Taliban prohibits women from flying without a male relative

Radhika Bansal

29 Mar 2022

The Taliban have ordered airlines in Afghanistan to stop women from boarding flights unless accompanied by a male relative, aviation officials told AFP.

The latest restriction on women follows shutdown of all girls' secondary schools just hours after they were allowed to reopen for the first time since the hardline Islamists seized power in August.

Two officials from Afghanistan's Ariana Afghan airline and Kam Air said late on Sunday, March 27 that the Taliban had ordered them to stop boarding women if they were travelling alone.

Officials from Ariana Afghan airline said that Taliban had ordered them to stop boarding women if they were travelling alone. (Image Courtesy - Aviation Nepal)

The decision was taken after a meeting between representatives of the Taliban, the two airlines and airport immigration authorities, the officials told AFP, asking not to be named.

Since the Taliban's return to power, many curbs on women's freedoms have been reintroduced -- often implemented locally at the whim of regional officials from the Ministry for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.

The ministry said it had not issued any directive banning women from taking flights alone. But a letter issued by a senior official of Ariana Afghan to the airline's staff after the meeting with the Taliban, a copy of which was obtained by AFP, confirmed the new measure. 

Taliban ban Afghan women flying alone in latest setback on rights. (Image Courtesy - Arab News)

"No women are allowed to fly on any domestic or international flights without a male relative," the letter said. Two travel agents AFP contacted also confirmed they had stopped issuing tickets to solo women travellers.

"Some women who were travelling without a male relative were not allowed to board a Kam Air flight from Kabul to Islamabad on Friday," a passenger who was on that flight told AFP.

An Afghan woman with a US passport was also not allowed to board a flight to Dubai on Friday, another source said. The Taliban have already banned inter-city road trips for women travelling alone, but until now they were free to take flights.

The Taliban have promised a softer version of the harsh Islamist rule that characterised their first stint in power from 1996 to 2001. (Image Courtesy - Global Village Space)

The Taliban have promised a softer version of the harsh Islamist rule that characterised their first stint in power from 1996 to 2001. But since August, they have rolled back two decades of gains made by Afghanistan's women. 

Women have been squeezed out of most government jobs and secondary school education, as well as ordered to dress according to a strict interpretation of the Koran.

Tens of thousands of girls flocked back to class on Wednesday after schools reopened, but officials ordered them home just hours into the day, triggering international outrage. Authorities have still not given a clear reason for the policy reversal.

(Cover Image - AFP)

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Air France-KLM to boost flights to India starting May 2022

Radhika Bansal

29 Mar 2022

The Air France-KLM Group on Monday, March 28 said it will increase its regular India flights from 20 per week in April to 30 per week in May. Regular international flights resumed on Sunday, March 27 after a coronavirus pandemic-induced hiatus of approximately two years.

During the last two years, limited international passenger flights were operating between India and selected countries — including France and the Netherlands — under bilateral air bubble arrangements.

Air France - KLM to boost flights to India starting May 2022 (Image Courtesy - Financial Times)

"Following the resumption, Air France and KLM will progressively increase flight operations from India, starting with 20 weekly flights in April and expand frequency to 30 weekly flights in May,” the group’s press release stated.

Air France will operate from four gateways — Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai — and KLM from Delhi and Mumbai, it said.

”India is a strategic market for Air France and KLM, thanks to a strong VFR (visiting friends and relatives) segment and incoming tourism we anticipate a rapid recovery that should help the industry.We will carefully monitor the market situation as we intend to reach our pre-pandemic activity over the summer of 2022."Jean-Noel Rault, General Manager Indian Subcontinent, Air France- KLM

Air France–KLM S.A., also known as Air France–KLM Group, is a Franco-Dutch airline holding company incorporated under French law with its headquarters at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Tremblay-en-France, near Paris.

Both Air France and KLM are members of the SkyTeam airline alliance. (Image Courtesy - Flight Waves)

The group has offices in Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis, Paris, and Amstelveen, Netherlands. Air France–KLM is the result of the merger in 2004 Air France and KLM airlines. Both Air France and KLM are members of the SkyTeam airline alliance.

The company's namesake airlines rely on two major hubs, Paris–Charles de Gaulle Airport and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol respectively. Air France–KLM Airlines transported 87.3 million passengers in 2014.

(Cover Image - FL360aero)

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Boeing explores strategic collaboration opportunities with IGRUA to enhance flight training

Radhika Bansal

29 Mar 2022

US-based aerospace company Boeing on Monday, March 28 said it is exploring strategic collaboration opportunities with Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA) to enhance safety and quality in early career flight training. IGRUA is a premier flight training organisation under the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

“Our strategic collaboration with IGRUA will look at ways to further emphasize safety and quality to aspiring airline cadets in training and throughout their careers,” said Salil Gupte, president, of Boeing India.

"The collaboration with Boeing will help the academy set the bar even higher to achieve global standards.The collaboration will not just benefit the next generation of Indian pilots, but the entire aviation ecosystem of the country will benefit from Boeing’s experience in safety and quality."Krishnendu Gupta, Director, Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA)

Boeing has been a strong partner of India’s aerospace sector for almost eight decades, both as the mainstay of India’s commercial aviation sector as well as an important partner in the mission readiness and modernization of India’s defence forces.

Boeing explores strategic collaboration opportunities with IGRUA to enhance flight training

Boeing’s relationship with India goes back to the 1940s when the Indian Air Force enlisted two Boeing aircraft - the T-6 Texan, or Harvard Advanced Trainer, made by North American Aviation, and the C-47 Skytrain military transport, a military variant of the DC-3, made by McDonnell Douglas. Today, Boeing continues to play a key role in India’s evolving commercial and armed forces aviation.

Headquartered in Delhi, Boeing’s India operations include field service offices in Mumbai, Hindan, Rajali and New Delhi, and a rapidly growing Boeing India Engineering & Technology Center (BIETC) in Bengaluru and Chennai.

Today, Boeing continues to play a key role in India’s evolving commercial and armed forces aviation.

Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Udaan Academy (IGRUA) is a pilot training institute located at Fursatganj Airfield, in Amethi district (formerly in Raebareli) of Uttar Pradesh, India. Established in 1985, it was the first such institute in India. 

It is an autonomous institution and comes under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India. In August 2013, the Ministry of Civil Aviation announced that a National Aviation University would be established on the IGRUA site.

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Significant increase in bird and animal strike incidents in 2021 at Indian airports

Radhika Bansal

28 Mar 2022

Indian airports saw a significant increase in bird and animal strike incidents in 2021, notwithstanding the limited number of flights operating in the country in 2021 due to coronavirus-induced travel restrictions. Bird and animal strike incidents are considered one of the most potent threats to flight operations.

In August 2019, a flock of seagulls struck the engines of Ural Airlines' Moscow-Simferopol flight, following which the plane crash-landed in a cornfield, injuring 74 passengers.

There were 1,466 bird strike incidents (27.25% increase) and 29 animal strike incidents (93.33% increase) in 2021 across Indian airports as compared to 2020, according to aviation regulator DGCA's data that has been accessed by PTI.

Significant increase in bird and animal strike incidents in 2021 at Indian airports

When figures for 2021 are compared with figures for the pre-pandemic year 2019, the increase in bird and animal strike incidents at the Indian airports stand at 19.47 per cent and 123 per cent, respectively.

According to government officials, one of the major factors behind the increase in the number of bird and animal strike incidents in India during 2021 could be that the airports were quieter than usual due to a limited number of flights amid the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Quieter airports attract more birds and animals, they noted. The second COVID-19 wave had hit India hard in the April-June period of 2021. The number of monthly domestic passengers dropped to just 21.15 lakh in May 2021 and only around 10% of international flights were operating in India during April-June 2021 period, the officials stated.

There were 1,466 bird strike incidents (27.25% increase) and 29 animal strike incidents (93.33% increase) in 2021 across Indian airports as compared to 2020

According to the data of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), in 2020, there were 1,152 bird strikes and 15 animal strike incidents at Indian airports. In 2019, there were 1,227 bird strikes and 13 animal strike incidents, and in 2018, there were 1,214 bird strikes and 19 animal strike incidents at the Indian airports, the data stated.

The DGCA, in 2018 circular, had said that the presence of wildlife in and in the vicinity of an airport poses a "serious threat" to aircraft operational safety.

When PTI asked the Centre-run Airports Authority of India (AAI) reasons for the significant increase in such incidents during 2021, it replied that the "main reason" for these incidents is "urbanisation around the airport, improper waste management, butcheries near the airport, open drains in surrounding areas etc. which are the main source of attraction of food or water for birds or animals".

At the AAI-run airports, during the year 2019-20, the bird strike incidents were 276 and animal strikes were 12 whereas during the year 2020-21 the bird strike incidents were 225 and animal strike incidents were five, it said.

"It can be seen that during these years there is no increase in the bird strike and animal strike incidents at the AAI-run airports," it added. The AAI runs more than 100 airports across the country.

However, major airports such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mangaluru and Thiruvananthapuram are run by private operators. The AAI said it has taken multiple steps to reduce bird and animal strike incidents at its airports.

The DGCA, in 2018 circular, had said that the presence of wildlife in and in the vicinity of an airport poses a "serious threat" to aircraft operational safety.

To reduce or control these incidents within AAI-run airports, bird scaring devices such as zone guns, laser torches, sound repellent devices, reflective tapes etc. are being used, it mentioned.

In addition to this, the operational area is levelled and graded, grass and bushes are regularly cut, insecticide is regularly sprayed, rodent control measures are undertaken, garbage is disposed off in a properly covered area and is not exposed to birds, and the drains are covered with nets, it stated.

Workshops are organised for ornithology and natural history to sensitise airport officials who have to take measures to control bird and animal strike incidents, it noted.

The birds are relocated at least 50 km away from the airport because pigeons are known for their strong homing

Based on ecological studies conducted, the AAI has started doing "netting, trapping and relocation" for urban birds such as the Blue Rock pigeon. "The birds are relocated at least 50 km away from the airport because pigeons are known for their strong homing," the AAI noted.

Insecticides are being used to reduce insect activity levels which is the main source of food for birds, it mentioned. Open soil patches -- which are most suitable for the breeding of ground-nesting birds such as lapwings -- have been removed, it said.

Further, the growth of grass at the airside is maintained at an average height of 15-20 cm within the airport, it mentioned. "Periodic removal of eggs and nests from the airport can disturb the birds. Hence, eggs and nests are being collected regularly until breeding efforts of birds are abandoned," it said.

Spikes have been installed over signages and poles near the runway to avoid the perching of birds

Holes in the airports' perimeter walls have been covered to stop the entry of jungle cats, jackals, snakes, amphibians and small mammals, it noted. Spikes have been installed over signages and poles near the runway to avoid the perching of birds, it said.

Airfield Environment Management Committee (AEMC) meetings chaired by senior officials of state authorities are being conducted to adopt measures for controlling the presence of birds and animals in or in the vicinity of the airport, it mentioned.

Regular inspection is carried out with local municipal authorities in the vicinity of the airport to take measures to reduce the bird and animal strike incidents, it said.

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Vistara wins the best domestic airline award for the second year in a row

Radhika Bansal

28 Mar 2022

At Wings India 2022, Vistara, India's best full-service airline, received three prestigious awards: Best Domestic Airline, Aviation Sustainability & Environment, and Covid Champions.

At the award ceremony held in Hyderabad, Hon'ble Minister of Civil Aviation, Government of India, Mr Jyotiraditya Scindia gave the awards in the presence of other top officials from the Ministry, FICCI, and an eminent gathering of industry representatives from across the world.

“We are delighted to have received these coveted awards at Wings India 2022. They are a testament to the relentless efforts of all our staff, who ensured a seamless and comfortable travel experience for our customers, despite a challenging operating environment in the last two years. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to our customers for placing their trust in us and the jury of Wings India 2022 for recognising our efforts.”Vinod Kannan, CEO, Vistara

Passengers have applauded Vistara's world-class travel experience and safety standards, which helped the airline win the Best Domestic Airline title two years in a row.

Vistara is committed to decreasing its environmental effect, which has resulted in significant investments in innovative engineering systems and a modern fleet that is regarded as one of Asia's youngest.

Vistara also took many steps to guarantee that its actions against COVID-19 had an impact on a wide range of stakeholders, including workers, customers, and communities.

Vistara wins the best domestic airline award for the second year in a row

To maintain the highest safety and hygiene standards across all touchpoints in the customer experience, the airline changed several procedures and implemented different technological interventions in accordance with regulatory criteria. Vistara has launched two award-winning initiatives, #FlyingFeelsSafeAgain and #FlyerCODE, aimed at raising awareness and inducing good behavioural changes in passengers for a more comfortable and secure air travel experience.

During the devastating second wave of the pandemic, Vistara activated its ‘National Relief Program’ and offered complimentary air logistics for transportation of medical equipment across the network.

It also welcomed health workers from government organisations to travel free of cost on its domestic network, when travelling on Covid19 duty. Vistara extended all-around support to its employees to ensure their well-being throughout the pandemic.

At Wings India 2022, Vistara, India's best full-service airline, received three prestigious awards: Best Domestic Airline, Aviation Sustainability & Environment, and Covid Champions.

Besides offering medical support, the airline took systematic steps and managed to get almost all its employees fully vaccinated against the virus. It is also the first Indian airline to have operated flights with fully vaccinated cabin crew and pilots.

Under its signature CSR project ‘Vistara Wellness Initiative’, the airline donated over 200,000 wellness essentials (nutritious food and hygiene items) to communities impacting the lives of nearly 34,000 individuals across the country.

Vistara is India's highest-rated airline on Skytrax and Tripadvisor and has won multiple 'Best Airline' accolades in addition to being praised for cabin cleanliness and safety.

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IOC signed between HAL and Pawan Hans for 20 helicopters

Radhika Bansal

28 Mar 2022

An Intent of Cooperation (IOC) was signed between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Pawan Hans Limited (PHL) for purchase or long term lease for 20 helicopters, 10 each civil variants of ALH Dhruv and Light Utility Helicopters at the ongoing Wings India-2022 at Hyderabad.

This would also bring synergy between HAL and PHL in the helicopter ecosystem and strengthen the helicopter business in India’s civil aviation market.

The IOC has been signed between PHL’s CMD Sanjeev Razdan and HAL’s (Helicopter Complex) CEO S Anbuvelan in the presence of Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya M Scindia, Minister of Roads, Buildings, Legislative Affairs and Housing of Telangana Vemula Prashanth Reddy, HAL CMD R Madhavan and others.

The IOC has been signed between PHL’s CMD Sanjeev Razdan and HAL’s (Helicopter Complex) CEO S Anbuvelan in the presence of Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya M Scindia

“IOC was signed for 10 each of the civil variants of ALH Dhruv and Light Utility Helicopters at the ongoing Wings India-2022. This will also bring synergy between HAL and PHL in the helicopter ecosystem and strengthen the helicopter business in India’s civil aviation market,” a HAL statement read.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is an Indian state-owned aerospace and defence company, headquartered in Bengaluru, India. Established on 23 December 1940, HAL is one of the oldest and largest aerospace and defence manufacturers in the world today.

HAL currently has 11 dedicated Research and development (R&D) centres and 21 manufacturing divisions under 4 production units spread across India. HAL is managed by a Board of Directors appointed by the President of India through the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.

HAL is one of the oldest and largest aerospace and defence manufacturers in the world today.

HAL is currently involved in designing and manufacturing fighter jets, helicopters, jet engines and marine gas turbine engines, avionics, software development, spare supply, overhauling and upgrading of Indian military aircraft. Pawan Hans Limited is a government-owned helicopter service provider based in Delhi NCR, India. It is under the ownership of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India.

Since 1985, Pawan Hans has been India’s market leader in helicopter operations. Its fleet of 42 helicopters provides services to sectors such as oil and gas exploration, pipeline survey and aerial work, police and utility tasks, and services to VIPs and state governments.

Pawan Hans also provides passenger connectivity to remote, hilly, and inaccessible areas along India’s northern and north-eastern borders. In addition, it has provided inter-island connectivity in the Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands.

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