I hope you enjoy the slide show. I will post another article with specific details. To visit the album online, just click on the slide show. The control panel will also allow you to remove the captions if you like.

Share your thoughts or visit experience via a comment.

The Aero India 2009 continues to draw large crowds, and for today and tomorrow, a huge crush of footfalls is expected.

Aerial displays in the morning and afternoon sessions are as spectacular and breathtaking as in any major air show held worldwide. While the public focusses on the magnificent flying machines and their daredevil pilots, they remain blissfully unaware of the singular edifice that facilitates and coordinates all the flying activity – the Air Traffic Control (ATC) - the heart of the air show, at Air Force Station (AFS) Yelahanka (VOYK).

Activity at the ATC begin before dawn and continue well beyond dusk. As the premiere training station for all Indian Air Force (IAF) transport wing, AFS Yelahanka, is one of the busiest military airfields in the country. Not only does it handle over 60,000 movements annually, it also has to contend with two major airfields - Bengaluru International Airport (BIA), just 4 nm to the north, and the HAL airport 10nm south. A task well handled by Chief Operations Officer (COO), Wing Commander N.V.M. Unnithan and his team.

Assisting him and bristling with activity, a 24x7 manned 'Base Operations Room' controls all aspects of the flying and coordinating with various agencies including 'flying display director', routine movements, VIP protocol, ground handling agencies, BIA, and HAL remains fully operational at the ATC tower.

While an anxious F-16 pilot, USAF Lieutenant Mike Benson, coordinating the flight schedule of the C-130 Hercules, was happy after the arrangements were explained by the COO, Captain Uphoff and Lieutenant Michael Schumacher (just a coincidence) of the German Air Force's Fighter Wing-73, technical team members of the Eurofighter Typhoon dropped by to thank the officials at the ATC, a gesture symbolic of the universal spirit exemplified at the air show.

Preparations began six months in advance. Coordination meetings were crucial as Aero India 2009 was the first air show since the opening of new airport (BIA) last year. With a lateral separation between the airfields of just 4.3 nautical miles it was imperative to halt all civilian flights at BIA during the air displays. Most visiting aircraft of the IAF had to be housed at HAL due to the space constraints at Yelahanka. There is full cooperation between all the three airports and the flight displays are going perfect as expected.

The proximity of the flight paths at Yelahanka and BIA is demonstrated by this photograph of the F16IN SuperViper by my photography guru and guide, Praveen Sundaram a.k.a. Photoyogi. Do take the time to check his photo-stream.

Significant improvements in airfield infrastructure, resurfacing of the taxi-track, airfield links, refitting of the runway lighting, drainage of the 8,500 feet long runway were completed in just four months, ahead of the show, as per senior ATC officer, Wing Commander Sunil Ninan.

Seated on the console panels in a glass-encased environment, the cool demeanour of the five ATC officers manning the consoles betray little of the highly stressful role the controllers undergo. The banner displayed at the entrance says it all - 'You are about to witness the most stressful profession in the world'.

While many in Indian commercial aviation complain about the accents of expatriate pilots, at Aero India there are many pilots from different countries, speaking in different accents, and the ATC controllers are equally adept at picking up the nuances, ensuring unambiguous and crystal clear communication between the pilots and ATC.

Flight safety remains paramount; all flight paths including the aerial displays, and restrictions are designed with risk mitigation in mind. AFS Yelahanka has the township of Yelahanka to the south, and is bounded to the north and east by BIA and its resultant development.

In an effort to restrict the bird activity especially during the flying displays that are flown at low-levels, adequate aerial surveys were done in the period leading to the air show. Ten 'bird scare' teams mounted on specially procured silent electric bikes prowl the entire airfield with double-barrel guns in the airfield area. In addition, 'whistlers', a pyro-technique device emitting high frequency, high-pitch sound that irritate the birds are being effectively used.

Closure of the fish, poultry, and meat markets in the near vicinity on specified days and covering water bodies (lakes and ponds) with nets are some of the initiatives undertaken by the IAF personnel at the base.

Despite these steps, birds are present in plenty, and BBMP officials have to get serious about sanitation and open-air meat markets in the Yelahanka, Devanahalli and Ejipura area

The meteorological forecasts during the air show got a boost with the installation of a 'Numerical Weather Prediction Module' enabling 24-hours observation watch, and 18-hours forecast watch, informed Wing Commander VK Choudhary, senior Met Officer at the base.

We have to applaud the efforts of all the people involved. From the policeman at Hebbal flyover, ensuring traffic gets to AFS Yelahanka quickly, to the IAF personnel at the base, the exhibitors, the display teams, pilots, and support crews, the government, and the organisers. It is a herculean effort executed with seamless precision and complete cooperation. Last, and certainly not the least, I hats off to the tireless efforts of the entire team at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), led by Greeta Varughese and Sourav Narayan Biswas. They have all been working 20+ hour days for the last two weeks, to ensure the show is an unbridled success it is.

Stay tuned for a photo-essay........

This has not been a very pleasant 24 hours.

The crash of Continental 3407 in Buffalo, derailment of the Coromandel Express at Jajpur, Orissa, India which killed 15 persons, and now a British Airways Cityflyer British Aerospace Avro RJ-100, registration G-BXAR performing flight CJ-8456 from Amsterdam, Netherlands to London City, UK with 67 passengers and 4 crew, experienced the collapse of the nose gear while landing on runway 28 at London City around 19:40 local (19:40 GMT).

The airplane came to a stop on the runway centerline. All people were evacuated from the the airplane using slides, one passenger is reported to have been brought to hospital with minor injuries.

The airport was closed, 11 incoming flights were diverted to other London airports - Stansted, Heathrow, and Luton and Southend.

London Ambulance Services said, they dispatched 6 ambulances and several single responders to the airport and treated 4 passengers on scene, but nobody was brought to a hospital.

The Air Accident Investigations Board have launched an investigation into the accident.

Thanks to Simon at The Aviation Herald for the details.

"Please switch of all wireless equipment as these interfere with our navigation and safety systems". All of us have this mantra down pat. But incredulous or hilarious as this may sound, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was forced to issue a Safety Alert For Operators (SAFO) 9003, to remind flight crew to have their mobile phones turned off while on duty.

During a routine inspection, a loud warbling sound was heard within the cockpit during take-off just before V1 (decision speed), which distracted both the flight crew. Even though in this instance the take-off was continued, the sound could have prompted the crew to unnecessarily reject the take-off, that too at high speed.

It was later determined that the warbling sound came from the first officer's mobile phone!!!,

The FAA rates the incident as potentially serious hazard. (No kidding!!!!!)

To top this off, the operator did not have procedures in their standard operating procedures and manuals requiring the flight crew to turn-off their mobile phones or preventing them from turning on the phones while operating a flight.

The FAA requires, that mobile phones must be turned off and stowed properly away while the airplane is being taxied for departure after departure from the gate.

Read the SAFO here.

Aviation Herald is reporting a Colgan Air De Havilland Dash 8-400 on behalf of Continental Airlines, registration N200WQ performing flight 9L-3407/CO-3407 from Newark, NJ, USA to Buffalo, NY, USA with 44 passengers and 4 crew, crashed into a home in a surburb of Buffalo about 5 nm (10km) from the airport and burst into flames while on approach to Buffalo's Niagara Airport at about 10:17pm local time (03:17 GTM). All 48 occupants and one person on the ground died.

This is the second accident Continental is suffering in recent past. On December 20, 2008, a Continental Boeing 737 crashed at Denver airport.

The airplane was on the approach frequency, had been cleared down to 2300 feet, guided via radar vectors (heading 330 then heading 310) and cleared for an ILS approach to runway 23 and had just been handed over to the tower. The crew confirmed the frequency change, but didn't contact the tower anymore and also could not be reached on the approach frequency about one minute after hand over. A following Delta flight 1998 could not see the Dash 8 due to being in cloud, but also could not see the plane on their TCAS.

The home on 6050 Long Road is reported to be completely destroyed and reduced to rubble. Twelve homes along Long Road, Goodrich Road and Clarence Center Road near Clarence Town Hall in Clarence Center had to be evacuated. Two more residents on the ground were treated for injuries and brought to a hospital. Fire fighters were on the scene within seconds since their fire house on Clarence Center Road just next to the crash site.

A witness on the ground saw the airplane flying low with the left wing slightly low before it impacted ground.

The tower controller reported, that the airplane dropped off his radar without any anomaly beforehand.

Following the recognition, that the airplane was on the ground, the tower checked the ILS equipment of the airport sending Delta 1998 into a hold, found the ILS in the clear but transmitted a warning to all aircraft on tower and approach frequencies. Delta 1998 coming from the North reported upon request by the approach, that they were not building any significant ice, however reported a quarter of an inch. Another airplane, Cactus 1452 (US Airways/America West) coming from the South like the crashed Colgan Air, reported that they were picking up some ice for about 10 minutes for about 20nm. Subsequently Delta 1998 was commanded to not perform an autoland for possible localizer fluctuations.

The aircraft is new and was delivered 16th April 2008.

Relatives and friends of those traveling on flight 3407 who want to give or receive information about those on board may telephone the family assistance number at 1-800-621-3263.

Hear ATC conversation at Buffalo at the time of the accident.

For an edited version click here.

I have always admired Fred Smith of FedEx.

Yesterday, he addressed a town hall meeting in Los Angeles, on the economy's impact on industry, and offered three very sensible suggestions for governments to consider.

I an excerpting from the speech “Keeping America Competitive: the View from ‘Commerce Street’" by Frederick W. Smith, Chairman, President and CEO, FedEx Corporation.

The fact is that in this economic downturn, most people, especially politicians and the press, talk about Wall Street and Main Street, but few talk about what I call “Commerce Street,” the industrial economy in between…and the one with just as many victims as the other two sectors.

Let me shine a spotlight on how important such industries are to our American economy.

The industrial sector includes businesses that are usually rich in assets—big service companies, health care providers, warehousers, manufacturers, agriculture, mining and energy producers. This sector is a major driver of our economy. Industry may not be as sexy as finance, housing or retail, but it’s a critical component of GDP. Industrial job creation and loss parallel exactly the rise and fall of corporate spending in the U.S.

Even so, as more industrial businesses have slowed down or closed, the United States has begun to lose its edge in the global marketplace. How can we fund technological innovation if companies are strapped for cash? How can we fund alternative fuel research if chemists have lost their jobs?

So today I’d like to try to answer the question, “How can we make American companies more competitive in the global marketplace and increase their ability to offer American workers good jobs?

My answer? Three things:

• Accelerate the expensing of capital investment,
• Reduce our dependence on imported petroleum, and
• Champion free trade.

In summary, I believe that we can face down today’s challenges with that famous American ingenuity, determination and optimism that have kept us a world leader for so long.

The three topics I’ve discussed today require little in the way of direct government money. By stimulating the industrial sector to invest more in equipment and software; by reducing our dependence on imported oil; and by helping world markets remain open, we can begin to move the U.S. economy in the right direction. The only thing we really need is the political will to make these things happen. If we do, then we can transform “Commerce Street” into a more powerful force in California’s economy, and we can help straighten the crown America has worn for so long as the world’s economic leader.

I strongly recommend your reading the complete presentation, it will be time well worth spent.

Over the last year, IndiGo has been on a steady march, taking an increasing share of the Indian passenger market.

While most of its competitors contracted during the torrid 2008, IndiGo and fellow value carrier SpiceJet, have gained in actual passenger numbers.

The secret to IndiGo's success ? Read this article "Fine Strokes" by Business Standard.

The Indian Express is reporting

The Joint House Committee set up to probe into the alleged lapses in the establishment of Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) will submit its final report on February 16.

The 20-member house committee headed by Chickpet MLA Hemachandra Sagar met the BIA officials on Monday.

Committee members said that the final report will be submitted to Assembly Speaker Jagadish Shettar on February 16. To lend credence to the report the members visited other airports in the country apart from inspecting facilities at BIA.

The Committee has examined if the airport’s promoters have been able to fully utilise the 4,000 acres of land allotted to it and reasons have been ascertained as to why the project’s cost shot up to Rs 2,700 crore from the initial estimate of Rs 1,350 crore.

The alleged violation of terms and conditions by BIAL during the construction was also under the Committee’s scanner. The Committee also looked at the facilities available at the airport, the absence of VIP lounge, outsourcing of the taxi services to private operators and permission for construction of second terminal at the airport.

It is expected to make recommendations on how to give a face-lift to the airport in line with other international airports.

This last paragraph is where I start shaking my head. I could be wrong, but I do not believe that any of these legislators have the required knowledge or experience, to offer the specialised recommendations needed for an airport.

There is a VIP terminal for legitimate VIPs as defined by Government of India. The cited lack of a VIP lounge is for the non-defined "self-appointed" VIPs who would like their entourage of flunkies to accompany them right till the aircraft. The legislators appear to be focussing on the mundane and utterly unneeded facilities, instead of the macro and long term needs.

The JHC should bring in professional assessors from the aviation world, airlines, industry, and passengers to sincerely address the aviation needs of Bangalore and its residents.

There are strong rumours that the investigation has been carried out at the behest of a particular community who have massive land holdings near the new airport, and there are fears that the "recommendations" will be aligned to the needs of this community.

Due to the approaching storm Quinten, French authorities have decided to suspend all commercial traffic all all Paris airports. Charles De Gaulle, Orly, and Le Bourget, from 20:00 local 9 February to 10:00 local 10 February.

Over 500 flights are estimated to be cancelled as a result of the closures.

Storms with winds of up to 120 km/h are expected in the Paris region overnight.

So please check with your airline.

Over 20 years ago I watched a fascinating video on the Discovery Channel program Wings. I recorded the show on to VHS tape, but the tape lost its quality over the years. This program was re-christened as the "Great Planes" series.

Thanks to Jon at Flightblogger, I re-discovered my favourite video. On this the 40th anniversary of its first flight, I cannot offer a better tribute to the Boeing 747, the "Queen of the skies". The audio may be poor, but the sheer audacity, grit and achievements, of the folks at Boeing come out in this video. I hope you enjoy it, as much as I do.

Post your tribute via a comment.

February 6th saw Airbus A380-861 MSN033 destined for Air France taxiing around Toulouse Blagnac (LFBO) airport.

Click on the images for high resolution pictures

We can expect to see the first flight VERY VERY SOON.

Air France is expected to put the aircraft on the Paris Montreal route.

Thanks to pictaero for the images.

February 9, 2009, 10:00 IST (04:30 GMT)

TV channels are reporting that an Air India Airbus A321 performing flight IC866 was involved in a rejected take-off/near miss at Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport earlier this morning.

The flight had commenced its take-off run, when a helicopter which was given permission to land, strayed across the runway to land on the helipad. On sighting the helicopter the flight crew of IC866, rejected the take-off, applying emergency braking.

All passengers on board, estimated at 148 are safe. The tires of the aircraft require changing which is being done right now.

Initially it appears a fault of the air traffic control, which appears to have given permission to the helicopter to land, while at the same time, giving permission to the Air India flight to take-off.

Update 1 - 10:55 IST (05:25 GMT)

The shocker. The army helicopter was part a three helicopter convoy of Indian President Pratibha Patil.

The presidential convoy was conveying the President from the Governor's mansion, The Raj Bhavan, along with the top most leadership of the state of Maharashtra, to the airport. Due to security procedures, it is unknown whether the President was on board the chopper which strayed on to the runway.

Clearly a major mishap has been avoided, and there is bound to be a major investigation.

Information from aviation experts indicate the plane was at V-1 speed (around 100 knots). This is why the plane was able to perform a "rejected take-off", with the autobrake system kicking in. In another few seconds, the plane would have crossed the V-2 threshold, at which point the aircraft is travelling just to fast for it to stop on the runway. That would have surely resulted in a disaster of epic proportions.

The wheels of the Airbus A321 aircraft jammed after the rejected take-off, and the aircraft tyres burst due to the excess heat caused by the emergency braking. It has been taken back to the terminal. The passengers have been dis-embarked and are in the terminal. Arrangements for an alternate aircraft are being made.

Update 2 - 13:25 IST (07:55 GMT)

A Mumbai Airport official told news agencies.

"At around 09.00 hrs today, an Air Force chopper landed on the same runway from which Air India flight IC 866 (with 150 passengers on board) was taking off for Delhi, forcing the pilot of the plane to abort take off at the last minute,"

However there is some confusion. News reports claim

the Air India aircraft was taxiing to reach the main runway for the take off when the Air Traffic Control talked to the pilot regarding the helicopter. The pilot applied the brake to bring the aircraft to a halt

Whereas, all reports indicate a high speed take-off reject, resulting in the nose wheel tyre blowing out, indicating the pilot had commenced the take-off run and was not taxiing.

Credit is being given to the alertness of Captain SS Kohli, pilot of IC 866, who aborted the take off. Captain Kohli said,

"The the chopper and our aircraft got the clearence from the ATC at the same time. The ATC had lost contact with the chopper."

"The chopper just landed without taking a landing clearance. I cannot say much more,"

Meanwhile, an official spokesperson of the President told news agencies that "Everything is perfectly fine. The President was attending her normal functions."

As per Timesnow TV.

A fleet of three helicopters including the one carrying Patil, along with Maharashtra Governor SC Jamir and some other dignitaries, had taken off from Mumbai's Naval base 'INS Kunjali' and were on their way to the airport since the President was to fly to Gondia by her special Indian Air Force Plane (IAF) plane to attend a function.

A probe into the incident has been ordered by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the sources said. A senior DGCA official is coming from New Delhi to Mumbai to join the investigation, they said.

An IAF spokesman said, "the pilots of the chopper had followed the instructions from Bombay approach meliculously. The Presidential entourage was cleared to take off from INS Kunjali and land at Santa Cruz between two taxiways". An inquiry has been ordered by the IAF into the incident, he said.

While full information is not yet available, this appears to be the most likely situation based on past knowledge, historic traffic patterns, and information.



Update 3 - 17:00 IST (11:30 GMT)

The Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) released a statement at 16:10IST ((10:40 GMT)

Mumbai Airport, the busiest airport in India was witnessing heavy air traffic and operations today morning. The ATC Mumbai was aware of the Presidential visit and were watching the approach movement of the Presidential convoy of helicopters. At that time an aircraft of Air India was on the active runway-27. The ATC, noticing movement of the aircraft on the runway, asked the aircraft to immediately apply brakes and exit through the taxiway. The aircraft exited immediately and the helicopters landed safely.

Director General Civil Aviation has ordered an investigation of the incident under rule 77 and appointed Jt. DGCA as the Inquiry Officer for the purpose of carrying out the investigation. Jt. DGCA has reached Mumabi and started investigation proceedings.

Considering this incident involved the President of India, the poor controller on duty is in for a very rough time.

Update 4 - 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT)

The Air India aircraft is registration VT-PPF. An Airbus A321-211 construction number 3340, it did it first test flight on December 5, 2007, and was delivered by Airbus on December 14, 2007. It is powered by the CFM56-5B3/3 engines.

Image copyright Flickr user Pallav105

More sneak pictures (courtesy Karatecatman) of the preparations at Air Force Station Yelahanka for Aero india 2009. Enjoy. Can you guess the aircraft ?

Even as Boeing grapples with problems and assembles the first 747-8, it is quietly celebrating of the first flight of the 747 which took place today, 40 years ago, on Feb. 9, 1969.

With 1,412 delivered, the 747 launched the wide-body era and for nearly four decades has steadfastly remained the "Queen of the skies".

At Paine Field in Everett, Washington, on a cold day with snow on the ground and broken clouds overhead, thousands had gathered to watch.

The plane, built at the casual request of Juan Trippe of Pan American, by 50,000 Boeing people called "The Incredibles", who made aviation history by building the 747 -- the largest civilian airplane in the world at that time, two and half times bigger than any existing airliner.
-- in less than 16 months, was powered by newly developed fanjet engines by Pratt and Whitney.



26 airlines around the world including Air India, were the early adopters of the behemoth.

Stewardesses from the 26 early adopting airlines. Air India is 4th from left.

The 747 was flown on its maiden flight by test pilot Jack Waddell, co-pilot Brien Wygle, and flight engineer Jess Wallick.

Cockpit of a Boeing 747-230

As today, the program faced technical and schedule pressures. Even though the test program was eight weeks behind schedule, grit, determination and a grueling 1,449 hours test effort, involving five aircraft, ensured that deliveries to launch customer Pan American began on time, in December 1969.

Even the most normally unfazed of media icons gushed "The Giant Takes Off".

Congratulations Boeing.

Images courtesy Wikipedia and Boeing.

The Government has approved the levy of Development Fee (DF) by the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) @ Rs.1300/- per departing international passenger and @ Rs.200/- per departing domestic passenger with effect from 1 March, 2009. The DF which is being levied purely on an adhoc basis, is inclusive of all applicable taxes and is for a period of 36 months only.

This approval shall be reviewed specifically upon the following milestones:

• DIAL will submit final project cost estimates within 6 months of the commencement of the levy of DF, i.e. latest by 31 August, 2009. The project cost so submitted, including amount of contingencies, and their utilization shall be audited by an independent technical auditor to be appointed by Airport Authority of India (AAI) or as the Regulator / Government may decide.
• DIAL will undertake a review of the bidding process in respect of the hospitality district. They may approach the Government with the outcome of the review within 6 months of the commencement of the levy, i.e. latest by 31 August, 2009.

The approval is subject to the following conditions:-

• The final determination of levy may be made by the Government/Regulator upon compliance of the above two milestones.
• Following procedure monitoring mechanism shall be followed:
1. DF receipts would be deposited in a separate Escrow Account. Modalities of the Escrow Account may be decided by DIAL, with the approval of the AAI, atleast one week before the commencement of levy.
2. AAI and the Central Government would have supervening powers in respect of Escrow Account to ensure that all receipts are properly accounted for and are utilized only for permitted purposes. These powers may include stoppage of withdrawal by DIAL.
3. Presently, other capital receipts like equity and debt funds are channelized through another Escrow Account of DIAL as per OMDA requirements. The Independent Auditor appointed by AAI, presently verifies only the revenue as defined in Article 1.1. of OMDA and not the receipts of capital nature and utilization thereof. As a condition of this approval, DIAL would be required to subject such capital receipts and expenditure also to AAI supervision.
4. All accounting and auditing practices, as would have been applicable to AAI, will be applicable to DF receipts and expenditure by DIAL. The modalities in this respect should be worked out between AAI and DIAL, atleast one week before the commencement of levy.
5. The compliance in respect of the above issues will be furnished by AAI and DIAL to the Central Government on event basis as well as on a periodical monthly basis.

• It will be ensured that DF is utilized for the development of such “Aeronautical Assets” only, which are “Transfer Assets” in terms of OMDA.
• DIAL should report the collection and usage of DF on a monthly basis to Central Government / Regulator through AAI.
• The levy will be reviewed 6 months after commencement by the Regulator/Central Government and thereafter at such intervals as the Regulator/Central Government may decide.
• At the stage of final determination, Regulator/Central Government will ensure adequate consultation with the users.
• The amount collected through DF would not in any case exceed the ceiling of Rs.1827/- crores (NPV as on 1.3.2009). The ceiling amount would be exclusive of taxes, if any.
• The balance amount of Rs.1250 crores received as shareholders advance (i.e., Rs.1750 crores net of Rs.500 crores to be appropriated towards equity) would be retained by DIAL. Any escalations of cost would be met from the amount so retained. In case the cost escalation is less than the retained amount, the ceiling amount of Rs.1827 crores would be reduced by an amount which is equal to the difference between the retained amount of Rs.1250 crores and the amount representing project cost escalation beyond Rs.8975 crores.
• Rate and tenure of levy are premised upon the traffic projections and other estimates. In case due to actual figures being different than those estimated, the collections during levy period exceed the amount of Rs.1827 crores (NPV as on 1.3.2009) or any other amount which the Regulator/Central Government may determine, the excess amount so collected shall not be utilized, for any purpose whatsoever, without the prior approval of the Regulator/Central Government.

The Delhi International Airport Private Limited (DIAL) are undertaking modernization, development and upgradation of IGI Airport, New Delhi as per the approved Master Plan. DIAL had estimated that the Master Plan will be implemented at an estimated cost of Rs. 8975 crores. Requisite funds were to be raised through Rupee Term Loan, External Commercial Borrowings (ECB), Base Equity, Internal Accruals and Refundable Security Deposits (RSD) from Hospitality District (commercial property development). However, it has now been brought to the notice of the Central Government that DIAL are unable to raise Refundable Security Deposits to the extent anticipated and a substantial short fall is expected. It has also been stated that the lenders have not agreed to extend any further debt as the existing debt arrangement takes into account all possible revenue streams and have suggested that levy in the nature of capital receipts to leverage any additional debt. The shareholders have brought in shareholders’ advances to the extent of Rs. 1250 crores and are not in a position to take additional equity exposure beyond Rs. 1200 crores. Further, the present declining air traffic scenario has adversely impacted the revenue streams of DIAL and the Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR). Accordingly, DIAL have proposed a levy of DF under Section 22A of the AAI Act, 1994 @ Rs. 350/- per departing domestic passenger and @ Rs. 1000 per departing international passenger for a period of 39 months.

The proposal of DIAL was examined by the Ministry of Civil Aviation in consultation with the Ministry of Law and Airports Authority of India. The Government also engaged M/s KPMG Advisory Services Pvt. Ltd. to undertake diligence and verification of the proposal submitted by DIAL. Government has been advised that DIAL can levy DF under Section 22A read with Section 12A of the AAI Act for the purposes mentioned in clause (a) of Section 22A. Further, the completion of project by March 2010, i.e., in time for Common Wealth Games 2010 was of utmost importance. Keeping in view the position that all other funding options appeared to have been exhausted, there was no option but to levy a pre-funding charge as contemplated under Section 22A so as to ensure timely completion of the project. Such pre-funding charges are accepted by ICAO subject to compliance with laid down guidelines/principles.

The Central Government have, accordingly, approved the levy of DF by DIAL @ Rs. 1300 per departing international passenger and @ Rs. 200 per departing domestic passenger w.e.f. 1.03.2009 for a period of 36 months, inclusive of all applicable taxes, purely on an ad-hoc basis, to fund an estimated short fall of Rs. 1827 crores. This approval is subject to review after 6 months when DIAL is expected to furnish the final project cost, which will be audited by an Independent Technical Auditor. DIAL have also been advised to review the bidding process of the Hospitality District to explore the possibility of raising further resources therefrom. A detailed accounting/monitoring mechanism is required to be put in place, inter-alia, including deposit of all DF receipts in a separate Escrow Account where AAI and the Central Government will have supervening powers; the account will be maintained as per accounting and audit procedures followed by AAI etc. AAI will play a critical role in the monitoring of levy and usage of DF and keep the Ministry apprised. The DF receipts shall be utilized only for construction of such “aeronautical assets” as are required to be “transferred” to AAI by DIAL upon expiry of the lease of IGI airport. The shareholders advances amounting to Rs. 1250 crores shall be retained in the project to fund expected increase in project costs.

Source : Press Information Bureau, Government of India

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), is readying to hand over its first competitively won contract of the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), the Dhruv. HAL won an order for 7 helicopters from Ecuador beating out global heavyweights like Eurocopter, on performance and and a price of just $7 million per helicopter.

Dhruv ALH in peacock livery of the Indian Air Force Sarang display team

Five shiny new Dhruvs (The Pole Star in Sanskrit) with the insignia of the Ecuadorian Air Force, stand ready at HAL in Bangalore, ahead of schedule.

With Colombia and Chile evaluating the Dhruv, and carefully watching HAL's performance of the Ecuador contract, HAL, is leaving no stone unturned to ensure both a speedy delivery and on-going maintainability so that Ecuador has no problems with its Dhruv fleet.

Instead of disassembling the helicopters, HAL is learning from the Indian Air Force Sarang display team, and sending the aircraft via an Antonov AN124. Also, a specially selected team of ten HAL engineers is being posted in Ecuador for the two-year period when the Dhruvs will be under warranty. During these two years, the HAL engineers will train the Ecuadorian Air Force to maintain its Dhruvs.

The Ecuador Air Force chief will receive five Dhruvs at a high-profile media event at Aero India 2009. The remaining two will be handed over within six months.

The Dhruv assembly line in Bangalore is already busy, fulfilling orders from the Indian armed forces for 159 helicopters.

Some sneak pictures of the ongoing preparations and arrivals at Aero India 2009,which will start February 11th at Air Force Station Yelahanka, Bangalore.

Thanks Karatecatman.

Air New Zealand has adopted a different approach to marketing. It has created a parody of a low cost airline Saverjet.com. Enjoy the video.

The role of the US Federal Aviation Administration in that it is both the promoter and protector of aviation in the United States, has always produced contradictory situations.

Dominic Gates of the Seattle Times is reporting that the Boeing 787 Dreamliner cannot meet the Federal Aviation Administration's current stringent standards for preventing sparks inside the fuel tank during a lightning strike, and the agency now calls those requirements "impractical" and proposes to loosen them.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has quietly decided to loosen stringent fuel-tank safety regulations written after the 1996 fuel-tank explosion that destroyed flight TWA 800 off the coast of New York state.

The FAA proposes to relax the safeguards for preventing sparks inside the fuel tank during a lightning strike, standards the agency now calls "impractical" and Boeing says its soon-to-fly 787 Dreamliner cannot meet.

Instead of requiring three independent protection measures for any feature that could cause sparking, the revised policy would allow some parts to have just one safeguard.

Download the proposed policy shift.

Read the article.

The last few days may have brought bad news to both Boeing and Airbus in the form of order cancellations, which have put both manufacturers in an unenviable situation of being negative on their net order book for 2009.

They can take heart in the procurement actions of India's national carrier Air India, which will be taking delivery of ordered aircraft.. By September end, Air India, would add 13 aircraft to its existing 154.

On Friday the low cost subsidiary Air India Express inducted another Boeing 737-800 aircraft increasing its fleet size to 21 aircraft. The new aircraft inducted has ‘shikara on the Dal Lake in Kashmir’ on one side of the tail and an ‘image of a large expanse of the Rajasthan Desert’ on the other side. The tail designs are an innovative and novel feature of the Air India Express fleet. Each of the aircraft showcases the picturesque landscapes, monuments, birds, animals, handicraft and dances of India on both sides of the tail.

The airline will launch it’s once a week flight Srinagar to Dubai from February 14, 2009. The airline is expected to increase frequency on the Chennai-Trichy-Dubai route from three flights a week to seven flights a week, on the Chennai-Hyderabad-Dubai route from three to four flights a week, and on the Trichy-Kuala Lumpur sector from three to six flights a week.

On Monday, Air India will take delivery of three Airbus A321-200s which will be deployed on domestic routes in India.

This will be followed by three Airbus A319-100s in March.


The national carrier will also add three B777-200LRs and four B777-300ERs to its fleet between June and September, to be used for international operations.


Air India has the largest number of fixed assets in the Indian aviation industry. It has placed orders for 111 new aircraft, estimated at Rs 40,000 crore ($8.3 billion), and these will be delivered in three years. The airline is expected to post losses of Rs 3,000 crore ($625 million) in the current fiscal, but expects an equity infusion of Rs. 2,000 crore ($417 million) by the Government of India, by March.