DGCA reviews 30 flying training organisations; suspends certified flight instructors

Radhika Bansal

17 Jun 2022

Aviation regulator DGCA on Thursday, June 16 said it has audited 30 out of a total of 32 flying training organisations (FTOs) in India since March 21 and found them violating multiple safety regulations.

Consequently, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has suspended the approval of one FTO, issued a warning letter to two accountable managers, and suspended four certified flying instructors (CFIs), three Deputy CFIs and one assistant flying instructor (AFI), its statement noted.

The regulator found in the audit that "the facilities at the airfield/training organization are not being maintained as per the requirements -- runway surface was found worn out, wind sock was found torn or nonstandard."

DGCA reviews 30 flying training organisations; suspends 2 certified flight instructors

Aircraft were being operated with faulty or unserviceable instruments such as fuel gauges, stall warning, etc, the DGCA said. The pre-flight alcohol test regulations were not followed at multiple FTOs, it stated.

ALSO READ - 50% of instructors and 40% of student pilots shall be subjected to pre-flight breath-analyser daily - DGCA

"Few of the instructors, student pilots and aircraft maintenance engineers did not undergo BA (breathalyser) test or submit undertaking before the commencement of duty/exercise of privileges," the DGCA noted.

In a few cases, the testing equipment being used was not in compliance with the requirements or calibrated as required, it added. The DGCA said it observed false logging in official documents.

DGCA has suspended four certified flying instructors (CFIs), three Deputy CFIs and one assistant flying instructor (AFI)

"In few cases, the dual flight was logged as solo flight and in few other cases, the taxi time was calculated towards the instrument flying time of the student pilot," it added. There were deficiencies in the ground training of student pilots, it said.

Student pilots were not appropriately briefed and trained on emergencies and essential exercises before being released to operate solo flights, it said.

There was "adhocism in the allocation of trainers as trainers were frequently changed and thereby affecting the learning experience of student pilot", the regulator noted.

During the last couple of months, there have been numerous incidents and accidents at FTOs across the country.

The emergency response plan was not practised and contained obsolete contact details, the DGCA said. The emergency response plan is of great importance when an incident occurs.

During the last couple of months, there have been numerous incidents and accidents at FTOs across the country.

"Based on these audit findings and findings in a recent accident, enforcement action has been issued i.e., warning letter to two Accountable Managers, suspension orders to two CFIs (certified flying instructors) for a year, two CFI for 3 months, one Deputy CFI for a year, two Deputy CFI for 3 months, one AFI (assistant flying instructor) for 3 months and one student for 3 months.In addition approval of one FTO has been suspended. Enforcement actions against other individuals/ FTOs are at various stages."Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)

Two training aircraft were involved in separate non-fatal accidents in India on March 16, following which aviation regulator DGCA had ordered a safety audit of all flying training organisations (FTOs).

In the first accident, the pilot had allegedly forgotten to open the landing gear in Jamshedpur in Jharkhand, while the second plane crash-landed on the runway in Uttar Pradesh's Sultanpur. The audit then commenced on March 21.

ALSO READ - IGRUA FTO trainee aircraft crash lands in UP, DGCA orders probe

ALSO READ - DGCA fines two flights schools for violating rules

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Air India to add A350 aircraft to its fleet; first aircraft likely by 2023

Radhika Bansal

16 Jun 2022

The Tata Group-owned Air India has decided to procure its maiden batch of wide-bodied A350 aircraft from Airbus and the first plane is likely to be delivered to the airline by March 2023. The A350 order would be worth more than USD 6 billion based on list prices, before traditional industry discounts.

However, it was not immediately clear how many A350 aircraft will be purchased by Air India. But Air India can place an order of up to 50 Airbus A350-900 aircraft. Additionally, the airline is also in talks to order more than 100 A321 neo aircraft- a popular version of Airbus’ single-aisle version.

Air India has not bought a single aircraft since 2006 when it had placed orders for purchasing 111 aircraft — 68 from the US-based aircraft manufacturer Boeing and 43 from European aircraft manufacturer Airbus.

Air India to add A350 aircraft to its fleet; first aircraft likely by 2023

A wide-bodied plane like Airbus A350 has a bigger fuel tank that allows it to travel long distances such as India-US routes. The Tata Group took control of Air India on January 27 after successfully winning the bid for the airline on October 8 last year.

Sources on Wednesday, June 17 said Air India has started asking its senior pilots if they will be interested in getting the "conversion training" to operate A350 aircraft.

Air India's pilots are trained to operate the wide-bodied aircraft of Boeing. Therefore, they have to undergo "conversion training" to operate the A350 aircraft of Airbus. Transition training from A320 to A350 will require only around six months as Airbus has ensured cockpit commonality in the two aircraft.

Transition training from A320 to A350 will require only around six months as Airbus has ensured cockpit commonality in the two aircraft.

According to Air India's website, the airline has a total of 49 wide-bodied aircraft — 18 Boeing B777, 4 Boeing B747 and 27 B787 — in its fleet. The carrier has 79 narrow-bodied planes in its fleet too. Sources said Air India is purchasing A350 aircraft and is likely to get its first A350 plane by March 2023.

Such an early delivery of the aircraft is possible because the airline is eyeing aircraft already built for Russian airline AeroFlot, which Airbus couldn’t deliver due to the sanctions placed by the company on Russia.

Aeroflot had a total of 22 A350-900 aircraft on order. Out of those, only one has been delivered to Aerflot while six aircraft are being taken by Turkish Airlines, which will be delivered in 2022 and 2023.

Air India has a total of 49 wide-bodied aircraft including 18 Boeing B777

The Russia-Ukraine war has led to Western nations taking swift action against Russia, imposing sanctions and airspace bans. The actions restricted plane makers like Airbus and Boeing from selling and delivering aircraft to their Russian customers.

Multiple delays by Boeing for the commercial launch of its competing product like the 777X due to regulatory issues also contributed to the order swaying in Airbus’ favour. Plans of Vistara, the group’s joint venture with Singapore, have been hit due to the delay in delivery of 787 aircraft.

ALSO READ - Tata negotiating aircraft order for Air India with Airbus and Boeing

A team of top executives of Tata Sons, which includes the conglomerate’s Chief Financial Officer Saurabh Agrawal and Air India’s Chief Commercial officer Nipun Aggarwal, is in Hamburg to finalise details on the seating layout and interiors.

Airbus had earlier showcased a more advanced version of the aircraft A350-1000 to Tata Sons executives including group patriarch Ratan Tata.

Airbus had earlier showcased a more advanced version of the aircraft A350-1000 to Tata Sons executives including group patriarch Ratan Tata.

ALSO READ - Air India to renew grounded planes for commercial operations

The airline is simultaneously working to restore its grounded aircraft. Around 30 of Air India’s 113 aircraft have been grounded for varying periods due to lack of engine overhaul or non-availability of components and spares. This includes aircraft from both the Airbus and Boeing fleet such as Airbus A320, Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft.

While Air India has a fleet of 141 aircraft, a mix of narrow and wide-body Airbus and Boeing aircraft, the airline has agreed to hand over only 118 of them in fly-worthy condition to the Tatas.

Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran who is also the chairman of Air India had earlier said that the group will need to order new aircraft to augment the fleet of the airline.

Since April, the airline's chairman N Chandrasekaran — who also is the chairman of the Tata Group — has rejigged the top management of the airline, bringing in senior and middle-level executives who have worked in other companies of the Tata Group such as Tata Steel and Vistara.

Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran who is also the chairman of Air India had earlier said that the group will need to order new aircraft to augment the fleet of the airline.

“We will address it with utmost urgency. We’ll upgrade our fleet, we’ll bring modernity in our fleet, we’ll bring a new fleet,” he had said in a video address to employees.

Once known for its premium services and advertisements featuring Bollywood stars, the airline still has lucrative landing slots at most major airports, but it faces competition from foreign airlines with non-stop services to India and carriers that fly via hubs in the Middle East.

Tata, which now owns four airline brands, including the local affiliates of Singapore Airlines Ltd. and AirAsia Group Bhd., is widely expected to consolidate the businesses. It already got antitrust approvals for Air India to take over AirAsia India.

ALSO READ - Air India gets CCI’s approval to acquire the entire stake in AirAsia India

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Intrusion Detection Systems to be installed in all hyper-sensitive airports by 2023 - Here's what we know

Prashant-prabhakar

16 Jun 2022

A safe and robust airport perimeter fencing acts as the very first line of defence against security risks and potential threats at airports. Failure to install one that meets all safety regulations could thereby result in an increased number of security breaches.

Representative | Senstar

All hyper-sensitive airports in the country shall install the PIDS by December 31, 2023 as per minimum technical specification... Further, non-RCS greenfield airports shall plan installation of PIDS at design stage itself for the purpose of obtaining clearance of design stage security vetting in terms of rule 5 (3) of the Aircraft (Security) Rules 2011BCAS stated in the circular which comes into force with immediate effect

According to a circular released by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), all hyper-sensitive airports in India are advised to have a perimeter intrusion detection system installed by December 2023. While airports that come under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) will plan the installation at the development stage itself, Greenfield airports that don't fall under the scheme will also have the system installed-the circular said.

Why has the government ordered the installation now?

According to the 2011 World Airport Traffic Report by ACI (Airport Council International), worldwide airport passenger numbers increased by 5.3% in 2011 to 5.44 billion and global passenger traffic is expected to top 12 billion by 2031.

Videotec

While a fortune has been spent on internal screening measures, explosives detection systems and air cargo security for airports, the focus has been comparatively less on the actual physical security of the airport.

Timely detection and intervention of external threats would ensure the safety and the security of the passengers, crew, ground personnel, and the general public while also safeguarding against all acts of ‘unlawful interference with civil aviation.

List of hyper-sensitive airports in India:

S.NoAirport1Amritsar2IGI Delhi3Jaipur4Varanasi5Lucknow6Agartala7Bagdogra8Guwahati9Imphal10Kolkata11Raipur12Bengaluru13Chennai14Hyderabad15Mumbai16Pune17Jodhpur18AhmedabadSource

Intrusion Detection System | How does it work?

While airports today feature advanced security measures which integrate multiple screening layers, body scanners and explosion detection tools, the actual physical security of the airport has been relegated to the back seat. With the growing incidence of sophisticated security attacks and evolving threats, it becomes highly imperative to plan the overall physical infrastructure in a way that drives actionable intelligence.

Perimeter security is both a fundamental and critical aspect of any airport security strategy.

Representative | Optex Principle

As unique as every airport design is, how the perimeters of airports are protected, will have to be customised to suit each airport.

Traditional methods of protection include fence systems and fence alarms. They are often susceptible to false alarms and often while it sounds, the security breach is either in progress or has already occurred.

Radar and thermal imaging

Representative | Defense Studies

Although they operate in different modes, it allows suspects to be spotted and tracked as soon as they enter pre-defined zones. Simply put, they can be monitored potentially while they are still beyond the perimeter and can be tracked if they cross it.

Taut wire

Representative | Senstar

Taut wire signals fence movement or tampering, although it can be quite expensive over long distances.

Fibre optics

Fibre optic cable is designed to detect and pinpoint the location of intrusion anywhere on the airport perimeter fence, providing real-time reporting of intrusion. They require no electronics, power or infrastructure in the field, thereby making it impervious to external weather conditions and hence, no change in sensitivity and virtually no nuisance alarms

Access control system (ACS)

Representative | Source

ACS is a subsystem that supports intrusion detection systems in controlling access to individuals to certain areas of an airport.

Volumetric sensing

Representative | Detection Technologies Blog

Volumetric sensing monitors the physical space adjacent to fence lines for system penetration. Typically infrared, microwave or proximity sensors but can also be CCTV with Video Analytics.

Video Analytics analyses CCTV video for specific data, behaviour, or objects and is not to be confused with video motion detection (VMD)-they are prone to nuisance alarms.

The massive scale of infrastructure and the magnitude of people concentrated in a particular location makes airports worldwide attractive targets for terrorism and other forms of crime. Implementing one or more of these solutions, would ensure timely prevention of security breaches and hence avert loss of life or property.

SOURCE(s)

COVER: OptaSense

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Sri Lanka to resume flights from Jaffna to India

Radhika Bansal

15 Jun 2022

Sri Lanka will soon resume flights from Jaffna to India, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Tuesday, June 14 as he asked tourism authorities to draw up plans to attract more Indian tourists.

The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority said it has plans to attract 800,000 tourists during the rest of the year.

Sri Lanka's national carrier - Sri Lankan Airlines along with Air India and IndiGo operate direct flights to Jaffna.

Sri Lanka to resume flights from Jaffna to India

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe instructed to resume flights from Jaffna's Palaly airport to Indian destinations to facilitate travel. This was discussed during a meeting held with the industry stakeholders.

Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna District located on a peninsula of the same name. With a population of 88,138 in 2012, Jaffna is Sri Lanka's 12th most populous city.

The majority of the city's population are Sri Lankan Tamils with a significant number of Sri Lankan Moors, Indian Tamils and other ethnic groups present in the city before the civil war. Most Sri Lankan Tamils are Hindus followed by Christians, Muslims and a small Buddhist minority.

Most Sri Lankan Tamils are Hindus followed by Christians, Muslims and a small Buddhist minority.

India in May re-emerged as Sri Lanka's top inbound tourist market with 5,562 arrivals while over 3,723 came from the UK.

However, the total number of international tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka in May plunged by almost 52%, in comparison to April and 72% in comparison to March.

The tourist arrivals have lessened due to the effects of the current economic and political situation in the country with main market countries issuing adverse travel advisories. Sri Lanka is currently facing its worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948.

Sri Lanka is currently facing its worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948.

The economic crisis has prompted an acute shortage of essential items like food, medicine, cooking gas and other fuel, toilet paper, and even matches, with Sri Lankans being forced to wait in lines lasting hours outside stores to buy fuel and cooking gas.

The island nation's economic downturn was largely blamed on the COVID-19 pandemic with the island nation's tourism revenue and inward remittances waning.

ALSO READ - Air India to cut flights to crisis-hit Sri Lanka due to poor demand

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Gujarat's Dholera International Airport approved by CCEA; first phase by 2025-26

Radhika Bansal

15 Jun 2022

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on June 14 approved the Dholera International Airport project in Gujarat.

The airport, which will be connected by highways, a rapid transport system and railways, will be owned by the Airports Authority of India and the government of Gujarat, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said. The development will be funded by the equity of 40% and 60% debt.

Thakur said that an investment of INR 1,305 crore will be spent in phase one of the Dholera airport which is expected to be completed in four years. The airport would be developed in three phases for INR 1,712 crore.

Gujarat's Dholera International Airport approved by CCEA; first phase by 2025-26

The airport was earlier expected to start operations by December 2023, however, with the delays, the first phase should be completed by 2025-26.

The government expects the Dholera airport to cater to 3,00,000 passengers and handle 20,000 tonnes of cargo in 2026.

During Phase-1, a 3,200-metre-long runway will be built for type 4E aircraft, in Phase-2, the same runway would be extended to 3,800 metres. And in Phase-3, the second runway will be built.

The Gujarat government has allocated 1,427 hectares of land for the project, and 75 hectares of government land have been allocated for commercial development.

In the next 20 years, the Dholera airport is expected to handle 2,33,000 tonnes of cargo and cater to 23 lakh passengers, Thakur said.

Dholera International Airport Company Ltd (DIACL) was set up in 2012 by the Gujarat government to develop the airport, which is now a joint venture between AAI with a 51% stake, the Government of Gujarat has 33% and National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust have 16% stake.

The new facility is being set up in greenfield city under the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) project at Dholera.

Located around 100 km from Ahmedabad, Dholera Airport is expected to be an alternative to the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.

The Airports Authority of India had in February issued tenders for the construction of the first phase of an international airport at Dholera entailing an investment of INR 987 crore.

The Gujarat government has allocated 1,427 hectares of land for the project, and 75 hectares of government land have been allocated for commercial development.

Located around 100 km from Ahmedabad, Dholera Airport is expected to be an alternative to the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.

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Air India gets CCI's approval to acquire the entire stake in AirAsia India

Radhika Bansal

15 Jun 2022

Competition Commission of India has approved the acquisition of the entire shareholding in AirAsia India by Air India, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Sons, the competition regulator said on Twitter.

AirAsia India is majority-owned by Tata Sons with a shareholding of 83.67%. AirAsia Investment Ltd, part of Malaysia’s AirAsia Group, holds the rest of the stake in AirAsia India.

https://twitter.com/CCI_India/status/1536661192995110912

Air India had sent a proposal to the Competition Commission of India to acquire AirAsia India in April. As part of the deal, Air India would take over AirAsia's 16.3% stake in AirAsia India for around INR 139 crore.

Deals beyond a certain threshold require the approval of CCI, which works to foster competition as well as curb anti-competitive practices in the marketplace.

Tatas raised their stake in AirAsia India to 83.67% in December 2020 and are likely to complete the acquisition of the remaining 16% stake from Malaysian airline group AirAsia Berhad.

ALSO READ - Vistara may merge with Air India, decision expected by end of 2023

An integration of Vistara’s business with Air India is likely to take time as negotiations are still underway with Singapore Airlines.

Tata Sons also runs the carrier Vistara in partnership with Singapore Airlines. An integration of Vistara’s business with Air India is likely to take time as negotiations are still underway with Singapore Airlines.

Tata Sons have also begun the task of consolidating its four airlines through a proposed merger — of AirAsia India Pvt Ltd (AAIPL) with Air India (AI) — and bringing them together under one roof at a seven-lakh-square-feet mega office in Gurgaon.

ALSO READ - Air India intends to purchase a 100% stake in AirAsia India; Tatas to relocate all 4 airlines to Gurgaon

Tata Group is also looking to significantly expand the international operations of Air India Express in the next five years

The move is expected to help Air India subsidiary Air India Express significantly expand its international operations.

ALSO READ - Tata Sons working on a merger between AirAsia India and Air India Express

AirAsia India, which started flying in June 2014, offers scheduled air passenger transport, air cargo transport and charter flight services in the country. It does not have international operations.

Tata Group is also looking to significantly expand the international operations of Air India Express in the next five years and will look to infuse USD 75-100 million into the airline as part of its expansion plans.

ALSO READ - Air India Express plans massive international expansion in the next 5 years

CCI approval will also help the salt-to-steel conglomerate consolidate its aviation entities including Singapore Airlines Ltd’s local joint venture Vistara, AirAsia India Pvt Ltd, Air India and Air India Express.

CCI approval will also help the salt-to-steel conglomerate consolidate its aviation entities including Singapore Airlines Ltd’s local joint venture Vistara, AirAsia India Pvt Ltd, Air India and Air India Express.

The combined entity of Air India and AirAsia India will have a 15.7% share of India’s domestic passenger market and is not expected to affect the competitive landscape in the aviation market in India.

On January 27 of this year, Tata Sons purchased Air India through its wholly-owned subsidiary Talace in a deal of INR 18,000 crore in equity and debt.

AirAsia India, which started flying in June 2014, offers scheduled air passenger transport, air cargo transport and charter flight services in the country.

Deals beyond a certain threshold require competition watchdog CCI’s approval. AirAsia India, which started flying in June 2014, offers scheduled air passenger transport, air cargo transport and charter flight services in the country.

ALSO READ - Singapore Competition Commission concerned about Tata Group’s acquisition of Air India

Meanwhile, the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore recently expressed concern over the Tatas acquiring Air India as three related entities - Singapore Airlines, Tata Sons and Vistara - have "overlapping passenger routes" between India and the city state, saying it needed to "assess further" whether there was sufficient competition from other unrelated airlines such as IndiGo.

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