Saab drops agreement with Adani Group to manufacture Gripen E fighter in India

Aerospace and defence company Saab said it has dropped its agreement with Adani Group to manufacture the Gripen E fighter in India. Mats Palmberg, CMD of Saab India said that they have “decided not to pursue the arrangement”.

Palmberg referred to the government allowing 74% FDI in the defence and aerospace sector and noted that conditional to permission from the defence ministry Saab would now look to manufacture its fighters in a company where it owns a 74% stake.

Notably, the defence ministry is considering original equipment manufacturers’ (OEMs) responses on the issue. After this, it is likely to draw up an acceptance of necessity and then issue a request for proposal. The agreement announced in August 2017, stated that Adani would be Saab’s partner should the Swedish company be chosen to supply the Gripen E fighter in India.

Saab drops agreement with Adani Group to manufacture Gripen E fighter in India

The INR 60,000-70,000 crore tender to supply 114 medium multirole fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF), has multiple companies vying for the win. This includes Saab’s Gripen E, Boeing’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet (US), Dassault’s Rafale (France), the Eurofighter Typhoon (Europe), Lockheed Martin’s F-21 (US), and two Russian fighters: the MiG-35 and the Sukhoi-35.

ALSO READ - The Indian MRCA competition – here’s how the SAAB Gripen stacks up along with the other competitors

The Swedish company is one of the seven companies which has responded to the tender which was floated by the IAF for almost USD 15 billion (approximately INR 80,000 crore plus) deal for 114 Medium Multirole Fighter Aircraft (MMRFA) for the IAF.

ALSO READ - France has delivered all 36 Rafale jets to India

Despite the addition of 36 Rafale fighters from the French Dassault Aviation and indigenous Light Combat Aircraft `Tejas’ the IAF is still dealing with a dwindling number of fighter squadrons and to maintain the minimal squadron strength and capability the IAF needs at least 200 more fighter jets.

ALSO READ - LCA Mark 2 fighter jet’s development receives government approval

While the focus is on indigenous LCA and AMCA joining the service, there is still a need for getting 114 fighters to help strengthen the IAF which has set the ball rolling for phasing out the MiG-21s over the next couple of years. “The IAF is not likely to have the mandated 42 squadrons over the next 10-15 years. And this means that until the next decade, it will be left with just 35 squadrons.

ALSO READ - India starts the development of 5th Generation AMCA fighter jets

With its media briefing on the Gripen E fighter on January 16, Saab is the first foreign contender to make its move. What’s interesting is that the emphasis on Make in India ensures that foreign companies partner with local ones to produce maximum components within the country, besides assembling and servicing them here as well.

If it wins the tender, Saab would supply 96 of the 114 aircraft.

Aviacionline notes that Saab offers a high degree of customisation on its Gripen fighters, which means that India can easily integrate domestic requirements and specifications as per choice. If it wins the tender, Saab would supply 96 of the 114 aircraft.

This fighter acquisition has been necessitated by the cancellation of an earlier fighter tender, issued in 2007 for 126 medium multirole combat aircraft. That ended in the government-to-government purchase from Dassault of 36 Rafale fighters. However, this left the IAF with a serious shortfall of fighter aircraft, necessitating the fresh tender for 114 medium fighters.

In its briefing, Saab highlighted the new-generation networking technology that has gone into the Gripen E. Powered by a new, more powerful General Electric F-414 engine, Saab claims that its aircraft offers maximum operational availability with minimum logistics requirements. However, it will be the IAF, through a series of flight tests, that will have the last word on the quality of the seven fighters.

The U.S. Transportation Department (USDOT) said on January 17, that Virgin Atlantic had been penalised $1.05 M for flying over Iraq in restricted airspace.

A notification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) forbade American carriers from entering Iraqi airspace without prior authorisation.

On January 17, the USDOT stated that Virgin Atlantic had been fined $1.05 million for passing over Iraq in prohibited airspace

The Iraqi Airspace Ban: When & Why?

In March 2020, FAA prohibited US carriers from flying in the airspace over Iraq, Iran, the Gulf of Oman, and the waters between Iran and Saudi Arabia after Iran conducted a missile attack on US-led forces in Iraq. 

The FAA said it issued the airspace ban “due to heightened military activities and increased political tensions in the Middle East, which present an inadvertent risk to US civil aviation operations”.

Many foreign airlines declared they would no longer fly over the impacted areas. After Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down by a missile in 2014 while flying over Ukraine, killing all 298 aboard, carriers have since taken more efforts to reduce dangers to their aircraft.

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down by a missile in 2014 while flying over Ukraine, killing all 298 aboard

The Indian aviation watchdog, the DGCA, also urged Indian Airlines to reroute their flights and exercise all due caution in the airspace over Iran, Iraq, the Gulf of Oman, and the Persian Gulf to protect passengers. 

The choice of a route depends on a number of conditions, and during the winter Air India's westward flights employ Iranian routes to avoid protracted headwinds across northern latitudes.

Air India's flights to the US and Europe were urged by the DGCA in India to fly over Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan rather than Iranian and Iraqi airspace

However, as the DGCA had advised Indian airlines to avoid Iranian and Iraqi airspace, Air India's flights to the US and Europe went across Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan instead.

The Violation of the Ban: Virgin Atlantic

The USDOT stated in a filing that the London-based carrier had used the Delta Air Lines code on flights between the UK and India between September 2020 and 2021 on many occasions when entering restricted airspace. As Virgin Atlantic was operating with a US-based carrier’s code, it was required to obtain approval from the FAA before flights.

Virgin Atlantic was penalised $1.05 million by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for flying in areas where there was a flight ban in place from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The airline was told to stop and refrain from committing similar offences in the future.

“Virgin Atlantic takes seriously its responsibility to comply with all Department regulations and requirements in its operating permits, including the requirement not to operate flights carrying a U.S. carrier’s designator code that enter, depart, or transit the airspace of any area for whose airspace the FAA has issued a flight prohibition for U.S. civil aviation.

“Virgin Atlantic states that it has historically complied with this requirement, that it has a strong safety record and a robust culture of regulatory compliance, and that it is an industry leader in aviation security around the world.”

–Virgin Atlantic said on Tuesday, January 17

Virgin Atlantic informed the USDOT that the "prohibited overflights were inadvertent, caused by operational disruptions and loss of personnel due to the Covid-19 pandemic." 

In September 2021, the government alerted the airline of the violation for flights between London and India that passed over Iraq. Other foreign countries at the time allowed frequent, high-altitude flights over Iraqi airspace.

The USDOT decided after an enquiry that the carrier would have to pay a $1.05 million fine in three instalments of $525,000. The airline will only be required to make a fourth payment of $525,000 if the breach is repeated.

Virgin Atlantic allegedly informed the US Department of Transportation that the "prohibited overflights were inadvertent, caused by operational disruptions and loss of personnel due to the Covid-19 pandemic." 

After receiving a warning from the US government, the airline advised the department that "it immediately rerouted flights to avoid the airspace in question and informed its board and senior leadership of the issue."

After receiving a warning, the airline advised the department that "it immediately rerouted flights to avoid the airspace in question and informed its board and senior leadership of the issue."

Virgin Atlantic invested in Sentinel by Osprey, an automated programme that dynamically warns airlines at the flight planning stage or operational stage, of any regulatory constraints affecting their, or their codeshare partners' flights.

Source: Reuters

An IndiGo flight from Chennai to Tiruchirapalli had an incident when a passenger unintentionally opened the emergency exit doors.

On December 10, 2022, a passenger on IndiGo flight 6E 7339 from Chennai to Tiruchirapalli accidentally unlocked the emergency exit doors during the landing process, which caused panic among the co-passengers.

A passenger on IndiGo flight 6E 7339 from Chennai to Tiruchirapalli accidentally unlocked the emergency exit doors during the landing process

A DGCA senior official stated on Tuesday, January 17, that the incident had been properly reported and that no safety had been compromised.

“The passenger immediately apologised for the action. As per SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures), the incident was logged and the aircraft underwent mandatory engineering checks, which led to a delay in the flight's departure.”

–IndiGo said in a statement

According to a DGCA official, it appears that the passenger unintentionally opened the Right-Hand emergency exit while the aircraft was on the ground.

A DGCA official claims that it seems the passenger unintentionally opened the right emergency exit while the plane was on the ground.

“The event was duly reported. It appears that by mistake, the RH emergency exit got opened by a passenger while the Aircraft was on the ground. The crew took note and resultantly, all appropriate Airworthiness actions such as reinstalling of the door, pressurization check etc were carried out before the release of the Aircraft for departure. No safety was compromised.”

–DGCA Official

The DGCA ordered an investigation into the incident that happened on Indigo flight 6E 7339 on December 10, 2022, earlier on Tuesday. Due to the incident, the flight was two hours late because it was needed to deplane passengers and conduct inspections. The flight eventually took off after pressurisation checks. 

It was later found out that Tejasvi Surya, the National President of the BJP Yuva Morcha and the party’s MP from Bengaluru South, allegedly opened the emergency exit door of the IndiGo aircraft before takeoff. On January 17, Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia claimed the incident happened by "mistake" and that Surya had "apologised" for the same a day after it was reported that Tejasvi Surya had unlocked the emergency exit door of the flight before takeoff.

https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1615665420157202433

This event is only the most recent in a slew of examples involving unruly travellers that have come to light this month.

In addition to the "peeing" incident on aircraft, a heated argument between a passenger and a flight attendant on an IndiGo trip last year went popular on social media.

A passenger named Shankar Mishra is accused of peeing on a 70-year-old passenger aboard an Air India business class aircraft while inebriated.

The episode from November 2022, now known as the "Air India pee-gate" scandal, was arguably the most widely reported. On a business class aircraft operated by Air India, a man called Shankar Mishra is accused of peeing on a 70-year-old passenger while intoxicated. Earlier this month, he was taken into custody by Delhi Police, who have now filed an FIR.

Then, on a different Air India flight from Paris to New Delhi, there were two further instances of misbehaviour.

While one inebriated passenger was observed smoking in the restroom and disobeying the crew, another allegedly discharged himself on a female passenger's empty seat and blanket while she was using the restroom.

Also read: Air India passenger incident: What? How? When?

An earlier incident of in-flight harassment occurred on a New Delhi-Goa GoFirst aircraft, where a foreign traveller is accused of acting inappropriately with female flight attendants. In the meantime, IndiGo Airlines denied last week's accusations of a drunken altercation on a flight from the national capital to Patna.

A foreign passenger is accused of acting inappropriately with female flight attendants in an earlier case of in-flight harassment on a New Delhi-Goa GoFirst plane.

The DGCA recently requested that the head of operations of the airlines educate pilots, cabin crew, and the director of in-flight services of their respective airlines on how to handle unruly passengers in accordance with appropriate procedures after taking note of instances of unruly behaviour by air passengers where pilots and cabin crew members failed to take appropriate action.

Source: ANI

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) is getting a lot of enquiries from various countries, including the Philippines, UAE and Argentina. CB Ananthakrishnan, CMD of HAL, said that the Philippines and UAE are showing interest in their helicopters. The company is in discussions with orders from Argentina as well for helicopters.

He expects positive results from Argentina orders. “We are in discussions with Argentina for helicopters. We expect that order should come through,” he said. The company keeps getting a lot of inquiries and leads from various countries. “But at the end of the day, how much of these leads will get converted into business, we will have to wait and see,” he added.

ALSO READ - HAL’s LCA Tejas deal with Argentina has been put to hold

In addition to the LCA, Argentina is also interested in the LCH, while the Philippines and Egypt have expressed interest in the ALH. “Argentina has been interested in the LCA and we have submitted a proposal,” he stated.

HAL getting enquiries from various countries for helicopter orders

India has been giving helicopters, mostly ALH, to friendly countries in the Indian Ocean Region. The helicopter production capacity of HAL currently is 30 per year at Bengaluru and 30 at the new plant at Tumkur which can be scaled up to 60 per year when required, Mr Ananthakrishnan explained. So we can ramp up the production rate to 90 helicopters per year, he noted.

In early September, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) give sanctions for the development of the LCA-Mk2, a bigger and more capable fighter than the present one. “We will be able to deliver the prototype in 2025-26 and have the first flight in 2026-27,” Mr Ananthakrishnan added.

ALSO READ - India’s 5th-gen fighter AMCA to get CCS approval soon; can be rolled out in 3 years

The CCS sanction includes a total development cost of INR 9,000 crore including the INR 2,500 crore that has already been spent. IAF has committed to procuring six squadrons of LCA-MK2.

ALSO READ - HAL gets enquiries for helicopters from various countries

IAF has committed to procuring six squadrons of LCA-MK2

The LCA-Mk2 will be a heavier and much more capable aircraft than the current LCA variants and the LCA-Mk1A, 83 of which have been contracted under an INR 48,000 crore deal with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The Mk2 is 1350mm longer features canards and can carry a payload of 6500kgs compared to 3500kgs the LCA-Mk1 can carry.

The Mk2 will be powered by the General Electric GE-414 engine which produces 98kN thrust compared to the 84kN thrust of the GE-404 engine powering the LCA Mk1 and MK1A.

Union Budget 2023 is around the corner. When asked about his expectations from the budget, he replied, “We expect the budget to be comfortable to HAL and necessary allocations will be made so that as and when the orders materialise, we will not have any cash flow issues as far as new contracts are concerned.”

The Indian army has ordered nearly 2,000 unmanned aerial vehicles popularly known as UAVs of various types since the start of the stand-off that took place at Galwan with China in 2020.

Previously, in the quarter two earnings conference call, the HAL management mentioned that they are developing one rotary UAV of 200 kg class. While updating on that order opportunity, Ananthakrishnan said the company is not involved in the 2,000 UAVs that the Indian Army has ordered and is focusing on combat drones.

“As far as the Indian army having placed around 2,000 drones order is concerned, it is basically towards mini and small UAV segments and HAL is not into that. Our focus is towards the combat drones, which we are trying to develop,” he added.

Drones will be used for logistical purposes that can carry loads between 5 kg & 40 kg to troops in forward posts.

Drones will be used for logistical purposes that can carry loads between 5 kg & 40 kg to troops in forward posts.

The current order book of the company stands at INR 84,000 crore. Apart from this, there is also visibility of orders worth INR 36,000 crore to be materialised in the next six months to one year. Repair and overhaul orders will be an additional INR 15,000 crore.

“In the short-term, there is an expectancy of around INR 36,000 crore, which should materialise in the next six months. Repair and overhaul orders will be an additional order of almost INR 15,000 crore over and above this on an annualised basis,” he said.

ALSO READ - Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd set to establish an office in Malaysia

The company expects revenue growth of 8% in FY23 and FY24 and double-digit revenue growth from FY25 onwards. While updating about the Malaysian order that the company was expecting, he said that the probability of a Malaysian order is reducing.

ALSO READ - Shares of HAL surge as LCA Tejas becomes the top contender for Malaysia’s fighter jet order

HAL has a full-fledged production facility for manufacturing cryogenic engines. The company is working in collaboration with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

“We so far have not got any communication on whether it is awarded to anyone else other than HAL but as it looks like, the probability of the Malaysian order does not seem to be very bright. However, we are still hopeful of the order,” he explained.

ALSO READ - HAL sets up a rocket engine manufacturing facility in Bengaluru; to be inaugurated by Madam President

HAL has a full-fledged production facility for manufacturing cryogenic engines. The company is working in collaboration with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). “As and when the orders come from ISRO, we will be in a position to manufacture those engines and supply it to them,” he said.

ISRO's cryogenic engine orders are close to INR 700-800 crore. “We expect it to keep growing as and when the requirement of ISRO keeps going up,” he said.

(With Inputs from CNBC TV18 and The Hindu)

The Indian aviation regulator DGCA has made it clear that airlines are free to devise their own pet-carrying policies in the absence of a global convention.

The DGCA further stated that as the pilot-in-command of the flight has ultimate responsibility for the safety of the flight, airlines are free to create their own policies for the carrying of pets or live animals in the cabin.

Indian airlines are free to establish their own rules regarding the transportation of live animals or pets in the cabin.

The regulator further recommended that all airlines develop and conspicuously post their pet-carrying policy on their websites for the benefit of customers.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has not yet released any regulations regarding the transportation of pets in passenger compartments, while the US regulator Federal Aviation Administration has allowed its airlines to have their own individual regulations regarding the transportation of pets in cabins.

“It is brought to the attention of all concerned that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has not yet issued any Standards and Recommended PracticesCurrently selected (SARPs) or guidelines with regard to carriage of pets in the passenger compartment.”

–DGCA said on Tuesday, January 17

According to the DGCA, there is no formal policy for the transportation of pets within a plane's cabin and all aviation safety authorities have left it up to the airlines to create the necessary protocols.

In a similar manner, the DGCA said it had granted the airlines permission to transport animals, birds, and reptiles in an aircraft by air to, from, and within India under the observance of general conditions as laid out in Aeronautical Information Circular 9 of 1985 in the exercise of powers granted under rule 24C of the 1937 Aircraft Rules.

On Air India flights, one pet and the accompanying person are allowed in the last row of business class and one pet is allowed in the last row of economy.

While Air India has been transporting pets over its entire network for decades, low-cost Akasa (which currently flies domestically) has only lately begun to do so. One pet is permitted in the last row of first or business class and one pet is permitted in the last row of economy along with the accompanying passengers on flights operated by Air India, which has been flying pets for decades.

Also read: Akasa Air completes 2 months of flight operations; to allow pets on board

“Small inoffensive domestic pets such as dogs, cats and birds, accompanied by valid health and rabies vaccination certificates, will be accepted on AI domestic flights in the cabin or in cargo hold… subject to the approval of flight commander… must be in soft ventilated bags/kennel (of) prescribed size. The weight of the pet, including the container, should not exceed 5 kg for carriage in the cabin. Pets of larger size/weight will be carried in the cargo hold. Dogs and cats must be at least 8 weeks of age to travel. Pregnant pets will not be accepted.”

–Air India website

On Akasa flights, there can be a maximum of two pets per flight, one in the passenger cabin and one in the cargo hold

The newest airline in India, Akasa, will start charging passengers to bring domesticated dogs and cats on board starting on November 1, 2022. There can be a maximum of two pets on each flight, one in the passenger cabin and one in the cargo hold. The animal travelling in the cabin must be contained in a crate, and pet parents are urged to force them to wear a muzzle. In front of the accompanying passenger's seat, the crate will be placed.

Source: ANI

The Maharashtra government on Tuesday, January 17 attached four Boeing 777 aircraft belonging to Jet Airways. The attachment action was carried out by the tehsildar office in Mumbai under the provision of the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code for non-payment of gratuity to the employees.

The grounded airline's employees have been fighting a legal battle for provident funds and gratuity. Last October the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal ruled that the successful resolution applicant Kalrock Jalan consortium was liable to pay

PF and gratuity dues to employees. The issue is now pending before the Supreme Court following an appeal by the consortium.

4 Jet Airways aircraft were seized over non-payment of gratuity

In November last year, the said union—All India Jet Airways Officers and Staff Association—sent a legal notice to the erstwhile resolution professional (RP) stating that no sale of airline assets should be carried out before the employees’ statutory dues are cleared.

A month earlier, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) in an order said the Jalan-Kalrock consortium should clear the unpaid gratuity and provident fund dues of the eligible employees and workmen.

"From December 2021 we secured orders related to payment of gratuity from the assistant labour commissioner's office in Mumbai. These were not challenged. In December we decided to initiate recovery action under the land revenue code and today the attachment action was carried out by the tehsildar.

The employees were forced to initiate recovery proceedings through the association in view of the failure of the company to settle their legitimate dues. Jet should follow the plan of ‘pay first and fly later’ before embarking on future plans as employees have contributed substantially to brand Jet Airways.”

N Hariharan, Legal Advisor, All India Jet Airways Officers and Staff Association

A notice issued by the district administration states that the Jet Monitoring Panel Authorised Representative defaulted on gratuity dues payment of INR 9.6 lakh plus 10% interest. The notice further states that the aircraft will remain under the district administration's custody until the payment is made.

ALSO READ - Lenders of Jet Airways threaten bankruptcy over aircraft rental revenues

This is a significant setback for Jet Airways, which has been facing financial troubles for some time now. The airline has been struggling to stay afloat, and this seizure of aircraft is likely to add to its woes.

Jet Airways, which suspended operations in April 2019, was supposed to resume operations in the first quarter of 2022.

ALSO READ - NCLT allows Jet Airways ownership transfer to Jalan-Kalrock consortium; gives 6 months to complete the process

India's national company law tribunal has allowed the ownership of carrier Jet Airways to be transferred to a consortium, led by UAE-based businessman Murari Lal Jalan and London-based Kalrock Capital. The tribunal, which had already approved the consortium's resolution plan for Jet, also set the effective date of ownership as November 16, 2022. Jet Airways, which suspended operations in April 2019, was supposed to resume operations in the first quarter of 2022.

ALSO READ - Jet Airways relaunch to delay further due to unpaid payments