shivasankaran, adding that a preliminary investigation revealed that Devadanam was just a carrier, and not connected with any drug mafia. Devadanam had entered the country through Chennai airport on April 27, allegedly on a pilgrimage to temples in the south.
Fingerprint scanner at airport to check illegal migration
Ahmedabad: Birds might have a free run at the city airport, but 'kabootars' will now be easily hunted down here. Armed with a fingerprint scanner and an electronic passport reader, Ahmedabad airport, infamous as an easy gateway for people flying with forged documents, pledges to make flying impossible for illegal migrants.
The Bureau of Immigration (BOI) will soon provide the scanner to the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International airport. The scanner will record fingerprints of all international flyers flying in or out of Ahmedabad. The scanner, installed at all major international airports, will allow immigration officials to check previous fingerprint details of the flyer recorded at other airports. The electronic passport reader, which was installed recently, can read passports of all countries and ascertain its authenticity.
"After the new international terminal began operational last year, no case of people flying in or out of Ahmedabad with fake documents has been reported, except one case where a Rajasthan-based laborer was deported from Dubai airport. But looking at the notorious history of Ahmedabad airport the new machines were necessary to make it impossible to get away with fake documents," said a senior immigration official at Ahmedabad airport
The Bureau of Immigration (BOI) will soon provide the scanner to the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International airport. The scanner will record fingerprints of all international flyers flying in or out of Ahmedabad. The scanner, installed at all major international airports, will allow immigration officials to check previous fingerprint details of the flyer recorded at other airports. The electronic passport reader, which was installed recently, can read passports of all countries and ascertain its authenticity.
"After the new international terminal began operational last year, no case of people flying in or out of Ahmedabad with fake documents has been reported, except one case where a Rajasthan-based laborer was deported from Dubai airport. But looking at the notorious history of Ahmedabad airport the new machines were necessary to make it impossible to get away with fake documents," said a senior immigration official at Ahmedabad airport
CIAL planning dedicated terminal for private jet services
Kochi: Cochin International Airport Ltd plans to set up a dedicated terminal for the operation of private jet services that cater to the needs of corporates and businessmen, a top CIAL official said.
At present, this type of terminal was available only in Chennai and Bangalore, CIAL Managing Director G Krishnadas Nair said inaugurating a two-day display of business aircraft at the Nedumbassery Airport yesterday.
The executive business jet aircraft service has tremendous potential in the state, he said adding that presently, around 100 executive business jets are being used by corporates and businessmen in the country.
The market for business jets is very large in India and at least 500 such planes are likely to be sold in the country by 2020, he said.
After the proposal for private chopper service, CIAL was now keen to develop an exclusive hangar to facilitate parking and maintenance of private business jets
At present, this type of terminal was available only in Chennai and Bangalore, CIAL Managing Director G Krishnadas Nair said inaugurating a two-day display of business aircraft at the Nedumbassery Airport yesterday.
The executive business jet aircraft service has tremendous potential in the state, he said adding that presently, around 100 executive business jets are being used by corporates and businessmen in the country.
The market for business jets is very large in India and at least 500 such planes are likely to be sold in the country by 2020, he said.
After the proposal for private chopper service, CIAL was now keen to develop an exclusive hangar to facilitate parking and maintenance of private business jets
GMR may skip Navi Mumbai airport
Hyderabad: GMR Infrastructure, the flagship of the infrastructure conglomerate GMR group that runs four airports across the globe including two in India at Delhi and Hyderabad, is not keen on bidding for the Navi Mumbai airport, said a top official.
Navi Mumbai airport is the second international airport proposed to come up in Mumbai as Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (now being operated by the GVK group) is fast reaching saturation level. It is considered the largest greenfield airport project in India since the airports sector was thrown open to private sector in 2006.
Apart from GVK, which has the first right of refusal over the Navi Mumbai airport, several Indian infrastructure firms, including the EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contractors with experience in building airports are expected to bid for the airport project. After excessive delays, bids the Navi Mumbai airport project, estimated to involve an investment of Rs 9,800 crore are now expected by early second half of this year.
“There has been an inordinate delay in the bidding schedules and there is no clarity on the viability of the project,” said the same official, who did not want to be named, as he is not authorised to speak to the media.
Further, he said, “Originally they (the government) said the bid documents will be out by April. Now they are saying it may take another three to four months. Unless we see the bid document, we cannot arrive at estimation on the viability of this airport for us.”
Navi Mumbai airport is the second international airport proposed to come up in Mumbai as Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (now being operated by the GVK group) is fast reaching saturation level. It is considered the largest greenfield airport project in India since the airports sector was thrown open to private sector in 2006.
Apart from GVK, which has the first right of refusal over the Navi Mumbai airport, several Indian infrastructure firms, including the EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contractors with experience in building airports are expected to bid for the airport project. After excessive delays, bids the Navi Mumbai airport project, estimated to involve an investment of Rs 9,800 crore are now expected by early second half of this year.
“There has been an inordinate delay in the bidding schedules and there is no clarity on the viability of the project,” said the same official, who did not want to be named, as he is not authorised to speak to the media.
Further, he said, “Originally they (the government) said the bid documents will be out by April. Now they are saying it may take another three to four months. Unless we see the bid document, we cannot arrive at estimation on the viability of this airport for us.”
Terror threat behind new ground handling policy'
New Delhi: The civil aviation ministry has defended its new policy to transfer the ground handling services at six airports including Delhi and Mumbai from airline companies to the airport operator. The ministry said ground handling of flights at airports had became a matter of grave concern in the backdrop of international terrorism.
Citing examples of the hijacking of IC 814 in 1999, 9/11 attacks in the United States and incidents of passengers carrying show bombs in UK, the ministry said it was "prudent" to restrict ground handling services only to the airport authority.
In response to an appeal filed by Federation of Indian Airlines, the ministry has said in its affidavit before the Supreme Court, the petitioner comprising domestic carriers were the ones opposing the policy as other airlines were already using agencies designated by the airport operator for ground handling operations.
It also brushed aside the petitioner's claim that the new policy would render large number of the employees working with them without jobs.
According to the figures tendered in the SC, the ministry said the domestic airlines had already outsourced the operators to other sub-contractors
Citing examples of the hijacking of IC 814 in 1999, 9/11 attacks in the United States and incidents of passengers carrying show bombs in UK, the ministry said it was "prudent" to restrict ground handling services only to the airport authority.
In response to an appeal filed by Federation of Indian Airlines, the ministry has said in its affidavit before the Supreme Court, the petitioner comprising domestic carriers were the ones opposing the policy as other airlines were already using agencies designated by the airport operator for ground handling operations.
It also brushed aside the petitioner's claim that the new policy would render large number of the employees working with them without jobs.
According to the figures tendered in the SC, the ministry said the domestic airlines had already outsourced the operators to other sub-contractors
Jet Airways ties up with Future Grp, Pavers England
In a bid to attract more customers and provide exclusive offers to its current members, private carrier Jet Airways has partnered with India's largest retailer Furture Group and footwear brand Pavers England for JetPrivilge, its frequent flyer programme.
While it has partnered with Future Group''s EZone, a one-stop retail store consumer durables, and e-commerce arm Futurebazaar.com, it also has tied up with international premium leather footwear brand ''Pavers England''.
"It is our constant endeavour to enable our JetPrivilge members to enjoy exclusive offers in the retail space. We have tied up with EZone, futurebazaar.com and Pavers England.
Through this association our esteemed JetPrivilege members can enjoy fine retail experience as well as earn JPMiles while they shop, making for an unmatched shopping proposition," Jet Airways'' COO, Sudheer Raghavan said in a statement.
While it has partnered with Future Group''s EZone, a one-stop retail store consumer durables, and e-commerce arm Futurebazaar.com, it also has tied up with international premium leather footwear brand ''Pavers England''.
"It is our constant endeavour to enable our JetPrivilge members to enjoy exclusive offers in the retail space. We have tied up with EZone, futurebazaar.com and Pavers England.
Through this association our esteemed JetPrivilege members can enjoy fine retail experience as well as earn JPMiles while they shop, making for an unmatched shopping proposition," Jet Airways'' COO, Sudheer Raghavan said in a statement.
be ready for extra checks at airports
Mumbai: All airports are on high alert and passengers flying to the United States will have to go through rigorous security checks at Mumbai airport after the killing of terrorist Osama bin Laden.
In fact, security was tightened at all major airports in India as soon as US president Barack Obama said that al-Qaida was likely to retaliate. Airlines, particularly those operating to the US, are conducting multilayered checks.
"We have stepped up security in accordance with the general alert. All cabin baggage will be manually checked and vigilance has been increased. Combing operations have been increased in parking and operational areas at airports," a senior Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) official said.
CISF senior commandant Jitender Negi told TOI that the airport had not received any special alert yet from the higher authorities, but security has been stepped up due to the security sensitive climate after Osama's killing.
In fact, security was tightened at all major airports in India as soon as US president Barack Obama said that al-Qaida was likely to retaliate. Airlines, particularly those operating to the US, are conducting multilayered checks.
"We have stepped up security in accordance with the general alert. All cabin baggage will be manually checked and vigilance has been increased. Combing operations have been increased in parking and operational areas at airports," a senior Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) official said.
CISF senior commandant Jitender Negi told TOI that the airport had not received any special alert yet from the higher authorities, but security has been stepped up due to the security sensitive climate after Osama's killing.
Airline fare surge in lean season
Calcutta: Fliers fumed, Air India counted its losses and private airlines made the most of a lean-season surge in traffic as the strike by pilots of the national carrier entered the sixth day.
Air India operated only eight of its 20 flights out of Calcutta on Monday, leaving in the lurch many fliers who had booked tickets weeks in advance. Worse, some of the flight cancellations were announced at the last moment.
Soldier M.K. Jitsing, on his way to hometown Imphal on annual leave, decided to travel by train after being told by Air India officials that they could not immediately transfer him to a private airline. “They kept me waiting for information about my flight status, only to cancel it. Then they said there was no vacancy on any other flight. I don’t have the money to buy a fresh ticket,” rued the 27-year-old, posted in Jalandhar.
Had Jitsing opted for a private airline, he would have had to pay nearly 30 per cent more than for his Air India ticket. To travel by a private airline on an Air India-endorsed ticket, he would need to wait up to three days.
Many fliers complained about Air India misleading them about the status of their flights. Rajesh Agarwal, headed for Guwahati, reached the airport in time for his 1.35pm flight but no official could confirm whether it was delayed or cancelled.
Air India operated only eight of its 20 flights out of Calcutta on Monday, leaving in the lurch many fliers who had booked tickets weeks in advance. Worse, some of the flight cancellations were announced at the last moment.
Soldier M.K. Jitsing, on his way to hometown Imphal on annual leave, decided to travel by train after being told by Air India officials that they could not immediately transfer him to a private airline. “They kept me waiting for information about my flight status, only to cancel it. Then they said there was no vacancy on any other flight. I don’t have the money to buy a fresh ticket,” rued the 27-year-old, posted in Jalandhar.
Had Jitsing opted for a private airline, he would have had to pay nearly 30 per cent more than for his Air India ticket. To travel by a private airline on an Air India-endorsed ticket, he would need to wait up to three days.
Many fliers complained about Air India misleading them about the status of their flights. Rajesh Agarwal, headed for Guwahati, reached the airport in time for his 1.35pm flight but no official could confirm whether it was delayed or cancelled.
Kaveri engine completes tests in Russia
New Delhi: The India-made aircraft engine Kaveri has successfully completed its first phase of testing at a Russian centre, in a step towards its operationalisation on the indigenous fighter jets.
The engine, integrated on a Russian IL-76 transporter at the Gromov Flight Research Institute in Russia, completed its 11 trials of over 20 hours till April, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRD0) said.
‘Kaveri engine was integrated with IL-76 aircraft, which is a well established flying test bed for engines… Eleven flight tests for about 20 hours duration have been completed till April,’ the DRDO said.
Kaveri was one of four engines on the flying test bed platform. It was flight tested for up to 12 km maximum altitude and a maximum forward speed of 0.7 Mach (0.7 seven times the speed of sound) and engine performance under different operating conditions.
‘With this, the first phase of Kaveri engine flying test bed trials completed successfully,’ a DRDO statement said. ‘Further tests will continue from May.’
Kaveri is being developed for indigenous light combat aircraft at the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) in Bangalore with the active support of several DRDO labs, academic institutions and industry partners.
During development phase, Kaveri engine has successfully completed various stages of development including component testing, safety tests, ground-based engine tests, and endurance tests.
The engine, integrated on a Russian IL-76 transporter at the Gromov Flight Research Institute in Russia, completed its 11 trials of over 20 hours till April, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRD0) said.
‘Kaveri engine was integrated with IL-76 aircraft, which is a well established flying test bed for engines… Eleven flight tests for about 20 hours duration have been completed till April,’ the DRDO said.
Kaveri was one of four engines on the flying test bed platform. It was flight tested for up to 12 km maximum altitude and a maximum forward speed of 0.7 Mach (0.7 seven times the speed of sound) and engine performance under different operating conditions.
‘With this, the first phase of Kaveri engine flying test bed trials completed successfully,’ a DRDO statement said. ‘Further tests will continue from May.’
Kaveri is being developed for indigenous light combat aircraft at the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) in Bangalore with the active support of several DRDO labs, academic institutions and industry partners.
During development phase, Kaveri engine has successfully completed various stages of development including component testing, safety tests, ground-based engine tests, and endurance tests.
Jet Airways to add 24 aircraft in next 18 months
Mumbai: Jet Airways plans to add 24 aircraft in the next 18 months and the induction will be a mix of both short-haul and long-haul aircraft, according to a Business Standard report. "We plan to add 24 aircraft in the coming 18 months. Out of the 24 aircraft, 18 of them will be Boeing 737-800 and the rest would be Airbus 330,"' said a Jet executive. The Boeing 737-800 aircraft are used for domestic operations and short-haul international operations and Airbus 330s are used for long-haul international operations.
The Naresh Goyal-controlled Jet Airways along with its fully-owned subsidiary JetLite has 117 aircraft in its fleet making the airline the largest in terms of passenger carriage with 25.4 per cent of the market share. Jet has big plans to expand in the international and domestic sector. It has rights to fly to Rome and Amsterdam, in addition to the 24 international cities it already serves, and also wants to fly directly to the US. As of now, the airline flies to the US through its hub in Brussels. Air India, American Airlines and United Airlines operate direct flights between India and the US.
Meanwhile, Jet Airways plan to bring back its 3 Boeing 777 back from Turkish Airlines after the lease period comes to an end later this year.
The Naresh Goyal-controlled Jet Airways along with its fully-owned subsidiary JetLite has 117 aircraft in its fleet making the airline the largest in terms of passenger carriage with 25.4 per cent of the market share. Jet has big plans to expand in the international and domestic sector. It has rights to fly to Rome and Amsterdam, in addition to the 24 international cities it already serves, and also wants to fly directly to the US. As of now, the airline flies to the US through its hub in Brussels. Air India, American Airlines and United Airlines operate direct flights between India and the US.
Meanwhile, Jet Airways plan to bring back its 3 Boeing 777 back from Turkish Airlines after the lease period comes to an end later this year.
New terminal at Indore airport to open shortly
Mumbai: Delayed thrice in its final phase, the new terminal building at Indore airport is likely to become functional in July 2011, four months behind its revised schedule. “The civil work of the new terminal building will be completed in June," Vivek Upadhyay, Airport Director said. According to a Hindustan Times report, it will take at least another month for the building to become operational. Earlier, the airport authorities had set a deadline for making the building operational by March 2011. However, the slow place of construction work has delayed the project.
Spread over 18,000 square meters, the terminal building will have a capacity of 500 domestic and 200 international travellers at a time. Once the civil work gets completed, tenders will have to be finalised for services such as restaurant, shops, etc, which will take some time. The new terminal will have escalators and a modern baggage handling system.
Spread over 18,000 square meters, the terminal building will have a capacity of 500 domestic and 200 international travellers at a time. Once the civil work gets completed, tenders will have to be finalised for services such as restaurant, shops, etc, which will take some time. The new terminal will have escalators and a modern baggage handling system.
Launch of Deccan Charters flights to be delayed
Surat: The Deccan Charters Limited is likely to delay the operational launch of the intra-state commercial air services from Surat and Ahmedabad following the non-clearance of the aircraft by the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Earlier, the flag off ceremony of the inaugural flight by chief minister Narendra Modi on April 29 was put off pending aircraft clearance, but chairman of Deccan Charters Limited, Capitan GR Gopinath had announced there would be no delay in the operational launch of the intra-state air services connecting important cities in Gujarat from May 7.
Official sources said the DGCA and the Union ministry of civil aviation are busy tackling the Air India pilots' strike. However, the clearance of the aircraft is pending without which the company is unable to begin the commercial air services from May 7.
The first of its kind intra-state air services was seen as an important development in strengthening of the inter-connectivity by air in the state with Surat and Ahmedabad as hubs
Earlier, the flag off ceremony of the inaugural flight by chief minister Narendra Modi on April 29 was put off pending aircraft clearance, but chairman of Deccan Charters Limited, Capitan GR Gopinath had announced there would be no delay in the operational launch of the intra-state air services connecting important cities in Gujarat from May 7.
Official sources said the DGCA and the Union ministry of civil aviation are busy tackling the Air India pilots' strike. However, the clearance of the aircraft is pending without which the company is unable to begin the commercial air services from May 7.
The first of its kind intra-state air services was seen as an important development in strengthening of the inter-connectivity by air in the state with Surat and Ahmedabad as hubs
Mangalore: Post-Gokhale Report, Additional Safety Measures at Airport
Mangalore: The court of inquiry led by Air Marshal B N Gokhale on the Air India Express plane-crash here on May 22, 2010, had recently submitted its final report to the union government.
The COI has apparently made a special note of the runway-end had recommended special safety measures.Now the government and the DGCA have decided in right earnest to implement certain measures recommended by the COI. Work has commenced on the runway-end safety area at a cost of Rs 3.5 crore as part of phase I.Keeping in mind the need for additional safety for the aircraft landing, a 237-metre cliff area is being filled to bring it to the level of the runway. Sand arrester facility to prevent planes from moving off the runway is being provided.'Distance Go' markers, which would facilitate safer landing are being fitted on the runways designated as 06/24 and 09/27 at a cost of Rs 10.5 lakh.
The COI has apparently made a special note of the runway-end had recommended special safety measures.Now the government and the DGCA have decided in right earnest to implement certain measures recommended by the COI. Work has commenced on the runway-end safety area at a cost of Rs 3.5 crore as part of phase I.Keeping in mind the need for additional safety for the aircraft landing, a 237-metre cliff area is being filled to bring it to the level of the runway. Sand arrester facility to prevent planes from moving off the runway is being provided.'Distance Go' markers, which would facilitate safer landing are being fitted on the runways designated as 06/24 and 09/27 at a cost of Rs 10.5 lakh.
New ATC mode for old air woes
New Delhi: Aircraft hovering over the Delhi airport, and hours-long delays due to air traffic congestion will soon be a thing of the past. Performance-based navigation (PBN), an advanced air traffic management system being used at the Indira Gandhi International airport, will not only make flying much safer, it is also expected to decongest the airport.
In the PBN, aircraft can use installed on-board technology instead of the present ground-based navigation system and would be able to fly more flexibly and accurately.
Apart from tackling congestion, aircraft would also save fuel. At present, aircraft lose huge amount of the expensive aviation turbine fuel (ATF) while waiting for permission to land.
"Pilots are dependent on the air traffic controller to guide them on navigation, landing and take-off. With the new system, the detailed flight plan, including the exact time of touchdown, is fed into the aircraft's navigation system," said a senior air traffic controller who didn't wish to be named.
"Unlike earlier, they would also know which aircraft is ahead or behind them and this will cut down on unnecessary hovering," he said
In the PBN, aircraft can use installed on-board technology instead of the present ground-based navigation system and would be able to fly more flexibly and accurately.
Apart from tackling congestion, aircraft would also save fuel. At present, aircraft lose huge amount of the expensive aviation turbine fuel (ATF) while waiting for permission to land.
"Pilots are dependent on the air traffic controller to guide them on navigation, landing and take-off. With the new system, the detailed flight plan, including the exact time of touchdown, is fed into the aircraft's navigation system," said a senior air traffic controller who didn't wish to be named.
"Unlike earlier, they would also know which aircraft is ahead or behind them and this will cut down on unnecessary hovering," he said
Plane overshoots runway in Aizawl
Silchar: Four days after a chopper carrying Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Dorjee Khandu and four others crashed in Tawang, a plane overshot the runway at Aizawl airport today and got stuck in a ditch, injuring nine passengers.
The tiny Cessna Caravan plane of the private airliner North East Shuttle carrying nine passengers from Imphal landed in Lengpui airport, 38km from Aizawl, around 10.30am amid a drizzle.
As it sped down the 2.5km runway, it overshot the path on the left and got caught in a ditch.
The injured passengers were treated at the primary health centre at the airport. Those who needed further treatment were shifted to the civil hospital in Aizawl.
The superintendent of police of Aizawl district, Lalbiakthanga Khiangte, said the plane suffered 40 per cent damage, with its wings and wheels coming off.
Today’s accident comes exactly two months after an Airbus carrying 98 security personnel overshot the runway at Lengpui airport by a kilometre while landing, but managed to avoid a rerun of the Mangalore airport disaster by screeching to a halt just in time.
The tiny Cessna Caravan plane of the private airliner North East Shuttle carrying nine passengers from Imphal landed in Lengpui airport, 38km from Aizawl, around 10.30am amid a drizzle.
As it sped down the 2.5km runway, it overshot the path on the left and got caught in a ditch.
The injured passengers were treated at the primary health centre at the airport. Those who needed further treatment were shifted to the civil hospital in Aizawl.
The superintendent of police of Aizawl district, Lalbiakthanga Khiangte, said the plane suffered 40 per cent damage, with its wings and wheels coming off.
Today’s accident comes exactly two months after an Airbus carrying 98 security personnel overshot the runway at Lengpui airport by a kilometre while landing, but managed to avoid a rerun of the Mangalore airport disaster by screeching to a halt just in time.
Sahara files appeal, seeks Rs 550-cr more from Jet for buyout
Mumbai: Sahara India today filed an appeal in the Bombay High Court against the order of a single Judge which had held that Jet Airways was liable to pay Rs 1,450 crore for purchase of Sahara Airlines (now Jetlite) in 2007.
Sahara's lawyers Pradeep Sancheti and Satish Kishanchandani mentioned the appeal at the fag end of the court proceedings before a Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Mohit Shah, who decided to hear the matter tomorrow.
In the appeal, Sahara has staked its claim for Rs 2,000 crore, the original price for the buyout. It said the court had erred in holding that Jet was liable to pay the renegotiated amount of Rs 1,450 crore.
Sahara also sought a stay on the order passed by Justice D Y Chandrachud yesterday. The Judge had asked Jet Airways to pay the remaining amount of Rs 478 crore (from the purchase price of Rs 1,450 crore) within two weeks to Sahara for the buyout.
The Judge also imposed a 9 per cent interest on Jet Airways for its remaining pending amount of Rs 402 crore to Sahara, which worked out to Rs 478 crore.
Sahara's lawyers Pradeep Sancheti and Satish Kishanchandani mentioned the appeal at the fag end of the court proceedings before a Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Mohit Shah, who decided to hear the matter tomorrow.
In the appeal, Sahara has staked its claim for Rs 2,000 crore, the original price for the buyout. It said the court had erred in holding that Jet was liable to pay the renegotiated amount of Rs 1,450 crore.
Sahara also sought a stay on the order passed by Justice D Y Chandrachud yesterday. The Judge had asked Jet Airways to pay the remaining amount of Rs 478 crore (from the purchase price of Rs 1,450 crore) within two weeks to Sahara for the buyout.
The Judge also imposed a 9 per cent interest on Jet Airways for its remaining pending amount of Rs 402 crore to Sahara, which worked out to Rs 478 crore.
DGCA warns staff with kin in airlines
India’s aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has barred nine of its officers from taking any decisions regarding airlines where their wards work, as part of an ongoing campaign to cleanse the system.
In a 3 May note issued with the approval of DGCA director general Bharat Bhushan and reviewed by Mint, the regulator asked joint director general Charan Dass whose ward works in SpiceJet Ltd, joint director general A.K. Sharan whose ward works for IndiGo, run by InterGlobe Aviation Pvt. Ltd, director of airworthiness V.P. Massey whose wards work for SpiceJet and IndiGo, director of air safety R.S. Passi whose ward works for SpiceJet, and five others from having anything to do with the respective airlines.
Kingfisher Airlines Ltd, Jet Airways (India) Ltd and Air India Ltd are other airlines employing wards of senior DGCA officials.
While there is no evidence yet that these officers favoured the airlines that employed their wards, investigations by Mint and The Times of India have shown that wards of Passi and Sharan were hired as pilots despite concerns about their ability to safely pilot aircraft.
“There is a question of collateral responsibility. This officer sitting in DGCA has obviously used his influence to get his ward in to one of the airlines. That’s an inference you can draw. And I would readily draw that inference,” Bhushan said in an interview on 28 March.
In a 3 May note issued with the approval of DGCA director general Bharat Bhushan and reviewed by Mint, the regulator asked joint director general Charan Dass whose ward works in SpiceJet Ltd, joint director general A.K. Sharan whose ward works for IndiGo, run by InterGlobe Aviation Pvt. Ltd, director of airworthiness V.P. Massey whose wards work for SpiceJet and IndiGo, director of air safety R.S. Passi whose ward works for SpiceJet, and five others from having anything to do with the respective airlines.
Kingfisher Airlines Ltd, Jet Airways (India) Ltd and Air India Ltd are other airlines employing wards of senior DGCA officials.
While there is no evidence yet that these officers favoured the airlines that employed their wards, investigations by Mint and The Times of India have shown that wards of Passi and Sharan were hired as pilots despite concerns about their ability to safely pilot aircraft.
“There is a question of collateral responsibility. This officer sitting in DGCA has obviously used his influence to get his ward in to one of the airlines. That’s an inference you can draw. And I would readily draw that inference,” Bhushan said in an interview on 28 March.
GMR Group to consolidate airport business
Mumbai: Bangalore based GMR group is in the process of consolidating its airport business. The parent company is transferring its stake in the Delhi International Airport Limited & Hyderabad Airport to its airport subsidiary.
The GMR parent company is selling 24% stake in Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL)for Rs 660 crore and 63% stake in the Hyderabad Airport for Rs 240 crore to the airport holding company according to two sources familiar with the development. GMR holds 54% stake in DIAL
The idea is to consolidate the airport business into one holding company, said the source. Recently GMR had raised $350 million through private equity firms through its airport business. SBI Macquarie has invested $200 million, while Standart Charted bank's private equity fund, Jacob Ballas & Old Lane are pumping in $ 150 million in a consortium.
The Rs 900 crore amount that GMR will get after this consolidation will be used for power projects.GMR Airport Holdings operates two airports in India (New Delhi and Hyderabad) and one in Turkey (the Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, Istanbul). The airport arm accounts for as much as 46 per cent of GMR Infra's revenues.
The GMR parent company is selling 24% stake in Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL)for Rs 660 crore and 63% stake in the Hyderabad Airport for Rs 240 crore to the airport holding company according to two sources familiar with the development. GMR holds 54% stake in DIAL
The idea is to consolidate the airport business into one holding company, said the source. Recently GMR had raised $350 million through private equity firms through its airport business. SBI Macquarie has invested $200 million, while Standart Charted bank's private equity fund, Jacob Ballas & Old Lane are pumping in $ 150 million in a consortium.
The Rs 900 crore amount that GMR will get after this consolidation will be used for power projects.GMR Airport Holdings operates two airports in India (New Delhi and Hyderabad) and one in Turkey (the Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, Istanbul). The airport arm accounts for as much as 46 per cent of GMR Infra's revenues.
Chennai airport expansion delay irks residents
Chennai: It's been three years but the state government and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) are yet to decide whether to build a parallel runway at the existing airport or to construct a new airport at Sriperumbudur.
Three years of indecision has put hundreds of residents to hardship as are uncertain about the fate of their land that has been marked for acquisition for the parallel runway.
The state government notified around 993 acres of land in the villages of Manapakkam, Gerugambakkam, Kolapakkam and Kovur villages for acquisition almost three years ago. AAI does not want to invest any more in the existing airport if the second airport is being built at Sriperumbudur.
The parallel runway project has been put on hold as AAI had said it would not build it if the state government was going to have a second airport on 4,822 acres of land in Sriperumbudur.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has given approval for the second airport at Sriperumbudur. Still, AAI is yet to take a decision whether they want the parallel runway.
In response to a right to information (RTI) application filed by J Parthipan, a resident, AAI has said it has received an approval letter from the ICAO on the second airport but the report was under review and a decision to build a parallel runway was yet to be finalised
Three years of indecision has put hundreds of residents to hardship as are uncertain about the fate of their land that has been marked for acquisition for the parallel runway.
The state government notified around 993 acres of land in the villages of Manapakkam, Gerugambakkam, Kolapakkam and Kovur villages for acquisition almost three years ago. AAI does not want to invest any more in the existing airport if the second airport is being built at Sriperumbudur.
The parallel runway project has been put on hold as AAI had said it would not build it if the state government was going to have a second airport on 4,822 acres of land in Sriperumbudur.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has given approval for the second airport at Sriperumbudur. Still, AAI is yet to take a decision whether they want the parallel runway.
In response to a right to information (RTI) application filed by J Parthipan, a resident, AAI has said it has received an approval letter from the ICAO on the second airport but the report was under review and a decision to build a parallel runway was yet to be finalised
Tearful adieu to Khandu at Itanagar
Itanagar: Many sobbed as the body of Arunachal chief minister Dorjee Khandu was brought to Itanagar on Thursday from Lubuthang, a remote village in West Kameng district where a Pawan Hans chopper carrying him and four others crashed six days ago.
The crash took place on April 30 shortly after the helicopter left Tawang for Itanagar. Villagers from Keyla spotted the bodies of the victims and the wreckage of the chopper on Wednesday.
People lined the road from Raj Bhavan helipad to the CM's bungalow to have a last glimpse of the leader whom they fondly called Laughing Buddha. Braving the scorching heat, they waited for hours since morning. They broke down when Khandus's body was taken to his house in a glass cascade.
ITBP presonnel presented a guard of honour when two IAF choppers landed at the helipad with Khandu's body accompanied by his second wife, Rinchin Drema, eldest son Pema, brother Goleng Khandu and Lok Sabha member Takam Sanjoy.
Governor Gen. (retired) J J Singh and Union ministers B K Handique, Salman Khursheed, Mukul Wasnik, V Narayansamy and Vincent Pala laid wreaths on the cascade. As priests from different religions chanted hymns, mourners offered their tributes to Khandu inside the waiting room of his house where his body was kept
The crash took place on April 30 shortly after the helicopter left Tawang for Itanagar. Villagers from Keyla spotted the bodies of the victims and the wreckage of the chopper on Wednesday.
People lined the road from Raj Bhavan helipad to the CM's bungalow to have a last glimpse of the leader whom they fondly called Laughing Buddha. Braving the scorching heat, they waited for hours since morning. They broke down when Khandus's body was taken to his house in a glass cascade.
ITBP presonnel presented a guard of honour when two IAF choppers landed at the helipad with Khandu's body accompanied by his second wife, Rinchin Drema, eldest son Pema, brother Goleng Khandu and Lok Sabha member Takam Sanjoy.
Governor Gen. (retired) J J Singh and Union ministers B K Handique, Salman Khursheed, Mukul Wasnik, V Narayansamy and Vincent Pala laid wreaths on the cascade. As priests from different religions chanted hymns, mourners offered their tributes to Khandu inside the waiting room of his house where his body was kept
3-member committee to probe Arunachal CM's chopper crash
New Delhi: The civil aviation ministry has set up an inquiry committee to probe the circumstances under which the Pawan Hans chopper crashed killing Arunchal Pradesh chief minister Dorjee Khandu and four others on Saturday.
"A committee of inquiry headed by Air Marshal (Retd) PS Ahluwalia has been appointed to look into the circumstances of the accident of the helicopter near Labootang, Arunachal Pradesh, on April 30 while going from Tawang to Itanagar," the civil aviation ministry said in a release.
The 3-member committee has been asked to submit its report in three months.
Ahluwalia, with an experience of over forty years in the IAF, retired as the head of Western Air Command's chief in 2008.
The other two members of the inquiry team are Group Captain (retd) TV Unnikrishnan and PK Chattopadhyay. Senior air safety officer AK Joseph will be the secretary of the committee
"A committee of inquiry headed by Air Marshal (Retd) PS Ahluwalia has been appointed to look into the circumstances of the accident of the helicopter near Labootang, Arunachal Pradesh, on April 30 while going from Tawang to Itanagar," the civil aviation ministry said in a release.
The 3-member committee has been asked to submit its report in three months.
Ahluwalia, with an experience of over forty years in the IAF, retired as the head of Western Air Command's chief in 2008.
The other two members of the inquiry team are Group Captain (retd) TV Unnikrishnan and PK Chattopadhyay. Senior air safety officer AK Joseph will be the secretary of the committee
DGCA suspends Pawan Hans helicopter services across NE
Guwahati: The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has finally suspended commercial operations of Pawan Hans helicopters across the northeastern region, a move which came only after Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Dorjee Khandu died in a chopper crash off Se La Pass in Tawang district on Saturday.
On April 19, a Pawan Hans MI-172 helicopter crashed at Naharlagun, killing 17 people on board. But the DGCA action suspending chopper services came after 11 days when the next tragedy struck - this time killing the chief minister himself.
Captain Mahal, deputy general manager (operations) of Pawan Hans Helicopters Limited, said, "Yes, our operations in the northeast have been suspended following the mishap in which the Arunachal Pradesh chief minister died. The DGCA is carrying out checks and reviewss of our choppers deployed in the region. Various teams have been formed to carry out checks and I cannot relay how long this process would take."
Sources in the Arunachal Pradesh civil aviation department said the chief minister was always using a twin- engine chopper from the available fleet in the state. It was the first time that Khandu was allocated a single-engine helicopter exclusively for his use that ultimately crashed.
Pawan Hans authorities said Khandu's chopper was a new one and was given on lease to the Arunachal Pradesh government on December 5, 2010. "The brand new helicopter was acquired in mid-2010. Till date, the helicopter has flown 306 hours and done 577 landings. It has done most of the flying in the northeast," said deputy general manager (engineering) Sanjeev Razdan in a statement.
Mahal said the DGCA, among other things, would look into what went wrong with the emergency locator transmitter (ELT). "The helicopter, with the chief minister on board, was fitted with the latest ELT, which transmits signals on heavy impact. These can be picked by ISRO satellites and any other aircraft flying over it. This equipment is basically to locate the chopper in case a mishap takes place. The ELT is activated automatically and since no signals were picked up by satellites, it could be that the ELT did not activate and this is what which should be looked into," he said.
On April 19, a Pawan Hans MI-172 helicopter crashed at Naharlagun, killing 17 people on board. But the DGCA action suspending chopper services came after 11 days when the next tragedy struck - this time killing the chief minister himself.
Captain Mahal, deputy general manager (operations) of Pawan Hans Helicopters Limited, said, "Yes, our operations in the northeast have been suspended following the mishap in which the Arunachal Pradesh chief minister died. The DGCA is carrying out checks and reviewss of our choppers deployed in the region. Various teams have been formed to carry out checks and I cannot relay how long this process would take."
Sources in the Arunachal Pradesh civil aviation department said the chief minister was always using a twin- engine chopper from the available fleet in the state. It was the first time that Khandu was allocated a single-engine helicopter exclusively for his use that ultimately crashed.
Pawan Hans authorities said Khandu's chopper was a new one and was given on lease to the Arunachal Pradesh government on December 5, 2010. "The brand new helicopter was acquired in mid-2010. Till date, the helicopter has flown 306 hours and done 577 landings. It has done most of the flying in the northeast," said deputy general manager (engineering) Sanjeev Razdan in a statement.
Mahal said the DGCA, among other things, would look into what went wrong with the emergency locator transmitter (ELT). "The helicopter, with the chief minister on board, was fitted with the latest ELT, which transmits signals on heavy impact. These can be picked by ISRO satellites and any other aircraft flying over it. This equipment is basically to locate the chopper in case a mishap takes place. The ELT is activated automatically and since no signals were picked up by satellites, it could be that the ELT did not activate and this is what which should be looked into," he said.
The curious case of the air crash in Luguthang
In a few days the media is bound to leave totally behind the sad and untimely death of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Mnister Dorjee Khandu in the treacherous heights of Luguthang, a sleepy, remote village in his own constituency. Just like it was for Andhrapradesh’s YSR tragedy.Till another crash involving another VVIP, or till some yatras of heir apparent, the crash is going to evoke no further intrest for the national media-
Unless the origin of two calls from a satellite phone that were made to the cell phones of a Tawang MLA Tsewang Dhondup and principal secretary to the chief minister Yeshi Tsering in the afternoon of Saturday, 30 April are traced out.
Unless veracity of the account of the little scholl children in a remote Bhuttan village of sighting a similar color helicopter is verified.
Unless the reason for sudden inactivation of the transponder of the brand new helicopter is found out.
Unless the extraordinary failure of the ISRO satellites, and Sukhoi radars to ‘see’ the metallic debris a few kms from Tawang (even as they could count out another six possible sites between them) is accounted for.
Yes- There could be much more to the crash of the brand new Eurocopter AS350 B3 helicopter on April 30 and the deaths of CM Dorjee Khandu, crew members Captain J S Babbar, Captain T S Mamik, Khandu’s security officer Yeshi Choddak and Yeshi Lhamu, sister of Tawang MLA Tsewang Dhondup.
The copter that took off on Saturday from Tawang at 9:56 am for state capital Itanagar, was to land at Itanagar at about 11.30 am. But Guwahati air traffic control lost contact with the helicopter 20 minutes after take off.
The State machinery was alerted and a massive search was ordered- Only to cancel within a few hours.
Two phone calls were the reason.
Around 2.30 PM, MLA Tsewang Dhondup got the first call. Dhondup saw it was from a satellite phone and the voice was that of Chief Minister Khandu.
Now from a story published in The Telegraph:
The MLA informed the chief secretary and the principal secretary to Khandu that “he believed” it was Khandu who called him. The caller apparently said “he was taking off” presumably from somewhere in Bhutan. “We are trying to get details of that call,” said a source.There was one small snag here: Khandu did not have a satellite phone, not that the Centre knew of. Two, while there could have been such a phone aboard, the pilot would have used it to call the base station in all probability, the sources said. The misinformation that was spread through the media after that about the landing of his chopper could only end when Bhutanese authorities said they had no knowledge about any landing. The reports would eventually lead Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to call Governor J.J. Singh.The governor had earlier spoken to the media about Khandu’s reported landing in Bhutan.Around that time, the air force called off the search and rescue operations which triggered speculation that the search operation.
From a PTI report:
Chief secretary Tabom Bam said in the afternoon that the chopper which lost contact with ATC in the morning had landed safely at Daporijo in Upper Subansiri around 2:30 pm.Bam said that he was not been able to contact Khandu personally, but the Sashastra Seema Bal had confirmed that Khandu and those with him were safe. “The IGP (SSB) has confirmed he is safe.”
The Hinustan Times had the details of the 2nd call and more information regarding the first call:
Dhondup, whose sister Yeshi Lamu was also on the chopper, received a call around 1.30pm from a satellite phone he believes belonged to Khandu. The caller said the chopper had landed in eastern Bhutan. The caller contacted principal secretary to the chief minister Yeshi Tsering in Itanagar too, saying Khandu was safe. The calls came a couple of hours after the helicopter disappeared on Saturday morning. Deepak Kumar, inspector general of police, wrote to the state’s home secretary, AK Srivastav, outlining the contents of the call Tsering received.“I asked Tsering if the call received was from the chief minister,” Kumar said. “He said the voice sounded like the CM but he could not identify it.”
Now another PTI report:
Chief secretary Tabom Bam said in the afternoon that the chopper which lost contact with ATC in the morning had landed safely at Daporijo in Upper Subansiri around 2:30 pm.Bam said that he was not been able to contact Khandu personally, but the Sashastra Seema Bal had confirmed that Khandu and those with him were safe.
But the State Government officials later said CM did not carry a satellite phone. Pawan Hans people said there were no sat phone in the copter.
Then who made the call?
Unless the origin of two calls from a satellite phone that were made to the cell phones of a Tawang MLA Tsewang Dhondup and principal secretary to the chief minister Yeshi Tsering in the afternoon of Saturday, 30 April are traced out.
Unless veracity of the account of the little scholl children in a remote Bhuttan village of sighting a similar color helicopter is verified.
Unless the reason for sudden inactivation of the transponder of the brand new helicopter is found out.
Unless the extraordinary failure of the ISRO satellites, and Sukhoi radars to ‘see’ the metallic debris a few kms from Tawang (even as they could count out another six possible sites between them) is accounted for.
Yes- There could be much more to the crash of the brand new Eurocopter AS350 B3 helicopter on April 30 and the deaths of CM Dorjee Khandu, crew members Captain J S Babbar, Captain T S Mamik, Khandu’s security officer Yeshi Choddak and Yeshi Lhamu, sister of Tawang MLA Tsewang Dhondup.
The copter that took off on Saturday from Tawang at 9:56 am for state capital Itanagar, was to land at Itanagar at about 11.30 am. But Guwahati air traffic control lost contact with the helicopter 20 minutes after take off.
The State machinery was alerted and a massive search was ordered- Only to cancel within a few hours.
Two phone calls were the reason.
Around 2.30 PM, MLA Tsewang Dhondup got the first call. Dhondup saw it was from a satellite phone and the voice was that of Chief Minister Khandu.
Now from a story published in The Telegraph:
The MLA informed the chief secretary and the principal secretary to Khandu that “he believed” it was Khandu who called him. The caller apparently said “he was taking off” presumably from somewhere in Bhutan. “We are trying to get details of that call,” said a source.There was one small snag here: Khandu did not have a satellite phone, not that the Centre knew of. Two, while there could have been such a phone aboard, the pilot would have used it to call the base station in all probability, the sources said. The misinformation that was spread through the media after that about the landing of his chopper could only end when Bhutanese authorities said they had no knowledge about any landing. The reports would eventually lead Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to call Governor J.J. Singh.The governor had earlier spoken to the media about Khandu’s reported landing in Bhutan.Around that time, the air force called off the search and rescue operations which triggered speculation that the search operation.
From a PTI report:
Chief secretary Tabom Bam said in the afternoon that the chopper which lost contact with ATC in the morning had landed safely at Daporijo in Upper Subansiri around 2:30 pm.Bam said that he was not been able to contact Khandu personally, but the Sashastra Seema Bal had confirmed that Khandu and those with him were safe. “The IGP (SSB) has confirmed he is safe.”
The Hinustan Times had the details of the 2nd call and more information regarding the first call:
Dhondup, whose sister Yeshi Lamu was also on the chopper, received a call around 1.30pm from a satellite phone he believes belonged to Khandu. The caller said the chopper had landed in eastern Bhutan. The caller contacted principal secretary to the chief minister Yeshi Tsering in Itanagar too, saying Khandu was safe. The calls came a couple of hours after the helicopter disappeared on Saturday morning. Deepak Kumar, inspector general of police, wrote to the state’s home secretary, AK Srivastav, outlining the contents of the call Tsering received.“I asked Tsering if the call received was from the chief minister,” Kumar said. “He said the voice sounded like the CM but he could not identify it.”
Now another PTI report:
Chief secretary Tabom Bam said in the afternoon that the chopper which lost contact with ATC in the morning had landed safely at Daporijo in Upper Subansiri around 2:30 pm.Bam said that he was not been able to contact Khandu personally, but the Sashastra Seema Bal had confirmed that Khandu and those with him were safe.
But the State Government officials later said CM did not carry a satellite phone. Pawan Hans people said there were no sat phone in the copter.
Then who made the call?
Dogged talks pay off in ending AI strike
New Delhi: It took three days and over 20 hours of negotiations between the government and agitating pilots to thrash out their differences.
While the strike by the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA), all belonging to the erstwhile Indian Airlines, began on April 26, the talks between them and the government started on May 4.
It was around 9:30 pm on Friday that the government and the striking pilots announced that they had reached an agreement but both sides remained tight-lipped over what exactly were the points of agreement.
The ICPA is demanding wage parity between their members and the pilots of the then Air India, who fly on international routes. the main issue here is the 75 fixed hours flying allowance. While Air India pilots have fixed salary, former Indian Airlines pilots are paid on flying hours basis. The details regarding other demands such as working conditions will be worked out.
Despite the agreement, the pilots will still have to sort out the issue in court. The Delhi High Court has issued contempt notice to nine of the ICPA officer-bearers for defying its order to end the strike which has now cost the bleeding airline to the tune of Rs 150 crore
While the strike by the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA), all belonging to the erstwhile Indian Airlines, began on April 26, the talks between them and the government started on May 4.
It was around 9:30 pm on Friday that the government and the striking pilots announced that they had reached an agreement but both sides remained tight-lipped over what exactly were the points of agreement.
The ICPA is demanding wage parity between their members and the pilots of the then Air India, who fly on international routes. the main issue here is the 75 fixed hours flying allowance. While Air India pilots have fixed salary, former Indian Airlines pilots are paid on flying hours basis. The details regarding other demands such as working conditions will be worked out.
Despite the agreement, the pilots will still have to sort out the issue in court. The Delhi High Court has issued contempt notice to nine of the ICPA officer-bearers for defying its order to end the strike which has now cost the bleeding airline to the tune of Rs 150 crore
Both sides blink, Air India strike is off
New Delhi: The 10-day strike by almost half of the state-owned Air India pilots came to an end tonight, with around 880 agitating pilots set to join work by 10 pm Friday.
In the third round of talks between the Civil Aviation Ministry representatives and the sacked union leaders, the government agreed to re-instate them, re-recognise their union, the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA), and withdraw cases against them in the High Court and the Chief Labour Commissioner’s office.
Air India said normal operations will resume in 24 hours. The airline had stopped taking bookings for five days during the strike period.
The strike that crippled Air India’s domestic operations saw the pilots climbing down from their demands for immediate pay parity. A major sticking point was the pilots’ demand for compensation of 75 “fixed flying hours allowance,” which their erstwhile Air India colleagues get.
“They (the pilots) agreed to submit their demands to the Justice Dharmadhikari committee,” said an official. “We agreed to request the committee to fast track its work,” he added.
The committee, formed to look into staff integration issues of Air India and erstwhile Indian Airlines, is expected to submit its report by September.
“We have been assured that the committee’s report will be implemented by November,” said sacked ICPA general secretary Rishabh Kapoor. However, he added that the government has not given them a date of its implementation.
“The pilots will resume work by 10 pm tonight,” he said. The Delhi High Court will decide on the contempt notice against three ICPA leaders, Kapoor, president Ashim Bhinder and Amitesh Ahuja, on May 25.
In the third round of talks between the Civil Aviation Ministry representatives and the sacked union leaders, the government agreed to re-instate them, re-recognise their union, the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA), and withdraw cases against them in the High Court and the Chief Labour Commissioner’s office.
Air India said normal operations will resume in 24 hours. The airline had stopped taking bookings for five days during the strike period.
The strike that crippled Air India’s domestic operations saw the pilots climbing down from their demands for immediate pay parity. A major sticking point was the pilots’ demand for compensation of 75 “fixed flying hours allowance,” which their erstwhile Air India colleagues get.
“They (the pilots) agreed to submit their demands to the Justice Dharmadhikari committee,” said an official. “We agreed to request the committee to fast track its work,” he added.
The committee, formed to look into staff integration issues of Air India and erstwhile Indian Airlines, is expected to submit its report by September.
“We have been assured that the committee’s report will be implemented by November,” said sacked ICPA general secretary Rishabh Kapoor. However, he added that the government has not given them a date of its implementation.
“The pilots will resume work by 10 pm tonight,” he said. The Delhi High Court will decide on the contempt notice against three ICPA leaders, Kapoor, president Ashim Bhinder and Amitesh Ahuja, on May 25.
Pilots win nothing, Air India loses Rs 150 crore
New Delhi: After 10 days of hard bargaining, striking Air India (AI) pilots patched up with the government on Friday with the former gaining hardly anything in the process but causing the bleeding national carrier losses of more than Rs 150 crore and further denting its reputation. With the pilots calling off their strike, AI will resume domestic services from midnight of Friday.
The Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) - which has as its members 700 pilots belonging to the former Indian Airlines - had declared a strike from the midnight April 26-27.
They were joined by another 200-odd management pilots a day later, crippling AI's domestic network.
The AI management had sacked seven pilots, suspended seven others and derecognised the ICPA.
So, after the 10-day face-off with the government, all that the pilots got was re-recognition of their association and reinstatement of the sacked and suspended pilots.
The decision to call off the strike hasn't gone down well with a section of ICPA pilots and there was a clear split in its ranks.
"We are back to square one. The government hasn't conceded an inch and we, on the other hand, have lost 10 days' pay and an assurance of a salary of 60-hours. What was the point of doing all this?" a pilot asked.
ICPA general secretary Rishabh Kapur conceded that they hadn't got any commitment on the allowances ICPA had demanded.
He said implementation of the report of the justice (Retd) Dharmadhikari Committee - which is looking into issues of wage rationalisation and level mapping - would be shared with them by November.
The Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) - which has as its members 700 pilots belonging to the former Indian Airlines - had declared a strike from the midnight April 26-27.
They were joined by another 200-odd management pilots a day later, crippling AI's domestic network.
The AI management had sacked seven pilots, suspended seven others and derecognised the ICPA.
So, after the 10-day face-off with the government, all that the pilots got was re-recognition of their association and reinstatement of the sacked and suspended pilots.
The decision to call off the strike hasn't gone down well with a section of ICPA pilots and there was a clear split in its ranks.
"We are back to square one. The government hasn't conceded an inch and we, on the other hand, have lost 10 days' pay and an assurance of a salary of 60-hours. What was the point of doing all this?" a pilot asked.
ICPA general secretary Rishabh Kapur conceded that they hadn't got any commitment on the allowances ICPA had demanded.
He said implementation of the report of the justice (Retd) Dharmadhikari Committee - which is looking into issues of wage rationalisation and level mapping - would be shared with them by November.
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