HAL Push to Include HALOld Airport in Regional Connectivity Scheme

Hopeful that some commercial operations can start from the HAL Airport in the next few months, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has appealed to the Civil Aviation Ministry to include the airport on the list for regional connectivity.

 At the Aero India 2017, HAL CMD T Suvarna Raju said when the regional connectivity policy was announced, the HAL Airport was not even on the list. The Kempe Gowda International Airport (KIA) has already achieved the passenger traffic projected for 2020. It grew by 22.5% in 2016, recording a footfall of 22.18 million passengers.

Raju said, “Normally, a state or city will be proud to have two airports.” However, through an agreement with the government, the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) had mandated that no other commercial airport should be allowed within a radius of 150 km from KIA.

HAL Airport, which was the city’s sole domestic and international airport for decades, was shut in 2008. All operations, barring VIP flights, were stopped at the old airport once KIA opened at Devanahalli. However, there have been demands from several quarters to at least operate short haul domestic flights from the old HAL Airport.

‘Trump Can be a Blessing for IT Cos’; They can Solve India’s Problem: Mukesh Ambani

Even as the IT industry keenly awaits the impact of protectionist measures by the Trump government in the United States, Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani believes that his victory could be a blessing in disguise for Indian IT companies.

“It has been a great journey till now (for the Indian IT industry)....Trump can actually be a blessing in disguise. The Indian talent and IT industry will focus on solving problems in India,” Ambani said while speaking at Nasscom’s India Leadership Forum 2017. “I think the opportunities are immense, and we now have the infrastructure to do for own market and make India one of the largest software markets in the world,” he said.

According to Ambani, the key for companies to succeed is to have partnerships and be open and be always connected. “It is very important to be open, it is very important to have partnerships and not be close. That is really a strength for India and we should build on this strength, continue to be open and never think whatever the world changes,” Ambani said.

“The world might want to build walls around. I think it is very important for us not to be influenced by that, to make sure that we are always open, always connected,”Ambani added. He had some words of advice for budding entrepreneurs as well. “An entrepreneur has to figure out what he has do. This is something that I learnt from my father. Besides, it is very important to find a problem you want to solve, that you are passionate about,”Ambani said.

“Also, two more important things are that investors’ money should be treated more carefully than your own money and you cannot do anything without the right team,” Ambani added. 

Another Successful Launch for ISRO; PSLV-C37 Deploys 104 Satellites in a Single Flight

In its thirty ninth flight (PSLV-C37), ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle successfully launched the 714 kg Cartosat-2 Series Satellite along with 103 co-passenger satellites today morning (February 15, 2017) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota. This is the thirty eighth consecutively successful mission of PSLV.  The total weight of all the 104 satellites carried on-board PSLV-C37 was 1378 kg.

PSLV-C37 lifted off at 0928 hrs (9:28 am) IST, as planned, from the First Launch Pad.  After a flight of  16 minutes 48 seconds, the satellites achieved a polar Sun Synchronous Orbit of 506 km inclined at an angle of 97.46 degree to the equator (very close to the intended orbit) and in the succeeding 12 minutes, all the 104 satellites successfully separated from the PSLV fourth stage in a predetermined sequence beginning with Cartosat-2 series satellite, followed by INS-1 and INS-2.  The total number of Indian satellites launched by PSLV now stands at 46.

After separation, the two solar arrays of Cartosat-2 series satellite were deployed automatically and ISRO's Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) at Bangalore took over the control of the satellite. In the coming days, the satellite will be brought to its final operational configuration following which it will begin to provide remote sensing services using its panchromatic (black and white) and multispectral (colour) cameras.

Of the 103 co-passenger satellites carried by PSLV-C37, two – ISRO Nano Satellite-1 (INS-1) weighing 8.4 kg and INS-2 weighing 9.7 kg – are technology demonstration satellites from India. 

The remaining 101 co-passenger satellites carried were international customer satellites from USA (96), The Netherlands (1), Switzerland (1), Israel (1), Kazakhstan (1) and UAE (1). 

With today’s successful launch, the total number of customer satellites from abroad launched by India’s workhorse launch vehicle PSLV has reached 180.

With Over 100 Million Domestic Passengers, Boeing Sees Strong Continued Growth for India’s Commercial Aviation Market

Boeing continues to see strong growth for India’s commercial aviation sector, the company today shared during a briefing at the 2017 Aero India Airshow in Bengaluru, India.

“The major factors we watch – the exchange rate, fuel price and the profitability of the airlines – are all still favorable and we remain confident in the strong growth of

India’s commercial aviation sector,” said Dinesh Keskar, senior vice president, Asia Pacific and India Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “We see the potential for travel growth in 2017 to continue to be high in India and we expect more than 100 million passengers to fly domestically this year.”

According to Boeing’s 2016 India Current Market Outlook, 1,850 new airplanes, valued at $265 billion, will be needed in India, over the next 20 years. Single-aisle airplanes such as the Next-Generation 737 and 737 MAX will continue to account for the largest share of new deliveries, while widebody airplanes such as the 787 Dreamliner and the 777 family, make up the remainder of demand.

“Boeing continues to provide the airlines in India with the most fuel efficient, reliable and capable airplanes in every market segment, allowing them to open new routes and stay profitable in this growing and dynamic market,” said Keskar. “We look forward to delivering several more 787 Dreamliners to Air India this year and the 737 MAX to SpiceJet and Jet Airways in 2018.”

The 737 MAX family builds on the success of the Next-Generation 737 offering the highest efficiency, reliability and passenger comfort in the single-aisle market. With its latest technology CFM International LEAP-1B engines, Advanced Technology winglets and other improvements, the 737 MAX will deliver 20 percent lower fuel use

than the first Next-Generation 737s and the lowest operating costs in its class – 8 percent per seat less than its nearest competitor.

The 777 family of airplanes is distinguished by its fuel-efficiency, spacious cabin interior, range capability, commonality and reliability. The 777 provides the most payload and range capability and growth potential in the medium-sized airplane category — all with low operating costs. The new 77 7X builds off of the success of the 777 and incorporates advanced technology, including a new composite wing, all-new engines and superior aerodynamics. The 777-9 will be the largest and most efficient twin-engine commercial jet in the world with the lowest operating cost per seat of any commercial airplane and no competitor in its market segment.

The 787 is a family of technologically advanced, super-efficient airplanes with new passenger-pleasing features. Since beginning service in 2011, with its unparalleled fuel efficient and range flexibility, the 787 is flying more than 530 routes, with customers opening more than 130 new nonstop routes around the world.

Marshall Aerospace and Maini Enter into Multi-Million Dollar Contract

Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group, Cambridge, UK and Maini Precision Products Ltd (MPP), entered into a multimillion dollar life of programme contract for structural machined parts and sub-assemblies for a major aircraft programme at Aero India 2017. With this contract, MPP is now positioned as the single source from India to support Marshall for their manufacturing requirements for the duration of this program.

Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group was represented by Andrew Monk, Supplier Manager and Jeremy Rogerson, Supplier Quality Manager. Maini Group was represented by Gautam Maini, Executive Director, Maini Group and Naresh Palta, CEO, Aerospace and Defence, Maini Group.

On this occasion, Marshall stated that MPP has been a key supplier to MARSHALL for complex structural parts and sub-assemblies and has achieved the status of top rated supplier during this period. The high level  performance over the years has built the confidence at Marshall, resulting  in the decision to extend  this contract for the entire life of the programme. 

Gautam Maini said, “MARSHALL has been our strategic customer since 2010. With this agreement, we are poised for further growth in this relationship.”

Naresh Palta further added, “It is a vindication and recognition of our strong commitment to  performance for meeting Marshall’s manufacturing requirements”

India Third Largest Civil Aviation Market by 2022: Ashok Gajapathi Raju

India can be the world’s third largest civil aviation market by 2022, if the country’s defunct airports are reactivated under the Regional Connectivity scheme. This is the estimation of Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju who articulated this at the Aero India 2017 exhibition here on Tuesday.

“The country has around 70 active airports. Already 55 airports have sought upgrading under the Regional Connectivity scheme catering to are as under-served. Over the next two years, if 50 more airports are upgraded, we can achieve the distinction of being the third largest market,” he explained.

Raju said the airports can be upgraded in partnership with the Defence Ministry. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar indicated that the synergy between the two ministries can help use many defence airports for civil aviation purposes.

Now New Feature in Google Maps with Wish List of Favourite Places

The Google Maps application has come up with a feature with which people can create and share lists of their favourite places in their city or any place across the globe, Agency reports from New Delhi.

The new feature will allow users to create lists of “places they love and the places they want to recommend to friends” without quitting the application.

“You can now create lists of places, share your lists with others, and follow the lists of your friends and family when shared with you,” the company said.

Available for both Android and iOS devices, the Lists feature also allows the creation of a wish list of places that one might want to visit in future. The recommendations, which range from fashion and food to art and movie theatres, can be a “list of weekend getaways, or a list of best street food joints, or best fashion boutiques in a particular area”.

Agencies