08 February 2007


Date: 08. Feb. 2007
In a move to address pilot shortages, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has decided to introduce ‘multiple pilot licence’ to enable a pilot to fly different variants of a same family of aircraft in a same day. FE had first reported the introduction of such a multiple pilot licence in January. This licence, however, will at present be limited to the A-320 family.
Earlier, due to safety considerations pilots of scheduled operators were not allowed to operate two different kinds of aircraft on the same day. But, recently, as some scheduled operators in the country, like Indian Airlines and Kingfisher Airlines, have inducted different variants of the same family of Airbus 320 family of aircraft, airlines had forwarded a request to the regulatory authority’s office for permitting their pilots to have type endorsements on their licenses to operate the aircrafts falling under the same family.
The matter was referred to Airbus Industries and also to the regulatory authority of the European nations. After taking into consideration the experience of the different operators, DGCA has decided that, ‘pilots who are type rated to fly A 320 variants (A 318, A 319, A 319 CJ, A 320 and A 321) endorsed on their licence shall be allowed to fly the variants on same day/ duty cycle.’
DGCA, however, has placed certain restrictions, which include, a minimum experience on A 320 family of not less than 300 hours and not less than 50 hours on each variant of A-320 family as Captain or First Officer. When flying a second variant for the first time, the pilot will have to undergo a route check and pilots will not be allowed to fly more than two variants on the same day, are the two other requirements.
A similar regulation on helicopter operations was also muted by DGCA in November 2006. Under this a pilot under a single license can fly both a single engine copter and a twin-engine (two rotors) and can also fly two different kinds of copters in one day.
As per industry estimates, Airbus has a market share of over 70% in India, which mostly comprises the A320 family of aircraft. The Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation estimates that India’s aviation industry employs around 2500 pilots and there is an immediate shortage of 450. The authorities in India had taken the decision, as there is a huge dearth of pilots in the country.
Source: http://www.financialexpress.com


Date: 08. Feb. 2007
Airline firms in India are expected to raise more than $1 billion in private equity and debt in 2007-08, with at least two carriers set to hit the capital market a year later, says a study released on Thursday.
The industry will also witness a shakeout in the form of mergers and takeovers, to eventually see the emergence of two full-service carriers, three-four large national operators and a similar number of regional players, the study adds.
"Despite the bullish market projections for India, overseas experience would suggest that it is extremely difficult for a market to absorb this many new entrants," says the study released at the Aero India show here.
"This is compounded by the fact that the airline management in some cases is relatively inexperienced and untested," it says.
"The merger of the two state carriers, Air India and Indian Airlines, which is scheduled to be approve by March 31, will set the ball rolling for a further consolidation and mergers and acquisitions."
According to the study, conducted by the think tank Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation and commissioned by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci), Kingfisher and the state-run airlines combined will be the two carriers likely to go for a public offer next year.
The study says despite strong growth, the combined airlines in India will post a loss of around $500 million in the current fiscal. "But the industry has the prospect of returning to profitability in the third quarter of 2008-09."
The study says that while the current airline activity in the country is focused on passenger services, the next wave is likely to include the mushrooming of a number of domestic and international cargo airlines.
"Freight volumes are exhibiting strong growth. India's increasing trade combined with a strong domestic economy will continue to drive demand for this sector," it says, and adds that global freight operators are all reporting strong growth.
"We anticipate that two-three dedicated cargo airlines will be established in India," it says. The massive investment in organized retail trade in India will also fuel the growth of air cargo business.
Looking at the long-term outlook for the Indian aviation industry, the study says that even though the prospects are fraught with difficulties, the industry has the potential to absorb $120 billion of investment.
"The majority of this would be accounted for by aircraft orders of $80 billion or more as India reaches a size of approximately 1,000 aircraft by then." The passenger traffic will also jump from 50 million to 180 million.
Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com


Date: 08. Feb. 2007
More than 500 aircraft manufacturers from around the world were in Bangalore Thursday showcasing their wares in the hope of bagging a share of India's whopping shopping list for civilian and military aircraft.
According to industry estimates, India will need more than 1,000 aircraft over the next two decades to meet the demands of its booming civil aviation sector.
With one of the world's largest air forces, India is also expected to spend roughly 10 billion dollars over the next five years towards modernization of its military aircraft. The shopping list includes 126 fighter jets and more than 200 helicopters.
It is a big pie and all major players including Boeing and Lockheed Martin from the United States, the Russian Aircraft Corp (RAC), Europe's Airbus Industrie, Sweden's Saab Gripen and France's Dassault Aviation are at the Aero India show with their combat and civilian aircraft and helicopters as well as aviation equipment.
The five-day international exposition at the Yelahanka base of the Indian Air Force (IAF) on the outskirts of Bangalore, is billed as the largest air show in Asia.
About 45 foreign delegations and 28 air force chiefs from various countries are attending the exposition.
The inaugural show on Wednesday saw the IAF demonstrating its air power with Sukhois, MiGs, Jaguars and Mirages.
This was followed by a demonstration of Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet with test pilot Ricardo Traven waving the Indian tricolour as he got ready to take off.
The Russian MiG-35 dazzled thousands of spectators on its first flight outside Russia.
"The MiG-35 is the youngest of the fighters that are in the race for the Indian Air Force order," RAC director general Aleksey Fedrov said.
Others competing for the order include Eurofighter made by an European consortium including Britain's BAE Systems, Airbus and Italy's Finmeccanica, Saab with its Gripen, Lockeed Martin's F-16 and Dassault's Rafale, defence sources said.
Lockheed Martin's showcasing of the F-16 included a test flight by Indian industrialist, 69-year-old Ratan Tata, who recently led Tata Steel's successful bid for the Anglo-British steel-maker Corus.
The IAF would be inviting bids from aviation companies for the 126 fighter jets soon, India's Defence Minister AK?Anthony said at a news conference.
"It is almost at the final stage. We feel that the modernization is the most important agenda of the government . By a strong deterrent only can we prevent a war," he said.
Anthony said the government would be purchasing defence equipment worth 8 to 10 billion US dollars over the next five years as part of its modernizing programme.
Boeing and Airbus, along with French-Italian ATR, Canadian Bombardier and Brazilian Embraer were also at the show with their civilian aircraft in static and active displays.
Indian civil aviation companies such as Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, Kingfisher and Air Deccan have placed major orders with Airbus and Boeing over the past two years.
Air traffic in India, which is is growing annually by about 7. 7 per cent, is expected to double to 50 million passengers by 2010, according to industry estimates, leading to a growing demand for aircraft.
The Indian government's recent decision to allow foreign and private investment in the aviation sector has also encouraged international firms to explore partnerships with local firms to set up manufacturing and research facilities, IANS reported.
India currently has a ceiling of 49 per cent for foreign equity in civil aviation. The limit may be raised for some softer segments, including aircraft maintenance facilities and chopper operations, India's Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said Thursday.
Source: http://www.jurnalo.com