‘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

US FAA downgrades DGCA over aviation safety fears

Saurabh Sinha,TNN | Jan 31, 2014, 01.34 PM IST

NEW DELHI: Exposing the gross inadequacy of our aviation regulator to ensure safe air travel here, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has downgraded India's aviation safety ranking. 

India has now been put in category II of safety ranking, from category 1 that directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) was in earlier. 

The decision was conveyed to DGCA's new chief Prabhat Kumar by an FAA delegation on Friday. The downgrade means that Indian carriers will now not be able to add flights to US. Also aircraft of Indian airlines that fly there — Air India and Jet Airways — can be be held indefinitely for checks there, which will make it difficult for them to adhere to schedule. 

The first to be hit could be Air India which is supposed to join Star Alliance this summer. A number of US carriers are also part of this alliance but American laws prohibit them from entering into commercial relations like code share — a vital part of an alliance. So now if they will be able to do so with AI or not remains to be seen. Jet already has a code share with United. 

India had for years been trying to evade a downgrade by US FAA due to the serious implications of such a move on Indian carriers by making tall claims on strengthening DGCA. But all that was mainly on paper and in reality the government has struggled to find someone to even head the regulatory agency. 

After a recent audit last year, FAA found 33 inadequacies in the DGCA. 

Like in the past, the government this time also tried to get away by making tall claims but the FAA did not buy the same now. 

"This is a true reflection of the DGCA. Unlike the past when India and US ties wee very good and hence DGCA avoided a downgrade, the relations are not so strong now and hence the move. This will have very serious implications for Indian airlines," said a source. 

The current category II ranking of India means that DGCA does not meet the norms of International Civil Aviation Organization standards in areas like technical expertise, trained personnel and record-keeping or inspection procedures. 

Aviation minister Ajit Singh will brief the media on Friday afternoon on the issue.

AEROTECH FMS MOVES TO A NEW OFFICE

Kindly Update the new Address:

Aerotech FMS Pvt. Ltd.

TF-10C, Vasant Square Mall,

Vasant Kunj,

New Delhi-110070

Tel. +91-11-46000533

Fax +91-11-46000522 / +91-9717769944

AEROTECH FMS MOVES TO A NEW OFFICE

Kindly Update the new Address:

Aerotech FMS Pvt. Ltd.

TF-10C, Vasant Square Mall,

Vasant Kunj,

New Delhi-110070

Tel. +91-11-46000533

Fax +91-11-46000522 / +91-9717769944

Tata Sons-Singapore Airlines carrier plans to launch operations by June next year

ET Bureau Oct 26, 2013, 01.09AM IST

MUMBAI: The Tata Sons-Singapore Airlines carrier which got a nod from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board on Thursday aims to launch operations by May-June 2014, its chairman said on Friday. Also, Tata Group's chairman emeritus Ratan Tata said the company will look at Air India, if the government decides to put it up for privatisation. "We hope we will be able to launch by May-June 2014," said Prasad Menon, chairman of the airline venture.

http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-10-26/news/43415763_1_singapore-airlines-aviation-minister-ajit-singh-tata-sons-singapore

Chief Electoral Officer meets airport authorities

The Hindu
NEW DELHI, October 15, 2013
Staff Reporter

Flying into the Capital with more than Rs.10 lakh in cash and over a kilogram gold can lead to scrutiny by the Election Commission. With the model code of conduct in full force in the city, the Chief Electoral Officer met with various airport authorities on Monday, including the Airports Authority of India (AAI), Bureau of Civil Aviation, CISF and Delhi Police, to look into suspicious transactions through the air route. “Basically, the meeting was to ensure that all directions laid down by the Election Commission of India are adhered to and there is no flow of arms and ammunitions, contraband substances, more than Rs.10 lakh in cash or over one kg of gold into the city,” said Chief Electoral Officer Vijay Dev.

Info. on flights

“We have also requested regular information on chartered flights taken by politicians through which money and other goods may be brought through and have asked for flight plans,” he added. Similarly, the CISF have been given strict instructions to scrutinise packages.

The airport authorities and security agencies have been asked to seize and confiscate any suspicious item and immediately intimate the Electoral Office. “They have been told not to release information on anything seized without intimating us,” said Mr. Dev.

The CEO has also roped in the Income Tax Department and the Excise Department to keep a vigil at the airport.