Aviation PSUs to be rated against set goals in new review system
The aviation ministry is to start reviewing the performance of public sector undertakings (PSUs) under its aegis on a balance scorecard methodology, the favoured form in private enterprises, starting next month, doing away with the conventional ways of reviewing PSU performance. “We are trying to institute a disciplined performance management system using the balance scorecard methodology. Over the last three months we have worked with each of the Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) to develop a balance scorecard that provides a comprehensive assessment of short-term and longterm performance. This will be reviewed by the ministry on a monthly basis,” minister of state for aviation Jayant Sinha told ET. Under the balanced scorecard methodology, an organisation’s performance is monitored against strategic goals on the basis of a few listed criteria. In this case, all PSUs under the aviation ministry will be reviewed under 8-10 criteria. From now on, the ministry, which used to measure Air India’s on-time performance, will also review factors leading to it – like aircraft availability, seasonal factors and other reasons leading to OTP. The new review model has been suggested by Sinha, an investment banker turned politician. The first review of all three PSUs under the ministry — Air India, Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Pawan Hans Helicopters — will be done by Union Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapati Raju and Sinha in January next year. An Air India official explained that this move will help in simplifying a lot of things and surely help improve “The personnel department of the airline had made a format for a similar kind of review plan a couple of years ago but that was never implemented. This initiative of the ministry will help the airline in increasing its efficiency in the long run,” a senior airline executive, who did not want to be identified, added. The official said there are a lot of instances when poor coordination between two departments has led to inefficiencies. “While the engineering department has to provide planes, the commercial department has to fill planes with passengers. Now, a slight coordination glitch within the two departments has the potential to impact operations badly. With the ministry reviewing it, it will improve coordination between departments and improve efficiency.” the official added. Carlton Fisk Womens Jersey
Sky is the limit in Mysuru
Bengaluru has four airports to Mysuru’s one, but it is the latter that got the tourism department’s nod as the destination for skydiving as a part of its adventure tourism. The heritage city was found to be more conducive in terms of airspace and weather conditions. More importantly, it was the one identified as a safe drop zone for skydivers. Three airports situated within a radius of 20 km – Kempegowda International Airport near Devanahalli, Air Force Station at Yelahanka and the Jakkur aerodrome – in north Bengaluru lost the race because of “having a very busy airspace” in the area. The HAL airport does not entertain any adventure sporting activity. A Delhi-based firm, Skyriders, has been organising the spectacular sport at the Mysuru airport since November 2012, especially during Dasara. Last year, Skyriders purchased a four-seater aeroplane for operations here, after obtaining all the required clearances. According to the company director Dr Aanchal Khurana, the initial response has been good and it hopes to organise 100 jumps a month from February.
Nashik Inc invites pvt, public airlines to start flights
Industrialists from Nashik on Thursday invited private and public airlines to commence their services from the Ozar airport, around 20km from the city. At a meeting called by the state government in Mumbai on Thursday, the Nashik Industries and Manufacturers’ Association (NIMA) invited airlines like Air India and Jet Airways to commence their air services from the Ozar airport. The meeting was attended by principal secretary of civil aviation Shyam Lal Goel, respresentatives of Air India, Jet Airways and a few small airlines. Also present were local MP Hemant Godse, vice-chairman of Maharashtra Airport Development Committee Vishwas Patil and NIMA office-bearer Manish Rawal. Incidentally, Goel and Air India officials will visit the Ozar airport in the first week of January to check the viability of air service from Nashik. Speaking to TOI, H S Banerjee, president of NIMA, said, “Presently, the Union government has already invited bids from some airlines under the Regional Connectivity Scheme, for which January 9 is the last day. We had a meeting with the airline representatives where Air India and Jet Airways were invited to commence air services from Nashik.” Julien Davenport Jersey
Airports In India May Soon Have Biometric Security Checks: Civil Aviation Minister
Fliers may soon be able to use biometric details for security checks at airports as the government works on putting in place such systems after receiving ‘good feedback’ for a pilot project. Giving strong indications, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said that having biometric systems for passengers at airports appear to be a good idea. The innovative idea, close on the heels of authorities doing away with tagging requirement of hand baggages at select airports, comes at a time when efforts are being made to ensure that aviation security procedures are more efficient and less intrusive. “Biometric access was experimented at Hyderabad (airport). The feedback was good… Biometric system is appearing to be a good system security-wise,” Mr Raju told news agency PTI in an interview. Authorities have carried out a short duration pilot project using biometric system at Hyderabad international airport recently. The exact details on how it is used could not be immediately ascertained. Mark Giordano Jersey
Erumely airport: Study finds two estates as suitable locations
IndoHeritage International Aeropolis Pvt Limited, the promoters of the Erumely airport project, has submitted a feasibility study report on the project proposal in Pathanamthitta to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The study, conducted in five estates in Pathanamthitta by an US-based agency , AECOM, has observed Cheruvalli and Laha estates as preferred locations for the project. “The report has been submitted before the chief minister for the principal approval of the state government. The state government has reacted positively to the project and the decision has to be taken on the land for the project. Either the government should take over the land and hand over to us or we should purchase the land,” said Rajeev Joseph, managing director of Indo-Heritage International Aeropolis Pvt Limited The feasibility study was conducted in Laha, Cheruvalli, Kumbazha, Kalleli and Kuttikkal estates. The report said that the best suitable location for the airport project was Cheruvalli estate. Since there are some cases related to Cheruvalli estate, the report has observed that the airport project could be executed in Laha estate as well. “In case of any legal issue in taking over the land from these two estates, then the third alternative will be Kumbazha estate.This is the same agency which is currently executing the Kannur airport project,” said Joseph. J.J. Hardy Jersey
Indigo added most number of flights during 2016
IndiGo, the largest carrier in terms of market share and capacity, added the most number of flights during the first eleven months of 2016 and will continue to add higher capacity than its peers, ICICI Securities said in a report. “This is best illustrated with the Available Seat per Kilometre (ASK) trends for IndiGo/SpiceJet and Jet. So, while total ASK for IndiGo has increased by 30% between Jan-Nov’16, the same has been only 13% for SpiceJet and 3% for Jet. Capacity addition by IndiGo will only increase during 2HFY17 as induction of neos gather more pace,” merchant banking and advisory firm ICICI Securities said in a report on aviation. IndiGo is the largest domestic carrier in the country both in terms of capacity as well as market share. During the month of November, the airline carried 42.1% passengers, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation data. The firm also said that IndiGo’s expansion has been higher than projected. “IndiGo reported Available Seat Kilometre (ASK) growth of 25% Y-Y in Q1FY17 compared to a guidance of 23%. Similarly, the ASK growth in Q2FY17 has been 27% for IndiGo compared to guidance of 25%. During October-November, IndiGo recorded an ASK growth of with 34% Y-Y compared to a guidance of 30% for Q3/Q4FY17,” said the firm. The firm, however, raised concerns over a sharp decline in on-Time Performance (OTP) of IndiGo. “There has been a sharp decline in OTP for IndiGo to 72.4%, lowest in more than last two years. While this could be due to fog related disruptions in the winter, with even higher capacity addition planned during the remainder of FY17, the OTP performance could remain under pressure for IndiGo and will be keenly watched,” it said. Cornellius Carradine Jersey
Civil Aviation Ministry extends validity of regular AEPs till March 2017
In a relief to airlines and airport operators, Civil Aviation Ministry has extended the validity of the regular Aerodrome Entry Passes (AEP) by three months to March next year, amid the process of rolling out of biometric access control system (BACS)at 48 airports in the country. As part of the regulations, airline and airport executives, and others working there have to get their AEPs renewed annually. “Validity of all regular aerodrome entry passes (AEP) except for temporary AEPs and AEPs issued to the ground handling agents, which are expiring on December 31, 2016, has been extended up to March 31, 2017 without any endorsement in the existing AEPs,” the Ministry said in its communication to all regional directors at BCAS. Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), which is the apex aviation security body, has the mandate to issue all categories of AEPs to the airlines and airports employees. BCAS has regional offices at eight locations-Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Amritsar and Hyderabad. Temporary AEPs and AEPs issued to the bonafide employees of all ground handling agencies shall be dealt with the existing guidelines and instructions issued by the BCAS headquarters from time to time, it said. As part of efforts to strengthen the overall security framework at airports amid rising threat perception for the aviation sector, AAI is putting in such access control systems at the airports. It has recently awarded more than Rs 110 crore worth contract to the public sector firm Broadcasting Engineering Consultants India Ltd (BECIL) for providing biometric-based access control systems at 43 airports. AAI manages 125 airports, including 11 international and 81 domestic aerodromes. Five airports — at Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Nagpur — are run by joint ventures. All the JV airports are also in the final phase of awarding contracts for BACS. Once the BACS is in place, then the employees would also be provide. ArDarius Stewart Jersey
Haryana to have direct access to international airport
The Air Force authorities have agreed to the Haryana’s demand for direct connectivity of the state to the international airport. Haryana will now have an access to the airport through an underpass on the National Highway-21. The development is significant as travelling time to reach the international airport from Panchkula side will be reduced by nearly 20 minutes. Currently, the passengers from Haryana side have to go to Mohali side for reaching the airport. The information was provided to a Division Bench of the High Court. The Bench was told that a consensus on an underpass was reached in a joint meeting of the Indian Air Force, the Airport Authority of India and the state governments of Punjab and Haryana. Haryana was demanding direct connectivity with the airport through an underpass from NH-21. For the purpose, it had sent a proposal to the Defence Ministry. But following objections from the Air Force authorities on the directions of an underpass, it could not be matured. Taylor Lewan Jersey
Put aviation sector in lowest slab of proposed GST: Business Aircraft Operators Association
Private and Business jets operators’ body BAOA today said that industry needs greater fiscal support from the government in view of the jet fuel prices expected to move northwards and demanded that the aviation sector be put in the lowest slab of the proposed GST regime. The Goods and Services Tax (GST), which the government intends to roll out from April 1, 2017, is to subsume central excise, service tax and state VAT among other indirect levies on manufactured goods and services. The GST Council has finalised a four-tier tax structure — 5, 12, 18 and 28 per cent. “Business Aircraft Operators Association (BAOA) expects the finalised GST structure to treat aviation in the most favourable way by classifying it in the lowest slab,” the Association said in its budget wish-list to the Government today. The lowest tax rates in the GST would help the industry optimally meet the ever growing demand from Indian public for affordable air travel options, it said. “With ATF prices likely to go northwards due to the recent decision of OPEC to cap production output, the industry needs greater fiscal support from the government to optimally meet the ever growing demand from Indian public for affordable air travel options,” it said. BAOA, which claims to be the unified voice of business and general aviation, has, among others, Reliance Industries, Tata Group, Aditya Birla Group, DLF, and Essar Group as its members. As many as 78 non-scheduled operator permit holders are part of this grouping. The Association, in report, titled Business Aviation in India, released early this month had said that business aviation in India continued to perform below its potential. “In sharp contrast to the growth of scheduled airlines, business aviation has registered a meagre 2 per cent growth over the last 5 years…a vibrant business aviation industry would lead to overall economic prosperity by way of superior efficiencies and faster growth leading to new jobs and higher incomes,” it has stated. The report had also urged the Government to accord the business aviation industry its rightful place, and thereby reap manifold economic benefits. Stating that the aviation sector in India remains most challenging due to high cost inputs in every activity, the Association today said it looks forward to government rationalising duty structure for all public air transportation system inclusively by not treating non-scheduled operators differently. Michael Rasmussen Authentic Jersey
Govt defends in HC its stand to levy Rs 7500-8500 per flight
The proposal to levy Rs 7500 to Rs 8500 per flight operated by Indian carriers to create a fund to develop regional airports was defended today by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in the Delhi High Court. Terming as “misconceived” a plea challenging the scheme, a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal were further told that the policy would eventually lead to the growth of the civil aviation sector as whole. “The government has proposed to take flying to the masses by making them affordable and convenient. For example, if every Indian in the middle class income bracket takes just one flight in a year, it would result in a sale of 35 crore tickets, a big jump from seven crore domestic tickets sold in 2014-15,” the ministry and the DGCA said in a joint affidavit. “This will be possible if air fare, especially on the regional routes, are brought down to an affordable level.” The reduction in costs will require concessions by the central and state governments and airport operators, the affidavit said. The ministry and DGCA’s response came in the backdrop of a plea by Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) which has said that while the scheme allows it to pass on the levy to the passengers, it cannot do so as it is not a fee for which the carriers are rendering any service to the flyers. The FIA, which represents scheduled carriers like Indigo, GoAir, Spicejet and Jet Airways, has sought quashing of the October 21 notification inserting the rule for imposing the levy as well as the November 9 order declaring rates of levy and the categories of the scheduled flights on which they would be imposed. Steve Grogan Authentic Jersey