General Aviation In India, Growth, Opportunities And Challenges
By Aman KumarGeneral Aviation In India, Growth, Opportunities And Challenges
Introduction
Aviation normally connotes a dichotomous division
into:
• Civil Aviation
• General Aviation.
Civil aviation is further classified into:
• Military
• Government and private airline companies (airliners).
General Aviation deals with private aircraft owners, aircrafts owned by companies, flying clubs, small taxi operators etc. Thus, General Aviation includes all aircrafts not flown by the government and private airline companies called scheduled operators and/or the military.
General Aviation (GA) is also considered as a catalyst for economic growth. Businesses that use general aviation are said to gain competitive advantage, while communities gain job opportunities and access to the nation's extended air transportation system.
It benefits the users of transportation services and the country's economy at large. It increases the efficiency and productivity of businesses by reducing travel time that would be required to drive or to use more congested commercial airports. It provides training for a majority of new pilots.
Companies/ Government Agencies can use airplanes/ helicopter
to:
• For corporate Use
• Offshore purposes especially helicopters
• Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
• Disaster Management
The latest statistics for the civil aviation sector
depict:
• FDI up to 100 per cent is allowed under the automatic route for
Greenfield projects.
• For existing projects, FDI up to 100 per cent is allowed; while
investment up to 74 per cent under the automatic route and beyond
74 per cent under the government route.
The Indian aviation industry is one of the fastest-growing aviation industries in the world with private airlines accounting for more than 75 per cent of the sector of the domestic aviation market (as of 2006). A compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18 per cent and 454 airports and airstrips in place in the country, of which 16 are designated as international airports, the time has come to monitor the increasing growth of aviation sector.
Today, the General aviation sector is most neglected in the civil aviation industry. It is treated as a step child of aviation in India. There are no separate guidelines for general aviation. In India there is no concept of FBO's (Fixed Base Operator), helicopters or GA (General Aviation) terminals. Maximum use of General Aviation is in corporate charters, followed by offshore operations through helicopters, tourism etc. In the private charter industry itself there is an estimated business of Rs.2900 crores and it should not be neglected. General Aviation in India is a very niche market, especially since it is hassle free and has instant availability status. The value additional benefits of private aircraft are that it can fly to destinations not covered by scheduled airlines, has access to over 400 air strips (Only 90 are operational right now). The versatility of helicopters of reaching where nothing else can is not being exploited to its best potential.
The reasons which have lead to the poor growth of general aviation are mainly:
Lack of infrastructure- There is non-availability of FBO's (Fixed Base Operator), terminals. The numbers of agencies for ground handling are extremely restricted, there is non-availability of MRO'S (Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul) and increases cost of maintenance. There is no separate parking and the helicopters are operating out of airports. There are no heliports and heli-routes in India till date.
Restrictive regulations- Too many agencies are involved in the procedure of getting a private aircraft such as Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, and Airport Authority of India. 25% of duty is only restricted only to the corporate aircrafts, which increases costs. The owner has to restrict himself to operational timings at major metros, which renders private ownership useless.
Lack of Manpower- There is shortage of pilots and engineers. In India there are 35 flying schools, which are not producing the required number of pilots. There is a demand of about 50,000 employees and 15000 engineers in the airline industry.
The general aviation sector still has large scope for growth, by the intervention of private players and the availability of the purchasing power among the classes. The Business Aviation Association of India estimates that general aviation in that country is likely to grow by 30% to 40%. With more than 700,000 Indians accounting for a cumulative wealth of $3 billion, this comes as no surprise. Deregulation, availability of finances, eased regulations for foreign investment in Indian companies, and paradoxically, the painful experience of travel on a commercial jet are driving this growth.
The Road Ahead
Investment opportunities of US$ 110 billion are being envisaged up to 2020 with US$ 80 billion towards new aircraft and US$ 30 billion towards development of airport infrastructure, according to the Investment Commission of India.
• Indian aerospace companies are growing too. Hindustan
Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was ranked 40th in Flight
International's list of the top 100 aerospace companies last
year.
• Aircraft manufacturing major, Boeing, is in the process of
setting up the US$ 100 million proposed Maintenance Repair
Overhaul (MRO) facilities in Delhi. Air India is also in the
process of launching a Cargo Hub in Nagpur while Deccan Aviation
has already started one from the city.
• GE Aviation and Air India will jointly invest US$ 90 million to
set up a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in
Mumbai.
• Indocopters Private Ltd, distributor for Eurocopter helicopters
in India, is planning to set up a helicopter maintenance, repair
and overhaul (MRO) facility in Bhubaneswar, the company's fourth
service centre in the country.
Conclusion
General aviation is growing rapidly both in the developed and developing countries. India's general aviation has failed to keep pace with the rest of the world due to general misconceptions, non-awareness and miscommunication between government and public and lack of infrastructure.
With 83,000 billionaires in India, and growing at the rate of 20% per year, the potential is amazing. Yet, there is a strong belief in India that the aircraft is a luxury item. Realistically speaking, an aircraft is not a luxury item. In fact it can contribute to an organisation operating more efficiently with many financial, economic and social benefits. It can give a multi- utilitarian denomination to the market.
The impediment in developing the general aviation in India is the lack of development map as to how this industry will grow. The necessary infrastructure in all its manifestations is either nonexistent or woefully inadequate.
Married at the plane while flying wing
By Aman KumarMarried at the plane while flying wing
Marriage is one of the most memorable thing in the lives of everyone. Many things are prepared to make the moment more memorable and unforgettable for life. This same circuitry that is felt by the couple Darren McWalters and Katie Hodgson who wants her wedding to be such a moment that will never be forgotten throughout his life. But the most surprising, a marriage that is usually carried out can be a calm atmosphere did not occur in the atmosphere of this couple's wedding.
This couple chose to make their wedding as a marriage of
the most thrilling in history. Both bride solemnize their
wedding in the wings of aircraft flying at an altitude of
1000 feet or about 300 meters from the ground.
A much more tense again, not only one aircraft used in such
marriages, but three aircraft simultaneously. Respectively
for men and women and the bride one more aircraft to the
priest who blesses the marriage.
The groom, McWalters, standing on top of a double-winged
airplane wing, while Katie Hodgson also stood in the wing
of another plane. Both were wearing full bridal gown.
Meanwhile, the pastor George Bringham flew with the third
plane was also standing in the wings. Bringham carrying
biplane aircraft which was there in front of the bride and
groom.
All three aircraft have the same hue, white and red stripes
is owned by Team Guinot, a group which is also a collection
of pilots aerobatic stuntpilot.
Television stations showed pictures of wedding dress
Hodgson Sky showed fluttering of the plane airborne in
weather that was not good.
Strong winds and rain also forced a third plane was not
allowed to linger on the air. Third thrilling action
perpetrator confessed violent crushing hit by strong
winds.
In the air, Bringham marry them with the help of
loudspeakers. Both bride even had to promise to shouting.
That is, for both wedding vows can be heard by the guests
below.
Create a special microphone attached to invited guests at
the airport Rendcomb, which is about 145 km north west
London, could hear the promise of marriage. "Will you love
and keep it throughout your lives?" Bringham yelled.
"Yes, I will," promised Darren McWalters, his voice no less
powerful.
Katie Hodgson admitted never imagined getting married on
the wings of airplanes. "After getting older, I become more
pleased with the adventure," he said.
"I bring the adventurous side of Darren. She was previously
afraid of heights," he said.
Darren McWalters agree with Katie Hodgson. "We were both a
little crazy, so we want something that fits," he said.
Co50 Is An Personal Plane For Tomorrow
By Aman KumarCobalt Aircraft’s Co50 Is An Personal Plane For Tomorrow
The French company, Cobalt Aircraft, has unveiled what comes
out to be an answer to the wide selection of fast, personal
airplanes from companies like Cirrus and Cessna: Cobalt Co50
Concept. Screaming through the sky with the next generation
piston powered turbocharged engine, Co50 features TCM’s 350-hp
twin-turbo-charged TSIOF-550-D2B that enables it to hit 245
KTAS at 8,000 feet with a range of more than 1150 miles.
Concept plane features clean sheet design, one of the widest
cabins in its class at 1.34m, hand-stitched leather upholstery
adding more to its elegance and style while ensuring safety at
the same time. The concept plane was showed up at in Oshkosh
isn’t quite done yet and lot more remains incomplete before it
finally takes to the skies.
Air Alien Green Helicopter
By Aman KumarAir Alien Green Helicopter Concept By Cikaric Dragan
Designed by Cikaric Dragan, this Air Alien Green Helicopter
concept is powered by an electric motor and comprises a stator
with two large electromagnetic rings. Its two giant fuel tanks
filled with hydrogen and oxygen generate electricity for the
electric motor.
The helicopter has two propellers with permanent magnetic rings
rotating separately against each other. It’s a zero emission
helicopter with magnetic levitation properties that produce
very little noise, making it an ideal safari. Checkout more
images after the jump.
The whole operation of the helicopter is controlled by a
computer. The helicopter has a four feet structure that has a
duel role – works as leg flaps when helicopter is lifted above
the ground and landing gears when it lends.
Additionally, the angle of the legs is also a key factor for
generating speed and to turn helicopter in the desired
direction. The whole helicopter will be made from carbon fiber
and that is going to play a major role in making this machine
more efficient.
Airbus Unveils Leaner, Cleaner And Quieter Futuristic Plane Of The Future
By Aman KumarAirbus Unveils Leaner, Cleaner And Quieter Futuristic Plane Of The Future
Our future, by and large depends on fuel efficiency, and if you
think what flying in future would be like; Airbus is to give
you a glimpse. The plane maker has unveiled a fantasy plane at
the Farnborough Airshow in the UK. The lightweight plane’s
ultra-long, slim bent-back wings, a U-shaped tail and
light-weight ‘intelligent’ body will add to the ‘eco efficiency
factor’ as the concept consumes less fuel, produces little
emissions and creates less noise in comparison to its current
counterparts.
The futuristic concept which is to fly in 2050, or even in 2030
if the technology continues to develop at the present rate,
features morphing seats made from ecological, self-cleaning
materials and walls and floor that become transparent with the
touch of a button, giving 360 degree view of the world
below.
Additionally, there are holographic projections of virtual
decor that allow the passengers to convert their private cabin
into an office, bedroom or Zen garden.
BA flight to New York in emergency landing at Heathrow
By Aman KumarBA flight to New York in emergency landing at Heathrow
The aircraft landed safely at Heathrow
A British Airways jumbo jet with 296 people on board had to make an emergency landing shortly after taking off from Heathrow airport.
The Boeing 747, destined for New York, was over London at 0920 BST when a light in the cockpit indicated that one of the doors was not completely closed.
Wimbledon residents reported a low-flying aircraft as the jet turned and headed back to Heathrow.
The flight, BA117, landed safely at the west London airport.
In total the plane was airborne for 11 minutes.
Passengers were being put on another flight thought to be departing at 1500 BST.
'Smoke under wing'Hannah Evershed was on board. She said: "It wasn't fun. I fly a lot for work and I knew we were flying too low.
"The pilot alerted the cabin crew over the loudspeaker to answer his calls. It all happened quite quickly."
Ms Evershed added: "Other passengers were quite calm but I was nervous.
"I'm travelling with my fiance and he saw smoke under the wing.
"We're waiting for engineers and hopefully we'll be on another flight this afternoon."
A British Airways spokeswoman said a full investigation was taking place.
She added: "Obviously it takes a bit of time to find another aircraft but we are looking to do that as soon as possible."
A spokeswoman for Heathrow operator BAA said the problem had been traced to a faulty light.
Russian Flying Fortresses
By Aman KumarRussian Flying Fortresses
In 1930s Russian army was … by the idea of creating huge planes. At that times they were proposed to have as much propellers as possible to help carrying those huge flying fortresses into the air, jet propulsion has not been implemented at those times yet.
Not much photos were saved since that times, because of the high secrecy levels of such projects and because a lot of time passed already. Still on the photo below you can see one of such planes - a heavy bomber K-7.
Now modern history lovers in Russia try to reconstruct according the plans left in once to be top-secret Russian army archives their look in full color. This is one example based on ideas of Russian aviation engineers of that times.
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Kingfisher flight (IT 3214) goes 'missing' for 30 minutes
By Aman Kumar| Kingfisher flight goes 'missing' for 30 minutes | ||||
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A Kingfisher flight created panic after it lost radio
contact with the Air Traffic Control (ATC) for around
30 minutes. Flight IT 3214 from Delhi to Bangalore
could not be contacted for 30 minutes on Wednesday
afternoon. The flight that lost contact during
transition from the Delhi to Nagpur Air Traffic Control
had over 150 passengers onboard.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated a probe, even as sources say that the cockpit voice recorder and the black box will provide clues. Director General Naseem Zaidi said the air safety director will probe whether the incident involving the Delhi-Bangalore flight took place due to lapses in following standard operating procedures by pilots and ATC or due to a technical snag. According to sources, Kingfisher flight (IT 3214) took off from Delhi at 2.05 pm. “The flight was assigned 33,000 feet and was, initially, in contact with the Delhi ATC, which asked it to report to Nagpur area control as it flew southwards. Not only did the pilots failed to contact the controllers, but they also didn’t respond to calls on regular and emergency VHF frequencies by the ATC and other flights in the vicinity to establish contact with them,” sources said. However, the plane, which was being constantly tracked on the radar, maintained the assigned flight level, they added. When a flight switches over to another ATC unit, pilots are expected to inform the controllers about its flight level, call sign and a four digit squawk code assigned to them. “This information helps the controllers to verify whether or not it is the same aircraft that they are tracking on radar. However, IT 3214 failed to do so,’’ the source said. “After about 30 minutes the flight established contact with Nagpur controllers and sought a deviation from its route,’’ an official said. Pilots and air traffic controllers familiar with Nagpur said there are certain blind spots where VHF and radar coverage is poor. Some even suggested that Kingfisher pilots were monitoring wrong frequencies and were therefore unable to listen to calls made by Nagpur ATC. Kingfisher spokesperson said, “Preliminary indications are that the pilots reported bad weather and heavy static when they transitioned from Delhi area control to Nagpur area control. As soon as they were able to contact Nagpur, they sought and received a deviation to avoid the spot of weather. Further investigations are on.’’ |
Future Aircraft
By Aman Kumar
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BANKRUPT AIRLINES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
By Aman Kumar
1 - ALOHA AIRLINES
2 - CHAMPION AIRLINES
3 - ATA AIRLINES
4 - SKYBUS AIRLINES
5 - FRONTIER AIRLINES
6 - SUN COUNTRY AIRLINES
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AIRLINES IN THE UNITED STATES ARE LISTED FIRST...
OTHER COUNTRIES ARE LISTED IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER ...
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UNITED STATES - AIRLINES
Aaxico Airlines (1946 - 1976, to Trans International Airlines)
Access Air (1998 - 2001)
Aeromech Airlines (1951 - 1983, to Wright Airlines)
Air America (owned and operated by the CIA in SouthEast Asia)
Air America (1980s)
Air Atlanta (1981 - 88)
Airborne Express (1946 - 2003, to DHL)
Air California, later AirCal (1967 - 87, to American Airlines)
Air Chaparral (1980 - 82)
Air Florida (1972 - 84)
Airlift International (1946 - 81)
Air Midwest (1965 - 91, to Mesa Airlines)
Air New England (1975 - 81)
Air Niagara
Air North (1963 - 83, to Brockway Air)
Air South (1968 - 75, to Florida Airlines; 1994-1997)
Allegheny Airlines (became US Airways)
American Overseas Airways
Arista International Airlines
Arizona Airways (1990s)
Aroostook Airways
Aspen Airways (1962 - 90)
Atlantic Coast Airlines (1989 - 2004, to Independence Air)
Bar Harbor Airlines (1971-92)
Boeing Air Transport (1927 - 30)
Bonanza Air Lines (1945 - 68) to Hughes Airwest
Braniff International Airways (1928 - 82 and 1984 - 89)
Britt Airways
Cape Smythe Air (1975 - 2005, to Frontier Flying Service)
Capitol Air Lines (1970s-1980s)
Capital Airlines (1936 - 61, to United Airlines)
Capitol Air (1946 - 82)
Carnival Airlines
Cascade Airways (1969 - 86)
Catalina Airlines (1940 - 69)
Central Airlines (1944 - 67)
Challenge Air Cargo (1978 - 2001)
Chicago and Southern Airlines (1934 - 53)
Chicago Express (1993 - 2005)
Colgan Airways (1971 - 86, to Presidential Airways, revived 1991)
Colonial Air Transport (1926 - 30)
Curtiss Flying Service (1929 - 32)
Eastern Airlines (1926 - 91)
Emerald Air (1978 - 91)
Emery Worldwide Airlines (1977 - 2003)
Empire Air (1975 - 84, to USAir)
Flying Tiger Line (1945 - 88, to Federal Express)
Freedom Airlines (2001 - 04, to Mesa Airlines, and resumed operations in October, 2005)
Galaxy Airlines
Global International Airways (1981 - ?)
Golden West Airlines
Great Plains Airlines (2001 - 2004)
Gulf Air Transport (1979 - 1990)
Hughes Airwest (1968 - 80, to Republic Airlines)
Imperial Airlines (1964 - 82)
Independence Air (2004-2006) (ceased operations in 2006)
Key Airlines
Kiwi International Airlines
Lake Central Airlines (1949 - 68, to Allegheny Airlines)
Lakeland Airlines (1980 - 84)
Las Vegas Airlines (1973 - 87)
Legend Airlines (1996 - 2000)
Lone Star Airlines
Mackey Airlines (1957 - 81)
Maddux Airlines (1927 - 29)
Mall Airways (1973 - 89, to Business Express)
MarkAir (1947 - 95)
Marquette Airlines (to Trans World Airlines)
Mid Pacific Air (1981 - 88)
Mid-State Airlines (1964 - ?, to Sentry Airlines)
Midway Airlines (1979 - 81 and 1993 - 2003)
Mississippi Valley Airlines (1969 - 85)
Modern Air Transport
Mohawk Airlines (1952 - 88, to Allegheny Airlines)
Morris Air to Southwest Airlines
Mountain Air Express
Muse Air to Southwest Airlines
National Air Cargo
National Airlines (1929 - 80, to Pan American World Airways; 1995 - 2002)
National Air Transport (1926 - 30)
New York Air (1980 - 86, to Continental Airlines)
New York Airways (1949 - 1979)
New York, Rio, and Buenos Aires Line (to Pan American World Airways)
North Central Airlines (1953 - 79)
Northeast Airlines (1940 - 72,to Delta Air Lines)
Overseas National Airways (1950 - 78)
Ozark Airlines (1943 - 86, to Trans World Airlines)
Pacific Air Transport (1926 - 27)
Pacific Alaska Airways (1973 - 86)
Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) (1945 - 86, to USAir)
Pan American-Grace Airways (Panagra) (1928 - 67, to Braniff International Airways)
Pan American World Airways (1927 - 91)
People Express (1981 - 87, to Continental Airlines)
Piedmont Airlines (1940 - 89, to USAir)
Planet Airways (????- June 8, 2005, speculation only at this point in time)
Presidential Airways (1985 - 89)
Pride Air (August 1985 - November 1985)
Pro Air (1997 - 2000)
PBA - Provincetown - Boston Airline
Ransome Airlines (1967 - 86)
Reeve Aleutian Airways (1932 - 2001)
Reno Air (1990 - 99, to American Airlines)
Republic Airlines (1979 - 86, to Northwest Airlines)
Rich International Airways (1971 - 96)
Robertson Air Service
Rocky Mountain Airways (1964 - 86)
Saturn Airways (1960 - 76, to Aaxico Airlines)
Seaboard World Airlines (1946 - 80, to Flying Tiger Line)
Shuttle by United and United Shuttle (1994 - 2001)
Southeast Airlines (1992-2004)
Southern Airways (1943 - 79, to Republic Airlines)
Standard Airlines (1926 - 30)
Swift Aire Lines (1969 - 81)
TAT - Maddux Air Lines (1928 - 30)
Texas Air
Texas International Airlines (1944 - 86, to Continental Airlines)
Tower Air (1983 - 2000)
Transamerica Airlines (1948 - 86)
Transcontinental Air Transport (1928 - 30)
TransMeridian Airlines (1995-2005)
Trans International Airlines (1947 - 1986)
TranStar Airlines (1981 - 87)
Trans-Texas Airways
Trans World Airlines (1930 - 2001, to American Airlines)
Trump Shuttle (1989 - 91, to US Airways)
Universal Airlines (US Cargo Operator 1966-72 to Trans International Airlines)
ValuJet Airlines (to AirTran Airways, 1997)
Vanguard Airlines (1994 - 2002)
Western Airlines (1925 - 87, to Delta Air Lines)
Western Pacific Airlines (ceased operations 1998)
Wien Air Alaska
Wilmington - Catalina Air Line
