Boeing highlights F/A-18 Super Hornet Block III capabilities to Indian Navy

Radhika Bansal

22 Apr 2022

Boeing is planning to fly two Super Hornet fighter jets to Goa this summer for operational demonstrations before its potential buyer the Indian Navy, according to a senior company executive.

Making a strong pitch for F/A-18 Super Hornet, vice president of Boeing's India Business Development Alain Garcia said the aircraft has been specifically designed from its inception for carrier operations, can operate from the Indian Navy aircraft carriers and will meet or exceed the STOBAR performance requirements of the Indian Navy.

"This has been proven by our successful ski-jump tests conducted in 2020 and extensive simulation studies. Additionally, we will also prove that further with operational demonstrations in India in May and June," Mr Garcia told Press Trust of India in an interview.

Boeing highlights F/A-18 Super Hornet Block III capabilities to the Indian Navy

As New Delhi plans to strengthen its defence capabilities, Boeing has been in talks with its defence customers in India about F/A-18 Super Hornet, P-8I, F-15EX, KC-46 tanker for aerial refuelling and ISR capabilities, he said.

"I really believe the F/A-18 Super Hornet Block III will be a transformative capability for the Indian Navy, the way the P-8I has been...and also the impact that it will have on the aerospace industry," he argued.

The senior Boeing executive, who is headed to India for his new assignment in the next few weeks, argued that with the Super Hornet, the Indian Navy will get a proven, multi-role and carrier-compatible fighter while benefiting from the investments, upgrades and knowledge that comes from the US Navy's extensive naval aviation ecosystem.

Boeing has been in talks with its defence customers in India about F/A-18 Super Hornet, P-8I, F-15EX, KC-46 tanker for aerial refuelling and ISR capabilities

The US Navy operates more than 800 Super Hornets and EA-18 Growlers, the electronic attack version of the F/A-18. "With the latest Block III configuration, the Super Hornet is suited to protect India's maritime interests, and we anticipate the Super Hornet and P-8I will open up opportunities for greater interoperability between the two navies for a secure Indo-Pacific," he said.

According to Mr Garcia, with a rapid technology insertion plan, the Super Hornet Block III will outpace threats for decades to come.

"The Block III Super Hornet comes with advanced networking and open architecture design that allows it to work jointly with the Indian Navy's P-8I and other US-origin assets and rapidly accept new technology to stay ahead of emerging threats," he said.

The US Navy operates more than 800 Super Hornets and EA-18 Growlers, the electronic attack version of the F/A-18.

"And lastly, the Super Hornet has an affordable acquisition cost and also costs less per flight hour to operate than any other tactical aircraft in the US forces inventory, including single-engine fighters. This is possible because the fighter is designed for ease of maintainability and offers impressive durability," he argued.

On the P-8I, Mr Garcia said there is clearly a need for long-range maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) requirements in the Indian Ocean Region. The P-8Is have demonstrated an excellent record in supporting the Navy's missions and have surpassed 35,000 flight hours since induction in 2013, he said.

"The P-8I programme has resulted in significant industrial benefits and jobs for companies in India that are now part of the Boeing supply chain which are manufacturing complex parts and components for BDS products, including the P-8," he said.

The P-8I programme has resulted in significant industrial benefits and jobs for companies in India

"In addition to supporting the P-8I with sustainment and training, we are also planning a 60,000 sq. ft. Training Support and Data Handling Centre set up at INS Rajali, Arakkonam, with a secondary centre at Naval Institute of Aeronautical Technology (NIAT), Kochi. The secondary centre was recently handed over to the Indian Navy," he added.

Maria Laine, vice president of Boeing's International Business Development, said that India is one of Boeing's enduring partners where "we have made strategic investments and will continue to do so in the future". The company has 3,500 employees in India and more than 7,000 people working with its supply chain partners.

"We are proud to support the many missions of the Indian armed forces that operate multiple Boeing aircraft...," she said.

The P-8Is have demonstrated an excellent record in supporting the Navy's missions and have surpassed 35,000 flight hours since induction in 2013

"We've made the latest investment outside of India in Boeing's India Engineering and Technology Center at USD 200 million and have a wholly-owned engineering and technology campus with future avionics manufacturing and assembly capability that is coming up in Bengaluru," Ms Laine told Press Trust of India.

"In support of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India, Boeing sources over USD 1 billion from India and Boeing's Indian supply chain partners are exporting products made in India for the global aerospace market," he said in response to a question.

"Over 275 Indian suppliers deliver components, parts and complex assemblies for Boeing's commercial and defence aircraft, including the F/A-18, F-15, P-8, Apache, Chinook, C-17 and T-7," she said.

TBAL is manufacturing 737 Vertical Fin structures, a complex structural part, on a new production line that will utilize cutting-edge robotics and automation

Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL), the joint venture between Boeing and Tata Advanced Systems, has been producing aero-structures for Boeing's AH-64 Apache helicopter and recently delivered its 140th AH-64 Apache fuselage from its 14,000 square metres state-of-the-art facility in Hyderabad.

TBAL is also manufacturing 737 Vertical Fin structures, a complex structural part, on a new production line that will utilize cutting-edge robotics and automation, said the Boeing official.

"On the defence side, we are delivering services that ensure high availability of our customers' fleets at competitive costs. We work with the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy to provide operational capability and readiness for Boeing aircraft," Ms Laine said.

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End of the line for the "Queen of the skies"?

Prashant-prabhakar

22 Apr 2022

Fondly called “the Queen of the Skies”, the iconic aircraft soon became synonymous with the term "jumbo jet". As they say, "All good things must come to an end", this couldn't be more true with the B747 program.

More than 50 years ago, the first 747 rolled out of the custom-built Everett Plant, the world's largest building by volume and on February 9, 1969, made its first-ever flight into the skies.

The Conversation

A brief history

CAAS

The Boeing 747 is a large, long-range wide-body airliner designed and manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes in the United States.

History begins with the popularity of the iconic Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8 - planes that supposedly heralded the American commercial jet aviation.

Pan Am B707 | Representative | Wikipedia

 In the early 1960s, Boeing was asked by Juan Trippe president of Pan Am, one of their most important airline customers, to build a passenger aircraft more than twice the size of the 707.

By 1965, Joe Sutter was transferred from Boeing's 737 development team to manage the design studies for the new airliner, already assigned the model number 747. At the time, many thought that the 747 would eventually be superseded by supersonic transport aircraft.  Boeing responded by designing the 747 so it could be adapted easily to carry freight and remain in production even if sales of the passenger version declined.

Joe Sutter - the mastermind behind the iconic Boeing's Jumbo 747 | The New York Times

Pan Am was the launch customer of the B747 and during the ceremonial 747 contract-signing banquets in Seattle on Boeing's 50th Anniversary, Juan Trippe predicted that the 747 would be "a great weapon for peace, competing with intercontinental missiles for mankind's destiny".

Juan Trippe | Twitter

The 747 was the result of the work of some 50,000 Boeing people. Called “the Incredibles,” these were the construction workers, mechanics, engineers, secretaries and administrators who made aviation history by building the 747- the largest civilian airplane in the world-in roughly 16 months during the late 1960s.Boeing

On January 15, 1970, First Lady of the United States Pat Nixon christened Pan Am's first 747 at Dulles International Airport Instead of champagne, red, white, and blue water was sprayed on the aircraft. The 747 eventually entered service on January 22, 1970, on Pan Am's New York–London route.

Pat Nixon christen Boeing 747 | Wikimedia Commons

For decades, the jumbo jet was the pinnacle of air travel

The 747-100 was the original variant launched in 1966. The 747-200 soon followed, with its launch in 1968. The 747-300 was launched in 1980 and was followed by the 747-400 in 1985. Ultimately, the 747-8 was announced in 2005. Several versions of each variant have been produced, and many of the early variants were in production simultaneously.

Reportedly, Boeing had also studied several 747 variants that have not gone beyond the concept stage. For instance- the 747 trijet - is a shorter 747 with three engines to compete with the smaller L-1011 TriStar and McDonnell Douglas DC-10

Boeing 747 Trijet | Simple Flying

Advancements in technology and the need for more fuel-efficient planes, coupled with the pandemic woes, hit a huge blow to the world fleet. Airliners around the world have been retiring their 747s earlier than planned.

Twin-jets today, have more capability and are more fuel-efficient on flying routes that were earlier the forte for planes with three or more engines.

B777-X | Fuel-efficient twinjet | Representative | Air Cargo News

At the time the 747 was designed, twin engines were severely limited in operation and not permitted to fly more than 60 minutes away from a diversion airport. This made transoceanic flights the domain of the quadjet. This has changed. ETOPS regulations were introduced in the 1980s and recognized the improved performance and reliability of twin-engine aircraft. The first rating given to the 767 permitted operations up to 120 minutes from a diversion airport. This has increased today, with ratings of up to 350 minutes for the Airbus A350.Simple Flying

From the original -100 to the latest -8s, the Boeing 747 truly has been an icon of the aviation industry and will forever continue to be so.

Final "wrap-up'' of the 747 program

The number of "queen(s)" flying in the skies has been plummeting, with its largest operator-Japan Airlines, retiring its last 747 in 2011.

As of April 2021, Boeing had only twelve of its 747 jets left to be built. Its latest -8 configuration has no more orders to be fulfilled.

World's Largest Business Jet, Qatar Amiri Boeing 747-8i | Representative | Autoevolution

Reportedly, out of the 12,  four 747-8Fs are going to Atlas Air, seven Boeing 747-8Fs are going to UPS, and a single 747-8 is going to an unidentified customer.

The final Boeing 747 might be delivered to Atlas Air, its final customer, probably by  October 2022.

These are the last 747s that Boeing will ever produce, and we’re delighted they’ll be coming to AtlasCommenting on Atlas Air's Q3 earnings call, and as reported by Bloomberg, the airline's CEO, John Dietrich, said

Atlas Air CEO- John Dietrich | Air Cargo News

As the entire world gears up to advance toward an emissions-free scenario, it is not surprising that quad-engine jets have seemingly fallen out of favour and more fuel-efficient twin engines have taken over.

SOURCE(s)

COVER: Confessions of a Trolley Dolly

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SpiceJet grounds its B737 aircraft after passenger complains about the cabin's poor condition

Radhika Bansal

22 Apr 2022

The DGCA ordered SpiceJet to ground a B737 aircraft in an unprecedented decision after a passenger tweeted pictures of its filthy interiors.

Some cabin panels were broken or missing, a few window frames were loose, and many seats were dirty or torn, according to the passenger. The DGCA requested that the budget airline operate it only after making necessary cabin repairs.

The DGCA took this unprecedented regulatory action on Tuesday, April 19 after a passenger on a SpiceJet Boeing 737 flight from Bengaluru to Guwahati took photos of the plane's cabin and tweeted them, tagging the DGCA.

SpiceJet grounds its B737 aircraft after passenger complains about the cabin's poor condition

Once this B737 returned to Bengaluru, a team of regulatory officials conducted a surprise inspection of the aircraft and, soon, the budget airline received an order to fly the aircraft only after carrying out the required repairs.

Confirming this, a SpiceJet spokesperson said: “We carried out interior cabin work on a SpiceJet Boeing 737 after it landed in Bengaluru at around 3:40 PM on Tuesday, April 19, under the direction of the DGCA. The aircraft resumed flying from April 20 after the approval of the DGCA”.

Following the twin blows of Covid wreaking havoc on air traffic and ATF (aviation turbine fuel) prices hitting record highs every two weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine, several Indian carriers are struggling to stay afloat.

Airlines that do not have cash reserves (IndiGo is the only one) or are not backed by large corporations such as Tatas (for four of its airlines) and Wadias are struggling to stay afloat.

The depreciation of the Indian rupee has exacerbated their problems. Airlines that do not have cash reserves (IndiGo is the only one) or are not backed by large corporations such as Tatas (for four of its airlines) and Wadias are struggling to stay afloat.

Without these two cushions, going is especially tough for airlines. The aviation ministry has been attempting to persuade states to lower ATF VAT, as well as asking the finance ministry to lower ATF excise.

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Air One – world’s first fully operational Urban-Air Port for eVTOL aircraft and drone technology to go operational soon

Prashant-prabhakar

22 Apr 2022

Flying air taxis and eVTOL aircraft are touted to be the next game-changers when it comes to urban air mobility (UAM) with many developers joining the bandwagon to create multi-functional, state-of-the-art electric flying car models and drones.

Representative | sUAS News

Urban-Air Port, a UK based Aviation and aerospace manufacturing company, has designed "Air One"- an airport, or a "vertiport", for the safe operations of electric flying cars and drones in Coventry, UK.

Cars need roads. Trains need rails. Planes need airports. EVTOLs will need Urban Air PortsRicky Sandhu, founder and executive chairman of Urban Air Port, reportedly said

Ricky Sandhu | Trendsmap

According to Sandhu, while there has been an unprecedented interest in the development of eVTOL aircraft, the same couldn't be said for the appropriate infrastructure required for the handling of their operations.

The 17,000-square-foot airport,  constructed from steel and aluminium wrapped in a tensile translucent fabric, is designed to be "a world-first fully-operational 'pop up' urban airport and charging hub for future electric vertical take-off and landing (EVTOL) aircraft".

We wanted to create a multi-functional operations hub for manned and unmanned vehicles providing aircraft command and control, refuelling, cargo and passenger loading. This new, green intermodal infrastructure will remove the largest, single constraint to sustainable air mobility and significantly cut congestion and air pollution from passenger and cargo transport and create a zero-emission ecosystem.Ricky Sandhu

The airport layout

Located in the centre of Coventry in the West Midlands, the airport will feature a 14-metre-wide, dome-shaped launchpad, sitting atop the middle of the prefabricated building.

urban airport

Upon touch down on the landing platform, the flying car or drone will drop down inside the hanger, where it can recharge and unload to be ready for its next flight.

Facilities also include a passenger lounge, security screening area, restaurants, shops and a designated drone area.

Representative | dezeen

A defence and logistics area, away from the passenger lounge, will house disaster relief operations, airside-mobile-clinics, air evacuation hubs, defence and logistics lines and other emergency services.

While the EVTOL cars will transport passengers around the country, the autonomous drones will collect and deliver emergency supplies and equipment for the British police and emergency services.

Owing to its central city location, the "vertiport"  has a 60 per cent smaller footprint than traditional heliports.

In Coventry, we are in an ultra-dense location where almost half a million people work and live right next to the main train station in the city centre. Our solution is compact but high capacity- that means we take up less space in the heart of a city where these electric vehicles can land and take off efficiently and quickly providing a new mode of sustainable transport and new connectivityexplained Sandhu

Hydrogen fuel cells will be used to power the airport.

In Coventry, we are powering AirOne from hydrogen fuel cells that will also power our fast EV chargers. The EV chargers are for ground transport vehicles so we provide a seamless journey that is zero-emissionSandhu said

The airport has been designed in such a way that the architecture can be adapted and modified to be suitable for other modes of transport, such as flying buses or scooters in the future. Not surprisingly, the company also has plans of opening more than 200 such "airports" in cities around the world in the next five years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZcvhO3-fAk

The choice of building materials for the Air One are in line with Urban-Air Port's DNA and are based on rapid deployability, flat-packed system, modularity and demountability. This allows for a quick installation and dismantling processes and transportation to the next venue said Sandhu

Supernal- the Urban Air Mobility Division of South Korean carmaker Hyundai Motor, currently has one of its flying air car models - the Air Taxi SA-1, parked in the hangar for display. Reportedly, the company is planning to commercialize the aerial vehicle by 2028.

Urban-Air Port

“In the future, streets will be three-dimensional with less need for roads; as such there will be more space for green areas. Greener, cleaner and safe streets for better connected, walkable and sustainable cities. The vehicles on the road will be shared, so there will be no need to actually own a car"-says Sandhu.

Also according to Sandhu, the launch of Air One marks an important step in the burgeoning flying vehicle industry and could reduce congestion and air pollution in cities, providing a solution to the growing climate crisis.

Cleaner, inter-city flight technology is vital not only to reducing emissions, but to better connecting remote communities, from small towns in the UK to isolated settlements all around the world. As we build back greener from the pandemic, initiatives like the government-backed Air One project will help us develop the infrastructure needed to make our dreams of flying taxis a reality Kwasi Kwarteng – Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy of United Kingdom

Reportedly, flying cars that transport passengers could start using the airport in 2025, while the first cargo drone is set to take off on 25 April 2022-Urban-Air Port.

SOURCE(s)

COVER: URBAN AIR PORT

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Air India announces group medical insurance scheme for its employees

Radhika Bansal

22 Apr 2022

In an attempt to provide better medical facilities across a large network of hospitals across the country, Air India announced a Group Medical Insurance scheme that will be activated from 15 May 2022. 

"This medical insurance scheme will be fully extendable to both permanent and fixed term contract employees and their dependents based in India," the airline said in a statement. 

The sum insured provided would be INR 7.5 lakh per annum per family (maximum family size 7 - Employees Spouse/Partner + 3 Children + 2 Parent/Parent-in-Law) with an option of corporate buffer, to be used by employees In case of medical exigencies, it added.

Air India announces group medical insurance scheme for its employees

A detailed insurance policy and the network of hospitals will be shared in due course highlighting all benefits provided as part of the policy, the carrier added. 

A dedicated helpline would be provided for employees to reach out to the assigned Third-Party Administrator (TPA) that would assist in the insurance clarifications, claim processing and any other queries regarding the insurance policy. 

"With the introduction of the medical insurance policy, employees would have the necessary support at their time of need anywhere in the country."

A detailed insurance policy and the network of hospitals will be shared in due course highlighting all benefits provided as part of the policy

The new medical insurance scheme's announcement comes days after the carrier had said that it will be restoring salaries of employees in a phased manner to pre-pandemic levels as the aviation sector is recovering with the decline of COVID-19 cases in the country.

ALSO READ - Air India begins restoring salaries to pre-pandemic levels gradually

The Indian aviation sector was badly hit due to the pandemic-induced travel restrictions during the last two years and therefore, all airlines in India had cut salaries.

Air India is restoring salaries of employees in a phased manner to pre-pandemic levels as the aviation sector is recovering with the decline of COVID-19 cases in the country

From April 1 this year, flying allowance, special pay, and wide-body allowance of pilots are being restored by 20%, 25%, and 25%, respectively, the document had stated.

ALSO READ - Medical insurance for retired Air India employees finalised by the government

Earlier in January, the government has finalised a solution to provide medical insurance to the 30,000 retired staff members of Air India who had opted for the post-retirement medical scheme, a huge relief for the ex-workers as this was not among the pre-conditions for transfer of the airline to the Tata Group.

The number of retired employees at Air India is about 50,000, of these, about 30,000 have opted for the post-retirement medical scheme.

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TIDCO and GE team up to establish an aviation engine technology centre in Tamil Nadu

Radhika Bansal

21 Apr 2022

US-based aircraft engine manufacturer GE has partnered with the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) to set up a Centre of Excellence in the southern state on emerging aviation engine technologies.

“GE will bring its rich 100-year aerospace experience to this CoE. The CoE can leverage GE’s technology and research capabilities in an agile environment. GE’s team will be backed by its India technology centre team located in Bengaluru which has been working on aerospace technology design development for over 20 years.”Vikram Reddy, GM, Aviation Engineering, GE

"An investment of around INR 141.26 crore over five years was proposed to be funded by TIDCO and GE in two phases," stated a joint press release issued on Monday, April 18.

The Centre of Excellence will work towards technology development of aviation engine parts such as compressor heat exchangers, combustor components, casing, frames, gears, and splines, it noted.

“The GE partnership with government of Tamil Nadu is a significant milestone in the growth of the aerospace and defence ecosystem in the state. With the establishment of this facility, Tamil Nadu will emerge as an aerospace and defence hub for research and development and advanced manufacturing of aerospace parts. The partnership with GE will help attract investments in the defence and aerospace sector in the state.”B Krishnamoorthy, Additional Secretary and Project Director, TIDCO

An operating unit of General Electric, the world’s largest corporation, GE Aviation is a major producer of jet and turboprop engines and components for both commercial and military aircraft.

It also produces integrated digital, electric power and mechanical systems for aircraft. The company has an extensive global service network to support its products, with operations in more than 50 locations worldwide.

An operating unit of General Electric, the world’s largest corporation, GE Aviation is a major producer of jet and turboprop engines and components for both commercial and military aircraft.

The Tamil Nadu government has planned to develop a new airport in the industrial belt of Hosur (in Krishnagiri district and located about 40 km from Bengaluru), and a study on air traffic and other aspects has been ordered, state Industries Minister Thangam Thennarasu said on Tuesday, April 19.

ALSO READ - Tamil Nadu plans to develop an airport in Hosur’s industrial belt

The Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Ltd (TIDCO) has been directed to undertake a study on the air traffic and its growth in surrounding regions, market demand and potential sites for developing an airport in Hosur, which is one of the industrial hubs in the state, he said. TIDCO is in the process of selecting a consultant for undertaking the study.

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