Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju takes charge as Civil Aviation Minister

Economic Times Link
PTI May 29, 2014, 12.02PM IST

NEW DELHI: Senior TDP leader Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju took charge as the new Civil Aviation Minister, assuring that he would strive to create a level- playing field for all players in the crucial infrastructure sector.

"We will strive to create a level-playing field for all the players and make the aviation sector more people- oriented," he told reporters soon after the taking over charge at the ministry headquarters in Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan here.

Rajasthan to operate State planes for air taxi service

The Hindu

Five-seater King Air C90 A and seven-seater King Air B 200 to be deployed for the purpose

The Rajasthan government is all set to introduce an air taxi service linking major tourist destinations and commercial hubs in the State.

“The proposal has been given approval by the Chief Minister and we are almost ready to operate our two State planes for the air taxi services,” Kishan Singh Verma, Director, Civil Aviation, Rajasthan government told PTI.

The government will deploy five-seater King Air C90 A and seven-seater King Air B 200 for the taxi service. The planes are used for the movement of the Governor, Chief Minister and other VIPs visiting the State.

For the five-seater plane, the fair would be Rs.50,000 per hour while Rs.70,000 per hour would be charged for flying in the seven-seater aircraft. Besides, charges for night hold, extension of ATC watch hour, (ground) handling will also be applicable.

Minimum of two hours are required for the booking.

The service will help tourist cut short their travel time by flying to various destinations including Jaisalmer, Ajmer, Jodhpur, Ranthambore, Chittorgarh, Bikaner and Udaipur.

“The idea is to boost tourism prospects as well as making a unique facility available in the State.

The service would also generate revenue for the government. We are hopeful that it will receive a good response,” he said. - PTI

DGCA grounds 3 flights for safety-norm violations

NEW DELHI, March 28, 2014, DHNS:

Deccan Herald

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday refused to allow a private chartered flight to take off from Delhi and two others in Mumbai for violating safety norms.

In Delhi, a Hawker 800 XP of SRC Aviation, which was to fly to Colombo, was not allowed to take off for several hours as DGCA officials found several safety violations, like absence of life jackets or minimum equipment list, during a search.

In Mumbai, officials held up two flights—one of L&T and the other of Poonawalla Aviation company—on the same grounds, said sources.

The tough action comes at a time when more and more private choppers and small aircraft are being used by political leaders across the country for poll campaigning. A week ago, the DGCA grounded a Reliance Industries-owned 14-seater Falcon 900EX and suspended its pilot for violating safety norms. While the aircraft was released after the deficiencies were rectified, sources said the Reliance pilot has now been dismissed.

The regulator, which had also issued show-cause notices to SpiceJet on safety violations after its flight crew danced on board a flight to celebrate Holi, has also received a letter from the no-frills carrier saying it would not repeat such activities without the DGCA's permission.

The DGCA has also decided to enhance the period of pilots' licence renewal from two to five years, subject to the airlines and the cockpit crew meeting all requirements. The decision was taken at a meeting between the aviation regulator's top-brass and senior officials from all Indian carriers.

The decision to enhance the period was being taken only under the condition that the onus of carrying out all other checks and tests would lie on the airlines and their pilots. Such a move would also lessen the burden on the DGCA, which is facing a staff crunch, said officials. 

Could missing jet be in AUSTRALIA? Search for Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 extends to more than 15 countries

Mail Online Link

• Chief of Australia's Defence Force re-deploys two search planes 
• Australia among more than 15 countries where plane could be found
• Search will move to the north and west of Cocos Islands

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

PUBLISHED: 04:45 GMT, 17 March 2014 | UPDATED: 12:05 GMT, 17 March 2014

Australia has extended its search for missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 to include parts of the Indian Ocean.

Malaysia's Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein says Australia is among more than 15 countries considered to be possible locations for MH370, which has been missing since March 8, The Age reports.

Other countries in the search include Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, China, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and France.

+3

It could be anywhere: Malaysian authorities have called on Australia to broaden its search in the Indian Ocean

+3

Chief of the Australian Defence Force, General David Hurley, has re-deployed two planes in the search for MH370

'Malaysian officials are requesting assistance from these countries,' Mr Hishammuddin said.

'Officials are also asking countries to provide further assistance in the search for the aircraft including satellite data and analysis, ground search capabilities, radar data and maritime and air assets.'

The Boeing 777 was last picked up on satellite at 8.11am on March 8. Authorities are considering hijacking and piracy as possible reasons behind the plane's disappearance.

Chief of the Australian Defence Force, General David Hurley, confirmed Australia had been asked to help broaden the search area off the country's north-west coast.

'One RAAF AP-3C Orion commenced searching the Indian Ocean to the north and west of the Cocos Islands,' he said last night.

'This aircraft is expected to recover to the Cocos Islands overnight and launch from that location on Monday to maximise mission time in the expanded search area.'

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott confirmed on Monday afternoon that Australia would lead the extensive Indian Ocean search, after speaking with Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak.

'I agreed that we would do so,' Mr Abbott told Parliament.

'I offered the Malaysian Prime Minister additional maritime surveillance resources which he gratefully accepted.

'I wish to assure the House and the Australian people that Australia will do its duty in this matter.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2582373/Australia-searches-Indian-Ocean-missing-Malaysian-Airlines-flight-MH370.html#ixzz32tMl6cJV
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MALAYSIAN AIRLINES FLIGHT MH370 MISSING

Tragic news coming from Malaysia of missing Malaysian Airlines B777 with 227 passengers and 12 Crew enroute from Kuala Lumpur to China.

Our Prayers are with the families of the Pax and Crew.

‘India biggest market for biz jets in Asia Pacific’

The Hindu, Special Correspondent, February 28, 2014 12:26 IST 

India has emerged as the biggest fleet owner of business aircraft in the Asia Pacific surpassing China with business houses and high net worth individuals (HNIs) acquiring aircraft.

Even during the economic slowdown period of 2008- 12, Indian businessmen purchased 38 per cent more aircraft than the previous five years as per estimates by Beechcraft Corporation.

According to Beechcraft, a leading manufacturer of business aircraft, India has a fleet of 254 business aircraft as compared to 213 in China, 192 in Japan, 150 in Hong Kong, 66 in Malaysia, and 53 in Thailand, making it the biggest fleet owner in Asia Pacific with 15 per cent market share.

As per latest data from Beechcraft, 65 business aircraft were delivered in India between 2008 and 2012, up from 47 in the previous five years. This was compared to 119 delivered in China, 19 in Japan, 47 in Hong Kong and 10 in South Korea.

Quoting Knight Frank Wealth Report 2013, Beechcraft said the number of wealthy businessmen (HNIs) in India would double from 8,481 in 2012 to 17,032 in 2022. During the same period, the number of HNIs in China will grow 137 per cent from 10,849 to 25,660.

“Our survey of senior executives from around the world, and fund managers based in London, revealed that 96 per cent of global professional investors and senior business executives forecast growth for the Indian economy over the next five years and 41 per cent of respondents stated that this growth would be ‘significant’. About 53 per cent believe that the business aviation sector in India will grow significantly over the coming decade,” Beechcraft said. Considering this, Beechcraft has identified India as one of the most attractive markets in the world for business aviation and has committed significant investments.

“The country continues to be an exciting market for us. With significant growth in deliveries over the past decade, the country continues to show huge potential for future growth. This is why we have decided to make a significant investment in increasing our presence in India,” said Richard Emery, President, APAC and EMEA, Beechcraft, at a press conference in Mumbai.

DGCA grounds United Airlines’ plane at Mumbai airport

PTI

New Delhi: A Boeing 777 aircraft of American carrier United Airlines was grounded at Mumbai airport last night after engineers found that its right engine cover was badly damaged, official sources said today. The aircraft, operating flight UA-48 from Newark to Mumbai, arrived around 2200 hours yesterday and the engineers found the right-side engine cowl badly damaged, the sources said
.
Cowl is the cover of an aircraft engine. DGCA officials, who inspected the aircraft thereafter, grounded the plane, terming the damage as "major", the sources said, adding it was being suspected that the damage may have been caused during take-off. The damage to the aircraft was found after the passengers had disembarked and the plane was being readied for the return flight, they said.

Read more at: http://www.firstpost.com/india/dgca-grounds-united-airlines-plane-at-mumbai-airport-1402623.html?utm_source=ref_article