Airbus says India has all the substances to become a big market for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)

India has all the substances to become a big marketplace for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), Julien Manhes, head of Sustainable Fuel Projects at Airbus told Mint.

The use of SAF offers distinctive alternatives to nations to scale back their dependence on fossil gas and it wants a regulator to implement insurance policies and airways that are keen, Manhes stated. “Sustainable aviation gas is at the starting of turning into bigger at scale..globally presently it has lower than 1% of general gas consumption.”

Globally, airlines like United, Air France, EasyJet, Qantas, and Lufthansa have been faster in adapting to SAF, others are a bit slower however Airbus expects that by 2050, practically 70% of the international ATF consumption must be SAF pushed.

Airbus says India has all the substances to become a big market for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)

Fuel effectivity can be one in each of the steps in direction of power conservation, Manhes stated, including that 63% of the Indian fleet includes fuel-efficient new era planes, Manhes stated.

Airbus is engaged in modifications to aerodynamic, avionic and different small modifications to plane expertise to achieve higher gas effectivity, Manhes added.

The firm is engaged in a brand new challenge on hydrogen and anticipates the business entry of such a plane into service by 2035. The goal is to have "a great double-digit" saving when it comes to gas effectiveness as compared to the present product.

The idea of sustainable aviation gas amongst Indian airlines continues to be at a nascent stage

Cost is an element of the adoption of SAF however economies of scale shall be vital. However, Manhes stated, that there has been proof of eagerness in company travellers throughout Europe and the US to pay extra for an airline which is inclined in direction of SAF. “Whether fares go up or not relies on the airways, relies on native rules,” he added.

India’s ministry of civil aviation and the ministry of petroleum and natural gas are engaged in issuing a roadmap for sustainable aviation gas over the subsequent few months, officers in the know of the matter stated.

This would lay the framework for decreasing carbon emissions through the aviation trade. Thus the use of SAF would be a new way of reducing the fossil fuel dependency of the country and in turn help in maintaining India’s COP26 targets.

Airbus is engaged in modifications to aerodynamic, avionic and different small modifications to plane expertise to achieve higher gas effectivity

The idea of sustainable aviation gas amongst Indian airlines continues to be at a nascent stage. So far, there have been a handful of demonstration flights on blended gas to decrease carbon emissions. In August 2018, SpiceJet operated the first such flight which operated on a mix of 75% aviation turbine gas and 25% biogas constituted from the jatropha plant.

ALSO READ - IndiGo joins sustainable initiative spearheaded by the World Economic Forum

IndiGo had additionally taken delivery of an aircraft which ran on sustainable aviation fuel in February 2022. In December's final 12 months, the airline signed a settlement with the Dehradun-based Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Petroleum to manufacture and deploy sustainable aviation gas globally.

IndiGo had additionally taken a supply of an aircraft which ran on sustainable aviation fuel in February 2022.

ALSO READ - Airbus, Air Liquide and VINCI Airports collaborate to accelerate the decarbonization of the aviation sector

Consuming about 10% of the total energy of the transportation sector each year, the Aviation industry exhales its own share of greenhouse gas into the atmosphere which is about 2.5% of global emissions. This leads to concerns for the environment and has also led the aircraft sector to increasingly adopt non-fossil fuel.

ALSO READ - AN-32 of IAF to fly on blended biodiesel for 200 hours

Today, India requires about 25 Metric Ton of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) to ensure all its civil and military aircraft remain airborne, which also has economic and strategic considerations. Further, the de facto supply line (and stock) of imported crude and refined products with oil companies (and refineries) is highly limited.

(With Inputs from Mint)

Following the guidelines of the government of India to provide contactless, seamless processing of passengers at Airports, the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) on Monday, August 15 announced the soft launch of a beta version of the DigiYatra app for the Android platform.

The Delhi Airport is among the first few airports to introduce this system in the country. DIAL had installed the required facility at Terminal 3 of Delhi Airport and already conducted its trials. Nearly 20,000 passengers had a seamless and secure travel experience after using the facility during the trials.

The beta version of the DigiYatra app is presently available at Playstore (for the Andriod platform). The same app will be available in App Store (for the IOS platform) in a few weeks.

https://twitter.com/DelhiAirport/status/1559131299486597120

ALSO READ - DGCA alters the Digi-Yatra program; enables self-registration for touchless travel

Domestic passengers flying from Terminal 3 by any airline can download the app and register themselves for a seamless travel experience at the airport.

The 'DigiYatra' is a Biometric Enabled Seamless Travel experience (BEST) based on Facial Recognition Technology. It aims to provide a paperless and seamless travel experience to the passengers.

"DigiYatra is a unique initiative of the Government of India, coordinated by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. It is in line with the Prime Minister's vision to transform the nation into a digitally empowered society. Delhi Airport is among the first few airports of the country which are ready with the facial recognition system. The system is going to give a seamless experience to passengers. The FRS will save passengers from the process of identity checks at multiple points and encourage them to travel paperless and also enhance safety at the airport."Videh Kumar Jaipuriar, CEO, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL)

With this technology, passengers' entry would be automatically processed based on the facial recognition system at all checkpoints including entry into the airport, security check areas, aircraft boarding, etc.

The technology will make the boarding process significantly faster and more seamless as each passenger would need less than three seconds at every touchpoint. Their face would act as their documents, like ID proof, Vaccine proof and also act as a boarding pass.

The DigiYatra Foundation will be the custodian of the passenger ID validation process. It will also define the criteria for compliance and guidelines for the local airport systems.

It will also ensure enhanced security at the airport as the passenger data is validated with the Airlines Departure Control System, thereby only designated passengers can enter the terminal. The entire process is non-intrusive and automatic leading to optimization of staff for stakeholders like CISF, airlines and others.

Last month, the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Civil Aviation met to discuss the DigiYatra project. The project is being implemented by the DigiYatra Foundation — a joint-venture company whose shareholders are the Airports Authority of India (26% stake) and Bengaluru Airport, Delhi Airport, Hyderabad Airport, Mumbai Airport and Cochin International Airport. These five shareholders equally hold the remaining 74% of the shares.

The DigiYatra Foundation will be the custodian of the passenger ID validation process. It will also define the criteria for compliance and guidelines for the local airport systems.

The Airport Authority of India (AAI) will identify the airports where DigiYatra will be implemented in a phased manner.

There will be regular audits of the various compliances and guidelines (including guidelines on security, image quality, and data privacy) defined by the DigiYatra guidelines for the local airport Biometric Boarding Systems.

ALSO READ - Check-in at Bengaluru and Varanasi airports using facial recognition technology on August 15

In the consultative committee meeting, it was proposed that in the first phase, DigiYatra will be rolled out at Varanasi and Bengaluru this month, and at five airports — Pune, Vijayawada, Kolkata, Delhi and Hyderabad — by March next year. The Airport Authority of India (AAI) will identify the airports where DigiYatra will be implemented in a phased manner.

DigiYatra app operational at Bangalore Airport

Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) says the DY Biometric boarding system at Kempegowda International Airport’s (KIA) e-gates is operational and being rolled out at full scale for all domestic airlines in a phased manner, covering checkpoints for domestic travel.

https://twitter.com/BLRAirport/status/1559160698562912256

Vistara and AirAsia India are currently integrated with DY at KIA. Passengers can easily enrol on the DigiYatra app from the comfort of their homes, BIAL says.

“It is our constant endeavour at BIAL to offer innovative ways to simplify the passenger journey and make it as seamless as possible. The DY Central Ecosystem (DYCE) implementation is one more step towards achieving this. We are glad to be part of the first phase rollout.”Hari Marar, MD & CEO, Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL)

BIAL says “privacy issues are taken care of and passengers will not have to worry about sharing their data as it is secure and will be deleted after 24 hours following their travel.”

DYCE is the initiative of the Digi Yatra Foundation (DYF) which was set up as a joint venture company in 2019, and BIAL is one of the key shareholders. The DigiYatra Foundation will be a pan-India entity and the custodian of the Passenger ID validation process.

To check incidents of collision of planes with birds and other animals at airports across India, the aviation regulator DGCA on Saturday, August 13 issued guidelines for them that included carrying out routine patrols in random patterns and informing pilots whenever there is any wildlife activity.

ALSO READ - Bird strikes – a serious threat in aviation

There have been various incidents of bird hits during the last few weeks. On August 4, Go First's flight to Chandigarh returned to Ahmedabad after suffering a bird hit.

DGCA issues new guidelines to airport operators to prevent bird strikes

On June 19, an engine on a SpiceJet Delhi-bound aircraft carrying 185 passengers caught fire soon after it took off from the Patna airport and the plane made an emergency landing minutes later. The engine malfunctioned because of a bird hit.

ALSO READ - Significant increase in bird and animal strike incidents in 2021 at Indian airports

The regulator stated in its circular that all airport operators are requested to review their wildlife hazard management programme to identify the gaps and ensure its strict implementation in and in the vicinity of an aerodrome.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) asked the airports to carry out a wildlife risk assessment and rank them according to the risk posed to aircraft. The airports must have a procedure to monitor and record wildlife movement data, it said.

There have been various incidents of bird hits during the last few weeks.

The airports should also have a procedure to notify pilots "in response to any significant wildlife concentration or activity both on and in the vicinity of the airport". Routine patrolling is the core of the wildlife hazard management programme, it said.

The patrols should be carried out in random patterns rather than a regular route so that wildlife do not learn or become accustomed to the timing of patrols.

"Aerodrome operators are directed to forward monthly action taken report on the implementation of wildlife hazard management programme and also provide wildlife strike data...by 7th of every month," it noted.

Bird and animal strike incidents are considered one of the most potent threats to flight operations.

The regulator has issued two ways - passive and active management - to control this issue that aggravates during monsoon when wildlife activities increase and “pose a serious threat to aerodrome operational safety. Most wildlife incidents occur at a critical phase of flight resulting in structural damage to an aircraft".

Bird and animal strike incidents are considered one of the most potent threats to flight operations. Especially during the monsoon season, the Indian subcontinent is extremely susceptible to bird strikes.

ALSO READ - Bird Strikes | How common are they and what is done to prevent them?

After months of disruptions between 2019 and 2022, air travel has finally seen a steady rise in the demand from hungry air travelers. Recently, air travel has risen to a level where airports across the United Kingdom are struggling to cope. The post-COVID-19 travel regulations have changed, and so has the demand for air travel. Everyone wants to fly again, from holidays to business trips to their favorite destinations. Let's read about my experience flying with the finest, and most highly awarded airline, Qatar Airways. I took a flight from Manchester to Mumbai via Doha, and here is my raw experience, penned down for you all to know what it is like flying with them. 

Flight Details 

Airline: Qatar Airways

Flight Number: QR22 and QR556

Sector – Manchester (MAN) to Doha (DOH) & Doha (DOH) to Mumbai (BOM)

Equipment: Boeing 777-300ER

Registration: A7-BAY and A7-BES

Seat Numbers: 35A and 35J 

Why did I select Qatar Airways for our trip? 

Over the past few months, I have been exploring various airlines and options to fly to Mumbai from Manchester, where I was based, for the past few months. Since there is no direct flight between the two cities, I started exploring airlines with transit options. As I need a transit visa for most EU countries, I decided on the most common and hassle-free route to India: transiting via the Gulf countries.

 Also, I have been using the American Express British Airways co-branded credit card in the United Kingdom, which proved to be a savior on this flight. Every GBP I spend, I earn Avios, which I can use on various bookings, be it flights, hotels, experiences, etc. How cool is that! And, for this flight, too, I redeemed the Avios. By giving away a few thousand Avios, I could buy a one-way ticket in this sector for GBP 334, a steal deal during the holiday season when average ticket prices range between GBP 800-1300 for a one-way ticket to Mumbai. Also, after my previous experience flying on Etihad and Saudi Arabian Airlines that was unpleasant, I wanted to try something new this time. 

The Airport Experience at Manchester 

Qatar Airways operates out of Terminal 2, one of the busiest terminals that also houses flight operations of Emirates, Etihad, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Jet2.com, TUI Fly, and a few more airlines. The early morning hours at the airport are always busy, chaotic, and full of people. As this terminal operates international flights out of Manchester, it is always busy and rare to find quieter places to relax. Passenger queue at Manchester Airport Qatar Airways operates a dedicated set of self-check-in kiosks and counters at Terminal 2. 

How does this help the passengers? 

If I am a traveler with the specified amount of luggage as per my ticket, I need to head to one of these kiosks, place my luggage, get my tags and boarding pass, and drop the bags on the baggage belt. A simple and quick way to check in and hop on to the next step of the journey. However, I was told to proceed toward the check-in counters to drop off my bags. Generally, due to the high volume of passengers at this time of the year, and also, due to the enhanced network Qatar Airways provides, most of the flights from Manchester to Doha, are always full to the brim. We experienced something similar on this journey too, where we had to wait in the queue to check in for almost over an hour. 

Fun fact: Swissport, a ground handling agency, looks after the ground operations of Qatar Airways. 

Note: Qatar Airways will charge additional costs to check the luggage if you are traveling with excess luggage. Therefore, always check your allowance on the ticket. 

Security, Duty-Free, Pre-Boarding Experience | Manchester v/s Doha 

Ringway International Airport, Manchester 

Manchester Airport generally has a busy security check queue during the early hours. Due to the staff shortage, it had been in the limelight before when the security queues waiting could range between 3-7 hours due to the short-staffing. Thankfully, things have changed now, and I spent less than 15 minutes on August 6, even though it was a weekend and a busy day at Terminal 2. How cool and efficient! Duty-free shopping in Manchester is a paradise for shopaholics. With a wide range of options in almost everything you need, the place is always busy, lively, and full of smiling and supportive staff who would share their best recommendations so you can shop correctly. You can check out what to shop for or pre-book your purchase on the website: 

https://manchester.worlddutyfree.com/en/ 

With a quick few minutes at the duty-free and not having much to shop, I planned to use the best possible time I had before the check-in commences at one of my favorite spots in the Terminal, the airside-facing seats. I was lucky enough to get over 45 minutes to enjoy this hobby while waiting for the beautiful bird, a Boeing 777-300ER of Qatar Airways, to land and park. 

Hamad International Airport, Doha 

While Doha was my transit stop, the airport itself feels like a city in the terminal. Qatar Airways is based out of Hamad International Airport and caters to hundreds of flights and millions of passengers. The airport feels modern, busy, and lively. Unlike my previous experiences of transiting from Jeddah and Abu Dhabi, where I had to re-clear my security checks on a transit flight, this experience was relaxing, and I didn’t have to go through security queues all over again after a tiring first half of the journey where I had been awake for more than 30+ hours already. The airport is spacious, offers many shopping options, and is constructed considering the number of people that travel to and from Doha. The staff at the airport is super friendly, and they look after every passenger's query with a smile. 

So which airport provided a better experience?

I would say it was Hamad International Airport, Doha. With just over 2 hrs in the terminal, I felt it was surely one of the best options to fly through this airport. 

The Boarding Experience at Manchester Airport v/s Doha Airport 

Manchester Airport

Our ride for the day was the Boeing 777-300ER, A7-BAY, a 10-year-old bird with the old configuration of Qatar Airways (24 Business Class seats and 388 Economy Class seats). The aircraft was slightly delayed after arriving at Manchester due to the busy ground movements in the morning hours, further delaying our boarding. Qatar Airways still follows strict COVID-19 guidelines as laid down in Qatar that make it mandatory for people to wear a mask on an airplane. Did you forget to carry a mask? Don't worry; they also provide it at the gate and on the flight. As I mentioned, the ground handling operations of the airline are handled by Swissport, which means they would ensure the aircraft's quick turn-around. 

How would I rate the ground staff of Swissport? 

Helpful - 3/5

Customer Friendly - 2/5

Energetic - 3/5

Smiling and Caring - 2/5 

Briefly, I missed the warm and friendly ground staff, and this was not the first time I experienced this with Swissport at Manchester. The airline was surely not supposed to be blamed, but I hope they do take corrective actions after reading this trip review and make the third-party staff, more customer-oriented. I feel the ground staff defines an airline's image as they are the first point of contact at the airport for a nervous flyer (surely that wasn't me). So, we are now done with: Check-in, Security, Immigration, Duty-Free Shopping, Plane Spotting from the Terminal, Waiting at the gate to board. 

I couldn't resist clicking this shot as I walked toward my gate at Manchester Airport. 

I was left awestruck! After a brief wait at the boarding gate, seeing a mix of nervous, over-excited, arrogant and rude, tired, mixed-emotions passengers, it was now time to board the beautiful Boeing 777-300ER. PS: Boeing 777-300ER is my all-time favorite aircraft. Look at this stunning "Bae," our "BAY" for the first sector. Isn't this bird, a gorgeous one? Qatar Airways Boeing B777-300ER Whenever I am flying, the first impression of any airline is often from the friendly crew, both, on the ground and in the cabin. However, being a little disappointed with the ground experience, I was now looking forward to experiencing the much-spoken onboard hospitality and award-winning cabin crew. Masks may have covered the smile, but the warmth was always there, and my mood completely changed with the first welcome. 

The cabin crew was super friendly, smiling, and had a different energy to ensure guests felt welcomed and had a great start to their journey. Once boarded, I walked past the busy Economy cabin of "Alpha Yankee" to my seat 35A for this sector (MAN to DOH). Qatar Airways B777-300 Economy Seats After the boarding was completed, with a little bit of operational delay, which is common sometimes due to unforeseen circumstances, the aircraft was off to take me back home from Manchester. Powered with the mighty General Electric GE-90 engines, the start-up sounds of the engines are always mesmerizing to an avgeek's ears. 

A quick taxi to the Runway 23L and I was all set to listen to these powerful engines as we were ready for take-off. Trust me; I was an excited kid on board, enjoying the music of my favorite jet engines and onboard my favorite aircraft. With a stunning view, heavy loads, a beautiful bird, and a happy passenger (that's me), we were all set to roll out of Manchester. Here are a few pictures of the stunning wing view from our Push-back, Taxi, and Take-off respectively. 

Doha Airport Being on a transit flight, I had little time to explore the airport. Nevertheless, I did explore a bit of the shopping options around. Our ride for the second leg to Mumbai was another Boeing 777-300ER, A7-BES, a 4-year young bird with the new configuration of Qatar Airways. 

Here is a summary of my airport experience with the staff of Qatar Airways at the airport where I had requested a seat change from my existing 43K (Window) to 35J (Emergency Exit). 

Helpful - 4/5

Customer Friendly - 4/5

Energetic - 5/5

Smiling and Caring - 3/5 

Again, the crew was super welcoming, had a smile behind the mask, and assisted all the guests in the best possible manner possible. Operational challenges are stressful for any airline, and helping guests at such times is always challenging. However, the crew, including the captain, ensured everyone was kept aware of the situation. As I swapped my Window seat with an Emergency Exit seat, I felt relaxed despite an operational delay. With ample leg space for a tall traveler like me, the 35J onboard "Echo Sierra" offered me enough space to stretch myself out. 

In-flight Meals | MAN - DOH v/s DOH - BOM MAN - DOH 

Let's talk about one of the most exciting topics on the flight, the in-flight meals. Qatar Airways' renowned hospitality and meals have won them several awards, including the Skytrax Best Airline award. The airline is also the official airline partner for the upcoming FIFA 2022 world cup, which will take place in Doha this winter. Qatar Airways provides a variety of meal options that can be selected on web check-in, and that too absolutely free of cost. As I was flying with Qatar Airways for the first time, I wanted to try the Vegetarian Oriental Meal. The meal service (breakfast) had commenced within the first 45 mins of the flight as passengers had been at the airport very early. The meal consisted of a rice dish, cut fruits, a sweet dish, multi-grain bread, and some coffee/drinks of choice. Unlike Saudi Arabian Airlines, which I flew in May 2022, the airline does serve a wide variety of both, Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic beverages to its guests on board. 

We were offered two meal services in this sector, breakfast, and a snack (sandwich), before landing in Doha. DOH - BOM Again, I had pre-selected a Vegetarian Oriental Meal (VOML) on my next sector from Doha to Mumbai, which had a flight time of approximately 3 hours. The dinner service had started as we were cruising over Dubai. Since the flight time was less than the previous sector, one full meal (dinner service) was served along with a choice of alcoholic/non-alcohol beverages and a tea/coffee service later. One of my favorite dishes this time was hot and spicy noodles with gravy, salad, cut fruits, and a multi-grain bun with butter. 

Arrival Experience | Mumbai Airport 

Mumbai was our final destination on this long journey from Manchester. Despite operational delays, our landing in Mumbai was just 10 mins behind schedule. It was amazing to see how we covered up the lost time with the help of efficient operations. When we landed, Mumbai experienced some heavy rains, but the flight was smooth and comfortable. After a long walk to the immigration (approx. 20 mins) from the gate, having spent 45 mins in the immigration and almost 1.5 hours in customs, it was tiring to see a super long queue everywhere at Mumbai Airport. 

Note: You must declare if you are carrying taxable items. Check out https://www.cbic.gov.in/index for more information. 

Let’s Wrap Up! Phew! That was quite a journey, ain’t it? While the journey from Manchester to Mumbai via Doha was memorable, we’d like to rate our experiences at each checkpoint: 

Check-in at MAN – 2/5

Security at MAN – 4/5

Duty-Free Shopping at MAN – 4/5

Duty-Free Shopping at DOH – 4/5

Boarding Experience at MAN – 2/5

Boarding Experience at DOH – 4/5

Cabin Experience – 5/5

Seating – 4/5

Comfort – 5/5

In-Flight Experience – 5/5

Meal and Services – 5/5

Crew Friendliness – 5/5

Overall Qatar Airways Experience – 4.5/5

Walk from the gate to Immigration at BOM – 3.5/5

Immigration in BOM – 3.5/5

Baggage Claim – 4/5

Customs - 2/5

Exit and Way-out – 4/5 

We hope you find this virtual journey along with us meaningful. If you enjoyed reading this article, kindly share it with your friends and family. We would love to hear from you, so please share your comments below. It would help us improve our content. Thank you for reading this detailed flight review. Until next time, stay safe, stay healthy!

Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas - India's answer to its counterparts of the same class, has managed to grab eyeballs on an international level like never before. According to a recent statement by the government - six countries — the USA, Australia, Argentina, Egypt, Indonesia and the Philippines — have expressed interest in procuring the light combat aircraft (LCA) with Malaysia already placing an order for procuring 18 India’s indigenously-made fighter jets.

Thanks to its features, Tejas has competed with, surpassed and overshadowed the developed aircraft of its worthy counterparts-China, Russia and South Korea and reportedly, the demand for India’s indigenous fighter jets seems to be soaring in the global market.

What is it about the aircraft that makes it tick and which apparently has caught the fancy of many countries?

HAL Tejas

Emerging from the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme, which began in the 1980s to replace India's ageing MiG-21 fighters, the HAL Tejas is an Indian, single-engine, delta wing, light multirole fighter designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in collaboration with Avion Research and Design Centre (ARDC) of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.

The LCA received initial and final operational clearance in 2011 and 2019 respectively.

The number 45 Squadron- Flying Daggers, is the first Tejas Squadron with the Indian Air Force, to be operational since 2016. The second Tejas Mark 1 squadron, Squadron 18 was formed at Sulur on 27 May 2020. The Tejas Mark 1 made its international debut on 21 January 2016, at the fourth Bahrain International Airshow.

The Tejas is the second supersonic fighter developed by HAL after the HAL HF-24 MARUT It currently has three production models – Tejas Mark 1, Mark 1A and a trainer variant. The IAF currently placed an order for 40 Tejas Mark 1 and 73 Tejas Mark 1A and 10 trainers.

HAL HF-24 Marut

The IAF plans to procure 324 aircraft in all variants, including the Tejas Mark 2 currently being developed by the HAL. The Tejas Mark 2 is expected to be ready for series production by 2026.

As of 2022, the indigenous content in the Tejas Mark 1 is 59.7% by value and 75.5% by the number of lines replaceable units. As the defence minister announced, the indigenous content of the Tejas Mk 1A is expected to be 50% and rise to 60% by the end of the programme.

Tech and specs

Crew1 or 2Length 13.2 m (43 ft 4 in)Max takeoff weight13,500 kg (29,762 lb)Payload5,300 kg (11,700 lb) external storesPowerplant1 × General Electric F404 IN20 with FADEC 85 kN (19,000 lbf) with afterburnerMaximum speedMach 1.6Combat range500 km (310 mi, 270 NMI) with internal fuelGuns1x 23 mm twin-barrel GSh-23 cannonHardpoints8 (1 × beneath the port-side intake trunk for targeting pods, 6 × under-wing, and 1 × under-fuselage) with a capacity of 5300 kg, with provisions to carry combinations ofService ceiling16,000 m (53,500 ft)g limits+9/?3.5Wikipedia

The Tejas is a multi-role combat aircraft and its flexibility permits it to carry out interception, air-to-air and anti-shipping roles in a single mission. The wind tunnel testing and computational fluid analysis have optimised the design of Tejas for minimum transonic and supersonic wave drag, as well as low wing-loading

The relatively smaller size, extensive use of airframe composites, the Y-duct inlet which shields the engine compressor blades, the application of radar-absorbent material (RAM) coatings and so on, reduce the overall radar-cross section of the aircraft.

Apart from aluminium-lithium and titanium alloys, carbon fibre composite materials are used in the construction of the Tejas. The composite materials constitute 45% of the airframe by weight and 90% by surface area-the highest among contemporary aircraft.

The avionics of the Tejas Mark 1 are centred around Elta EL/M-2032 radar.

Representative | Elta EL/M-2032 radar

Tejas is fully capable of carrying a load of eight to nine tonnes. It can fly with as many weapons and missiles as Sukhoi, which weighs more. Its biggest advantage is its speed. Despite being light, its speed is unmatched. These aircraft can fly as fast as the speed of sound, i.e., Mach 1.6 to 1.8, up at an altitude of 52,000 feet. The Tejas Mark-1A is also costlier than the Sukhoi-30MKI fighter aircraft because many latest types of equipment have been added to it. For example, it has radar developed in Israel. Apart from this, the aircraft also has an indigenously developed radar. It is very light and its fighter power is also better. It is a multifunctional fighter aircraftDefence expert Qamar Agha

 It has electronic warfare (EW) suite domestically developed by the Defense Avionics Research Establishment (DARE), which consists of a radar warning system (RWR), integrated self-protection jammer, chaff and flare dispenser system.

The Tejas Mark 1 is currently powered by the F404 IN20 engine. The Mark 1A variant will be powered by the same powerplant, while the heavier Tejas Mark 2 will be powered by a General Electric F414 INS6 engine.

Tejas Mk-1A

Reportedly, the Indian government has awarded a contract worth Rs 48,000 crore to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for manufacturing 83 Tejas jets to be delivered by 2023. Consequently, HAL has doubled the production capacity of Tejas from eight to 16 aircraft per year.

SOURCE(s)

Image courtesy: All credits to respective owners

India's JMC Projects Limited has been awarded the development of Hanimaadhoo International Airport in the Maldives. JMC is already involved in flat construction and water and sewerage projects in the Maldives.

An announcement issued by the Economic Ministry on Wednesday, August 10 said the project was awarded to JMC for USD 136.6 million. 

The Hanimaadhoo International Airport is being redeveloped under a USD 800 million line of credit scheme provided by Exim Bank of India.

The Hanimaadhoo International Airport is being redeveloped under a USD 800 million line of credit scheme provided by Exim Bank of India.

Therefore, only Indian companies shortlisted by the Exim Bank were allowed to submit bids for the project. The deadline for submission of bids expired on March 21 this year.

The Hanimaadhoo Airport redevelopment project will include a 2.46 km runway and a brand new terminal with a capacity to accommodate 1.3 million passengers annually.

Other facilities needed to expand international flight services will also be established. While the airport's reconstruction is scheduled to begin later this year, it is expected to reach completion and start service in 2024.

Hanimaadhoo International Airport to be redeveloped by India's JMC Projects

After the completion of the airport project, the airport will be able to accommodate Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft for international flights. As per the Economic Ministry, direct flights to the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Africa will be operated from Hanimaadhoo.

Hanimaadhoo International Airport is located on the island of Hanimaadhoo in Haa Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives, opened as a domestic airport.

It was upgraded to an international airport on 2 February 2012, with the introduction of direct flights to Thiruvananthapuram in India by Maldivian. As of June 2019, it is one of three international airports in the Maldives.