PIA cancels flights to northern cities over Indo-Pak tensions
Pakistan’s national flag carrier PIA today cancelled flights to northern Pakistani cities due to “air space restrictions” in the wake of Uri terrorist attack. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) called off flights to Gilgit and Skardu in Gilgit-Baltistan region in Pakistan- occupied-Kashmir (PoK) and Chitral in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. “As per directives of CAA (Civil Aviation Authority), the air space over Northern areas will remain closed on Wednesday. Inconvenience regretted,” PIA spokesperson Danyal Gilani said on Twitter. He did not give any reason for closure of air space but officials said that Pakistani warplanes might be in the air to keep vigil due to Indo-Pak tensions after the Uri attack. Eighteen soldiers were killed and over a dozen others injured as heavily armed militants stormed a battalion headquarters of the Indian Army in North Kashmir’s Uri town early Sunday. Four militants involved in the terror strike were killed by the Army. Taurean Prince Jersey
20 airports ready for regional flights: AAI chief
As the Centre finalises the contours for the ambitious ‘Regional Air Connectivity’ scheme, the Airports Authority of India today said as many as 20 un-utilised airports were ready to start operations for regional flights. Another 30 airports can be made ready for operations under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) by making “some investments”, AAI Chairman Guruprasad Mohapatra said. Under the scheme, announced in the new civil aviation policy, the ministry has proposed capping fares at Rs 2,500 for one-hour flights on un-served and under-served routes besides various financial concessions for airlines. Speaking to reporters here, Mohapatra said 20 unutilised airports owned by AAI were ready from where flights under RCS can take off. He said the government plans to have no-frills airports for regional air services and AAI was studying the design parameters for such aerodromes. RCS refers to operation of an air transport service between any two airports, of which at least one has been declared by the Central government as un-served or under-served, according to the draft rules. There are 394 un-served and 16 under-served airports in the country. Under-served aerodromes are those which have less than seven flights a week. Under the new civil aviation policy, the Airports Authority of India would be the nodal agency for implementation of RCS. Mohapatra said cost of setting up an airport depends on the size. “Today the construction cost is about Rs 1,00,000-1,10,000 per sq metre of the terminal building,” he said. About Juhu airport in Mumbai that is at present used for helicopter operations, he said AAI has appointed a consultant to study the feasibility of using the runway for non-scheduled flight operations. The AAI chief added that since runway extension from one side was not possible due to land constraints, various other options including extending the runway into the sea, were being explored. Rod Carew Womens Jersey
22 underserved airports ready for operations, says AAI
About 22 airports to get connected under regional connectivity scheme in the first phase, Airports Authority of India (AAI) Chairman G P Mohapatra told media persons today. “In the first phase, there are 22 airports that are already in place and flights can start as and when airlines plan to,” said Mohapatra. About 22 airports include one is in Andaman Nicobar, three in Assam, two each in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan. As part of the plan, the government plans to connect these underserved airports to key airports through flights that will cost Rs 2,500 for per hour flight. The government plans to provide subsidy to airlines to offer these fares. Mohapatra also said that AAI would invest Rs 17,500 crore in upgrading airport infrastructure over a period till 2019-20. “The amount we will invest will be generated through internal accruals. We may require to need money at a later stage and may raise money from outside,” he added. The money to be spent will be on upgrade in building airport terminals and expanding runways at many existing airports. The money would also be invested in upgrading 30 smaller airports for regional flights. AAI also plans to build 50 no-frills airports across the country. Trey Flowers Womens Jersey
AAI expects bid documents for Jaipur,Ahmedabad airports by November
Airports Authority of India (AAI) plans to come out with documents for seeking bids from private players for operating and managing terminals at Jaipur and Ahmedabad aerodromes by November, months after rejecting a proposal in this regard from Singapore’s Changi Airport. Seeking to revive the long pending plans to hand over the terminals of the two airports to private players, AAI Chairman Guruprasad Mohapatra on Tuesday said the proposal is to go for public private partnership. “We have to go to the Finance ministry since these are the PPP projects. We are working this out and hope the proposal goes to the Finance Ministry by this month end,” he said here. Mohapatra said that AAI expects to float the bid documents, which would also be open for foreign entities, by November. This year, AAI rejected twice Singapore’s Changi Airport’s proposal to operate and maintain Jaipur and Ahmedabad airports. The proposal to rope in Singapore’s Changi airport for the projects was first floated during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the island nation last November. The revised plan from Changi Airport, owned by the Singapore government, also sought a “higher” quantum of revenue in managing Jaipur and Ahmedabad aerodromes. This is “unfeasible” and not commercially viable for AAI, sources had said earlier.
To boost regional connectivity, government may allow regional airlines to fly with one aircraft
In an attempt to make it easier for airlines that fly regional routes, the government is likely to allow them to fly for two years with just one aircraft. This will be part of aviation rules being formulated for scheduled commercial airlines — carriers that will also operate on regional routes under the government’s regional connectivity plans that aim at flying on such routes at the rate of Rs 2,500 per hour of flight. “Unlike rules for regional and national airlines, which have to increase their fleet size to three and five aircraft, respectively, within a period of one year, the scheduled commuter airlines will be allowed two years to increase their fleet size. The extra one year will provide that comfort level to these new airlines,” said an aviation ministry official, who did not want to be identified. These rules are being formulated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation as part of the rules that will govern scheduled commuters airlines. The government, in June this year, had approved a regional connectivity scheme that aims to connect unserved airports in the country through flights with fixed fares atRs 2,500 for per hour of flight. Analysts believe that the government needs to also work on ensuring lower lease rentals for scheduled commuter airlines. “Other than the traffic risk in unused regional airports, potential RCS operators also face non-availability or high cost of leased aircraft. Leasing cost can be as high as 25-30% of the total operating cost of a small aircraft. Given this scenario, lowering the entry barrier and allowing single aircraft owners to register as Scheduled Commuter Operator (SCO) under RCS is a winwin proposition. The idle capacity available with NSOPs in India can be hitherto utilised to connect India’s interiors and the owners can earn additional revenue through the RCS subsidy, code shares and seat trading,” said Amber Dubey, partner and India head of aerospace and defence at global consultancy KPMG. Business Aircraft Operator’s Association of India (BAOA), however, says that the government should also ensure that the non-scheduled airport operators are allowed to fly on regional routes and simpler rules should be made to allow airlines to convert to scheduled commuter airlines category. A senior aviation ministry official said he has received a lot of queries from people, who want to launch scheduled commuter airlines. “I have received a lot of queries from business people, who want to launch new airlines. I would not like to name them now,” said the official, who did not want to be identified. Meanwhile, the government is also looking at launching first set of regional flights through Air India and SpiceJet, as these two already have suitable aircraft in their fleet to launch the project and provide air connectivity to towns and small cities. Both these airlines have 70-seater aircraft in their fleet. John Lynch Jersey
24 per cent growth in domestic air passenger traffic in August
Domestic air passenger traffic rose nearly 24 per cent in August to 83.81 lakh passengers from 67.60 lakh registered during the same period last year, according to official data, released today. The domestic air travel demand during the January-August period of this year, however, surged 23.14 per cent to 644.68 lakh fliers as compared to 523.55 lakh passengers flown by the domestic carriers in the same period of 2015. Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju, in a tweet, said that the 24 per cent growth in domestic air passenger traffic in August was the highest across the aviation markets. “Another month of record growth for Indian aviation. August records 24% – highest worldwide,” Raju tweeted. The DGCA data showed that no-frills carrier IndiGo carried the most number of passengers at 33.41 lakh with a market share touching almost 40 per cent, while another budget carrier SpiceJet had the highest passenger load factor (PLF) during the month under review at 93.2 percent. National carrier Air India also flew a total of 12.25 lakh passenger during August 2016 with a market share of 14.6 per cent, the lowest so far this year. Hampus Lindholm Jersey
NAL feels time is ripe to inject funds into its 70-90 seater aircraft
The Bengaluru-based National Aerospace Laboratories’ (NAL) efforts to make a 70-90 seater aircraft in India has got a new impetus with the emphasis that the new civil aviation policy lays on enhancing regional air connectivity and the Modi government’s emphasis on ‘Make in India’. NAL has already done the paper design and other analysis for the creation of such an aircraft. However, the project was shelved about three years ago because the government declined its request for close to ?9,000 crore for the project to be brought to fruition. When asked whether this was the right time to pump in funds into this project, Jitendra Jadhav, Director, NAL, told BusinessLine that he thought so as the new civil aviation policy is looking to revive 550 air fields. The aircraft that NAL is developing will be a short take-off aircraft which should be able to land on many of these airfields. Regional connectivity “The new civil aviation policy is talking about regional connectivity. Rather than having a foreign aircraft, we can have a private partnership with some foreign partner and NAL’s design which will be a good Make in India. NAL is good in design. We need a manufacturing partner,” he added . Senior NAL officials told BusinessLine that if the funds were sanctioned, the project could become a reality by 2023. “We are targeting connectivity between 250 and 500-600 km. The efficiency of turbo prop aircraft allows for short distance flying for which you really do not need to fly very high,” Jadhav pointed out when asked as to why NAL was looking at a turbo prop aircraft and limiting it to 70-90 seats. In July this year, the government unveiled its ambitious regional connectivity scheme which will cap airfares at ?2,500 for one-hour flights to unserved and under-served airports that are 476-500 km apart. Flying between airports that are 776-800 km apart will cost ?4,070, while travelling between metros will be a tad more expensive. Viability gap funding The government’s proposal includes providing Viability Gap Funding for fixed wing aircraft flights covering 200-500 km provided at least nine seats are priced at an all-inclusive fare of ?2,500. The government will provide the operator a viability gap funding of ?3,750 per seat sold under the regional connectivity scheme (RCS) up to a maximum of 40 seats per flight. The VGF has been capped at ?4,170 for 776-800-km. To be eligible for the VGF, an operator will have to operate regular services to at least one airport which at present does not have regular flights. Chris Wagner Womens Jersey
Naidu lays foundation for ₹202-cr expansion of Rajahmundry airport
The Andhra Pradesh government, with the assistance of the Union Government, will complete the first phase of the mega Polavaram project on the Godavari and release water even into the left canal by 2018, according to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. He was speaking here on Monday after laying the foundation stone for the expansion of the Madhurapudi airport at a cost of ?202 crore. The runway would be extended to facilitate the landing of the bigger aircraft and the other facilities would be upgraded at the airport. Land acquisition The Chief Minister said 857 acres had been acquired for the airport expansion works and he thanked the farmers of the area for co-operating with the government. He said ?300 crore had been spent for land acquisition. Airport expansion works would pave the way for the development of the two Godavari districts, he said. He said regardless of what the naysayers might say, he was determined to completing the Polavaram project and lay a firm foundation for the prosperity of the two Godavari districts in particular and the State in general. Centre’s assurance Union Civil Aviation Minister P Ashok Gajapati Raju thanked the Chief Minister for making the land available in quick time and said the Union Government would take all steps to improve the airports in the State. Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu spoke at length on the recent package sanctioned by the Centre for the State and how it would pave the way for its all-round development. He launched a scathing attack on the critics of the package, especially the Congress leaders. BEL facililty at Nimmaluru Earlier, Venkaiah Naidu also laid the foundation stone for BEL’s Advanced Night Visions Products factory at Nimmaluru, Krishna district. The project will see an investment of ?300 crore over the next four years and employment of nearly 1,000. “We will ensure that locals get a good share of the jobs”, he said. The State government has provided 50 acres in the village which is near Machilipatnam. The project is part of BEL’s diversification into night vision products. Hampus Lindholm Womens Jersey
One in three applicants for a pilot job with Air India failed the psychological health test introduced after the Germanwings aircrash
A third of shortlisted candidates applying to be pilots with India’s leading airline have failed the test which analyses their psychological health, since December 2015. These applicants to Air India had all previously successfully cleared the simulator and technical exams before failing the psychometric test. Air India sources have revealed that 130 of the 413 candidates had not passed this crucial test which was introduced by the airline in December. The exam was introduced after the co-pilot of a Germanwings flight crashed his plane into the Swiss Alps in March 2015, killing all 150 on board. Evidence shows Andreas Lubitz, 27 locked the captain out of the cockpit of the flight from Barcelona to Duesseldorf, triggered the automatic descent mechanism and deliberately steered the plane into a remote mountainside. An investigation into the incident showed he had been suffering from psychological issues for several years and was plagued by depression and suicidal thoughts. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) – the Indian governmental regulatory body for civil aviation – ordered regular monitoring of pilot’s mental health last year based on recommendations of a committee headed by joint director general Lalit Gupta. However it is unclear whether candidates rejected by Air India went on to find employment with other private carriers. Matthew Lorito Authentic Jersey
Budget carriers refuse to shift from Delhi’s Terminal 1D
The GMR-led Delhi International Airport’s (DIAL) major expansion plan faces a fresh hurdle, as low-cost carriers have opposed the move to shift base from Terminal 1D (T1D) to Terminal 2 (T2), citing operational constraints. SpiceJet and GoAir, asked to shift to T2 from T1D, have opposed the move, citing passenger inconvenience. The no-frills carriers feel this will lead to drop in passenger count. While SpiceJet has sent out a missive to the airport consortium, GoAir has verbally communicated its decision to the airport operator. The resistance might lead to delay in DIAL’s expansion plans, given the private airport operator will have to convince the carriers or find a suitable alternative, before going ahead with the development work. At present, IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir are based out of T1D. DIAL had asked SpiceJet and GoAir to shift operations to T2, for it to be able to carry out construction work and airside development at T1D. In a letter to SpiceJet Chairman Ajay Singh, the airport operator had said all amenities will be provided to ensure seamless operation of the airline. “With SpiceJet having international operations, the airport operator had assured smooth transit for its passengers,” said a ministry official. But, SpiceJet officials say the airline had written to the airport operator, opposing the move. Jerry Rice Jersey