Instructions relating to grant of Visa to crew of non-scheduled airlines and chartered flights and issue of Temporary Landing Permits (TLPs)

MHA issued fresh intructions on its Website for grant of TLP to the crew.

http://mha.nic.in/pdfs/TLP_050913.pdf

TOURIST VISA-ON-ARRIVAL FACILITY

NEWS FROM MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS WEBSITE


Tourist Visa-on-Arrival facility was earlier available at 04 International airports viz Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. to nationals of 11 countries viz. New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, Finland, Luxem Bourg,  Phillippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Indonesia, Myanmar.  It has now been decided to extend the
facility of Tourist Visa-on-Arrival at four additional airports viz. Trivandrum, Bangalore, Hyderabad & Kochi. w.e.f 15.08.2013.  The grant of a Tourist Visa-onArrival shall be regulated as per the guidelines prescribed in Chapter 3.10 of the Visa Manual. These instructions shall come into force with effect from 15.08.2013.

SEYCHELLES: Air Force takes delivery of first Do-228 Patrol aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautics.

AEROTECH FMS PROUD TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH DELIVERING OF FIRST DORNIER 228 TO SEYCHELLES
http://www.theafricanaviationtribune.com/2013/04/seychelles-air-force-takes-delivery-of.html

The African Aviation Tribune, April 28, 2013

The Seychelles Air Force has taken delivery of a Dornier 228 patrol aircraft following a donation from the government of India as agreed to under an agreement signed between the two nations in 2011 in which India would provide a once-off grant of USD28.79 million for the supply of the maritime aircraft.  A further aircraft is due in 2014.

The SAF Do228 in Bangalore (FGWalt)

The Seychelles Air Force (SAF) Commander, Major Michael Pouponneau, has said the Dornier's arrival is a major boost to the Indian Ocean island's maritime patrol and anti-piracy drive as the aircraft is equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry, loud-hailers, radar equipment and night-vision cameras.

As part of the deal, four Seychellois pilots have already been to Hindustan Aeronautics' main headquarters in Kanpur, where the Dornier are made under licence, for flight crew training.

The Seychelles Nation says that since February 2011, the Indian government has helped Seychelles with the use of a similar aircraft, based in Seychelles, along with a 30-man Indian Navy detachment, to help patrol the Seychelles’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) for anti-piracy efforts at the request of President James Michel.

AI hit by new crisis as ICPA serves notice

The Hindu : NEW DELHI, September 18, 2012
SUJAY MEHDUDIA

Great injustice to pilots if AI alters FDTL without consulting us: ICPA

The Air India management and the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA), part of the erstwhile Indian, are headed for a confrontation as the latter served a legal notice on the former for changing the flying duty hours in an “arbitrary” manner.

This comes after a 58-day strike by the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) about two months ago which impacted the international operations of Air India.

In the notice, the ICPA pointed out that Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) was an integral part of the service conditions as it clearly states the number of hours a pilot is supposed to fly in a fixed time period.

The notice states that starting with the settlement entered in 1993, the terms of the FDTL applicable to the ICPA have been revised regularly; first in 2001 and again in 2006.

“The agreements were further continued by virtue of the documents of the merger of 2007, most particularly the scheme of amalgamation, which provided that the pilots would not be subject to conditions less favourable to those existing at that point of time. Pilots came across news reports that the company is to unilaterally alter the FDTL without in any way consulting the ICPA. We believe that great injustice is being meted out to them by way of the proposed action. All the settlements are within the knowledge of both the company and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and, therefore, no unilateral alternation is permissible,” the notice states.

Pilots were not aware of the norms and regulations of the new scheme. Under these circumstances, any inadvertent violation on the part of pilots of the applicable norms and regulations is entirely at the risk and expense of the management, the statement says.

The notice comes after Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh asked the airline to strictly implement the FDTL and flying time limitations as per DGCA guidelines.

Aviation Ministry study

A recent study by the Ministry found that Air India pilots were flying just six-and-half hours a day against the laid down norm of nine hours.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/article3909041.ece#.UFg9xNbAM1c.blogger

The Hindu : News / International : Kabul suicide bomber kills at least 9 in revenge for anti-Islam film

The Hindu : News / International : Kabul suicide bomber kills at least 9 in revenge for anti-Islam film

The Hindu : Business / Industry : Oil firms cut jet fuel price by Rs. 622 per kl

The Hindu : Business / Industry : Oil firms cut jet fuel price by Rs. 622 per kl

DGCA & DRI investigating corporates for customs evasion while using foreign-registered aircraft

27 Dec, 2011, 10.14AM IST, Deepshikha SikarwarDeepshikha Sikarwar,ET Bureau

 

NEW DELHI: Flying around in private planes registered overseas may be convenient and perhaps even fashionable in India Inc, but the country's aviation regulator and premier tax investigating agency are determined to force a crash-landing to possible misuses in this growing corporate fad.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) are investigating whether corporate groups and tycoons regularly using such foreign-registered aircraft within the country have complied with Customs rules applicable on the use of such planes, both in letter and spirit.

These rules bar foreign-registered aircraft from being kept in the country for more than six months, lest they attract import duties.

But the authorities say many of these planes are predominantly used in India, flown out to neighbouring countries before the six-month period and brought back again for use in India, avoiding paying Customs duty in the process.

"The DGCA had raised this issue... The DRI looked into the matter and has now initiated an investigation," said an official with the aviation regulator. A Customs department official confirmed that the DRI had initiated a formal investigation.

The DRI recently issued a show-cause notice to Bharat Hotels, owners of Lalit hotels, as part of its investigation into the use of foreign-registered aircraft within the country, a move that culminated in the company choosing to settle with the Customs authorities by paying .`21 crore as duty in cash and bank guarantees.

The company did not respond to ET's queries despite numerous reminders. The agency, which started looking into the issue after the DGCA wrote to the finance and civil aviation ministries in April this year about possible abuse of laws in the use of such aircraft, is working with a list that contains around a dozen corporate names.

This list, prepared by the aviation regulator, also details the type of aircraft and their usage patterns. The DGCA had been keeping a close watch on flight schedules and movements of many such aircraft. Many of the industrial groups named in the list told ET that they were in full compliance with the rules.