The air re-connectivity initiative at Bathinda is uncertain since Flybig Aviation Management has not yet developed a flying schedule.
The Airport Authority of India (AAI) granted permission to a newcomer to the Indian Aviation industry to operate a 19-seater aircraft on the Bathinda-Hindon in Ghaziabad route as part of the last-mile connectivity facility in September 2022.
AAI has granted permission to FlyBig to operate its aircraft on the Bathinda-Hindon route
The service would fall under UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik), a National Airport connectivity programme by the Central Government.
Official sources within the AAI confirmed that Flybig has been given the go-ahead to run an air taxi service on short-haul flights or ones that last up to three hours, and it is up to them to decide when they will begin operating the service to Bathinda.
According to Ajay Sahai Jasra, Head of Corporate Relations for FlyBig, the company will add two Twin Otter aircraft to its fleet by the end of January. These aircraft would mostly be used on routes in Uttar Pradesh.
FlyBig will add 2 Twin Otter aircraft to its fleet by the end of January
“It would be speculative to share a timeline of operations on the Hindon-Bathinda route. However, Flybig is committed towards operations on all routes awarded under UDAN.”
–Ajay Sahai Jasra, Head of Corporate Relations, FlyBig
In December 2016, the Region Connectivity Scheme (RCS) allowed Alliance Air (AA), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Air India, to operate a 72-seater aircraft on the routes Delhi-Bathinda and Bathinda-Jammu.
“With fully functional institutes like the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and the Central University of Punjab, Bathinda district had a lot of scope for growth in air connectivity, especially from Delhi or National Capital Region (NCR). We are looking forward to seeing when Flybig makes it functional as the market has potential.”
–An Official in Central Aviation Dept.
Alliance Air, Bathinda's lone air service provider, decided not to continue running its business after the agreement expired. Flights to Jammu were halted on October 27, 2019, while the airline stopped service on the Delhi route on November 28, 2020.
After RCS Agreement expired, Alliance Air, Bathinda's lone air service provider, decided not to continue running its business
The Bathinda-Jammu flight was operating five days a week, excluding Tuesday and Thursday, before the flight service was suspended. On AA flights, the average occupancy percentage on the Delhi and Jammu routes stayed between 70 and 80 per cent.
Regional airline FlyBig is headquartered in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India. The airline's primary goal since starting operations in December 2020 has been to link tier-2 cities in India. Under the UDAN programme, Flybig offers connectivity to places that were previously inaccessible by air.
It only had one ATR-72-500 when it first started flying. The trip started on December 21, 2020, and the airline wet-leased a Dash 8 Q400 from SpiceJet to complete its obligations. Its maiden flight left from Indore and travelled to Ahmedabad, taking an hour and a half in total.
Currently, FlyBig operates in Kolkata, Guwahati, Tezu, Dibrugarh, Agartala, Pasighat, Patna, and Rupsi. Flybig flies to destinations that are worth a peaceful domestic journey. The airline successfully finished its first year of operations at Tezu Airport in August 2022.
Currently, FlyBig operates in Kolkata, Guwahati, Tezu, Dibrugarh, Agartala, Pasighat, Patna, & Rupsi
FlyBig has a fleet size of 3 ??aircraft comprising ATR 72-500 & ATR 72-600 aircraft. The orders for 10 DHC-6-400 Twin Otters have been placed.
The airline is concentrating on growing its network of routes, which will greatly increase the economic potential and tourism in the local areas.
Source: HT
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Air India pilots' body IPG is considering legal recourse and other options, regarding aviation regulator DGCA suspending the licence of the pilot-in-command of the flight where a passenger allegedly urinated on a female co-passenger on board last November. A senior member of the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG), which represents the airline's pilots who fly wide-body planes, said it will take up the issue of suspension of the pilot concerned strongly.
ALSO READ - DGCA fines Air India INR 30 lakh in urination case, pilot suspended for 3 months
The urination incident happened onboard the New York-Delhi flight on November 26, 2022, and it came to the notice of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) only on January 4. For various violations, DGCA, on Friday, January 20, imposed a fine of INR 30 lakh on Air India, an INR 3 lakh penalty on the airline's director of in-flight services and suspended the licence of the pilot-in-command for three months.
Air India pilots' body considering legal action over pilot suspension
"We are considering all options, including taking legal action for the pilot's licence suspension. We are talking to our lawyers on the issue and will soon take a call," the IPG member told PTI on the condition of anonymity. The member claimed that the pilot concerned had acted very maturely. "It has all been reported to the company at that time. If after all of this, you still think that the pilot has not acted, then we need to understand what you are talking about and why you find him at fault."
The member also alleged that there is a lot of "pressure to find a scapegoat in the entire case. There was no immediate comment from Air India. According to reports, Air India's senior management was informed about the urination incident hours after the flight landed on November 26.
The incident of passenger misbehaviour occurred on the AI-102 flight from New York to Delhi on November 26 last year, wherein a male passenger conducted himself in a disorderly manner and allegedly relieved himself on a female passenger, according to DGCA.
ALSO READ - Air India passenger incident: What? How? When?
The urination incident happened onboard the New York-Delhi flight on November 26, 2022, and it came to the notice of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) only on January 4.
Emails accessed by news agency ANI indicate that the Air India cabin crew supervisor had sent out emails on November 27 at around 1 pm to the head of the Inflight Service Department and other relevant officials. The mail containing the 'summary' of the incident was also acknowledged with a reply of "Ok, Noted," at 3.47 hours.
The top management at Air India had previously claimed that they were not informed about the incident after the flight landed, which led to the accused Shankar Mishra walking away without any apprehension or action against him.
The watchdog had issued show cause notices to Air India's Accountable Manager, Director of in-flight services, and all the pilots and cabin crew members of that flight as to why enforcement action should not be taken against them for dereliction of their regulatory obligations. DGCA examined the written replies of Air India and the personnel involved and decided on the enforcement actions.
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Vikram Dev Dutt was chosen to be the New Director General of the DGCA on Saturday, January 21 by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
On February 28, 2023, he will assume control of the aviation regulatory body. He will take over for current DGCA Director Arun Kumar.
Vikram Dev Dutt, a member of the AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territory) Cadre and a 1993 batch IAS officer, is currently the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Air India Asset Holding Ltd (AIAHL).
Vikram Dev Dutt: The New Director General of the DGCA
Following the retirement of current DGCA Chief Arun Kumar, who had been the aviation regulator since July 2019, the officer will assume his new role on February 28.
Dutt's appointment will be in the "rank and pay of additional secretary to the Government of India", and he will take the charge "upon the superannuation of Arun Kumar, IAS by keeping the Recruitment Rules of the post in abeyance," the release stated.
The previously government-owned airline, Air India, which was sold to the Tata group last year, had Dutt as its Chairman and Managing Director. In January 2022, just days before the takeover agreement went into force, Dutt was appointed as Air India's CMD.
Dutt was chosen as Air India's CMD in January 2022, just days before the takeover agreement took effect
He was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AIAHL in April. AIAHL is a special-purpose organisation created by the government for the transfer of non-core assets from Air India.
Also read: Government notifies capital asset transfer from Air India to AIAHL
Prior to this, Dutt held a number of positions, including Managing Director of the India Tourism Development Corporation, Principal Secretary for the Delhi Government's Health and Family Welfare Department, and Principal Secretary for the Government of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands' Department of Finance. He also held the positions of Secretary of Tourism for the Goa Government and Secretary of Tourism for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The New Director General was chosen at a time when the DGCA must make several challenging choices regarding how to penalize airlines that violate safety regulations. Following the incident with the urinating passenger on the airline's aircraft from New York to New Delhi, the aviation regulator recently fined Air India Rs. 30 lakhs and suspended its pilot for three months.
The New Director General was selected at a time when the DGCA is facing a number of difficult decisions over how to penalize airlines that disobey safety laws.
This was the first time the DGCA had fined an airline for an unruly passenger's behaviour. The Director of In-Flight Services for Air India was also fined Rs. 3 lakhs by the aviation authority for failing to perform his obligations in this regard.
Also read: DGCA fines Air India INR 30 lakh in urination case, pilot suspended for 3 months
“We respectfully acknowledge the gaps in our reporting and are taking relevant steps to ensure that the same are addressed. We are also strengthening our crews' awareness of and compliance with policies on handling incidents involving unruly passengers.”
–Spokesperson, Air India
Shankar Mishra, the accused, was also prohibited from flying for four months. Mishra declared that the DGCA's judgement was founded on a false understanding and that he would file an appeal.
Shankar Mishra, the accused, was prohibited from flying for four months
“We would particularly like to point out that the Internal Inquiry Committee’s ruling hinges upon their incorrect understanding of the layout of the Aircraft. When the Committee could not find an adequate explanation as to how the accused could have urinated on the complainant sitting on seat 9A without also affecting the passenger on Seat 9C, it has erroneously gone on to assume that there was a seat 9B in the business class in the aircraft.”
–Excerpt from the Statement by Lawyers Ishanee Sharma & Akshat Bajpai
The New Director General was selected at a time when the DGCA is facing a number of difficult decisions over how to penalize airlines that disobey safety laws.
Source: ET
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Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport (CCSIA), Lucknow will not operate any night flights from February 23 until July 11 due to upgradation work.
There will be no flight operations between the hours of 9:30 p.m. and 6 a.m. The Lucknow airport will endeavour to upgrade and expand its current runway (airside) throughout this time in order to get ready for challenges that will come with an increase in the volume of passengers and cargo.
Lucknow Airport will not operate any night flights from February 23 until July 11, between 9.30 PM to 6 AM
“During the four-month period, the airport will be undertaking various construction activities to upgrade the infrastructure on the airside which includes the introduction of three new link taxiways, new ground lights for aircraft operations, runway end safety area made of sand and aircraft turn pad expansion.”
“We have informed the airlines about the non-availability of the runway for 8.5 hours for them to facilitate the passengers accordingly.”
–Spokesperson, Lucknow Airport
The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change granted the Airport Environmental Clearance to increase passenger handling capacity from the current 4.5 million passengers per year to 39 million and cargo handling capacity to 0.25 million tonnes annually.
To achieve this capacity, the Adani group will invest Rs 10,700 crore in the airport's expansion. LIAL (Lucknow International Airport Limited) is currently proposing to expand CCSIA on a 457.1-hectare area.
Adani group will invest Rs 10,700 crore in the Airport's Expansion
Also read: Adani pays AAI INR 2,440 crore to take control of six airports
Last year the Adani Group has proposed DGCA shut Ahmedabad Airport's runway for nine hours daily from January 3 2022 for overlaying and maintenance work. On April 14, 2022, it was announced that complete recarpeting–a work to resurface roads with fresh asphalt–the 3.5-kilometre-long runway, was completed in mere 75 days, setting a new record!
Also read: Ahmedabad airport sets a new record by recarpeting a 3.5 Km runway in 75 days
“CCSIA (Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport) in Lucknow has a total land area of 509.41 hectares (1258.80 acres), making it one of the most land-constrained airports in India.”
–Adani Group
International Terminal (T1) and Domestic Terminal are the two passenger terminals currently in use by CCSIA. A brand-new integrated terminal building (T3) is being built west of Terminal T1.
The plan stated that in addition to T3, a new terminal building (T4) with related infrastructure, support facilities, and utilities will be constructed to support 39 MPPA. According to a presentation given by the Adani group in October, CCSIA can currently handle 4 MPPA.
Gallery of New Terminal at Lucknow Airport
According to the LIAL plan, a cargo complex with a total size of 23.14 hectares will be built at CCSIA to accommodate cargo up to 0.25 million tonnes annually.
The expansion project will, directly and indirectly, employ roughly 2,000 people during its construction phase, and once it is operating, it will employ about 25,000 people, according to the plan.
Additionally, there will be the development of a multi-modal transport hub with the metro link, multi-level parking, cityside check-in and self-bag drop facilities, and curbside services for travellers/visitors arriving at the airport from nearby neighbourhoods. LIAL has suggested a multi-level parking structure with 4,000 parking places.
“Pedestrian walkways are planned to connect multi-level car parking to terminal departure and arrival areas, for passengers and greeters to park in multi-level car parking and walk down to the pickup/drop off kerbs.”
–Adani Group
The Adani group was successful in obtaining 50-year operating licences for 6 airports: Lucknow, Jaipur, Mangaluru, Thiruvananathapuram, Ahmedabad & Guwahati
Also read: A travel boom is on the horizon and Gautam Adani wants to be prepared
The Adani group has gradually extended its involvement in the aviation industry over the past few years. Through a competitive bidding process, the AAI leased airports at Lucknow, Jaipur, Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, Ahmedabad, and Guwahati in February 2019. Through vigorous bidding, the Adani group was successful in obtaining the 50-year operating licences for all six airports.
Source: Business Standard
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The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued new norms for duty timings of air traffic controllers, rejecting a proposal of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to provide relaxation for airports with fewer flights to enable it to overcome a manpower shortage.
Though a version of these norms was first notified in November 2020, the AAI found it difficult to comply with it as it needed more personnel to provide the mandatory rest period. It has since then sought exemptions five times and had also proposed differentiated duty timings for four categories of airports based on air traffic handled — major airports or those with more than 400 flights a day and airports with up to 100 flights, 30 flights and 10 flights a day.
ALSO READ - Air traffic controllers to strictly work in shifts to avoid fatigue at work
DGCA sets new norms for duty timings of air traffic controllers
The DGCA rules for “watch duty time limitations and rest requirements” for controllers notified on January 11 say that the duty period of an air traffic controller cannot exceed 12 hours. A controller can only be assigned the duty of no more than 48 hours within seven days, or not exceeding 180 hours in 30 days. The aviation regulator also says a controller requires 12 hours of rest between the end of one duty period and another. A controller cannot be rostered for more than six consecutive days.
ALSO READ - Shortage of Air Traffic Controllers widens
He or she also must get a 30-minute break every two hours, and at airports where the workload is less than half the capacity of the airport, can get a break once in four hours on a pro-rata basis — 45 minutes after three hours or 60 minutes after four hours.
While the duty hours have remained broadly unchanged since the 2020 norms, the DGCA has strengthened its rules to ensure compliance.
There are 3,871 air traffic control personnel, the same as the sanctioned posts.
For the first time, the DGCA has defined the role of the Air Traffic Service in charge in ensuring implementation such as publishing a roster five days in advance to provide the controllers with the opportunity to plan rest, and that they do not perform administrative duties beyond the duty period.
The AAI will also have to develop and maintain a fatigue management policy and provide separate facilities for male and female staff to rest. It will also have to ensure compliance with duty timings. The DGCA rules also lay the onus on the controllers not to perform any safety-relevant tasks when they know they are tired or unfit. But the AAI’s inability to hasten recruitment to meet requirements for more personnel may continue to be a roadblock in ensuring these rules are implemented.
“The AAI Board in May 2022 approved the creation of 456 posts, but they are yet to be okayed by the Department of Public Enterprises of the Finance Ministry. A recruitee takes two years to be trained as a controller and at this rate, they may not be ready before 2025 but there is an urgent need for more manpower as we are going to see nearly 20 more airports become operational by 2024.”
Alok Yadav, General Secretary, Air Traffic Controllers’ Guild
There are 3,871 air traffic control personnel, the same as the sanctioned posts. But the AAI has projected a demand for 5,131 in 2023 and 5,428 in 2024 to comply with DGCA norms.
(With Inputs from The Hindu)
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In the coming days, passengers flying within the EU will be able to fully use their mobile devices since the European Commission recently mandated that airlines have until June 30, 2023 to install the essential 5G technology.
This ruling has been a long time coming, we have been waiting for this for 20 years. Some people had some concerns about safety, but all the systems on aircraft have shielding and special designs that ensure that no interference from onboard smartphones can happen- Vance Hilderman, aviation expert and CEO of airline consulting firm AFuzion, told The Brussels Times
Why are passengers required to turn on airplane mode when flying?
Currently, EU airlines ask their customers to switch off their phones or put them in flight mode throughout the trip. This is due to the lack of knowledge regarding how mobile data can impair flight communications in the past.
Representative | Source
There was a concern they could interfere with automatic flight control systems. What has been found with experience is the risk of interference is very small- Dai Whittingham, chief executive of the UK Flight Safety Committee
Concerns about how 5G frequencies can impair flying systems and even change altitude measurements have been voiced in the US. However, the UK and EU do not have a problem with this. Whittingham said.
Also, according to Hilderman, the airline safety authorities wanted the passengers to pay attention to the safety briefing and listen to any announcements during takeoff and climb, so they devised the rule requiring people to put their phones in airplane mode.
The American vs the European scenario
Due to the fact that 5G technology uses slightly different bands in the EU than it does in the US—in the US, the 5G band sits just a little higher than in Europe—the circumstances in the US and Europe are slightly different. This causes it to jog up somewhat closer to the radio altimeter band, which is crucial for landings in inclement weather since it calculates how far an airplane is traveling above the ground at any particular time.
Representative | Euronews
" European airspace is very different from US airspace: in Europe, you are crossing a country every 30 minutes. There are many different cultures, but the Schengen area is generally still a more homogenous society – even though Italians and Swedes are not exactly the same "- Hilderman
When will the next big move be in the EU?
The deadline for member states to install 5G technology on aircraft is June 30, 2023. As a result, travelers will be able to use applications, make calls, and stream music and films while in the air.
Representative | Fl360aero
" 5G will enable innovative services for people and growth opportunities for European companies. The sky is no longer a limit when it comes to possibilities offered by super-fast, high-capacity connectivity "- Thierry Breton, EU Commissioner for the Internal Market
Representative | Crast
The narrative is, if smartphones could be safe at gas stations, they should practically be safe anywhere else.
SOURCE: brusselstimes.com | euronews.com
COVER: Travel Off Path
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