INDERJIT SINGH

Inderjit is an ICAO airport consultant and former CEO of IGI Airport (IGIA), New Delhi. He has served in airport development projects around the world and has acquired world’s best practices in the industry.

POWERHOUSE GLOBAL MAGAZINE (PGMAG)

INTERVIEW WITH: INDERJIT SINGH (IS)

PGMAG: We are honored to have you on today's interview.

IS: Thank you for having me. PGMAG has an intrinsic global appeal both, in its design and contents. Its coverage on Leadership related issues is outstanding. I compliment you and your team for producing such a publication. Proud to be participating.

PGMAG: You are a man with great knowledge on Aviation industry. Please tell us more about your entry in this line of business. Was it a Chance or a Choice!

IS: I believe that there is nothing by chance. I

am an ardent fan of Richard Bach, the famous author and philosopher. In his book ‘Nothing by Chance” he amply demonstrates that nothing in this world happens by chance!

My fascination for airports and airlines started in my formative years when I travelled all over with my parents, my dear Dad serving as a Legal Advisor to several countries. It grew with time and my passion for the airtransport industry, as a career was reinforced during my study of Aviation Management at University of Berkeley, California; soon my engineering course, coincidentally airports being my final year treatise, followed by and an advanced Management Course at ‘Henley – the

management school’, from Oxford shire, UK’. I knew, I have made my choice for Aviation, amongst several other choices, for my future professional pursuits. In retrospect, I believe it was a good decision. It has since been good going.

PGMAG: What do you consider as your landmark employments & opportunities that led to your achievements in your major field of specialization.

IS: I have had the pleasure of serving with some renowned Airports Authorities, global aviation conglomerates, and most significantly my stint as the CEO of a major International airport – the 16th busiest in the world and ranked world’s #1 in facilitation by Airports Council international (ACI) in 70 million passengers per annum (MPPA) category, and my several assignments with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) - a specialized agency in the United Nations (UN) system of organizations, headquartered in Montreal, Canada. It regulates the civil aviation activities around the world. I have had the privilege of serving under the aegis of ICAO in several countries in varying socioeconomic environments. PGMAG: As a global influencer, how would you describe your style of leadership?

IS: I rate integrity, determination, empathy and courage as the uppermost traits in any walk of life. These traits earn the respect, affection, concern and dedication of the team in any ‘Service’ one is engaged in and more so in a highly visible and sensitive industry like air-transport which is more often than not prone to incidents and accidents and where teamwork only can save crisis turning into a disaster.

PGMAG: Can you single out an incident that you may have experienced where your leadership traits and qualities came instantaneously to the fore in your very demanding job as a CEO of IGI Airport, New Delhi,

IS: Sure. I was heading for the airport driven by an air force corporal when I overheard an alert from my fire chief on the RT about a B-747 with 271 passengers in its final approach to land emitting smoke from one of the engines. I instantly glanced up in the air and noticed the smoke and in addition, a spark on the rear side of the engine, not visible to the air traffic control tower or the fire station. Knowing that the flight may catch fire while rolling on the runway, I immediately intervened, as I am authorized to, and instantly informed and simultaneously gave a command to combat fire, in one particular manner amongst several options; call it my expertise, experience, training, instinct, presence of mind, sixth sense or all put together. The instant response from the chief fire officer was Wilco (an acronym for "Will Comply”). No discussions on fire-fighting options, no arguments, no contradictions, and that clinched the deal. As is known, if the aircraft fire is not extinguished in two minutes, there is no need to reach out, as nothing remains to be saved. The daring corporal drove on the runway under the burning wing, until the aircraft came to a shrieking halt, and so did my car surround by fire-fighting vehicles, ambulances and the brave fire fighters, doctors, security personnel and the works. During the drive under the burning aircraft wing, in between the eerie silence, I heard fire fighters - Chief under the burning aircraft, let us move fast; perhaps motivation at its best and concern for their colleague. All the 271 passengers and crew came out unscathed

through the emergency evacuation slides. The firefighters, the brave corporal and all others were rewarded with testimonials, out-of-turn promotions, scholarships for higher training overseas et al.

PGMAG: Incredible! And what was your reward?

IS: My reward? I learnt an alltime lesson on the ‘Art of Crisis Management”, received respect from my team, professional recognition by the highest echelons of the government, and a citation from the highly regarded Rotary International Foundation reading “International Vocational Services Award for Leading from the Front and Outstanding Devotion to Duty”. What more could I possibly ask for!

PGMAG: You have had an incredible journey, and we know that so many people across the globe will be inspired by your story. We have been chatting on your articles published in some renowned aviation journals and I very happily commenting on them. Please share a bit about your own self. Tell us as to where do you belong?

IS: “I belong to the World!” PGMAG: Sounds interesting. But what makes you say so.

IS: My parents were travelling by a Ship called SS Chusan, a flag-bearer of the Australian P&O Company heading for British Somaliland Protectorate, where my dear Dad on earning his Bar-at-Law from Lincoln’s Inn London, was to join as Legal Officer. I was to be born in Africa, but it happened in the ship, two days in advance, somewhere near the Gulf region, as I see in the

I have a sense of freedom from any reservations and any preconceived notions. Like Richard Bach, I feel like a bird and not confined by territorial boundaries.

coordinates. So, I was made in the UK, delivered in a ship in high-seas, not part of any territorial sea, and landed two days old in Africa.

PGMAG: Interesting! Has this feeling in you made any impact on your psyche or your being?

IS: But of course, it has and it helps. I have a sense of freedom from any reservations and any preconceived notions. Like Richard Bach, I feel like a bird and not confined by territorial boundaries. In my professional career until date, I have served in several countries of Africa, Asia and South America. Adaptability to new places, people, cultures, food habits and people have never been a problem.

PGMAG: With the current changes taking place in the world today due to COVID-19, and knowing that the aviation industry was worst hit due to the pandemic, as an expert in the business, what are some of the actions that could help the industry to recover from the impact of the pandemic?

IS: The global aviation regulatory agencies ICAO, IATA, ACI in collaboration with WHO have collectively, in the absence of a vaccine evolved; norms, procedures and requisite gadgets for contactless and touchless processing of the passengers, crew and their baggage through the airports. The foremost task in the industry is to inculcate a sense of confidence among travelers to take to skies again.

PGMAG: What are the top three books that changed your life? IS: ‘Art of War’ by Sun Tzu, ‘Roots’ by Alex Haley and ‘Tuesdays with Morrie’ by Morrie Schwartz

PGMAG: If you knew what you know now, what would you do differently?

IS: Perhaps live life more ‘on my terms’ and not been overcome by external reactions.

PGMAG: What is your message for global leaders?

IS: Be high in integrity, prudent, contemporary in thinking, open-minded, wholesome knowledge, an unending quest for learning, confident & courageous, a performer, encourage team involvement, humane.

PGMAG: What would you say to your younger self? IS: Should have been a better listener and a bit more easygoing

PGMAG: Wow: It's been a pleasure listening to you. You are a gift to the world and we wish you more successes on your journey.

IS: Thank you. You are very kind. Your line rings a bell, and I need to share this with you. A renowned author wrote a piece on me, without any prior intimation and in an informal discussion, for the Profile column of a magazine called Flair, on my first-time assignment to the UN titled “Inderjit – World is his Oyster”. I loved it and pledged to myself to do better and better.

PGMAG: Please share your links with us that our readers could connect with you. Inderjit is an ICAO airport consultant and former CEO of IGI Airport (IGIA), New Delhi. He has served in airport development projects around the world and has acquired world’s best practices in the industry. He can be reached on inderjit.singh@aviationanalyst. net

COMPILED BY

LADY ANITA DUCKWORTH-BRADSHAW

AMINA LEELO

DIANE CURLEY

AGNES GEORGE

SABRINA NELSON

ELIZABETH LUCAS-AFOLALU

CO-AUTHORS

ANDREA CAMPBELL

NAOKO ITO

BOLATITO AYOOLA

KEVIN HILL

OMITA GAIKWAD CAROLINE EMILE

IZABELLA NIEWIADOMSKA

SANDI RICH SAKSENA

VERICA PETROVA

ALEXANDRA N'GANGA

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