Indian Civil aviation news and Discussion

[nandu]

BIAL receives ISO 27001 certification

Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) on May 7, 2010 became one of the first airport operators to receive the ISO 27001 certification. This certification is recognized internationally as an Information Security Management System (ISMS) Standard. ISO 27001 plays an important part in assisting organizations of all types to understand the fundamentals, principles and concepts to improve protection of their information assets. BIAL attained this certification post a series of audits conducted by BSI India at BIAL offices and across all airport IT systems which include Common Use Terminal Equipment (CUTE), Common Use Self-Service (CUSS), baggage tracking and flight information systems.
Venkataram Arabolu, Managing Director, BSI India commented, "We are delighted to recognize the efforts put in by the BIAL management to make become ISO 27001 compliant. This is an official recognition of BIAL's ongoing commitment towards creating awareness of the various security policies. One thing unique at this airport is the common use of check-in counters by airlines, in this scenario the information security becomes even more crucial. The certification reiterates the airport's focus towards maintaining high standards of information security".
Some of the commitments made by the airport along with the ICT team that went towards it achieving the ISO 27001 certification include assuring confidentiality of information, implementation of the security policy and ensuring the company meets all necessary statutory and regulatory obligations.
"We are extremely proud that our Information Security Management System complies with the stringent ISO 27001 certification standards. Information security has always been put on priority at BIAL and our ICT department has been carrying out various programs and initiatives to ensure we meet the certification standards. As always our aim is to focus our dedication and sincere efforts in taking this airport to the next level of growth" said Marcel Hungerbuehler, President of BIAL on receiving the certification.

http://tarmak007.blogspot.com/

 

[nandu]

CIAL To Become India Aviation Hub: Official

Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) has finally given the aviation world something to cheer about by exceeding the Rs 100 crore ($22.3 million) mark in profits for the first time despite the economic slowdown. AVIATION WEEK spoke with C.G. Krishnadas Nair, managing director of CIAL, after spending two days with airport officials and visiting the facilities.

These are excerpts from the first of a series of interviews that AVIATION WEEK is planning with various India aerospace and defense newsmakers.

1. The Kochi airport is back in the news again with a series of projects being put on the takeoff mode. What has prompted this sudden spurge of activities?

C.G.K.N.: We are working on a firm plan and all that what you have seen is the result of some serious brainstorming sessions by a group of individuals who have enough expertise in the field of aviation. CIAL is the first initiative in a public/private partnership (PPP), and our philosophy is to launch low cost and high quality programs for the airport. The projects that are taking off one after the other are a testimony to the confidence we have in the future growth of this airport.

2. The airport got its international status in 2000. When you look back, what are the major achievements in the last 10 years?

C.G.K.N.: My association with CIAL is just two years old and there have been many before me who put their best foot forward to get things going. Among the major achievements in the last 10 years could be the following: extension of the international terminal, parallel taxi link, relaying of runway, a center for perishable cargo (CPC), the CIAL Aviation Academy and the launch of the first phase of the 18-hole golf course. In addition to this, we have put in additional counters, upgraded the comfort levels for the passengers and set up a communication wing inside the airport.

3. What does the future hold for this airport?

C.G.K.N.: The MRO facility will go live by December this year. It would contribute immensely to the fortunes of this airport. The location is ideal with adequate human resources in place. The line maintenance will commence shortly and the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has given us the go-ahead for narrow-bodied aircraft. We are all set to finalize the MRO partner. With the trade fair center, shopping mall and five-star hotel facilities in place, this would truly become an aviation hub in India and a gateway to Kerala.

4. Will the creation of the special economic zone (SEZ) help CIAL's fortunes immensely?

C.G.K.N.: It would, as it is time for an airport-based SEZ in India. Both the central and state governments have cleared it. We are keen to bring all airport-related activities under one umbrella. This would have a direct and positive impact on exports. In addition, we are inviting Indian and overseas companies to set up their units in CIAL's industry park. These units could provide services such as aircraft and engine components, repair and overhaul of aircraft wheels, brakes and propellers, storage and distribution of aircraft materials and spare parts and many more. The idea is to think smart and act smarter.

5. Finally, are you confident that CIAL could rise to the top and become the best airports in India?

C.G.K.N.: Why not? Now we are the fourth largest airport in India in terms of international passengers and we are sure to improve that standing in the future. The connectivity to highway, sea and rail links will further word toward the airport's advantage once all the ongoing projects take a complete shape. No question of missing the bus. We are at it.

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/gene...e=CIAL To Become India Aviation Hub: Official

 

[nandu]

CIAL Inks EoI With Fujairah Airport

In a first-of-its-kind of partnership among commercial airports, Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) has signed an Expression of Interest (EoI) with Fujairah Airport, Dubai.

Fujairah Airport Deputy General Manager Ebraheim Al Qallaf and CIAL Managing Director C.G. Krishnadas Nair inked the EoI in Kerala recently after initial rounds of talks in Dubai.

"We are keen to exploit the possibilities of a new passenger airline service. With the CIAL on an expansion mode, we also wanted to increase the number of freight services in addition to extending the tour leg of charter flights," Nair tells AVIATION WEEK.

Sources say CIAL Academy would be the biggest beneficiary. The aviation academy, started by CIAL last September, is now fully operational. The center offers Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Technology (M.Tech) and diploma courses in aviation business, fire and safety, airport infrastructure design and construction, operations, security and intelligence. The academy is part of CIAL's ambitious Aerotropolis project, spread across 450 acres.

"The new arrangement would enable those enrolled at the academy to get trained at Fujairah Airport. In addition, the best of the wards would also be absorbed at the Fujairah," a source says. The academy is currently housed at a facility of Cochin International Aviation Services Limited (CIASL). AVIATION WEEK has learned that the Kerala government has donated 5 acres of land to set up a sprawling new academy campus.

Among other projects under Aerotropolis, the first phase of an 18-hole golf course went forward on May 2.

"We are hoping that the charter flight traffic to Kochi would now increase with the golf course," A.C.K. Nair, airport director and executive director of operations, tells AVIATION WEEK. "Since the land [was] not suited for any other purpose, as it was coming under the flight path, we wanted to develop the area for tourism and golf [as] the first choice. The facility would give a boost to the tourism sector too."

The Kerala government's department of tourism is said to have provided a grant of Rs 10 crore ($2.23 million) for the golf course. A trade fair center and a five-star shopping complex are other projects CIAL plans to launch in the next couple of years.

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/gene...&headline=CIAL Inks EoI With Fujairah Airport

 

[nandu]

Cochin Passenger Capacity To Hit 10 million

Despite last year's slowdown, India's Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) managed a profit of Rs 100 crore ($22.1 million) during Fiscal 2010. Sales revenue grew 16% from the previous year.

CIAL Managing Director C.G. Krishnadas Nair tells AVIATION WEEK that sales revenues are expected to increase 20% in Fiscal 2011. "The signs are good, and we are also on a massive expansion plan to earn revenue through various innovative methods. A special economic zone (SEZ) has been cleared by the state and central governments, and it would act as a stimulant to the airport's further growth," Nair said.

In Fiscal 2010, domestic travel grew 15% and international travel 12%. "We touched 4 million passengers last year and became the fourth-largest Indian airport in international traffic. The airport capacity has been increased to 4 million now, and we expect to expand it to 10 million by 2015," Nair says.

The international passenger terminal has been remodeled and more counters have been added, ending congestion woes.

"The runway occupancy tag has been reduced, and we are planning a parallel runway," A.C.K. Nair, airport director and executive director (operations), tells AVIATION WEEK. "We will make CIAL a cargo hub by capturing the export market. The domestic terminal capacity will be increased very soon."

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/gene...e=Cochin Passenger Capacity To Hit 10 million

 

[nandu]

MRO Facility At Cochin Airport On Way

India's Cochin International Airport Ltd. (CIAL) plans to complete the first phase of its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility by year-end, with construction in full swing on the Rs 18 crore ($4 million) project.

CIAL Managing Director C.G. Krishnadas Nair tells Aviation Week that the Director General of Civil Aviation has approved Phase 1 of the work. Construction will take place over two phases, each expected to cost Rs 9 crore ($2 million).

"Almost 90% of the work is over, and we are building hangars for narrow-bodied aircraft. It will have adequate workshops, storage units, parking bays and [a] run-up bay," Nair says.

Airbus A320, Boeing 737, Dornier and Embraer are among the possible types of aircraft that the MRO would initially handle. The MRO's operations will fall under Cochin International Aviation Services Ltd. (CIASL), a wholly owned subsidiary of CIAL.

"The MRO would be split into airframe and component units. Apart from India, we are targeting the Middle East and Southeast Asia," Nair adds.

CIAL is in talks with a number of Indian and international companies to use the MRO facility.

"Talks are in advanced stages, and we are keen to have a branded partner with experience. We have a lot of expert technicians in Kerala, and we would train them adequately. We expect to recover the cost within two to three years, as MRO is a very high-revenue-generating module," A.C.K. Nair, airport director and executive director (operations), tells Aviation Week.

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/gene...eadline=MRO Facility At Cochin Airport On Way

 

[nandu]

DGCA Provides Pilot Rules For Monsoon Flying

The DGCA has asked operators to provide ground school training to pilots whether or not they have flown during monsoon

India's Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has unveiled a fresh set of guidelines for the country's airline pilots to follow while flying during a monsoon. The eight-page circular, issued by Capt. H.Y. Samant, chief flight operations inspector of DGCA, says that despite the regularity of India's monsoons, aviation accidents still occur.

The DGCA has asked airline operators to provide additional simulator training on how pilots should handle adverse monsoon conditions, with a special focus on first-time commanders.

"Analysis has shown that most of the incidents and accidents that have occurred were not generally attributable to inadequacies in aircraft performance but occurred mostly due to various deficiencies/shortcomings of the human element," the May 6 circular says.

It directs all operators to provide ground school training to pilots whether or not they have flown during monsoon periods. Training sessions must cover factors such as aircraft performance during takeoff and landing, with specific emphasis on wet and contaminated runway conditions; and calculation of takeoff and landing field lengths and the effect of individual failure events, specific to aircraft type and Indian monsoon climatology.

"Pilots who have obtained command rating for the first time are required to be subjected to adverse weather/monsoon training and a check before being released to fly as pilot in command (PIC) in actual or forecast, adverse weather/monsoon conditions," the DGCA guidelines say. The circular mandates that the minimum total cockpit experience level of the PIC and co-pilot should not be less than 500 hours on type.

"These are periodic circulars that are updated based on the flight safety requirements. We want operators to strictly follow these guidelines, in view of monsoon in India and its varied presence at different regions in India. These guidelines are no [longer] voluntary, and we have made them compulsory for all airliners now," a senior DGCA official says.

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/gene...=DGCA Provides Pilot Rules For Monsoon Flying

 

[nandu]

Mahindra Satyam institutes awards for young aerospace engineers

Mahindra Satyam, the brand identity of Satyam Computer Services Ltd. (NYSE:SAY), a leading global consulting and IT services provider, today announced the launch of the "Mahindra Satyam Aerospace Young Engineer Awards". The award seeks to recognize and encourage outstanding talent in budding engineering students across the country.
The Mahindra Satyam Aerospace Young Engineer Awards is an opportunity for engineering students to nominate their work in aerospace related areas such as structures, flight controls and materials. It offers students a platform to showcase their talent and creates an opportunity for channeling their potential.
Talking about this initiative Mr. Karthikeyan Natarajan, Vice President & Global Head, Integrated Engineering Solutions, Mahindra Satyam said "India has a huge pool of talent and is a favored destination for Engineering. This initiative is our attempt to empower the aspiring engineers by giving them avenues to excel in the areas of aerospace. This in turn will also help integrating technology with learning and can be one additional step towards closer industry-academia interaction"
This competition will be on an annual basis, open for 3rd and final year bachelor degree students, all masters degree students and research programs in aerospace engineering stream across all the colleges, universities and institutes in India.

http://tarmak007.blogspot.com/

 

[nandu]

India's aviation sector continues to witnesses growth

New Delhi, May 13 (PTI) Continuing an upward trend, India's domestic air traffic witnessed a 22 per cent growth between January and April this year with airlines carrying over 1.62 crore travellers.

Between January and April, domestic airlines carried around 1.62 crore passengers as against the 1.33 crore during the same period last year.

This came against the backdrop of continued downward trends witnessed in the global aviation sector since it was hit by recession and experienced negative growth since 2008.

In contrast, the scheduled Indian airlines flew a total of 41.88 lakh domestic passengers in April against 39.03 lakhs in March this year.

Of these, Jet Airways and JetLite combined carried 10.84 lakh, Kingfisher 8.98 lakh, while Air India (domestic) remained at the third spot with 7.62 lakh passengers.

Among the low cost carriers, 6.58 lakh passenger preferred to fly with IndiGo, SpiceJet carried 5.

 

[nandu]

Mysore Airport To Be Inaugurated May 15

India's Karnataka state, known as one of the premier information technology destinations in the country, is geared up to open a new airport May 15 in the historic city of Mysore.

However, national carrier Air India, along with many leading private airlines, have refused to begin operations at this airport due to extremely poor traffic in the sector, causing major embarrassment to the Karnataka government. The facility has been awaiting a formal inauguration for some time now, though no major airlines serve the sector, apart from charter flights.

Sources tell AVIATION WEEK that Jet Airways has expressed its willingness to start operations, and talks are on with the government.

Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel is expected to inaugurate the new airport, built at a cost of Rs 69 crore ($15.2 million). The minister is also expected to inaugurate the terminal expansion at Mangalore on the same day.

Airline sources say that traffic to Mysore soars only during the festival season of Dasarra. They are also not confident about the IT-related traffic, even with the presence of companies like Infosys. In addition, most airlines believe the airport can accommodate only narrowbody aircraft.

But carriers have not given up on weighing the possibility of offering service. They are seeking a tax exemption on aviation turbine fuel as an incentive to start operations. "Beyond ATRs, it looks very bleak as of now. We are not sure as yet to make flying to Mysore commercially viable. The state government must make a call," an airline official said.

The government, for its part, is making an all-out effort to persuade the Civil Aviation Ministry to check the feasibility of operating long-haul flights from Mysore. Close to 150 charter flights have been logged from Mysore Airport between April 2009 and March 2010, and the government sees a huge growth potential for major carriers.

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/gene...dline=Mysore Airport To Be Inaugurated May 15

 

[nandu]

Two airports likely for Goa

Tourists who come from across the world to laze around in the balmy beaches of Goa will now have another attraction — it will have not one but two airports. The cabinet will soon take up a proposal to let the existing Indian Navy airport to operate even after the new airport in north Goa comes up.

"We are in favour of operating the existing as well as the proposed airport. The state government and the Navy, which owns the existing airport, are also in favour of operating both the airports," said a senior civil aviation ministry official who did not want to be identified.

A new airport is being built at Mopa near the Maharashtra border on Goa's northern tip with private participation. The existing airport, owned by the Navy and operated by the Airport Authority of India (AAI), is situated at Dabolim in south Goa. At present, the Goa airport handles 2.7 million passengers annually.

This will be first instance when an old airport will continue to operate even after a new airport has been built. The old airports in Bangalore and Hyderabad, for instance, were closed because they could have impacted the earnings of the new airports.

In Goa, there was resistance to shifting the commercial airport to the north as it would have impacted tourism in the south. Hence, the need was felt to keep both the airports going.

A new airport was needed in Goa as the present airport cannot be upgraded to handle the higher traffic Goa is expected to attract in the near future. Also, there is no scope for construction of a cargo area.

The government plans to build 35 new airports across the country. New airports in Sikkim and Karnataka are scheduled to come up in the next two years. Airports at Navi Mumbai and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, one each in Kerala, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh (for cargo) have been accorded in-principle approval.

Further, proposals for setting up of three new airports in Maharashtra, one each in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Puducherry, Nagaland and Rajasthan have been received, apart from the proposal to set up a cargo airport in Haryana.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/two-airports-likely-for-goa/395079/

 

[nandu]

India to get first runway on a river

CHENNAI: An engineering marvel is getting ready at the Chennai airport, a runway bridge across the Adyar River that can even take the weight of an A380 aircraft. The bridge is being built so that the secondary runway can be extended over the bridge to the other side of the river.

The country's first bridge over which a runway will be laid, will be supported by 477 pillars. Around 2,440 pre-stressed concrete girders will be placed over the pillars to make it an integrated structure. The bridge will be 200m long across the river and 462m wide.

About 50% of the work on the bridge has been completed. Airports Authority of India (AAI) is hoping to complete the works by November this year. ''This bridge is different from the regular bridges built over roads. This is going to be an integrated structure consisting of piers, girders and concrete embankment so that load of aircraft will be distributed evenly across the structure,'' said airport director Hareendranathan E P.

The bank of the river has been widened from 140 metres to 200 metres after an hydraulic study was done to calculate the future water flow requirement. ''We've taken a no-objection certificate from the public works department and has widened the banks so that there will be ample space for water to flow under the bridge,'' an AAI official said. These steps are being taken to prevent flooding of the runway. ''We've kept the height of the runway and the bridge a couple of metres above the 2005 flood level,'' he added.

"During the summer, the river bed is dry. So, works are progressing rapidly to construct the pillars and to place girders over them before the rains set in. There will be nine rows of 53 pillars. The pre-stressed girders are fabricated in a separate unit set up near the work site. The concrete is set using steam,'' an official said.

Consolidated Construction Consortium Ltd (CCCL) is building the bridge while a joint venture of KGL and BCPL is building the secondary runway extension. AAI started works to extend the 2,035m secondary runway by 1,400 m, including 835 m on the northern side of the river in January 2009.

Most of the work on the extended portion of the runway has been completed. Once the construction of the bridge is over, the runway will be laid over it across the river. The airport has started to increase the level of the existing secondary runway to make it align with the extended portion, said an AAI official.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...rst-runway-on-a-river/articleshow/5938432.cms

 

[bholu3]

This is one of the remarkable achievement

 

[nandu]

WAY TO GO: Progressive-thinking BIAL sends expert team to capture lessons from Mangalore crash; fire, rescue teams at Bangalore airport have the best equipment on earth

Photo 1: The wing of Boeing 737-800 Air India Express lying at the end of Mangalore aiport runway after damaging the localizer antenna and its structure. Photo 2: An unexploded gas cylender (part of aircraft) at the crash cite. Photo 3: A passport issued by Banglasdeshi authroities found at the crash site.

The images below show the level of preparedness of Bangalore airport fire-force team. The 130-strong team, who work in 3 different shifts round-the-clock, is backed some generation-next fire-fighting and rescue operation equipment.

Bangalore, India | June 01, 2010
The Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) took stock of the entire rescue operations and crisis management at Mangalore airport, which witnessed a tragic Air India Express Boeing 737-800 crash on May 22. A two-member BIAL team consisting of Ajith Kumar, Chief Airport Fire Officer and Dr K.J. Devasia, Senior Manager, Energy and Business Continuity Management, interacted with fire, rescue and airport officials in Mangalore. "The BIAL team was keen to learn how mass causalities were handled by us so as to capture the experiences to sharpen their emergency-handling skills at Bangalore. Our experiences and lessons from the recent incident gave valuable inputs to the expert team," sources at Mangalore airport told AVIATION WEEK. The progressive thinking by BIAL resulted in the team getting hands-on experience from the crash site. BIAL team is said to have complimented the fire force team at Mangalore for their swift reaction soon after the incident. "Once, the aircraft missed the right landing spot, the fire tenders got into action within 30 seconds. At the end of the runway they spotted the damaged broken right wing and instantly assessed the severity of the crash," sources said.

Sources said it is important for airports worldwide to make sure its firefighters and other rescue workers are emotionally prepared to deal with such situations.

"You don't wait for an accident to learn. The aircraft consists of many units that can explode during a crash, "a senior BIAL official said. "This could be oxygen cylinders, nitrogen cylinders (used for pneumatic system functions) or even the dangerous goods and classified materials in the cargo section. Our team learned how post-crash explosions were minimized by alert fire officials in Mangalore.

"We have not faced any major issues so far. We have the most advanced equipment to handle any crisis. In addition, our teams are being sent to various trainings and exhibitions [the] world over to get adequate exposure. Tests have proved that the fire tender teams can reach the site of any incident within the runway within 1.42 minutes from the point of call and within 3 minutes to airport boundary," the official added. "Bangalore airport has got a very safe runway with 1.8 km. of free space on one side and 1.6 km. free space on the other, unlike in Mangalore. We will now analyze the inputs the two-member team got from Mangalore and see whether we lack on any fronts."

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/gene...BIAL Team Learns Lessons From Mangalore Crash

 

[nandu]

Leh airport ACs to run on solar power

NEW DELHI: Passengers at Leh airport — one of the world's highest airfields at 10,682-feet above sea level — will soon be basking in the warmth of solar airconditioning. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is going to install solar panels on the roof of the new terminal that will be used to generate about 100kw and use that to heat up water.

This heated water-chemical mix will be circulated through coils in air handling units where big fans will be installed. Like a normal AC, the air will get heated after passing through the coils with hot water and help keep the terminal temperature comfortably high in the cold desert capital's airport.

The Rs 5 crore green project is likely to be ready in next two years. "Currently we use electric and diesel-powered boilers. But in winters hydro electricity almost dries up in Kashmir and we face outages. The solar-powered system will help us reduce dependence on conventional power. But a back up will be kept to heat up the liquid to required level for comfortable heating," said an official.

The AAI is also going to store energy by having batteries charged with the solar power and use them at night. The cycle of charging-using-recharging is expected to lead to some insulation from frequent power cuts.

Apart from Leh, AAI is also aiming to generate 250kw at its headquarters (Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan) in Delhi. "We plan to use this energy for our lighting and some power load (except ACs) like running computers. There are two options. We can either use the power or supply it to the grid," said the official. The Delhi project is expected to cost Rs 4-4.5 crore and be ready by next April.

AAI is also working on some other green projects too. There has been plans to use solar energy for airconditioning in the proposed new terminal at Jaisalmer. That plan is still, however, being worked out and expected to be ready in a few months, said sources.

In fact, all new airports are aiming to get a green tag through energy efficient designs. Wherever permitted, like Delhi, the new airports are undertaking rain water harvesting, water recycling along with energy saving techniques. "Being world class does not mean just having a fancy glass-and-steel structure. We have to aim at being sustainable," said a senior AAI official.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...to-run-on-solar-power/articleshow/6012587.cms

 

[nandu]

Delhi gets new world—class airport

A view of the IGI airport's Terminal 3, an integrated terminal for International and Domestic flights, which was inaugurated on Saturday.

Delhi on Saturday got a spanking new world-class Rs. 9,000 crore airport that will integrate domestic and international operations and is expected to handle 34 million passengers annually.

The new terminal, Terminal 3 (T3), said to be the sixth largest in the world, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who said the Indian aviation sector has the potential to observe upto $120 billion of investment by 2020.

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit were among the dignitaries present on the occasion to dedicate T3 built by GMR group backed developer Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL).

Spread over 4 km, 80 per cent of T3 is made of glass and supported by metal frames. The nine level terminal building would be used for 90 per cent of the entire passenger movement in the airport.

Comfortable lounges, nap and shower rooms will add to passenger comfort in the airport which will have a mix of restaurants, bars, cafes and fast food outlets in around 20,000 sq mt of commercial space.

"An airport is often is the first introduction to the country. A good airport would signal a new India, committed to join the ranks of modern industrialised nations," the Prime Minister said.

He said Delhi's new airport proves the success of public-private partnership model in execution of large infrastructure projects.

He said India should have airports that are receptive to the comfort of passengers even as they meet the highest standards of safety. They should employ the most modern of technologies but also exude cultural warmth.

Noting that his government had launched a modernisation and capacity expansion programme for major airports some years ago, he said, "Today we see one of the successes of that initiative.

"The commissioning of this terminal will be a significant step forward in developing Delhi as a vital hub.

It will encourage feeder traffic from the non-metro airports being developed by the Airports Authority of India," he said.

Besides three functional runways, the T3 would have, among other things, 168 check-in counters, 78 aerobridges , 97 travelators and a multi-level air-conditioned car park to accommodate 4,300 cars, both first in India.

Praising the "impressive" new airport, UPA President Sonia Gandhi said quality is not something to be reserved for prestigious projects but should become "part and parcel of our design process for all our public projects including housing and other services".

"Providing rural and urban infrastructure efficiently and at the same time achieving high standards must remain our goal," she said.

Operations at the new integrated terminal would begin from the middle of this month with Air India and all international airlines shifting their operations from the existing terminal buildings.

Officials of DIAL said all international carriers, operating from Delhi, would shift their operations from the existing international terminal or T2 to T3 on July 14.

On July 30-31, the operations of all full service Indian carriers, including Air India, Jet Airways and Kingfisher, would shift along with their low-cost wings.

The swanky T3 would also be "barrier free" to suit the requirements of passengers with "special needs or reduced mobility."

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/article498539.ece?homepage=true

 

[RAM]

Delhi's Terminal 3: India's new engineering marvel

http://www.ndtv.com/news/videos/video_player.php?id=150388

Delhi's Terminal 3 signals the arrival of a new age: PM

http://www.ndtv.com/news/videos/video_player.php?id=150418

 

[RAM]

DELHI T3 INAUGURATION

 

[RAM]

TCS, Wipro, Mahindra Aerospace in talks with NAL to develop plane prototype

BANGALORE: Technology firms Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Wipro and QuEST, apart from private sector aviation companies such as Mahindra Aerospace and L&T , are among the vendors currently in discussions with the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) for providing software, designing and manufacturing around 500 regional transport aircraft.

India's ambitious civil aviation program (RTA-70 ) is aimed at building planes for carrying 70-90 passengers on short haul flights, and rival similar aircrafts from ATR, which currently dominates the country's skies.

Officials at NAL, the premier agency spearheading the project, confirmed that alliances are being worked out. "Negotiations are on with various private players like TCS, Infosys, Wipro to provide expertise in software, hardware and product development," a senior NAL official said on conditions of anonymity. The design and development of the prototype is estimated to cost about Rs 5,000 crore and is expected to be ready by 2015-16 for flight trials.

Of the 500 planes, 200 will be sold to Indian defence, 200 to civil aviation companies and 100 units are to be exported. The project committee will explore the need to go in for a public-private partnership (PPP) at the beginning, so as to involve the Indian aerospace industry, which will be responsible for production at a later stage and marketing and servicing subsequently, officials added.

At the peak of the project, about 500 people from state-run agencies and around 2,000 people from the industry will be involved.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...velop-plane-prototype/articleshow/6130274.cms

 

[Galaxy]

India has ambitious plans for aviation sector

India has ambitious plans for aviation sector

18 October 2011

Mumbai: India's ministry for civil aviation has embarked upon a number of ambitious projects that will hopefully see a thorough overhaul of the aviation sector in the country. The projects include the establishment of a national aviation university, which will be tasked with the job of providing skilled human resources in the aviation sector, a civil aviation authority that will make the country's aviation regulator administratively and financially independent, an autonomous air accident investigation bureau, an ombudsman to handle passenger concerns, a task force for aviation security, and restructuring of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security to better handle security concerns.

These projects are necessary to meet demands that will result from air passenger traffic touching 30 million by 2020.

"A committee of experts has been set up to make the project report for the national aviation university. The civil aviation ministry has approved the formation of an independent civil aviation authority and it is under examination by the law ministry," said civil aviation secretary, Dr Nasim Zaidi.

Zaidi was speaking at the end of day one of the week-long International Civil Aviation Negotiation Conference (ICAN 2011). Organized this year by the ministry of civil aviation, ICAN 2011 is held under the aegis of the Montreal-based UN body International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and provides a platform for aviation officials from different countries to conduct bilateral air services negotiations.

About 350 delegates from 68 countries are attending the event and Indian representatives will be holding negotiations on bilateral agreements with 35 countries.

Earlier in the day, Roberto Gonzalez, president, ICAO said that by 2030, the number of air passengers from the Asia-Pacific region will double from 2 to 5 billion, and that a large proportion of these will be using international services.

In her inaugural speech, India's president Pratibha Patil said that global comparison of air travel penetrations shows that India, with 0.04 air trips per capita per annum, stands far behind developed countries with more than two air trips per capita per annum.

She highlighted the importance of an economic regulator to create a level playing field, to promote competition, protect consumer interests and ensure better service levels.

 

[Zebra]

India allows foreign airlines to buy stakes in local carriers

By Anurag Kotoky and Nigam Prusty

NEW DELHI | Mon Sep 17, 2012 5:28am EDT

(Reuters) - India decided to allow foreign airlines to buy stakes of up to 49 percent in local carriers, a long-awaited policy move that could provide a lifeline to the country's debt-laden airlines by opening up a fresh source of funding.

The move, which comes with conditions, is a part of massive big-ticket reforms announced by India on Friday, including opening up its supermarket sector to foreign firms, as it seeks to revive economic growth and avoid a ratings downgrade.

"This is a very positive step," said Amber Dubey, head of aviation at KPMG. "I do not expect a flurry immediately ... but there will be interest. A lot of people have been watching."

Ailing Kingfisher Airlines (KING.NS), which was India's No. 2 local carrier a year ago but has since grounded most of its fleet, has lobbied hard for this move on hopes that it can attract a foreign airline investor, although none has publicly expressed interest.

Kingfisher, whose fortunes hang on its ability to raise funds soon, said the move will allow it to re-engage with prospective investors in a "more meaningful manner."

"This will open up a wide range of opportunities for both Indian carriers and foreign carriers who wish to participate in the strong growth potential for civil aviation in our country," Kingfisher, controlled by liquor baron Vijay Mallya, said.

Newly affluent Indians, with increasing disposable incomes, have started treating flying as a mode of transport rather than a luxury, providing a massive local market.

"It sends a clear message to the sector which was under financial stress - now even the banks would look at them favourably," civil aviation minister Ajit Singh said.

However, any global carrier eyeing a stake in an Indian carrier must weigh up the benefits of a market with high long-term growth potential but one that has been squeezed by high costs and fierce price competition......

full article: India allows foreign airlines to buy stakes in local carriers | Reuters