Civil aviation services get Digital, DGCA launched eGCA

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), in collaboration with TCS, launched the eGCA, a portal that provides end-to-end digital solutions for all its stakeholders, including pilots, aircraft engineers, operators and flying training organizations.

With this portal, DGCA and TCS will help eGCA to deliver anytime-anywhere regulatory approval.

The Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on November 11 launched the e-governance for Civil Aviation (e-GCA) online platform through which the aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation will provide 298 services including pilot licensing and medical examination.

Civil Aviation Minister, Jyotiraditya schindia (right) with Civil Aviation Secretary, Rajiv Bansal (Left) at the launch. (Image Courtesy - ET TravelWorld)

The online platform will provide services to various DGCA stakeholders such as Pilots, Aircraft Maintenance Engineers, Air Traffic Controllers, Air Operators, Airport Operators, Flying Training Organizations, Maintenance and Design organizations, among others.

The launch of the e-GCA project under DGCA was part of the minister's 100-day plan for the aviation sector. The portal was developed by Tata Consultancy Services.

The DGCA has been transferring its services online for the last four years now and the launch of the online portal now completes the transfer of most of the regulator's services online.

''And through this transformation (DGCA to e-GCA), we have achieved a number of objectives of becoming a single-window online service platform, eliminating procedural inefficiencies and automating regulatory reporting,'' Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said.

With this portal, DGCA and TCS will help eGCA to deliver anytime-anywhere regulatory approval. (Image Courtesy - Prokerala)

Medical clearance for pilots will now be done in 2-3 days, which earlier used to take at least a month, he added. For pilots' licenses, earlier things used to happen offline which is now being moved online, he further informed.During the launch, the Union Minister of Civil Aviation also unveiled a case study ‘DGCA takes off on a digital flight’, which captures the journey of DGCA through the implementation of the eGCA. The challenges that DGCA faced and the measures taken to address these through the eGCA platform have been incorporated in this case study.

TCS had won the mandate from DGCA in 2019 to digitize its daily operations. Over the last 2.5 years, TCS has streamlined 300 services, with the first set of services being made live on 30th December 2019. The platform, an e-governance tool for Civil Aviation, will provide a new service mechanism for all the stakeholders, keeping customers at its forefront.

Tej Bhatla, Business Unit Head, TCS, said, “We are proud to have partnered with DGCA to bring the best use of technology in building eGCA - a future-ready platform that enhances efficiency and strengthens governance. For us, this is another memorable #tcspartofyourstory for #digitalindia, built on the belief and faith that DGCA had in us.”

DGCA is the safety regulator for India’s expansive civil aviation sector and is responsible for safe and efficient air transportation through a regulatory framework, services to stakeholders, and proactive safety oversight. Before its switch to digital governance, the regulatory body functioned predominately on a paper-based model. This led to longer processing times for applications and stakeholders were not able to track the status of their application on a real-time basis.

The portal has digitised 11 key organizational functions. With the eGCA platform, one can register, apply, track and obtain licenses and approvals digitally, which will improve efficiency, transparency and ensure better governance. It will ensure single-window applications for all concerned directorates and digital application processes can be accessed anytime, anywhere. eGCA also offers Akash, a ChatBot that will address queries and concerns in real-time.

ZeroAvia, the zero-emission passenger aircraft manufacturer, on Tuesday, entered into a collaboration with HAL, to manufacture a hydrogen-electric powertrain capable of flying the 19-seat Dornier 228 aircraft.

Dornier DO228 | Wikipedia

The engineering team at HAL and ZeroAvia would integrate ZeroAvia’s ZA600 hydrogen-electric powertrain into the Dornier 228 airframe, making it capable of clocking distances as long as 500NM.

HAL intends to work with ZeroAvia to develop a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) to allow retrofit of existing airframes for both Indian military and worldwide operators. HAL also intends to continue to build new aircraft with additional FAA approval, designated Hindustan-228, creating the opportunity to incorporate ZeroAvia’s ZA600 zero-emission engines. Additionally, HAL and ZeroAvia engineers will integrate ZeroAvia’s ZA600 hydrogen-electric powertrain into the Dornier 228 airframe. ZeroAvia will work closely with HAL and aircraft regulators during this project to ensure that aircraft meet both safety and operational requirements,ZeroAvia

For the unversed, HAL had signed a technology transfer agreement with Dornier in 1983 and has since then produced main sub-assemblies and over 150 aircraft, including those operated by the Indian Military.

HAL is committed to contributing to the protection and better development of the environment. This MoU with ZeroAvia has the potential to pave the way for zero emission regional connectivity. We are looking forward to steering and supporting sustainable and environmentally friendly aviation in India and the worldR Madhavan, chairman and managing director, HAL

R Madhavan | The Rahnuma Daily

HAL Transport Aircraft Division, Kanpur, is where the production line of Dornier 228 is currently operational.

We are pleased to be working with HAL to deliver zero-emission aircraft to market in the shortest time frame. HAL has a long experience with the Dornier 228 aircraft and since this is also our flight test aircraft, this collaboration helps us achieve our goal of certifying our engine whilst providing an STC solution to operators worldwideVal Miftakhov, CEO and founder, ZeroAvia

Val Miftakhov | Silicon Canals

COVER: The Indian Express

Some members of a parliamentary panel on Friday, November 12 expressed concern over the high cost of international air travel and suggested to the Civil Aviation Ministry to consider resuming scheduled international passenger flights as the entire world is opening up after the COVID-19-induced closure, sources said.

The members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture also questioned top officials of the ministry over rising prices of international flights, the sources said.

The pandemic-induced suspension of scheduled international passenger flights, which started on March 23, 2020, has been extended till November 30, 2021. However, special international flights have been operating under the Vande Bharat Mission since May 2020 and bilateral "air bubble" arrangements with around 28 countries since July 2020.

(Image Courtesy - BBC)

Civil Aviation Secretary Rajiv Bansal, the Director-General of Civil Aviation and the Chairman of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) deposed before the parliamentary panel on Friday, November 12.

Some panel members from different parties questioned them about the high prices of international flights, and food and beverage not being served in domestic flights of a duration less than two hours, the sources said.

Several MPs specifically suggested they resume international flights as the world is opening up after increasing vaccination against COVID-19. The officials responded that they will look into the matter, sources said.

The MPs also asked them on what basis the number of international flights to be allowed to one specific country is decided as the demand for international travel is on the rise, they said.

(Image Courtesy - Curly Tales)

If recent reports are to be believed, India is looking to increase the number of international flights operating to and from the country in the upcoming weeks.

With over 100 crore doses administered and 85% of the country’s eligible population receiving at least one dose, Indian officials are in talks with domestic and international airlines as well as other countries to increase flight capacity during travel bubbles, according to senior officials.

With countries in Europe, the Middle East, North America, and elsewhere, India has established several air bubble travel agreements. Air bubbles allow international flights between two countries to operate under certain restrictions and stipulations, even if international flights are restricted in one of the two countries.

SpiceJet, a low-cost airline, reported a loss of INR 561.7 crore for the quarter ended September 2021 on November 12. (Q2FY22). In the previous fiscal year, the company lost INR 112.5 crore. The loss in the previous quarter (June 2021) was INR 729 crore.

Revenue from operations was INR 1,301.7 crore, up 28 % from INR 1,016.1 crore in the previous fiscal's corresponding quarter. The total revenue from operations for the September 2020 quarter was INR 1342.5 crore, up 27.2 % from INR 1,055 crore in the previous quarter.

Total expenses increased to INR 2,100.4 crore in the period under review from INR 1,405.6 crore in the second quarter of 2020-21. The airline had incurred a net loss of INR 729 crore in the first quarter of the current financial year.

In terms of operational parameters, SpiceJet had the best passenger load factor amongst all airlines in the country during the quarter. The average domestic load factor for the quarter was 78%.

During Q2, SpiceJet received shareholders' approval to transfer its cargo and logistics services business to its subsidiary, SpiceXpress and Logistics Private Limited, as a going concern, on a slump sale basis valued at Rs 2,555.77 crore.

"We have made excellent progress in our recovery and I expect this trend to continue forward in the coming quarters. The settlement with key lessors, the return of the 737 MAX in the current quarter (Q3), transfer of the logistics business and some very significant announcements lined up soon are all positive tailwinds that should have a significant impact on our long term plans.With the nationwide vaccination drive growing at an unprecedented pace across geographies, there is a significant jump in travel demand and we are very excited about the demand recovery." Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, SpiceJet

SpiceJet said it also finalised terms of settlements with Avolon and CDB Aviation, two of its major lessors of 737 MAX aircraft. These settlements and operations of 737 MAX aircraft will result in significant savings for the airline, it said. As per SpiceJet, the airline expects to start flying its MAX aircraft soon once all regulatory approvals have been received.

The company’s operating profit improved 149% sequentially to INR 50.6 crore in the quarter due to the low base of the previous quarter.

SpiceJet received shareholders’ approval to transfer its cargo and logistics services business to its subsidiary, SpiceXpress and Logistics Ld, as a going concern, on a slump sale basis valued at INR 2,556 crore.

Further, the company's shareholders have also approved a fundraise of up to INR 2,500 Crore through Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP).

Shares of SpiceJet ended 0.8% higher at INR 73.8 on the National Stock Exchange.

Scheduled domestic flight services were suspended in India from March 25, 2020, to May 24, 2020, due to the COVID-triggered lockdown. Scheduled international flights continue to remain suspended in India since March 23 last year.

However, a limited number of international passenger flights have been operating since July last year under air bubble arrangements formed with approximately 28 countries.

There won't be any airline in India to board if limits on domestic airfares are not increased as oil prices have jumped from $22 each barrel to $85 in the last eight months, Union Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Thursday, November 11.

At the 'Times Now Summit 2021', he said aviation turbine fuel (ATF) is about 40% of an airline's cost structure in the country.

Domestic air travel became costlier on August 12 this year when the Aviation Ministry raised the lower and upper caps on domestic fares by 9.83 to 12.82%.

The Ministry had increased the lower limit for flights under 40-minute duration from INR 2,600 to INR 2,900 -- an increase of 11.53%. The upper cap for flights under 40-minute duration was increased by 12.82% to INR 8,800.

India had imposed lower and upper limits on airfares based on flight duration when services resumed on May 25, 2020, after a two-month Covid lockdown.

The lower caps were imposed to help the airlines that have been struggling financially due to coronavirus-related travel restrictions. The upper caps were imposed so that passengers are not charged huge amounts when the demand for seats is high.

"Look at what has happened to ATF prices. Oil prices over the last eight months increased from $22 per barrel to $84. So, the airline's cost structure has gone up by four times. Add to that the excise duty of 11% and VAT charged by the State governments in the range of 1% to 30%. How is an airline going to survive unless it (ATF) becomes economical?The reason for the Aviation Ministry raising the fare bands is that airlines must be given some cushion when there is a 400% jump in the prices of raw materials. If you are not able to give a 12.5% hike on the revenue side then you and I won't have an airline to board.The Aviation Ministry is trying to reduce ATF prices by asking the state governments to reduce their VAT charges.In the last four months, I have written to 25 chief ministers to make them understand how this VAT is holding back the States' connectivity.Over the last 40 days, Jammu and Kashmir, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana have lowered their VAT on ATF from the range of 25 to 28% to the range of 1 to 2%. I salute the leadership of these states."Due to this, there has been much greater connectivity to these states in the last one-and-half months."Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister of Civil Aviation

The caps mentioned by the government in its order does not include the passenger security fee, user development fee for the airports and the GST. These charges are added on top when a ticket is booked.

The August 12 order also mentioned that the limit on airfares will remain in place for 30 days at any given time. On September 18, the Ministry modified the August 12 order, reducing the roll-over period from 30 days to 15 days.

According to people familiar with the situation, Boeing Co. could win a crucial deal for 70 to 80 737 Max jets from an Indian start-up airline as early as this weekend, denting Airbus SE's dominance in what was until recently the world's fastest-growing aviation market.

Bloomberg News previously reported that Akasa, a Mumbai-based carrier backed by billionaire investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, was in talks with Boeing about the planes. According to some sources, a deal could be announced during the Dubai Airshow, which begins November 14.

(Image Courtesy - The Anand Market)

At current list prices, a deal of that size to take the most popular variant of the 737 Max family – which most regulators have now approved to fly again following two deadly crashes – could be worth as much as $10 billion, though large orders often receive discounts.

Any deal would allow Boeing to gain a foothold in the narrow-body market, which is currently dominated by Airbus aircraft. IndiGo, the world's largest customer for the European planemaker's best-selling jets, has placed orders for over 700 planes, while Singapore Airlines and AirAsia Group Bhd. have all used Airbus A320 models in India.

Low-cost carrier SpiceJet is currently the only Indian customer for the 737 Max after Jet Airways India collapsed due to debt issues in 2019.

Akasa would become one of the first new customers for the Max post-recertification, said Richard Aboulafia, an analyst with Teal Group. “Airbus is considerably ahead in terms of share in India and the market is especially important for Boeing given all the uncertainty in China.”

(Image Courtesy - Aviation News)

“We always seek opportunities and talk with current and potential customers about how we can best support their fleet and operational needs,” Boeing said in a statement.

An Akasa representative declined to comment.

Akasa, operated by SNV Aviation Pvt., plans to offer flights across India starting in the summer of 2022 after it received initial approval from the country’s civil aviation ministry a month ago.

The airline has held discussions with Airbus, but Boeing jets could be delivered earlier, with the first batch of 10 coming in the first half of next year and the rest within three years, one of the people said. Akasa is still working out the finer details of its launch, including its brand identity, another person said.

Akasa is among a handful of airline startups cropping up across the globe, as tycoons and entrepreneurs take advantage of a slump in plane-lease rates after the pandemic slammed air travel and hundreds of jets were parked in deserts and airports.

The airline is also backed by Aditya Ghosh, a former head of IndiGo, and Vinay Dube, a Delta Air Lines Inc. veteran who also helped run Jet Airways.

(With Inputs from Bloomberg)