Indian-Aviation

Air India today announced two special schemes for passengers which would enable them to ring in 2016 in style. The promotional offers are New Year Special and Lucky First.  Under the New Year Special offer, passengers will get an all-inclusive one-way fare of Rs 5,016 for travel between the metros on flights departing between 8 pm on December 31, and 8 am on January 1, the national carrier said in a statement.  Under the second scheme, valid for travel between January 1 and 15, passengers travelling in Economy or Business class on its Boeing 777 flights on Delhi-Mumbai-Delhi sector will stand a chance to win an upgrade to First Class. A lucky draw will be held at the boarding gate before take off, it added.  Read more at:  http://economictimes.indiatimes.com

SpiceJet hopes to place order for new planes this fiscal, but it's important to "put the best foot forward" and ensure aircraft are purchased in "an optimal manner", the airline's chairman Ajay Singh said today.  Getting the order "right" is important since these planes will be with SpiceJet for 10-15 years, Singh, under whose stewardship the carrier is on a revival path, said.  Noting that the response to RFP (Request for Proposal) for new aircraft is being evaluated, Singh said "we will take the best decision in the interest of the company". "We hope that we can do it in this financial year... It is important to get it right. It is not important whether you do it in one or two months. Let's get it right," he said.  "These orders will stay with SpiceJet for 10-15 years and we must put our best foot forward and make sure we buy these planes in an optimal manner." Currently, SpiceJet has some 41...

Low-cost air carrier SpiceJet today said its shareholders have approved a proposal to raise funds worth up to Rs 5,000 crore.  The shareholders, at the company's 31st Annual General Meeting held here yesterday, also approved the appointment of promoter Ajay Singh and his wife Shivani Singh as directors, the company said in a regulatory filing.  Besides, the shareholders have also given their nod to the appointment of R Sasiprabhu as an Independent Director of the Company, it said. Singh, earlier a co-founder of SpiceJet in 2005, took back its control after acquiring the entire 58.46 per cent stake of Kalanithi Maran and Kal Airways Pvt Ltd in February this year.  His holding in the company currently stands at 60.32 per cent. Singh, earlier a co-founder of SpiceJet in 2005, took back its control after acquiring the entire 58.46 per cent stake of Kalanithi Maran and Kal Airways Pvt Ltd in February this year.  The shareholders also approved th...

Russia's Rostech State Corporation has tied up with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for manufacture of at least 200 Kamov 226T light helicopters to replace the ageing fleet of Cheetah and Chetak, in a deal estimated to be worth USD one billion under 'Make in India' initiative. "The agreement with India is the result of the long work with our Indian partners," CEO of Rostec, Sergei Chemezov, said. "The organization for the manufacture of helicopters is provided by the creation of a Russian-Indian joint venture in India, which includes holdings of Rostec-JSC 'Rosoboronexport' and 'Russian Helicopters", and on the India side the corporation 'HAL' (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited)," he said. This is the first Russian-Indian high-tech project implemented by the Indian government within the framework of the 'Make in India' programme. During the recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Moscow, an agreement was signe...

मलेशिया एयरलाइंस की एक फ्लाइट टेक ऑफ के बाद गलत डायरेक्शन में उड़ गई। हैरानी की बात यह है कि आठ मिनट तक उड़ने के बाद पायलट को अहसास हुआ कि प्लेन गलत डायरेक्शन में जा रहा है। उसने फौरन एयर ट्रैफिक कंट्रोलर से संपर्क किया। ये स्थिति तब है, जब 2014 में एयरलाइंस दो बड़े हादसों का गवाह बना था। मामले की जांच के दिए आदेश - न्यूजीलैंड की एयर नेविगेशन सर्विस प्रोवाइडर 'एयरवेज कॉरपोरेशन' ने बताया कि एक सेफ्टी टीम को मामले की जांच सौंपी गई है। - न्यूजीलैंड और साउथ पेसिफिक एटीसी ऑर्गेनाइजेशन के स्पोक्सपर्सन ने कहा, 'एयरलाइन की ओर से दी गई फ्लाइट प्लान में अलग रूट से होकर कुआलालंपुर जाना था, जबकि पायलट अलग रूट उम्मीद कर रहा था।' - स्पोक्सपर्सन का कहना है कि आखिर कन्फ्यूजन कहां हुई, इस बात को लेकर जांच की जा रही है। एयरलाइंस ने क्या कहा? - मलेशिया एयरलाइंस के एक स्पोक्सपर्सन ने कहा, 'हमारी फ्लाइट MH132 को एयरलाइंस के ऑपरेशन्स डिस्पैच सेंटर से फ्लाइट प्लान दिया गया था, जबकि ऑकलैंड एटीसी को पुराना प्लान दे दिया गया।' - स्पोक्सपर्सन ने यह भी कहा, 'फ्लाइट...

After the freak accident at Mumbai airport claimed superintendent service engineer Ravi Subramanian’s life, a maintenance manager from the airport has pointed out serious mistakes committed by the pilots, in an email written to Air India’s senior officials in Delhi. While the mail reveals a ‘lack of proper coordination between the two pilots and the ground staff,’ cops investigating the case have not taken any action against the pilots.  In the mail, titled ‘A black day in the history of Indian aviation,’ Pradeep Singh Rawat has pointed at the ‘grey areas of the tragedy’ on bay 28L after speaking to Subramanian’s colleagues. The incident allegedly took place while Subramanian was looking over the departure of Air India’s Airbus 319 aircraft. He was wearing headphones and was present at the spot with a pushcart loader named ET Shinde. The flight (AI-619) was being pushed back for departure to Hyderabad.  After the pushback was completed, Subramanian had instructed S...

The Ministry of Civil Aviation’s proposal on a subsidy to popularise airlines on non-metro routes by bringing down the cost of air travel has come as a ray of hope for the commencement of flights from Bathinda airport. The airport is ready but it is lying unused for the past three years. Rakesh Kalra, regional executive director in the Airport Authority of India (Northern Region), said, “Bathinda airport will definitely benefit under the mandate from the Prime Minister as a part of the National Civil Aviation Policy to assist the common masses to fly. “Many airports like ours are fully equipped to take load of commercial flights. These can come to life.” The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has spent Rs 25 crore for constructing a civil enclave adjoining Bhisiana Air Force Station. Except for the existing building of the AAI, the runway, air traffic and emergency services are in the domain of the Air Force. Despite repeated assurances by Cabinet minister Harsimrat Ka...

“Should I blame the weather or the machine,” asked an inconsolable Neeraj Kumar, minutes after the BSF aircraft crash on December 22 that claimed the life of his brother, BSF Deputy Commandant Dhirendra Kumar. He wasn’t the only one who had raised doubts about the health of the BSF’s aircraft — the families of others on board the ill-fated plane and experts had asked similar questions. How good or bad really are the BSF’s planes and choppers, regularly used by VIPs and for operations in Naxal areas? And should the BSF have had its own fleet at all when the Indian Air Force can fulfill its operational needs? Why a BSF Air Wing? The BSF Air Wing came into existence in 1969, four years after the force was raised, for quick movement of small units of troops along the western and eastern border of the country. It started with a single Queen Air C-80 aircraft. In 1974, the fleet was expanded and made to serve the needs of other paramilitary forces as well. Since then, the fleet ha...

SpiceJet  on Tuesday launched SpiceVacations.com to offer customised travel packages to passengers. Air India, Jet Airways, GoAir and IndiGo sell holiday packages too and this forms a source of ancillary revenue. Ancillary revenue includes sale of food and beverages, air miles and merchandise, fees for seat selection and use of lounges, and advertising on aircraft and products. SpiceJet said that thousands of tour packages are on offer including pilgrimage tours. SpiceVacations.com will also enable customers to hold a booking up to 48 hours upon payment of a refundable deposit. "SpiceVacations.com has been designed as a one-stop shop offering enviable travel deals for you to pick and choose from amongst the best the industry can offer and its unique customization features adds that extra finesse to your planning exercise enabling you to experience the perfect holiday every single time." said Ajay Singh, chairperson, SpiceJet. Source:  http://www.business-standard.co...

GoAir  is evaluating destinations such as Kuwait, Male (Maldives) and Tehran for its planned international foray next year. According to sources, the airline is looking at limited international operations  from Mumbai and Delhi in the next summer schedule when its inducts its 20th aircraft. At present, GoAir has 19  Airbus A320  aircraft. It has also ordered 72 A320neo, which will be added to the fleet when deliveries start next year. It has had the slowest fleet growth among its peers with an average addition of two planes a year. It has been unable to launch international flights till now because the rules require airlines to be in operation for five years and to possess 20 aircraft in their fleet for overseas flights. GoAir did not respond to an e-mail query on the topic. Last month, the airline's chief executive, Wolfgang Prock Schauer, had told Business Standard: "We are looking at starting overseas operations after we become eligible next year. We ar...