SP's Aviation December 2014 by SP Guide Publications Pvt Ltd

table of contents

vol 17 ISSUE 12 • December • 2014

Cover IMAGE: Dassault Aviation now has a new flagship, the Falcon 8X, which was unveiled at its Bordeaux-Merignac facility on December 17, 2014.

grand entry: Falcon 8X rolled out for the first time in front of an audience of operators, industrial partners and representatives of certification authorities. The Falcon 8X is all on course for its maiden flight in the first quarter of 2015 and deliveries scheduled for second half of 2016.

Cover image by: Dassault Aviation

show report 12 MEBA 2014

Photo Feature 23 2014 in Pictures

Business Aviation Core to Middle East Growth

SPace

Military

page 6

Lead Story

34 India’s GSLV III

16 Round-Up 2014

Indian Air Force: New Hopes

Civil 20 Round-Up 2014

Mixed Year

28 Regional Aviation

Pan-India Connectivity, Is it for Real?

30 Engines

LEAP Years Ahead

32 Cargo

Foray into Commercial Aviation

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Successful Launch

regular Departments 3

A Word from Editor-in-Chief

NewsWithViews

The ultra long-range Falcon 8X is the latest addition to the growing Falcon business jet family.

China’s Mission to the Moon

35 Hall of Fame Helen Richey (1909-47) 36 NewsDigest 40 LastWord

FALCON 8X, THE NEW FLAGSHIP

Make in India for Defence

Applied for NEXT ISSUE Newsmakers of 2014

ISSUE 12 • 2014

table of contents 12

Business Aviation Core to Middle East Growth

Publisher And Editor-in-Chief Jayant Baranwal senior Editor Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd) Assistant Group editor R. Chandrakanth Senior Technical Group Editor Lt General Naresh Chand (Retd) Contributors India Group Captain A.K. Sachdev (Retd) Group Captain Joseph Noronha (Retd) Europe Alan Peaford USA & Canada LeRoy Cook Chairman & Managing Director Jayant Baranwal

Indian Air Force: New Hopes

Planning & Business Development Executive Vice President: Rohit Goel ADMIN & COORDINATION Bharti Sharma design Holistic Directions: Jayant Baranwal Creative Director: Anoop Kamath Designers: Vimlesh Kumar Yadav, Sonu Singh Bisht Research Assistant: Graphics Survi Massey DIRECTOR: SALES & MARKETING Neetu Dhulia SALES & MARKETING General Manager Sales: Rajeev Chugh

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Mixed Year

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ISSUE 12 • 2014

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A word from editor-in-chief

With the new Narendra Modi government coming into power, there was a distinct resurgence of hope that the long pending deals for defence equipment would finally be cleared

As 2014 draws to a close, we look back at the year gone by with mixed feelings. The first five months of the year were marked by near total paralysis in decision making at the level of the government as with the impending national elections where profound changes were anticipated, all cases of procurement of defence equipment from abroad were placed on hold. With the new Narendra Modi Government coming into power in the last week of May 2014, there was a distinct resurgence of hope that the long pending deals for defence equipment would finally be cleared. In our annual round-up of the year 2014, we look at the highs and lows of year, the hits and the near misses on both military and civil aviation fronts. Corporate aviation saw major developments with aircraft majors launching game-changing products like the Falcon 8X. India could get a full-time Minister of Defence only in the second week of November when the former Chief Minister of Goa Manohar Parrikar was sworn in as a Minister in the Prime Minister Modi’s cabinet and was entrusted with the Defence portfolio. The appointment of a no-nonsense man with impeccable credentials has rekindled hopes of the Indian Air Force (IAF) that the long pending deals especially for the 126 Rafale medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) would be finalised soon. While some deals for the IAF such as the one pertaining to the procurement of the 22 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and 15 CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopters, both from Boeing, have been cleared, there are a number of other major projects in the pipeline over which clouds of uncertainty continue to hang. Two major procurement proposals that continue to remain uncertain are firstly for the mega deal for 126 Rafale MMRCA where over seven years have elapsed since the tender was issued and a more recent proposal for the replacement of the Avro fleet of the IAF for which only one bid has been received from Airbus Defence and Space jointly with Indian firm Tata Advanced Systems Limited. On the civil aviation front, the year witnessed the entry of two new carriers, AirAsia India and Air Costa with the third Tata-SIA joint venture airlines Vistara just about missing the target date of October 2014 for its launch. It is now scheduled to take to the skies on January 9 next year. On the other hand, one of the top budget carriers in India, SpiceJet, has suddenly gone into a nosedive and there are fears that it may go the Kingfisher

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way. Efforts are on both by the government and the investors to try and revive the carrier. Meanwhile, the Modi Government was embarked on major overhaul of the civil aviation sector through enhancement of regional connectivity, commissioning of ‘no-frills’ airports, creation of world-class infrastructural facilities, establishment of regulatory framework in consonance with international standards, development of skilled manpower and adoption of advanced technologies. In the domain of business aviation, leading French aircraft manufacturer, Dassault Aviation, unveiled the Falcon 8X, its flagship business jet to meet with the needs at the upper end of the business travel. The other high point in the world of business aviation was the MEBA Airshow this year which concluded on December 10 at the Dubai World Central. Dubbed as “the biggest and the most successful”, the airshow was symbolic of the soaring business aviation industry. Reports on the Falcon 8X and the MEBA Airshow are included in this issue. In the pursuit of its objectives of space exploration, the Indian Space Research Organisation added yet another feather to its cap with the launch on December 18, 2014, of the GSLV III, its heaviest rocket yet and tested an unmanned crew module in a step towards its manned space mission. All these in this final issue of SP’s Aviation for the year 2014, apart from the regular features. Happy holidays!

Jayant Baranwal Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

ISSUE 12 • 2014

News

with views NEWS: China’s Mission to the Moon As per the state media, on November 1 this year, China completed its first mission to the moon and return to the Earth with the successful re-entry and landing of an unmanned probe. The probe landed safely in northern China’s Inner Mongolia region, state news agency Xinhua said, citing the Beijing Aerospace Control Centre. Prior to re-entering the Earth’s atmo-

sphere, the unnamed probe was travelling at 11.2 kilometres per second (40,320 kmph), a speed that can generate temperatures of more than 1,500 degrees Celsius. The probe’s mission was to travel to the moon, fly around it and head back to Earth, the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence said in a statement.

Photograph: Xinhua

VIEWS: In the recent past, there have been a number of disasters in the regime of space exploration. The Antares, an unmanned supply mission to the International Space Station, is reported to have been destroyed deliberately by launch control as the rocket deviated from its intended trajectory. This was followed by the disintegration over the Mojave Desert of the manned Virgin Galactic Space Ship II that was on a test flight. This was not only a disastrous setback to the first private venture in space exploration sponsored by the flamboyant Richard Branson but a tragic one as it resulted to the death of its pilot. Both these accidents could cast a shadow on the future of space exploration. Against the background of these catastrophic events, the Chinese space programme registered a major success when its spacecraft, Chang’e 5-T1 named Xiaofei (Little Flyer), made a flawless entry into Earth’s atmosphere and landed safely in the Mongolian desert. The Little Flyer was launched on October 24, 2014, on board a Long March III rocket from Xichang Space Centre in Xichang, China and traversed 8,40,000 km during its journey in space that lasted for eight days. This mission was intended to validate re-entry technology such as heat shield and trajectory design to be employed in a mission for a landing on the moon by China’s fourth lunar probe, the Chang’e-5 to be launched around 2017. This mission will be aimed at collecting samples from the Lunar surface and bring it back to Earth. China is the third country after the United States and Russia, to have sent a spacecraft into the lunar orbit and successfully recovered it back on the Earth. The Chinese success comes 44 years after the then Soviet Union that was the last nation to have achieved this feat in 1970. The first Chinese astronaut ventured into space in 2003, became once again the third nation to do so after the US and Russia. In 2008, Chinese astronauts undertook their first ‘space walk’. In December 2013, Chang’e 3 landed on the moon and successfully deployed a rover named Yutu (Jade Rabbit) on the surface of the moon. The rover though declared successful by the Chinese space agencies is reported to be afflicted with some technical issues. China now aims to establish a permanent space station by the year 2022 or so, as also has plans to eventually land one of their astronauts on the moon.

ISSUE 12 • 2014

Beijing’s highly ambitious and so far eminently successful space programme reflects the nations technological capabilities as well as its stature as a rising global power. While China was justifiably gloating over her recent success, India had already crossed a major milestone in her space programme with the successful insertion of the ‘Mangalyaan’ in an orbit around the red planet. This was a remarkable technological feat as the failure rate in missions to Mars has been very high. Besides, India is the first Asian space power to have tasted success in a mission to Mars in the very first attempt. Prior to the success registered by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), space agencies of only three nations, i.e, the US, Europe and Russia, had been able to launch successful mission to Mars, either orbiting or landing on it. China’s attempt at a mission to Mars in November 2011 Yinghuo-1 ended in failure. Earlier on in 1998, a mission to Mars launched by Japan ran out of fuel and was lost in space. Another notable feature of the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) was that it was accomplished at relatively lower cost without compromise in quality as compared with the US. For example, ISRO’s MOM cost just `450 crore while Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) launched by NASA, cost the `4,200 crore. MOM of ISRO will mark the beginning of the agency’s effort at interplanetary exploration. There is no denying the fact that India and China have been engaged in a furious space race. While China appears to be ahead in some areas of space exploration, India has stolen a march over China in the race for the red planet. China and India have now entered into an agreement to encourage exchange and cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, including research and development of scientific experiment satellites, remote sensing satellites and communications satellites. As for competing with China, Dr K. Radhakrishnan, Chairman of ISRO, made this profound statement that encapsulates ISRO’s philosophy, “We are racing against ourselves to get into the next level of excellence”. SP —By Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd)

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For speciaL ops. a speciaL edge. combat · Hum a nita ria n · Logistics · re scue · specia L ops · reFueLing Around the globe, V-22 Ospreys are making a critical difference for Special Operations Forces—executing long-range infiltration, exfiltration and resupply missions unachievable with conventional rotorcraft. The tiltrotor’s unique blend of high speed, long range, survivability and helicopter flexibility has made it the platform of choice, providing a special edge for SOF operators.

Business Aviation

Falcon 8X

FALCON 8X,

THE NEW FLAGSHIP The ultra long-range Falcon 8X is the latest addition to the growing Falcon business jet family

Photographs: dassault aviation

by R. Chandrakanth

ISSUE 12 • 2014

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Business aviation falcon 8x

full of endurance: management team of dassault falcon celebrating the unveiling of falcon 8X; (left) Dassault ultra long-range Falcon 8X being unveiled at Bordeaux-Merignac, france

Leading French aircraft manufacturer, Dassault Aviation, now has a new flagship, the Falcon 8X, which was unveiled at its Bordeaux-Merignac facility on December 17, 2014. This flagship business jet was rolled out for the first time in front of an audience of operators, industrial partners and representatives of certification authorities. The Falcon 8X is all on course for its maiden flight in the first quarter of 2015 and deliveries scheduled for second half of 2016. The ultra long-range Falcon 8X is the latest addition to the growing Falcon business jet family. At the unveiling ceremony, the Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, Eric Trappier, said: “Dassault’s tradition of innovation and excellence helps explain the success of the Falcon 7X. More than 250 aircraft have been built in the seven years since service introduction and demand remains strong. We anticipate a similarly bright future for the 8X.” Trappier said: “It builds on Dassault expertise in aerodynamics, in precision design and manufacturing and in advanced digital flight controls. It embodies the best of Falcons that have come before with the most capability of any Falcon ever.” With the 8X, customers will also have an unprecedented selection of cabin customisation solutions, offering 30 different arrangements, each one with the highest level of comfort and connectivity in the industry. It will be your home in the sky. The

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ISSUE 12 • 2014

Business aviation falcon 8x

Falcon 8X: technology Three-engine Design The Falcon 8X trijet configuration offers added safety and operational flexibility– opening access to more airports and improving performance in hot and high conditions. It also provides more direct routings on long, over-water legs.

Cockpit The 8X cockpit has been totally redesigned. It features a new generation of the EASy flight deck. It also features Honeywell’s nextgeneration 3D colour weather radar system with enhanced turbulence detection capability.

Engines The enhanced Pratt & Whitney Canada PW307D turbofans deliver 5 per cent more thrust while lowering fuel consumption. They also reduce NOx emissions 30 per cent below today’s most stringent standards.

Combined Vision System The cockpit will feature a new generation of the EASy flight deck and offer an optional wide-screen Head-Up Display integrating enhanced and synthetic vision for vastly improved situational awareness and low-visibility conditions.

Cabin, Size, Flexibility The 8X cabin is more than three feet longer. And every inch is used to the greatest advantage. With over 30 possible layouts this is the industry’s most flexible cabin.

Falcon 8X Specifications Length:

80.2 ft

Height:

26.1 ft

Wing span:

86.25 ft

Cabin length (excluding cockpit and baggage):

42.67 ft

Maximum headroom:

74 inches

Maximum width:

92 inches

Maximum take off weight:

73,000 lb

Maximum zero fuel weight:

41,000 lb

Maximum fuel:

34,900 lb

Maximum landing weight:

62,400 lb

8X will be our most advanced fly-by-wire business jet, drawing on the heritage of the popular Falcon 7X and 40 years of digital flight control experience with top-line fighter aircraft. It will be the biggest Falcon ever and yet will remain amazingly light and agile, totally at home at small, demanding airports like

Digital Flight Control System Building on Rafale fighter and Falcon 7X experience, Dassault’s next generation of digital flight control technology ensures smooth and precise flight path control and flight envelope protection.

ISSUE 12 • 2014

New Wing The 8X wing takes advantage of more moving control surfaces, including three leading-edge stats, three airbrakes and two flaps. Together, they provide more control and efficiency.

Aspen, St Morritz and Cannes. And despite its size, the 8X will be more efficient, too. Stretching very precious pound of fuel and reducing emissions. In short, the 8X will be an example of what Dassault does best—maximising the usefulness,efficiency and comfort of the business jet experience.” Family of Six Jets With two new aircraft under development, the 5X and 8X, Dassault will now be able to offer a family of six jets designed to meet the widest possible range of operator needs at the upper end of the business jet spectrum. Ultra Long-Range The Falcon 8X offers a good range and has the longest cabin in the Falcon family, along with the most extensive selection of cabin configurations available on any executive jet. The 8X will offer a greater range of 6,450 nm (11,945 km) and a cabin 3.5 feet longer than the 7X while affording the same low operating economics and remarkable operating flexibility for which Falcon Jets are known. The final assembly and testing of the 8X is taking place at state-of-the-art Charles Lindbergh hall at Merignac. The facility was built to handle production of the Falcon 7X and the 8X will draw on the same advanced digital design and manufac-

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Business aviation falcon 8x rior, will be used in the flight test and certification campaign. Falcon 8X: Setting a New Cabin Standard The Falcon 8X cabin will be 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) high and 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m) wide and 42 ft 8 in (13 m) long, enabling it to offer the most diverse selection of cabin layouts on the market. More than 30 configurations will be available. Customers will be able to choose from three galley sizes, two with a crew-rest option and lounges of varying lengths capable of supporting a range of lavatory layouts including one with shower. This is Dassault’s longest cabin and every inch is used to advantage. With over 30 possible layouts, this is the industry’s most flexible cabin and the one most likely to offer an interior solution that meets customer’s exacting requirements. Noise and cabin altitude are low and air quality is high. Connectivity is complete in this Wi-Fi environment with the latest Falcon Cabin HD+ cabin management system which facilitates control over environment from anywhere in the cabin, using Apple devices. There’s an app that lets the passenger call up a virtual moving map of any area around by simply pointing ones iPad in its direction. New Power Plant With eight passengers and a three-man crew, the Falcon 8X will be capable of flying 6,450 nm at Mach 0.8 non-stop. It will be powered by an improved version of the Pratt and Whitney Canada PW307 engine that equips the Falcon 7X. Combined with improvements to wing design, the new power plant will make the 8X up to 35 per cent more fuelefficient than any other aircraft in the ultra long-range segment, affording a corresponding savings in operating costs. The 8X will be equipped with an array of innovative onboard systems largely proven on the 7X, including an enhanced version of the 7X’s Digital Flight Control System. It will also come with a redesigned cockpit featuring an optional combined synthetic/ enhanced vision head-up display. Serve Challenging Airports Like the 7X, the Falcon 8X will be capable of approaches up to six degrees, allowing it to serve challenging airports such as London City Airport and Lugano, Switzermost economical: Falcon 8X direct operating costs are as much as 35 per cent land, that are normally not accessible to lower than those of competing jets large cabin aircraft. The aircraft will have a balanced field length of about 6,000 ft and an approach turing techniques pioneered with the 7X. “We are extremely happy with progress on our new Falcon speed at typical landing weight of 107 knots. Steep approach flagship,” said Olivier Villa, Senior Vice President, Civil Air- angles and strong climb-out gradients are no problem for the craft, Dassault Aviation. “The programme is right on schedule Falcon 8X, nor are hot and high conditions. The aircraft is and all systems are performing exactly as designed.” A total of expected to deliver superior range from both. It is the only three aircraft, including one fully outfitted with a cabin inte- ultra long-range business jet that can use London City’s 3,934

ISSUE 12 • 2014

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Business aviation falcon 8x

extraordinaire: With over 30 possible layouts, this is the industry’s most flexible cabin and the one most likely to offer an interior solution that meets customer’s exacting requirements

foot (1,200 m) runwayand after take-off, it can fly non-stop to Dubai or New York. The 8X will also be able to perform an extensive list of oneleg missions, including Beijing to New York, Hong Kong to Seattle and New York to Dubai. The Falcon 8X continues Falcon traditions of efficiency, performance, flexibility and comfort, while saving millions in total life-cycle costs versus any rival. More Range After Short Hops The Falcon 8X can land at 85 per cent of its maximum landing weight, allowing one to fuel up at home base and make a short hop before flying a longer leg of over 4,500 nm without refuelling, thus using the cost advantage of home-based fuel. The tri-jet advantage shortens transoceanic routes. They also contribute to the 8X’s slow and stable approach speed, a mere 106 knots (197 kmph). And its three-engine performance margins allow take offs from shorter runways. Unbeatable Economics Dassault claims that the Falcon 8X direct operating costs are as much as 35 per cent lower than those of competing jets. And thanks to its optimised airliner-type MSG-3 maintenance pro-

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gramme, time between 8X major inspections is 800 hours or 12 months, giving operators greater use of the airborne asset. A Visionary Flight Deck Totally redesigned, the Falcon 8X cockpit will feature a new generation of EASy flight deck and offer an optional wide-screen head-up display, integrating enhanced and synthetic vision for vastly improved situational awareness in low-visibility conditions. It will also feature Honeywell’s next-generation 3D colour weather radar system with enhanced turbulence detection capability. PW307D Engines: More Thrust with Less Fuel At 6,722 pounds (29.9 kN), these enhanced Pratt & Whitney Canada turbofans deliver five per cent more thrust, yet they also lower fuel consumption. Beyond delivering more pounds of thrust for each pound of fuel, they reduce NOx emissions 30 per cent below today’s most stringent standards. The PW300 series has more than 12 million hours of proven and highly reliable operation. Since the rollout of the first Falcon 20 in 1963, over 2,250 Falcon jets have been delivered. The family of Falcon jets currently in production includes the tri-jets, the Falcon 900LX, 7X and 8X as well as the twin-engine 2000LXS, the Falcon 2000S and the Falcon 5X. SP

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show report meba 2014

Business Aviation Core to Middle East Growth The Middle East is becoming a major aviation hub on the East-West axis and business aviation is contributing significantly to aviation growth

Photograph: Meba 2014

by R. Chandrakanth

The Middle East has been ranked tenth in the top global market for luxury spending, according to consultancy firm Bain & Co. The consumption of luxury goods increased by 11 per cent in 2014, while Knight Frank has named Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia as the top three countries in the new luxury opportunity index. This augurs well for the business aviation market which not only falls in the luxury segment, but also as a business tool in the Middle East which is becoming a major aviation hub on the East-West axis and business aviation is contributing significantly to aviation growth. The hint of a soaring aviation industry surfaced yet again at the Middle East Business

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Aviation (MEBA) show which concluded on December 10 at the Dubai World Central. The MEBA show this year has been the biggest and the most successful as new business deals were struck and there were strong leads. MEBA’s founding Chairman, Ali Al Naqbi, said: “It has been an incredible show. We have seen so many people exhibiting and attending from all over the world this year. Exhibitors are delighted with the quality of visitors, all of whom come to do business. Highlights from MEBA’s perspective include the amount of time Sheikh Ahmed spent touring the show and speaking with our exhibitors, the ‘Business Aviation

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show report meba 2014 impressive display: panoramic view of the static Aircraft at MEBA Show

Around the World panel session and the enthusiasm shown by exhibitors to talk to the students who attended Futures day on the final day of the show.

MEBA Show Morocco in 2015

he organisers of Middle East Business Aviation (MEBA) show are moving beyond Dubai. They have announced the first ever MEBA Show Morocco which will be held at Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport on September 1-2, 2015, under the patronage of Abdelaziz Rabbah, the Moroccan Minister of Equipment and Transport. The show is expected to bring together business aviation professionals from across the African region. Morocco has been identified as the most active business aviation market, accounting for 50 per cent of all North African aircraft movements, in a study by WINGX commissioned by the Middle East and North African Business Aviation Association. “The event recognises the burgeoning aviation industry in Morocco and recent investments by OEM’s, particularly those in business aviation,” said Ali Al Naqbi, Founding Chairman of MEBA. “Current trends predict business aircraft movements in the region could reach 22,750 by the end of this year, and we are pleased to be launching MEBA Morocco Show next year to allow exhibitors to access this growing market.”

•

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MEBA Now MEBA Show “As MEBA Show goes from strength to strength, we are following a careful, measured growth plan, launching the first business aviation show in Morocco next year (MEBA Show Morocco) and re-naming the next show as “MEBA Show 2016” to avoid confusion.” The show hosted 422 exhibitors plus featured 44 aircraft on static display. Ali Naqbi explained “From 2016, the biennial show goes by the name MEBA Show. We have MEBA Show (the show) and MEBA the association and they have both become well-known brands. To reduce confusion, we are now branding everything the same: the organisation, the shows, the conferences, the training programmes, everything.” The newly-named MEBA Show 2016 will take place from December 6 to 8 at the Dubai World Central, the aviation hub of the Middle East, featuring a new logo. Boeing Business Jets Strong Presence Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) chose MEBA to announce the appointment of its new global president, David Longridge, who will take the reins from BBJ stalwart, Captain Steve Taylor. Longridge moves from commercial sales, while Taylor is remaining with Boeing, as Chief Pilot for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Around 35 per cent of BBJ’s fleet is used in the Middle East. Taylor pointed out the region has more wide-bodied aircraft than any other region (some 55 per cent of its wide bodied craft are in the Middle East), making it the most important global market for BBJ in terms of dollar sales value. BBJ also revealed an order from charter operator Comlux

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show report meba 2014 for two BBJ Max 8s; the Swiss VIP company’s first BBJ order. Richard Gaona, President and CEO, Comlux, said the two aircraft “give customers the flexibility to fly farther and more comfortably thanks to the lower cabin altitude.” Embraer’s Phenomenal Expansion Embraer Executive Jets President and CEO, Marco Tulio Pellengrini, announced his company’s rise to power, with the phenomenal success of the Phenom – there are 500 of these smaller private jets in operation globally. The company also announced delivery of its second Legacy 500 aircraft to a Middle East customer, in December 2014. Embraer Executive Jets focused on bringing the Legacy 500 and the smaller 450 to market. The first Embraer Legacy 500 for a Middle East customer is currently undergoing its customer acceptance process with the aim of the aircraft being delivered later in this month. Currently Embraer has 33 executive jets operating in the region, comprising three Phenom 300s, 20 Legacy 600/650s and 10 Lineage 1000/E-Jet Shuttle aircraft. The fleet is concentrated in Saudi Arabia (two Phenoms, four Legacies and three E-Jet Shuttles) and the UAE (12 Legacies and five Lineages). Support is provided by authorised service centres in Abu Dhabi (Falcon Aviation Services–Legacy/Lineage) and Dubai (ExecuJet Phenom 300/Legacy/Lineage). On display were a Lineage 1000E, Legacy 650 and Phenom 300. Royal Jet Adding Aircraft Royal Jet, one of the Middle East’s oldest private charter companies, confirmed a raft of new aircraft are joining its fleet, including two Bombardier Learjet 60 XRs and two Global 5000 business jets. Royal Jet also confirmed it is renewing its collaboration with Boeing; with plans to take delivery of two new Boeing business jets, modelled on the 737-700. The new purchases are part of a fleet upgrade and expansion programme that will see Royal Jet’s fleet increase to 20 by 2020, at a cost of $700 million.

Photographs: Embraer, MEBA 2014

Textron Showcases Beechcraft and Cessna Textron Aviation exhibited its Cessna Citation Sovereign+ and Citation M2 for the first time in Dubai, representing the company’s continued investment in new products to serve operators in the region and throughout the world. In addition to the Citations, Textron Aviation also featured a Beechcraft Special Mission King Air 350ER and a King Air 250. “Our Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker brands have been and remain strong throughout the Middle East, particularly in the Gulf States,” said Bill Harris, Vice President, Sales. “The Citation Sovereign+ and Citation M2 are the latest in a string of newly certified Citations introduced in the past year that have garnered significant interest throughout the region.” Textron Aviation companies support a fleet of approximately 125 business jets in the Middle East and a similar number of turboprops for business and special mission applications. Dassault Aviation’s Falcon Family Soars Dassault Aviation announced the sale of a Falcon 5X ultra-wide body twin jet to Wallan Aviation, the prominent Middle East general aviation company. The 5,200 nm 5X will be delivered in 2018 and Wallan Aviation will operate the aircraft for the company’s own use with the option to charter. According to Wallan Aviation, Falcons, including the new Falcon 5X and 8X, are wellsuited to the needs of the region, offering long range, spacious and comfortable cabins with low cabin pressure, and large lug-

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static display: (top) embraer legacy 500; (above) falcon 5X

gage storage capacity. Wallan Aviation has already experienced and operated a Falcon 900EX EASy and a Falcon 900LX. The Middle East region accounts for 20 per cent of worldwide sales for the Falcon 5X, which was introduced in 2013. With a range of 5,200 nm, it can fly passengers nonstop from Dubai to Cape Town or from Riyadh to Tokyo. The 5X is on track for a first flight in the second quarter of 2015 and is expected to begin entering Middle East inventories in the second half of 2017. Gilles Gautier, Vice President Falcon Sales for Dassault Aviation, said: “We are delighted to announce this Falcon 5X sale to Wallan Aviation, which is a well-established and highly respected general aviation company in the Middle East and with whom we have built a close working relationship. The 5X has been very strongly received in the regional market, where we continue to invest and expand our infrastructure and support team. Falcons are increasingly proving themselves with operators in the region and this helps develop experience and build confidence in the Falcon range, which also has attractive emissions and environmental credentials.” There are around 65 Falcon business jets already operating

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show report meba 2014 agreement for engine maintenance services with Gulfstream. The three-year agreement will provide Gulfstream with options for quality engine maintenance and customer support for the Gulfstream GII, GIII, GIV, G350 and G450 aircraft worldwide. Qatar Executive Expanding Fleet Qatar Executive displayed its brand new Bombardier Global 5000 Vision private jet. Executive Vice President of Qatar Executive, David Edwards, said: “Qatar Executive continues to go from strength to strength and MEBA is a great opportunity for us to showcase our rapidly expanding fleet and demonstrate our industry leading offerings to partners and customers alike.” Qatar Executive showcased its growing business aviation service portfolio and raise interest for its new General Aviation Terminal (FBO), which is currently being constructed at the new Hamad International Airport and is set to open in the first half of 2015. Airbus Highlights Class Airbus’ modern corporate jet family displayed the ACJ319 operated by MJet, which features several different lounge-areas at the front, capitalising on the greater space that every Airbus corporate jet delivers plus a bedroom with en-suite bathroom and shower at the rear.

static display: (top) cessna Citation Sovereign; (above) gulfstream 450 and 550

Photographs: Cessna, Gulfstream

in the region. “Falcons are well-suited to the demands of our Middle East customers, offering long range and large, roomy cabins which are ideal for work or rest,” added Gilles Gautier. “Falcons burn 20 to 40 per cent less fuel and offer up to 50 per cent lower operating costs than many aircraft in their class.” Gulfstream Bullish Gulfstream had three aircraft on display – the G450, G550 and the G650ER and Qatar Executive’s keen interest in its products has boosted the Savannah based aircraft company. Qatar Executive in October had placed an order for up to 20 Gulfstream aircraft. Gulfstream Senior Vice President (worldwide sales and marketing) Scott Neal said: “For some people here the extra 500 nm [926 km] range that the ER variant offers is very important. It is garnering ‘significant interest’ in its latest large-cabin duo the G500 and G600. These latest models have filled the gaps in our product line which spans the 3,600 nm [midsize] G280 to the 7,500nm G650ER. This move-up market is very important.” BizJet International Sales & Support signed a supplier

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Honeywell Features World’s First 3D Cockpit Honeywell Aerospace featured the world’s first 3D cockpit and cabin visualisation suite in an immersive environment. Spokesman Chris Martin said: “We wanted to showcase our products in as interesting ways as possible and try to present our components – that the public don’t necessarily see – in new, compelling ways.” Martin revealed that Honeywell Aerospace had secured three deals at the show. Construction and facilities management giant Saudi Oger has signed with Honeywell Aerospace as its first Boeing Business Jet avionics maintenance plan customer in the Middle East. Another deal, with “an undisclosed Middle East-based Boeing Business Jet operator” is for the Auxiliary Power Unit Maintenance Plan (AMP) which is an aftermarket warranty programme for Boeing Business Jets (BBJs), all of which come with Honeywell’s 131-9B Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) as standard on Boeing 737NG aircraft. Honeywell’s third deal was with US-based aircraft modification centre, GDC Technics, to bring its JetWave satellite communications system to in-service Boeing and Airbus airplanes. CAE Plans for Middle East CAE, the global training provider, announced the expansion of its training network in the Middle East. The company plans to deploy full-flight simulators and training programmes for a range of aircraft including training for the Boeing 747-8 and 787 and Dassault’s Falcon 5X; alongside full-flight simulators for Bombadier, Gulfstream, Bell and Sikorsky, starting in the next 18 months. CAE is set to deploy a Bombardier Global Vision full-flight simulator at the Emirates-CAE Flight Training Centre in early 2015, adding to its existing network of 16 Level D FFSs across the region. It was not all corporate business. MEBAA donated $25,000 to Fly & Feed, the recent initiative between World Food Programme and MEBAA, kicking off an annual pledge from MEBAA members to support the vital humanitarian work. The initiative enables MEBAA operator members to donate $20 to the United Nations’ World Food Programme for every flight. SP

ISSUE 12 • 2014

Military

Round-Up 2014

Photograph: Dassault aviation / R. Nicolas-Nelson / French Air Force

Gradual progress: Dassault’s rafale

indian air force: new hopes The new Modi Government has in fact rekindled hopes of the IAF that its efforts at acquiring the urgently needed weapons platforms would finally translate into reality by Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd)

ISSUE 12 • 2014

www.sps-aviation.com

Military Round-Up 2014 efforts at acquiring the urgently needed weapons platforms would finally begin to bear fruit and translate into reality. For the IAF, the dawn of the year 2014 witnessed the arrival of a new incumbent when on new year’s day, a day on which Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha took over as the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) from Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne. The CAS has been making concerted effort to clear the backlog of issues facing the IAF apart from battling the multitude of bureaucratic and financial hurdles.

As the year 2014 draws to a close, a review of the state of military aviation in the country during the last 12 months reveals that for the Indian Air Force (IAF), the year has been one of agonising wait, deferment and disappointment in its effort at sustaining the drive to modernisation it has embarked on. While the nation continues to enjoy the dubious distinction of being the largest importer of defence related equipment, the IAF continues to be afflicted with uncertainty in the procurement of some major weapons platforms. The first half of the year was marked by near total paralysis in decision making as the nation was heading for general elections that was marked by anticipation of profound changes. The United Progressive Alliance II Government then in power during the first five months of the year preferred not to take any decisions to finalise tenders and award contracts and left it to the new government to progress matters further. The new Modi Government that took over the reins of power in the last week of May this year, has in fact rekindled hopes of the IAF that its

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Combat Aircraft Fleet of the IAF The state of the combat aircraft fleet of the IAF at the end of the year 2014 is far from satisfactory. This fleet will be the spearhead of any military venture that the Indian armed forces will be called upon to undertake in the future. The application of aerospace power would be decisive in winning a war in the future through swift and precise response. This capability will be all the more critical in the context of a two-front war that may be thrust upon the nation. Since the last major inductions of the 1980s, the combat potential of the IAF has been eroding steadily and in year gone by, with the retirement of the older fleets such as the MiG-21 and the MiG-23 inducted in the 1960s and 1970s, the strength of the combat fleet in 2014 has reduced to 32 squadrons as against a currently authorised level of 39.5 squadrons. In the meantime, the government has accorded approval for the strength of combat squadrons to be enhanced to 42 squadrons by the end of the Fourteenth Five Year Plan (2022-27) and eventually to 45 squadrons by the Fifteeth Five Year Plan (2027-32). However, as things stand at the end of 2014, the IAF is staring at further reduction in the strength of the combat fleet as the remaining MiG-21 Bis and the MiG-27 squadrons are scheduled to retire in the next three to four years and fresh inductions in this time frame to compensate for the drop in the number of squadrons continues to remain uncertain at the end of the current year. Su-30MKI Fleet. The last round of infusion into the combat aircraft fleet of the IAF was by way of the Su-30MKI, a new generation platform from Russia. The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) contracted for a fleet of 272 aircraft over a decade and a half ago. Of these, the first 50 were procured in a fly-away condition directly from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and the remaining are being manufactured by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at their facility at Nasik in Maharashtra. Dubbed as “Air Dominance Fighter”, Induction of the Su-30MKI fleet continued through the year 2014 and has now crossed the 200 mark. The date for completion of the induction of the total fleet on order that was originally scheduled for 2017 has now been revised this year and is expected to be completed by 2019. The IAF could well order more of these, hopefully with fifth-generation attributes. Unfortunately, the IAF has been facing a variety of problems with the Su-30MKI fleet and the year 2014 witnessed the most perplexing one when on October 14, 2014, while an aircraft on approach for a landing at Pune airfield, both the ejection seats fired on their own. The pilots were safe but the aircraft was lost. This freak accident has raised serious concerns about the reliability of the fleet especially as it is and will remain the mainstay of the combat fleet of the IAF. Medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA). The quest of the IAF to acquire 126 (six squadrons) of the MMRCA from Dassault Aviation of France for which the request for proposal (RFP) was floated in 2007, continued to wallow in uncertainty through the year 2014. The IAF had completed the technical and flight evaluation of the six contenders in the race for the MMRCA contract by the beginning of 2012 and had shortlisted

ISSUE 12 • 2014

Military Round-Up 2014

avro replacement in waiting: Airbus C-295 medium-lift military transport aircraft

Photograph: Airbus Military

two, the Dassault Rafale and the EADS Eurofighter. Contract negotiations that were commenced soon after with the lowest bidder Dassault Aviation and has continued through the year 2014. However, despite the repeated assurances by the highest echelons of the IAF, the finalisation of ncontract negotiations and the award of contract remain elusive. Jean-Yves Le Drian, the Minister of Defence, France, arrived in India on November 30, 2014, for a two-day visit and held discussions with Manohar Parrikar, Minister of Defence, to try and end the nearly threeyear deadlock over the finalisation of the contract for the 126 MMRCA. But the year has gone by and the final word is yet to be said. Apparently, the impasse resulted from reluctance on the part of Dassault to accept responsibility for these 108 aircraft to be built by HAL in respect of delivery schedules, quality assurance and liquidated damages. It is understood that these issues have now been settled. If this be true, it would be a major milestone in the MMRCA deal crossed in the year 2014. Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) In early 2007, India and Russia jointly embarked on a project to jointly develop an FGFA, a two seat derivative of the T-50 PAK FA, customised for the IAF. The funding, engineering and Intellectual Property was to shared equally by the two parties. The joint development deal would have each country invest $6 billion and was expected to take around a decade to develop the platform that would propel the IAF into the next generation. In December 2010, a memorandum of understanding for preliminary design of the Indo-Russian FGFA was signed between HAL and Russian companies Rosoboronexport and Sukhoi. The IAF has plans to procure a total of 214 a mix of twin- and single-seat platforms with the first lot to be inducted in 2017. For one reason or another the project had slowed down considerably and the IAF had begun to harbour serious doubts about its future. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin discussed the mat-

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ter during a summit in Brazil in July this year and both the leaders agreed that the FGFA project must move forward. The year 2014 has revived hopes for the IAF to enter the fifth-generation. As per the plans made public by the IAF this year, the FGFA is scheduled to go into series production by 2021. Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Having secured the initial operational clearance in December 2013, the Aeronautical Development Agency that has been engaged in the development of the Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) since 1983, had scheduled its Final Operational Clearance by the end of 2014. This deadline has unfortunately been missed and the revised time line is March 2015. Transport Aircraft Fleet Compared with the combat aircraft fleet, the transport fleet is decidedly in a better shape. Induction of the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III and the C-130J Super Hercules from Lockheed Martin in the recent years has given the IAF new strategic and tactical airlift capabilities. The C-17 has provided the IAF with global reach and the C-130J has added a new dimension of special operations capability. In 2014 both these fleets rendered yeomen service in disaster relief operations in the Kashmir Valley. The IAF has placed orders to another six C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) Aircraft The Airbus A330 MRTT flight refuelling aircraft was finally selected by the IAF in 2013 over Russia’s Ilyushin Il-78 in a deal worth nearly $2 billion for six aircraft. However, the deal seems to have encountered a roadblock in 2014 on account of a trivial procedural hurdle as the original bidder Cassidian has been renamed as Airbus Defence and Space with effect from January 1, 2014. This latest setback to the MRTT procurement follows another

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Military Round-Up 2014

in the pipeline: boeing Chinook heavy-lift helicopter

Photograph: defense.gov

delay prompted by a clarification being sought by the Indian MoD from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into two cases of alleged wrongdoing in the sale of civilian Airbus A300s to Indian Airlines in the mid-1970s. While one of the two cases has been closed, the final word from the CBI on the second case is still awaited and without it the MRTT deal cannot be signed. Replacement of the Avro Fleet The proposal to involve the aerospace industry in the private sector in India to meet with equipment needs of the IAF was initiated by the former Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne. This appears to be materialising in 2014 as in response to a request for proposal (RFP) issued in May 2013 by the MoD for procurement of 56 aircraft to replace the obsolescent Avro fleet of the IAF, global aircraft major Airbus Defence and Space and India’s Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) of the Tata Group have jointly offered the Airbus C-295 mediumlift military transport aircraft under ‘Buy and Make’ route. In case the proposal by Airbus and TASL for the C-295 which is a proven platform, is finally accepted, the first 16 aircraft will come in ‘flyaway’ condition from Airbus’s final assembly line and the remaining 40 aircraft will be manufactured and assembled by Tata Advanced Systems in India. This includes undertaking structural assembly, final aircraft assembly, systems integration and testing and management of the indigenous supply chain. This will be a major development for not only the Indian aerospace industry in the private sector but for the IAF as well. Unfortunately, in December 2014, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by the newly appointed Minister of Defence Manohar Parrikar has for the second time deferred the decision on Tata-Airbus Defence and Space partnership for jointly producing the Airbus C-295 medium transport aircraft. The main issue appears to be that this has turned out to be a single vendor situation something that is not acceptable under

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the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP). Possibly, the tender may have to reissued in the following year. Replacement for the Avro fleet is unlikely to be available in the near future. Indo-Russian Multi-Role Transport Aircraft In October 2009, India and Russia embarked on a project to jointly develop a multi-role transport aircraft (MTA) of around 15-tonne payload capacity to replace the fleet of An-32 aircraft of the IAF. The IAF has plans to acquire 45 of these. However, as of 2014, the MTA project appears to be in a stalemate. There are a number of issues over which there is lack of consensus between the two parties involved. These pertain mainly to cost and work sharing that remain unresolved. The HAL has not put together a team strong enough to push the project forward. The user has also not been pursuing the project aggressively. As of 2014, the project appears to be a non-starter. The Rotary-Wing Fleet The year 2014 has been somewhat disappointing for both the Indian Army and the IAF as after hanging fire for a considerable length of time, the tender for 197 light utility helicopter (LUH) to replace the ageing fleet of Cheetah and Chetak has finally been cancelled. The responsibility now lies with the Indian aerospace industry in the public sector to offer a solution for a market that would be over 400 platforms. But there is some encouraging news as well. In the last week of August this year, the DAC cleared proposals relating to the purchase of two types of rotary-wing platforms for the IAF. These include proposal for the procurement of 22 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and 15 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters, both from the American aerospace major Boeing. The way is now clear for the contracts to be concluded the total value of which is estimated to be around `15,000 crore. This was a long pending deal that has been cleared in the year gone by. SP

ISSUE 12 • 2014

civil

round-up 2014

going strong: IndiGo placed an order for 250 Airbus aircraft

MIXED YEAR The industry story is largely positive, but there are a number of risks in today’s global environment—political unrest, conflicts and some weak regional economies—among them by R. Chandrakanth

Photographs: Airbus

It is the festive season. There are glad tidings. Internationally, oil prices have been going down and the trend is likely to be sustained in 2015 too with the full-year average price of Brent crude expected to be $85 per barrel. Aviation turbine fuel prices are slated to average $99.9 per barrel in 2015. This is certainly a critical element for an airline, making it or breaking it. In the backdrop of oil prices and economic growth, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has projected that airlines would post a collective global net profit in 2014 of some $19.9 billion, up from the $18 billion projected in June and is expected to touch $25 billion in 2015. Even while fuel prices are coming down, there is increased activity on the part of the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to improve fuel efficiency of aircraft while operators are strategising to enhance operational efficiency. IATA said lower oil prices and stronger worldwide GDP growth are the main drivers behind the improved profitability.

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Average Return Fares Dropping The consumer who is the king will benefit from such activity. It is estimated that after adjusting for inflation, average return airfares excluding taxes and surcharge are expected to fall by some 5.1 per cent on 2014 levels and cargo rates are expected to fall by 5.8 per cent, which is welcome by passengers and the trade. The IATA Director General and CEO Tony Tyler said: “The industry outlook is improving. The global economy continues to recover and the fall in oil prices should strengthen the upturn next year. While we see airlines making $25 billion in 2015, it important to remember that this is still just a 3.2 per cent net profit margin. The industry story is largely positive, but there are a number of risks in today’s global environment – political unrest, conflicts and some weak regional economies – among them. And a 3.2 per cent net profit margin does not leave much room for a deterioration in the external environment before profits are hit.”

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civil round-up 2014

finally: Air Vistara to commence operations on January 9, 2015

As per the report, aviation’s global connectivity spans 16,161 city pairs which is nearly double the number in 1994. This connectivity is a catalyst for economic benefits including employment that is expected to reach 2.45 million in 2015, up 1.5 per cent on 2014. 2014 International Highlights The mysterious disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH-370 on March 8, 2014 while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 passengers and crew has gone down in the annals of history as one of the worst unexplained airline disasters. The woes of Malaysia Airlines did not end there. On July 17, MH-17 flying from from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur is believed to have been shot down in conflict-ridden Ukraine airspace, killing 283 passengers, including 80 children. There were three other major commercial airliner accidents – TransAsia Airways Flight 222 crash killing 48 passengers on July 23; Air Algerie Flight 5017 crash in Northern Mali killing 118 passengers and crew on July 24 and Sepahan Airlines Flight 5915 crash in Iran killing 39 passengers. The two incidents involving Malaysia Airlines have shocked the airline industry, raising issues of air space security and safety. Orders Gather Momentum The first half of 2014 was quiet, but it was the second half which brought in cheer. The Farnborough International Airshow provided the required momentum for the industry to move ahead. Orders and commitments for commercial aircraft touched

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over $130 billion with the two aerospace behemoths – Airbus and Boeing – taking the lion’s share of the orders (over $115 billion in orders between them). As fuel efficiency and lower lifecycle costs are becoming increasingly important in this highrisk business, Airbus announced the launch of the A330neo which promises to deliver a 14 per cent improvement in efficiency, 400 nm range enhancement and lower per-seat costs. The aircraft is due to enter service in late 2017. Regional jet and turboprop manufacturers also chipped in with strong performances with over 200 orders and commitments spread between Embraer, Bombardier, ATR and Sukhoi. Embraer emerged as the most successful of the regional aircraft manufacturers, announcing deals for 100 of its new E-Jets E2 family. ATR leads the turboprop market over Bombardier. Airlines that Ceased Operations Some of the airlines which ceased operations in 2014 for different reasons are Air Alps (Austria), Skybridge Airops, Krohn Air Norway; Dobrolet airlines (Russia); Happy Air and Siam General Aviation (Thailand); JetKonnect (India) and American Connection and World Airways.

The two incidents in 2014 involving Malaysia Airlines have shocked the airline industry, raising issues of air space security and safety

Towards a Greener Aircraft With air transport contributing about three per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions and air traffic expected to triple by 2050, Clean Sky 2 (CS2) has been launched. The CS2 joint technology initiative runs from 2014 to 2024, bringing together companies, universities, public laboratories, innovative SMEs and the European Commission to develop and demonstrate breakthrough

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civil round-up 2014

in action: Air Asia India commenced operations on June 2014

technologies for the civil aircraft market to cut aircraft emissions and noise. Indian Scenario The Indian civil aviation sector in the past few years has been having mixed luck. 2014 has been no different. Turbulence continued with the year beginning on the wrong foot. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) downgraded the industry on grounds of safety, impacting Indian carriers such as Air India and Jet Airways which have direct connections to the US. These carriers have had to undergo additional safety checks and stringent scrutiny.

HIGH POINTS OF INDIAN AVIATION, 2014 India’s airlines carried over 107.01 million passengers (78.50 million domestic and 28.51 million international) between April-October 2014 (source AAI). Passenger growth – 10.8 per cent change from 2013. Indian carriers expected to post losses of $1.3 billion to 1.4 billion in 2014-15, according to CAPA. US FAA downgrades flights of Indian carriers. Air India joins Star Alliance, opening up more international destinations. IndiGo orders 250 Airbus aircraft. AirAsia India and Vistara, new airlines in 2014. Regional airline Air Costa announces pan-India operations. Government approves six new airline applications. Government to develop 50 new low-cost airports. Government releases draft civil aviation policy on November 10, seeking stakeholder views. Steps being taken to rationalise aviation turbine fuel prices.

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IndiGo Maintains Run All airlines, except IndiGo, were in the red. IndiGo created a record of sorts again by placing an order for 250 Airbus aircraft. Jet Airways, awaiting finalisation of its deal with Etihad Airways, shed its low-cost arm JetKonnect, while two new airlines AirAsia India and Vistara, both having equity from the Tata group, with foreign tie-ups joined the five scheduled operators. Malaysian budget carrier AirAsia and Tatas along with Delhi-based entrepreneur Arun Bhatia, started AirAsia India. Going into the full service carrier segment, Tatas have joined hands with Singapore Airlines to start Vistara which is expected to take wings soon, having got its air operator permit. Financial Woes Even as these two new airlines made news, there was trouble brewing for SpiceJet which some analysts were hoping that it would not go the Kingfisher way that ceased operations a year ago. SpiceJet has got help from the government to tide over its financial crisis, albeit temporarily. Meanwhile, news is that it is getting an investor. SpiceJet had to reduce its fleet size to 26 from 35 earlier this year and has had to cancel flights, affecting passengers. The government has stepped in to ensure that SpiceJet keeps flying. State-run Air India, which is undergoing a restructure, had a highpoint this year with it joining Star Alliance. Another positive aspect for Air India has been that between January and October it ferried 55 million passengers, a healthy growth of 8.61 per cent over the 50 million in the same period previous year. As IATA has stated that the Asia-Pacific region is going to be a driver of the aviation sector, Tyler concludes “It is no understatement to say that air connectivity underpins modern economies. Aviation and aviation-enabled tourism accounts for over 24 million jobs and $500 billion in economic activity across the Asia-Pacific region. And that contribution has tremendous potential to grow.” SP

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photo feature

2014

1. Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha took over as the Chief of the Air Staff on January 1, 2014, on retirement of Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne on December 31, 2013. 2. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inaugurated the world-class new integrated terminal (T2) at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai, on January 10, 2014.

Photographs: PIB, GVK

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ISSUE 12 • 2014

photo feature 2014

1. Embraer E-Jets delivers over 1,000 aircraft and continues to attract airlines, offering viable economics, range and performance. air costa’s 50 (and more) aircraft order declared at the Singapore Airshow is yet another testimony endorsing the strength of e-jets programmes. 2. Singapore Airshow 2014 played host to over 1,000 exhibitors from 47 countries ended with announced deals worth $32 billion. 3. highlight of the India Aviation on march 12-16, 2014, hyderabad, is the arrival of Emirates’ Airbus A380. 4. The second edition of the Asian Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (ABACE) 2014 held from April 15 to 17, ended on a high note, reflecting the growing trend for business aviation not just in China, but across Asia. 5. The 14th annual European Business Aviation Convention Exhibition (EBACE), held at Geneva’s Palexpo conference centre and Geneva International Airport (May 20-22, 2014). Falcon 8X was unveiled at Ebace 2014.

Photograph: Embraer, AirBus, Anoop Kamath, ABace, Dassault Aviation

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photo feature 2014

1. Narendra Modi takes oath as India’s 15th Prime Minister on May 26, 2014. 2. Arun Jaitley takes charge as Minister of Finance, Minister of Corporate Affairs and the Minister of Defence in New Delhi on May 27, 2014. 3. Ashok Gajapathi Raju takes charge as the Union Minister for Civil Aviation in New Delhi on May 29, 2014. 4. over six decades of partnership between the Indian and French military aviation, witnessed the flagging of another significant milestone with the successful completion of the Indo-French air exercise “Garuda” held at the Indian Air Force Station in Jodhpur from June 2 to 13 this year. 5. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing scientists at the Mission Control Centre after the successful launch of PSLV C-23 at Sriharikota on june 30, 2014.

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Photographs: PiB, Indian Air Force

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ISSUE 12 • 2014

photo feature 2014

1. The Farnborough International Airshow held from July 14-20, 2014, did phenomenal business with orders and commitments achieving a new record of $201 billion, reflecting buoyancy of the aerospace industry. 2. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius calls on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on July 1, 2014. The Minister for External Affairs and Overseas Indian Affairs Sushma Swaraj is also seen. 3. In conformity with its reputation that is characterised by the capability to provide swift response, in the first week of September this year, the Indian Air Force once again sprang into action to undertake relief and rescue operations as the state of Jammu and Kashmir was devastated by what has been described as a natural calamity of unprecedented magnitude. 4. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulating the ISRO Chairman Dr K. Radhakrishnan after successful Insertion of Mars Orbiter (Mangalyaan) into the Martian orbit on September 24, 2014. 5. Formally established on October 8, 1932, the Indian Air Force turned 82 on October 8, this year.

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Photographs: AirBus, PIB, IAF

ISSUE 12 • 2014

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photo feature 2014

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1. Manohar Gopalkrishna Prabhu Parrikar Takes Over as the New Defence Minister on november 10, 2014.

3. NBAA 2014, which took place from October 21 to 23, featured about 1,100 exhibitors and over 100 aircraft. More than 26,000 people attended the show, which included representatives from 49 US states and 95 countries around the world.

Photographs: PIB, Embraer, NBAA

2. On October 21, 2014, Embraer rolled out the first prototype of the KC-390 military transport from the production hangar at the industrial plant of Gavião Peixoto, Brazil.

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ISSUE 12 • 2014

Civil

Regional Aviation

Pan-India Connectivity, Is it for Real? A draft policy of the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation proposes to increase trunk routes from 12 to 30 and 87 regional incentive destinations

Photograph: Bombarder

by R. Chandrakanth

The Narendra Modi government is laying emphasis on enhancing regional connectivity and in accordance with this decision, the government has decided to open 50 ‘no-frills’ airports in regional locations. The mission of the Ministry of Civil Aviation is to create world-class infrastructural facilities; establish regulatory framework in consonance with international standards; connect presently un-served or underserved areas; develop skilled manpower and deploy advanced technologies. All these are happening concurrently at the moment. Draft Policy The Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said: “While the government would facilitate opening of more

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regional airports with and without private sector participation, it was important for airlines to start operating to remote locations”. A draft policy proposes to increase trunk routes from 12 to 30 and 87 regional incentive destinations. The ministry has asked for airlines to mount capacity of at least the same capacity as trunk routes to regional destinations by October 2015, a policy which the private operators are not in favour of. The government had issued a list of ‘incentive destinations’ including Jammu and Kashmir, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the North-eastern regions.“Equal capacity deployment on regional and remote routes vis-à-vis trunk routes, may not be commercially viable,” agencies have quoted low-cost carrier GoAir as saying.

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Civil Regional Aviation most suitable low-cost viable model. The low-cost carIndia has the potential to riers, though some of become the third largest them have floundered in aviation market by 2020 the recent past, have really opened up the aviation sector in India. It has increased and the largest by 2030. the movement of people from smaller towns while helping the airlines to operate from airports with lower costs. Low-cost airports due to low operational investments will help airlines manage their business which at present is going through turbulent times. Industry watchers have said that high operating cost of airlines has left many an airline in the red. There is clearly and urgency to develop low-cost airports.

No-frills Airports Meanwhile, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has announced that it would build five no-frills airports in underserviced areas. The five no-frills airports shortlisted from 50 cities are Teju in Arunachal Pradesh; Jharsuguda in Odisha; Krishnanagar in Rajasthan and Hubli and Belgaum in Karnataka. The proposal is to build these airports within `100 crore (estimated between `55 crore and `85 crore) as against `2,500 crore needed for constructing state-of-the art international airports. The no-frills airports will be built in the form of modules allowing extension of buildings as and when there is a requirement. On completion of the NDA Government’s first 100 days in power, the Minister of Civil Aviation said, ‘The AAI has developed a model for these no-frills airports which will provide essential services needed to operationalise the airports without compromising safety and security. This will result in lower cost of operation and make it viable for airlines with smaller aircraft to run their services.” In a presentation to the Prime Minister, the Minister had indicated the plans to develop 50 no-frills airports across the country. The greenfield airports which are under development include Navi Mumbai, Juhu, Goa, Kannur, Pune, Sriperumbudur, Bellary and Raigarh. When functional, these airports will have short airstrips fit for operations by aircraft such as ATR and Bombardier Q400; no conveyor belts and no aero-bridges. Only the security hold areas at these airports will be air-conditioned. In order to enhance pan-India connectivity, in the Twelfth Five Year Plan ending March 31, 2017, the government had earmarked `1,500 crore for development of non-metro airports. While airport development in Tier-II and Tier-III cities are on the anvil, the government has also liberalised policies to encourage regional airlines to start operations. Air India Regional and Air Costa are the only two regional airlines operating presently, though a couple have applied for air operators certificates. The applicants include Air Pegasus and EasyFly, both based out of Bengaluru. With airports and regional airlines coming up though with some delay, it is expected that these will boost Indian economy, providing the badly needed to the air cargo and MRO segments of the industry. At present, majority of the airports are managed by the AAI as the private sector has not found the business viable as yet. Presently, AAI handles over 122 million domestic and 47 million international passengers and it is expected that the numbers would touch 217 million domestic and 76 million international passengers by 2020, not to forget air cargo movement. PPP Model is the Way Forward The Minister for Finance Arun Jaitley, while presenting the union budget, reiterated the government’s decision to develop new airports to encourage air travel in the country. He said that the AAI would build these airports through public-private partnership (PPP) route. Jaitely said that while air travel had increased, it is still a dream of many Indians to fly. Non-metro airports in the country now account for only about 30 per cent of the total air traffic but this is expected to rise to 45 per cent in the next few years. The plan is to build 200 low-cost airports in the next 20 years to connect Tier-II and Tier-III cities. The government has finished development work at 33 non-metro airports for increasing regional connectivity. The government also plans to construct 15 additional airports under the greenfield airport policy by identifying the

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Suggestions by Associations Sidharth Birla, President of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), said, “In view of the enormous growth prospects of air traffic and substantial investment projections, Indian aviation market offers significant long-term opportunities for global aviation players. The government and industry are already working together closely. I am confident, this partnership will be further strengthened and play a critical role in improving regional connectivity and promoting sustainable development of the civil aviation sector in the country.” A FICCI-KPMG report notes that the next generation of aviation growth in India will be triggered by regional airports. At present, there are around 450 used/un-used/abandoned airports and airstrips spread all over the country. Many Indian states, especially in Eastern India, have started taking proactive measures to promote air connectivity. These initiatives include reduction in sales tax on aviation turbine fuel, development of no-frills airports, promotion of aviation academies and supportive policies for airlines and tourism. West Bengal deserves a special mention as it is the first large state in the country to declare zero per cent sales tax on ATF at its regional airports and 15 per cent sales tax on ATF used by additional flights started at its metro airport in Kolkata. A lot more needs to be done, as several Tier-II/Tier-III cities are still unconnected or underserved. These involve relaxation on regulations, revising the security requirements, allowing domestic code sharing, providing free or discounted utilities and connecting infrastructure. The proposed Essential Air Services Fund by the Ministry of Civil Aviation needs to be set up immediately. All this will have a multiplier effect in terms of higher growth of local economic activities, tourism and employment. Another report by ASSOCHAM and Yes Bank has made several recommendations and they include: • Encouraging private sector participation through PPP models. • Emphasis on ‘Aerotropolis’ model to enhance revenues, especially non-aeronautical. • Developing around 20 airports in Tier-II and Tier-III cities and spending $1.3 billion on non-metro airport projects over the next five years. • Restructuring route dispersal guidelines such that routes with high and medium passenger load factor subsidise each other and routes with low PLF be supported by establishing a regional air connectivity fund. India has the potential to become the third largest aviation market by 2020 and the largest by 2030. The Indian civil aviation industry is amongst the top ten in the world with a size of around $16 billion. This is a fraction of what it can actually achieve. There is large untapped potential for growth due to the fact that access to aviation is still a dream for nearly 98 per cent of its population. SP

ISSUE 12 • 2014

CIVIL

ENGINES

LEAP YEARS AHEAD CFM estimates that the LEAP can save an airline as much as $1.6 million in fuel costs per plane per year

Photograph: CFM

by R. Chandrakanth

In November this year, CFM International reported exceptional performance of the LEAP (Leading Edge Aviation Propulsion) engine in ground and flight tests, on course to its certification on the Airbus A320neo and Comac C919 in 2015. A month earlier, the engine took to the skies for the first time on a modified 747 flying test-bed at GE Aviation Flight Test Operations in Victorville, California, and had completed over 75 hours of flight testing. “This engine has performed well beyond our expectation,” said Jean-Paul Ebanga, President and CEO of CFM. “The results we are achieving across the board are outstanding and reinforce not only the technology choices we have made but also the overwhelming acceptance it has garnered from airlines around the world. We

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couldn’t be happier with where this programme is today.” The LEAP incorporates technologies that CFM developed as part of the LEAP56 technology acquisition programme which CFM launched in 2005. The engine was officially launched as ‘LEAP-X’ on July 13, 2008. It is intended to be a successor to the CFM56-5B and CFM56-7B. The LEAP’s basic architecture includes a scaled up version of Safran’s low pressure turbine used on the GEnX engine. The LEAP uses composite materials, a blisk fan in the compressor, a second-generation twin annual pre-swirl combustor and a bypass ratio around 10-11.1. These technological advances are projected to produce 16 per cent lower fuel consumption.

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CIVIL ENGINES CFM is currently executing the most extensive ground and flight test certification programme in its history. The total programme which encompasses all three LEAP engine variants include 28 ground and CFM flight test engines, along with a total of 32 flight test engines for Airbus, Boeing and COMAC. $1.6 million saving in fuel costs per plane per year The foundation of the LEAP engine is heavily rooted in advanced aerodynamics, environmental and materials technology development programmes. It will provide double-digit improvements in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions compared to today’s best CFM engine, along with dramatic reductions in engine noise and emissions. All this technology brings with it CFM’s legendary reliability and low maintenance costs. CFM estimates that the LEAP can save an airline as much as $1.6 million in fuel costs per plane per year. Growing Orders CFM has received more than $100 billion in orders (US list price) from airlines like United, AirAsia, American Airlines and easyJet. They will use them on single-aisle aircraft, the fastest growing market in commercial aviation. A recent Boeing study projected that plane manufacturers will deliver more 23,000 single-aisle planes over the next 20 years. That’s almost 70 per cent of all commercial plane deliveries estimated over the period. LEAP engine is already the best-selling engine development in the history of civil aviation with over 7,800 orders and intentions of orders received as of October 31, 2014. CFM, which is co-owned by General Electric and Safran, is on track to win safety approval for the first two versions of the engine in 2015. The LEAP engine is one of two power plants whose development has galvanised the aerospace industry in recent years as their much-improved fuel efficiency triggered a huge jump in plane sales and pushed anticipated production rates to record levels. The new engine’s core will feature eight-stage compressor and single-stage turbine. LEAP-X will incorporate three-dimensional, woven resin transfer moulding (3-DW RTM) technology that dramatically reduces engine weight while providing a more durable blade as well as titanium-aluminide (Ti-Aluminide) lightweight alloy. The 3-DW RTM technology is expected to reduce the engine weight by 400 pounds and the composite fan blade count by 25 per cent. There are three versions of the jet engine: the LEAP-1A for the new Airbus 320neo passenger jets, the LEAP-1B for Boeing’s 737MAX aircraft, and the LEAP-1C for China’s Comac C919 planes. The CFM LEAP-1B will be the exclusive power-plant for the Boeing 737 MAX family of single-aisle aircraft (737 MAX-7, 737 MAX-8, 737 MAX-9). This engine has been optimised to provide the 737 MAX the best possible fuel efficiency while maintaining the reliability and maintenance cost legacy of the CFM56 family. Testing schedule continues “The LEAP engine certification programme is the most extensive development and certification programme in our history,” said Chaker Chahrour, Executive Vice President of CFM. “The tests we are performing are designed to push the limits of this engine, in addition to certifying it for commercial service.”

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Paul Ebanga said that ‘greener engines’ is a subject which has been part of the conversation at CFM International since the inception of the company. From the very beginning designing more environmentally responsible engines was part of the most important objectives of our company. This matter goes far beyond CFM or any other manufacturer individually. The environmental challenge is not about market share, it is about what the future we leave our children and what contribution we are able to make towards achieving that goal. Paul Ebanga said when the CFM56 was introduced early in the 1980s, “we were able to improve CO2 emissions by 25 per cent versus the previous generation of engines. Over the next 30 years of production, the CFM56 has been continuously improved and refined. It continues to define today the industry standard in terms of the lowest emission levels of an engine in the single-aisle market. With the CFM56 again, we have been at the forefront with Airbus to demonstrate the viability of the biofuel solution.” Environmental concerns Paul Ebanga said that environmental concern is part of CFM’s DNA. “We have in the past and we will continue in the future to invest in technology to put more efficient and more ecofriendly products on the market. We can be even a little bit more granular in order to better understand what this means. Let us do simple math. In 2013, 705 million tonnes of CO2 were produced by all the aircraft flying in the world. That translates to roughly 27,200 tonnes of CO2 per aircraft and per year. If an aged aircraft is replaced with a brand-new one, powered by our advanced LEAP engine, we could achieve between 15 and 40 per cent reduction in fuel burn and CO2 emissions, depending on the age of the engines being replaced. If we take a 25 per cent improvement as an average, it means, for each older aircraft replaced, we are going to eliminate around 6,800 tonnes of CO2 per year. That is the bottom line result of contribution of the engine industry.” He further said: “From a broader industry perspective, we are very pleased by the current momentum around sustainable aviation and are proud to be part of it. We are in full support of the initiative by the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG). The ATAG is a fully respected not-for-profit association that represents all the sectors of the air transport industry and which aims to coordinate industry positions related to strategic environmental and infrastructure issues. From that perspective, we are committed to meeting our commitment to help fulfil the 2020 and 2050 objectives for CO2 emissions reductions, as well as to share our expertise in achieving results through global partnership.” At the moment the aviation community is facing a a major challenge – that of reducing fuel consumption, primarily due to rising fuel prices and environmental concerns. In 2012, US commercial ATF carriers burned 10.6 billion gallons of jet fuel costing $31.6 billion. The aviation industry, specifically, engine manufacturers are working on technologies to improve fuel efficiency and CFM is in the forefront of such technological development. SP

“Regarding environmental challenges, we are not talking. We are acting. We are doing. Our focus is on the future we will leave to our children.” – Jean-Paul Ebanga, President & CEO, CFM International

ISSUE 12 • 2014

civil

Cargo

LM-100J can operate from short, unprepared airfields without ground support equipment

FORAY INTO COMMERCIAL AVIATION Lockheed Martin will be rolling out in 2017 the LM-100J, the civil freighter version of the C-130J military workhorse

Photograph: Lockheed Martin

by R. Chandrakanth

At the Farnborough International Airshow in 2014, US aerospace and defence behemoth, Lockheed Martin Corporation presented for the first time the LM-100J commercial freighter. The Ireland-based ASL Aviation Group picked up ten of these aircraft expressing confidence in the US group’s civilian freighter programme. The LM-100J is the civil-certified version of Lockheed Martin’s proven C-130J Super Hercules and is an updated version of the L-100 (or L-382) cargo aircraft. In January this year, Lockheed Martin officials submitted a ‘programme notification letter’ to the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), for a

ISSUE 12 • 2014

type design update for the Lockheed Martin Model L-382J airplane, a civil-certified variant of the C-130J Super Hercules to be marketed as the LM-100J. Lockheed said it had asked the FAA to certify the LM-100J, which will mirror the four-engine C-130J military workhorse, but without military avionics and communications equipment. “The significance of that kick off is that we are expanding the capability of the C-130 enterprise into the commercial arena. That opens up a different market to us,” said Jack Crisler, Vice President of Business Development for Lockheed’s Air Mobility, Special Operations and Maritime Programs.

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civil cargo Safair Has Largest L-100 Fleet Safair, an ASL associated company based in South Africa, currently operates one of the world’s largest L-100 fleet. After the signing ceremony, the Chief Executive of ASL Aviation Group said, “We have long relied on our L-100s to deliver results that no other aircraft can produce. From flying humanitarian relief supplies over rugged African terrain to transporting key cargo within Europe and around the world. No other plane can do what a Hercules can do. Based on the world’s most proven airlifter, the LM-100J enables us to continue to support our global customers and position our company for the future with increased capabilities that only the LM-100J can deliver. We take pride in our legacy L-100 fleet and eagerly look forward to our future as LM-100J operators.” “Today is a monumental day in the history of the Hercules as we have the opportunity to start a new era in operations with ASL Aviation Group,” said Orlando Carvalho, Executive Vice President of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company. “As an L-100 operator, ASL Aviation Group knows the flexibility and reliability that only a Hercules can deliver. ASL’s LM-100Js will offer these attributes and more, helping Safair crews transport literally anything, anywhere, at any time in a technologically advanced airlifter that goes farther and faster than its predecessors. We are honoured and excited to share this milestone with ASL.”

for an L-100 is an advanced version of the same aircraft. The LM-100J is that aircraft.” Lockheed’s announcement of a modified commercial variant of the C-130J comes during a down time for sales of military aircraft, its primary specialisation. Crisler said the LM-100J will be ready to “deliver freight and support critical civilian missions anywhere, anytime,” an indication that the company could be seeking to boost commercial sales amid large military spending cuts by the United States. The ASL Aviation Group is a well-established global aviation group providing an unrivalled array of aviation services. The group of aviation companies includes Irish airline Air Contractors, French-based airline Europe Airpost and a long-standing association and shareholding in South African airline and L-100 Hercules operator, Safair. There are two UK-based support service companies in the group, ACLAS Global and Air Contractors Engineering and also various leasing entities. The group’s operations are worldwide with the airlines operating a mixed fleet of wide body, short haul and turboprop passenger and cargo aircraft under their own brands and for a number of leading airlines. ASL Aviation Group has a fleet of more than 80 aircraft and generated a total operating revenue of $500 million in 2013. ASL is a joint venture between CMB (51 per cent) and 3P Air Freighters (49 per cent).

Multi-Role Platform The LM-100J, through select design innovations, will perform as a civil multi-purpose air freighter capable of rapid and efficient transport of cargo. The LM-100J is an efficient and ideal airlift solution for delivering bulk and oversize cargo particularly to austere locations worldwide. The LM-100J incorporates technological developments and improvements over the existing L-100s that results from years of C-130J operational experience, including more than one million fleet-wide flight hours. The result of this experience and advancement translates to an aircraft that will deliver reliable service in a multi-role platform for decades to come. “With the LM-100J, we are leveraging the proven technology and capabilities of the C-130J Super Hercules to offer a modern, flexible commercial aircraft that is ready to deliver freight and support critical civilian missions, anywhere, anytime,” said Jack Crisler. As it is based on the operational C-130J, the civil variant LM-100J can operate from short, unprepared airfields without ground support equipment. It requires minimal material handling equipment and enables rapid loading and offloading at truck-bed height. Growth provisions built into the LM-100J will enable it to support a variety of future missions including aerial spray, aerial firefighting and delivery, medevac/air ambulance, humanitarian aid and VIP transport.

Airlifter in 16 Countries Lockheed Martin’s LM-100J is currently the airlifter of choice with 16 nations. Through select design changes, the LM-100J will perform as a civil multi-purpose air freighter capable of rapid and efficient transport of cargo. The company expects to sell about 75 of the planes to mining and energy companies, and other commercial and government customers in coming years. More than 100 L-100s, which were the commercial variant of the first generation C-130, were produced from 1964-92 at the then Lockheed-Georgia Co, Marietta, Georgia, facility. Many of those airlifters are still operated worldwide by commercial and government customers.

The LM-100J is an efficient and ideal airlift solution for delivering bulk and oversize cargo particularly to austere locations worldwide.

Critical Cargo Asset “The LM-100J is a natural expansion of the Super Hercules family. It is a modern answer to the existing, multi-tasked L-100 airlift fleet which, true to Hercules form, is a workhorse that has been a critical cargo asset for 40 years,” said George Shultz, Vice President and General Manager, C-130 Programs. “Our customers and legacy L-100 operators tell us that the best replacement

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Prototype by 2017 Lockheed’s Orlando Carvalho said that the LM-100J was in the mid-1960s million-dollar price tag. An order for ten LM100J would therefore be between $600 million and $700 million. An LM-100J prototype will be built and flight tested, probably at the C-130 factory near Marietta, starting in the first half of 2017. Global Freighter Forecast Boeing in a forecast on world freighter market said that over the next 20 years, world air cargo traffic will grow 4.7 per cent per year. Annual growth rate in air freight, including express traffic, will average 4.8 per cent measured in RTKs. Airmail traffic will grow much more slowly, averaging 1 per cent annual growth through 2033. Overall, world air cargo traffic will increase from 207.8 billion RTKs in 2013 to 521.8 billion in 2033. With increased air cargo traffic, the world freighter fleet is also expected to grow with deliveries of 840 new factory-built airplanes and 1,330 passenger to freighter conversion airplanes. More than 52 per cent of those deliveries are expected to replace retiring airplanes and the remainder used for growth. SP

ISSUE 12 • 2014

space

india’s gslv iii

SUCCESSFUL

launch

Photograph: ISRO

India expects to put astronauts in space in eight years

On December 18, 2014, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched from Sriharikota, the first test flight of its newest rocket, the Geo-Synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV Mk III) conducting a suborbital flight that also demonstrated a prototype crew capsule (CARE) for India’s proposed manned missions. GSLV Mark III is the heaviest next-generation rocket, conceived and designed to make ISRO selfreliant in launching heavier communication satellites of INSAT-4 class, which weigh 4,500 to 5,000 kg. Once operational, this rocket will have the capability to ferry four-tonne class of INSAT series of communication satellites, which are currently being launched through Arianespace. The mission is expected to take ISRO a step closer to sending astronauts into space. The GSLV Mk III, an Indian-made 3.7-tonne crew module, is capable of taking two or three astronauts to space. ISRO has estimated that in about eight years time, it will be able to send astronauts into space with made-in-India rocket and when this happens, India will be the fourth country after the US, Russia and China to have done so. ISRO has sought a funding of `12,500 crore for its human space flight programme. A Tweet from Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Successful launch of GSLV Mk III is yet another triumph of brilliance and hard work of our scientists. Congratulations to them for the efforts.” The GSLV Mk III is an altogether new design of a rocket by Indian engineers. Incidentally, its first stage consists of twin solid-state rocket engines that carry as much as 200 tonnes of propellant each. ISRO Chairman K. Radhakrishnan says: “These are the world’s third largest rocket boosters.” The two-stage rocket is designed to place around ten tonnes of payload into low earth orbit or four tonnes to a geosynchronous transfer orbit. The 42.4-metre-long expendable rocket has a design life span of around five minutes. The `160-crore mission tests the rocket’s atmospheric flight stability powered by two engines with around four-tonne luggage. This is testimony to ISRO perfecting the cryogenic engine technology. The unmanned crew module was navigated by remote-control and made to re-enter the atmosphere at a high velocity and

ISSUE 12 • 2014

was slowed down with massive parachutes, the largest ever to be used by ISRO, before it splashed down in the Bay of Bengal. The GSLV was introduced in 2001 with the aim of enabling India to deploy its own communications satellites without relying on foreign rockets – providing a payload capacity of up to 2,200 kg to geosynchronous transfer orbit. The GSLV has only a 37.5 per cent success rate, with only three of its eight launches reaching their planned orbits. The LVM-3 or GSLV Mk III is completely new development, a two-stage rocket with twin solid boosters augmenting an all-liquid core vehicle. The first stage, or L110, is powered by two Vikas engines, derived from France’s Viking series used on Ariane rockets between 1979 and 2004. The primary objective of CARE’s mission was to validate the re-entry and recovery of the prototype spacecraft. The 3,735kg spacecraft flew without the service module that will eventually accompany it on manned missions; instead it was attached to the second stage of its carrier rocket upside-down, inside the payload fairing. On this flight, the rocket will be tested on how it performs during its travel in the atmosphere. The rocket will have the first two stages as active rocket engines, while the third stage that consists of the cryogenic engine is a passive stage. The heavy-duty cryogenic engine necessary for this rocket is still under development by ISRO. A full-fledged launch of the rocket can be expected in a few years. By launching upside-down, ISRO hopes to simplify the CARE mission and increase the chances of success; eliminating the risk of having to modify the capsule’s heat shield to interface with the rocket and removing the need for the spacecraft to manoeuvre to re-entry attitude following launch. For launches from the second pad, rockets are assembled vertically atop a mobile platform in an integration building about a kilometre southwest of the launch pad. The GSLV Mk III prototype was rolled out a week ahead of launch to allow testing and rehearsals to be conducted in advance of liftoff. SP —By R. Chandrakanth

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hall of fame Early aviation epitomises the triumph of the human spirit over physical and physiological limitations. But there were many tragic episodes, too. Helen Richey’s was one instance of a brilliant flying career cut short by prejudice and insensitivity. Although she was the first woman to pilot a commercial flight in the United States, the first to fly dedicated air mail flights and one of the first female flight instructors, she was not accepted by the industry. Helen Richey was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, on November 21, 1909. When she was still a young girl, she and a friend hitched a ride on a Waco biplane taking off from the nearby airport and bound for Cleveland, Ohio. In the absence of seats, they sat on mail sacks. In Cleveland, they met Ruth Nichols, one of the famous women flyers of the day, dressed in her trademark white flying suit. When Helen saw the hordes of fans and photographers clustered around Nichols, she decided this was the life for her. However, she had to wait some years before she learned to fly. Soon thereafter, her father bought her a small plane. She was a born flyer and skilled in stunt flying. Feeling that her future lay in the airlines, she obtained her commercial pilot’s licence on December 4, 1930. But the airlines were not interested in women pilots. One day, Frances Marsalis, a prominent aviator, contacted Richey and proposed that she be her co-pilot in a daring feat of endurance – remaining airborne for about 10 days. They took off from Miami on December 20, 1933, in a light aircraft named “Outdoor Girl” and circled above the city with each alternately at the controls while the other rested. They had teamed up with another pair of pilots who mounted 83 flights to keep them replenished with fuel, food, water and repair materials. Refuelling was a rather hazardous activity. One of the women had to climb out onto the wing, grab the fuel nozzle as it snaked down from the tanker aircraft, and insert it into the fuel tank. Apart from the inherent danger of falling, there were bright chances of being sprayed with gasoline. Everything seemed to be going well when, six days into the flight, the nozzle came loose, caught on the wing and ripped the flimsy fabric. The pilots had to decide between abandon-

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ing the endurance attempt and repairing the wing in flight. That’s when Helen climbed out, needle and thread in hand, and mended the tear. When they finally landed, the two had set a world record for a refuelling endurance flight. They had remained in the air an astounding 237 hours and 42 minutes, flying about 23,700 miles in the process. The mark stands to this day. In 1934, Helen Richey won the premier US National Air Meet for women in Dayton, Pennsylvania. However, triumph turned to tragedy when she learned that

Helen Richey (1909-47) Helen Richey was the first woman to pilot a commercial flight in the US, the first to fly dedicated air mail flights and one of the first female flight instructors

Frances Marsalis, who had become her close friend, had crashed to her death during the race. That left Richey depressed. She realised that she needed to obtain a more stable job than stunt flying and air racing. Within months, Central Airlines, which later became part of United Airlines, hired her as a pilot. In November 1934, Helen won the prestigious Fairchild Trophy. On December 31, 1934, she became the first woman to pilot a commercial airliner on a reg-

ular scheduled flight, flying a Ford Trimotor on the Washington to Detroit route. However, this triumph too was short lived. She soon realised that the airline was exploiting her. It was more interested in her as a public relations mascot than as a pilot. She was sent for numerous interviews, photo sessions and autograph signing. Although she had joined the airline hoping to fly, her efforts to advance professionally were consistently thwarted. The other pilots, all male, spurned her application to join their union. Even the Civil Aviation Authority decreed that women must not be allowed to pilot aircraft in bad weather. After ten months, finding she had logged only a dozen round trips, Helen resigned in disgust and returned to private flying. In January 1942, Helen joined the women’s division of the British Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA). Being wartime, these female ferry pilots had to do some amazing things that are usually frowned upon in peacetime. There was no time to train them on each plane. So, just before being launched, they were told the main handling points of the aircraft, including any oddities or peculiarities, and asked to educate themselves using the detailed pilot’s notes they had to carry with them. As Helen said, “Sometimes we would hurriedly skim through the pilot’s operating manual to find out how to take off; then keep reading the book while in flight to find out how to land the damned thing.” In addition, there was the constant risk of meeting the enemy. Over the next few months, she flew Magisters, Harvards, Oxfords, Masters, Hurricanes, Albacores and Spitfires. She was appointed Commandant of the American Wing of the ATA. However, when she returned after the War, she again encountered the blatant discrimination of the aviation industry in the US. No airline wanted her because there were too many veteran male pilots looking for jobs. Her 10,000 hours flying experience counted for nothing. Soon her savings were exhausted. On January 7, 1947, Helen Richey was found dead. She had taken her life. SP

ISSUE 12 • 2014

— Joseph Noronha

News Digest Military QuickRoundUp

Asia-Pacific Russian Air Force Participating in Exercise AVIA-INDRA Phase II

Airbus

Azul Brazilian Airlines has signed a purchase agreement for 35 A320neo Family aircraft and is also leasing another 28 of the same type. The airline has chosen the A320neo Family for domestic long-haul flights and high density routes, including Campinas – Salvador and Campinas – Recife. For Azul, an important driver for selecting the A320neo was the aircraft’s low operating cost and excellent fuel efficiency. Airbus forecasts that China will need over 5,300 new passenger aircraft and freighters from 2014 to 2033, with a total value of $820 billion. It represents 17 per cent of the world total demand for over 31,000 new aircraft in the next 20 years. CIT Group Inc., a global leader in transportation finance, has firmed up its order for 15 A330-900neo and five A321ceo aircraft. CIT became one of the launch customers of the A330neo after signing its initial agreement in July 2014 at the Farnborough International Airshow. Delta Air Lines has placed a firm order for 50 new Airbus wide-body aircraft, 25 A350-900 and 25 A330-900neo aircraft. Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines will power the Airbus A330neo aircraft, and Trent XWB engines will power Airbus A350 XWB aircraft. The deal would be valued around $14.3 billion at list prices.

Airbus Defence and Space

The first Airbus A400M new generation airlifter ordered by the Royal Air Force has been delivered by OCCAR-EA to the UK, marking a key milestone for the A400M Programme. UK therefore becomes the third nation, after France and Turkey, to bring the A400M into service. The aircraft is the first of 22 ordered by the UK. The European Space Agency has selected Airbus Defence and Space, the world’s second largest space company, as the prime contractor to develop and construct the first Jason-CS/Sentinel-6 satellite. Jason-CS/Sentinel-6 is a mission to carry out high-precision measurements of ocean surface topography. Jean-Yves Le Drian, the French Minister of Defence has announced the contract for the acquisition of 12 Airbus A330 multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) flight refueling and transport aircraft for $ 3.7billion. The contract with Airbus Defence and Space also covers the acquisition of support systems and related training. The delivery of the first aircraft is expected in 2018 and the second in 2019. Deliveries will then continue the rate of 1 or 2 aircraft per year.

ATR

ATR and Indonesia’s Lion Group have signed a $1 billion purchase agreement for 40 additional ATR 72-600 aircraft, hiking the firm order total for the newest generation ATR turboprops to 100.

BAE Systems

BAE Systems’ Navigation Trainer Project Airborne Navigation Trainers have completed 6,000 successful training missions for the Australian Defence Force’s School of Air Warfare.

Tejas in initial operational clearance (IOC) configuration and 20 more aircraft in final operational clearance (FOC) configuration. LCA Tejas has already achieved IOC in December 2013 and FOC is likely to be achieved by end of 2015. The first of the IOC standard aircraft has been built and successfully completed its maiden flight on September 30, 2014. This aircraft will be handed over to IAF by March 2015 after some upgrades. The second aircraft will also be ready by March 2015 for maiden flight. The first 20 aircraft will be built by 2017-18.

Advanced Jet Trainer

An 18-member Russian Federation Air Force (RFAF) team arrived on November 17 at Air Force Station Halwara to participate in Phase II of the Indo-Russian bilateral exercise ‘Avia-Indra’. Phase I of the exercise was held at Russia for two weeks during August-September 2014. The Russian delegation was headed by Major General Alexander N. Lyapkin and included fighter and helicopter aircrew as well as air defence crew among other members. Avia-Indra Phase II ended on November 28, 2014. Earlier, select members of the Russian delegation visited Bengaluru where they were exposed to indigenous projects such as light combat aircraft Tejas, light combat helicopter and advanced light helicopter Dhruv. During the exercise, Russian aircrew flew the Su-30MKI, Mi-17 and Mi-35 aircraft with the Indian Air Force (IAF) at Air Force Station Halwara. There were also fighter sorties over the mighty Himalayas. Media also witnessed ‘air-toground’ firing by fighters and helicopters jointly flown by pilots of the IAF and the RFAF at Sidhwan Khas range near Halwara. To commemorate the event, the two commanders Air Commodore P.K. Vohra VM and Major General Alexander N. Lyapkin unveiled a hand-carved stone and planted saplings next to the memorial stone to symbolise growth of this unique partnership etched in the stone for posterity. The joint exercise will further strengthen the relations between the two air forces taking forward the India-Russia strategic partnership.

Induction of Tejas in Indian Air Force Indian Air Force (IAF) has placed an order for 20 light combat aircraft (LCA),

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Three contracts have been signed for the procurement of Hawk Mk-132 advanced jet trainers (AJT). There were certain delays in the execution of the first two contracts and liquidated damages were recovered as per the terms of the respective contracts. Indian Air Force is also pursuing a scheme for procuring additional Hawk Mk-132 aircraft from the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The scheme is presently at the technical evaluation stage and the current contract is operating as per schedule.

C-In-C, RFAF Calls on ACM Arup Raha, Chairman COSC and CAS

Bilateral ties of India and Russia are a key pillar of Indian foreign policy since the signing of the Declaration on the Indo-Russian Strategic Partnership in 2000 and regular high level interactions have taken place in the recent past. Coinciding with Avia-Indra Phase II, Colonel General Viktor Nikolaevich Bondarev, Commander-in-Chief of RFAF, called on Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha on November 17. Some of the major procurement contracts signed with Russia for the IAF in the last decade have been engines for the IJT, MiG-29 upgrades, Mi-17 V5 and medium-lift helicopters. Besides these, contracts for joint production of fifthgeneration fighter aircraft and multi-role transport aircraft have been signed. Colonel General Nikolaevich Bondarev also visited the National Defence

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News Digest Academy followed by a visit to the Su-30 squadron. He then visited the Air Force Academy at Hyderabad.

Private Participation in Domestic Aerospace Arena

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in a written reply in the Lok Sabha said, “The Government has taken a decision to promote private sector entry into the domestic aerospace arena through a project to supply 56 transport aircraft to the IAF. A proposal to procure 56 transport aircraft as replacement for Avro aircraft through ‘Buy and Make’ route had been accorded acceptance of necessity (AON) by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) on July 23, 2012. Out of these, 40 aircraft

Show Calendar 13–14 January, 2015 MRO Latin America Buenos Aires, Argentina http://mrolatinamerica.aviationweek. com/la15/public/enter.aspx 14–17 January, 2015 US Sport Aviation Expo Sebring Regional Airport, Florida, USA www.sportaviationexpo.com 20–22 January, 2015 International Military Helicopter Hotel Russell, London, UK www.militaryhelicopterevent.com 20–22 January, 2015 Unmanned Rotorcraft Systems Chandler, Arizona, USA www.vtol.org/events/unmannedrotorcraft-systems 8–10 February, 2015 Abu Dhabi Air Expo Al Bateen Executive Airport, Abu Dhabi, UAE www.abudhabiairexpo.com/aviation-expo 18–22 February, 2015 Aero India Air Force Station, Yelahanka, Bengaluru, India www.aeroindia.in 23–24 February, 2015 MilSatCom Middle East & Africa Holiday Inn, Abu Dhabi, UAE www.smi-online.co.uk/defence/middleeast/ conference/milsatcom-middle-east-africa

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will be manufactured in India by an Indian Production Agency (IPA) from the private sector. The IPA will be chosen by the original equipment manufacturer. The IPA can be a joint venture (JV)/special purpose vehicle (SPV)/consortium. Public sector undertakings/HAL can participate as part of such Joint JV/SPV/consortium”.

QuickRoundUp

AGNI-IV Long-Range Missile successfully Test-fired

Agni-IV, the 4,000 km range nuclear capable ballistic missile, was successfully launched from the Wheeler island off the coast of Odisha. This was the fourth successful trial in the series. The long-range radars and electro-optical tracking systems located all along the coast, tracked and monitored all the parameters throughout the flight. Agni-IV is equipped with stateof-the-art avionics, fifth-generation on board computer and distributed architecture. It has the latest features to correct and guide itself for in-flight disturbances. The most accurate ring laser gyro-based inertial navigation system and supported by redundant, highly reliable micro navigation system, ensures high accuracy. The re-entry heat shield is capable of withstanding high temperatures that may reach as high as 4,000 degree Celsius or more during re-entry of missile in the Earth’s atmosphere and makes sure that the avionics function normally, with inside temperature remaining less than 50 degree Celsius. With Agni-I, II, III and Prithvi already in India’s arsenal, Agni-IV further extends the reach and enhances effective deterrence capability. The launch operations were carried out by the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) and witnessed by senior officers of SFC and DRDO.

Elbit Systems to supply DIRCM Systems for the German Air Force

Elbit Systems Ltd has been awarded a contract by DIEHL BGT Defence GmbH & Co. KG to provide J-MUSIC Multi-Spectral Directed Infrared Counter Measure (DIRCM) systems for the first phase of the German Air Force’s self-protection programme for its new Airbus A400 aircraft. The contract will be carried out over approximately one year. Designed to protect large military and commercial aircraft against attacks by ground-to-air heat-seeking man-portable missiles (MANPADS), the J-MUSIC system will be integrated into a multi-turret DIRCM system, ensuring 360° protection of the aircraft. Elbit Systems has completed extensive testing of the J-MUSIC system and has already delivered systems to equip several types of aircraft to various customers.

Bell Helicopter

Bell Helicopter continues to expand its regional presence in China, announcing it secured purchase agreements for the sale of 61 new helicopters at Airshow China in Zhuhai.

Boeing

The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded a $19,47,75,798 modification to a previously awarded fixedprice-incentive contract for the procurement of 21 Lot 38 full rate production EA-18G airborne electronic attack kits. Work is expected to be completed in December 2016. Kuwait Airways has announced its intent to purchase Boeing’s 10 777-300ER (Extended Range) airplanes worth $3.3 billion at current list prices. Boeing forecasts strong demand for new commercial airplanes in 2015, resulting in about $124 billion in deliveries across the industry. Boeing and Ryanair have finalised an order for 100 737 MAX 200s, valued at $11 billion at current list prices. The order, originally announced as a commitment in September, includes options for 100 additional 737 MAX 200 airplanes and makes the Irish low-cost carrier the launch customer for the newest member of the 737 MAX family of airplanes. Boeing will train Royal Australian Navy and Australian Army helicopter pilots for the next 25 years at a cost of $523.3 million. For the JP 9000 Phase 7-Helicopter Aircrew Training System effort, Boeing Defense Australia have teamed with Thales to develop a low-risk solution around the Airbus EC135, one of the world’s most proven helicopters. Airbus and Turbomeca are also part of the BDA-led team.

CFM

Azul Brazilian Airlines has announced that it has selected CFM International’s advanced LEAP-1A engine to power 35 Airbus A320neo family aircraft. CFM values engine order at more than $900 million US at list price. The airline will also lease 28 additional aircraft powered by LEAP-1A engines.

DSCA

The State Department has made a determination approving a possible foreign military sale to Greece for F-16 sustainment and associated equipment, parts and logistical support for an estimated cost of $188 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on November 17.

Eurofighter

The contract for Active Electronically Scanned Array radar capability was awarded to Eurofighter Jadgflugzeug GmbH by the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency – on behalf of the UK, Germany, Spain and Italy. The radar will further improve the Eurofighter Typhoon’s combat effectiveness. The cost is about $1,255 million.

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News Digest appointments

QuickRoundUp AIR HEADQUARTERS, NEW DELHI ESA

The Ministerial Council meeting of the European Space Agency (ESA) in Luxembourg gave Europe the means to meet the major challenges that lie ahead. For Ariane 6, the common vision crafted by French Centre National D’études Spatiales (CNES) (National Centre for Space Studies), ESA and space industry partners received the backing of Europe’s ministers, who gave the programme the green light for a first launch in 2020.

HAL

The Government of Mauritius has signed a contract with the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) in Mauritius capital Port Louis yesterday to acquire the HAL-made Dornier aircraft for maritime surveillance to guard its extensive coastline.

India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed over an HAL-built advanced light helicopter (ALH) Dhruv to the Prime Minister of Nepal Sushil Koirala at Kathmandu. The copter will be used by the Nepalese Army. India had provided two Dhruv helicopters to the Nepalese Army in November last year.

Lockheed Martin

Kellstrom Defense Aerospace Inc (KDA) has signed a three-year Exclusive Licensing Agreement Extension with Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training to manufacture, market, and sell KDA C-130 Short-Pod Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) Upgrade Kits, KDA C-130 Short-Pod APU Installation Kits, and spare parts in support of C-130 B-H model aircraft sustainment around the world. Australia’s Defence Minister David Johnston has congratulated Melbourne-based precision engineering company Marand following the successful installation of the first locally made Vertical Tail assemblies on an F-35 Lightning at Lockheed Martin’s US assembly line. Fokker has signed an agreement in principle with Lockheed Martin for the delivery of the drag chute fairing assembly for Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II. The drag chute fairing assembly is a composite/metal construction that enables the F-35 Lightning II to release the drag chute. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, has been awarded a $4,12,37,46,486 modification to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive firm-target contract for the production of 43 low rate initial production (LRIP) Lot VIII F-35 Lightning II aircraft. A senior Pakistan Air Force (PAF) service official has disclosed that the PAF has received into service ‘a squadron’ of Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter aircraft from the Royal Jordanian Air Force. He was speaking under the Chatham House Rule and added that the fighters will be used to augment the PAF’s existing F-16 fleet, which is heavily involved in counterinsurgency operations along the country’s border area with Afghanistan. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Texas, has been awarded a $9,78,32,182 modification to a previously awarded advance acquisition contract for a financial arrangement implementing a foreign military sales letter

Air Marshal Sukhchain Singh VSM took over charge as the Air Officer–inCharge, Maintenance, at Air Headquarters, New Delhi on December 1, 2014.

AIRBUS GROUP

Airbus Group has appointed the following: • Tom Williams as Chief Operating Officer and Member of Group Executive Committee. • Didier Evrard as Airbus Executive Vice President Programmes. • Klaus Richter as Member of Group Executive Committee.

AIRBUS HELICOPTERS

Airbus Helicopters has appointed Yves Barillé as Vice President of Corporate Communications.

Bell Helicopter

Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc company, has named Matthew J Hasik as Executive Vice President, Commercial Business. Effective immediately, the company has appointed Ron Orndoff as Regional Sales Manager in North America, responsible for overseeing Marketing and Sales in the Midwest region.

BOC AVIATION

BOC Aviation has announced the appointment of Chris Gao as the Chief Commercial Officer for Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.

BOEING BUSINESS JETS

Boeing has named David Longridge as President of Boeing Business Jets (BBJ).

EXELIS

Exelis has appointed Peter Martin to lead its Electronic Attack and Release Systems business on Long Island, New York.

GULFSTREAM

Gulfstream Aerospace has appointed Mark Knall as Vice President & General Manager of the company’s facility in Appleton, Wisconsin.

LOCKHEED MARTIN

Lockheed Martin has appointed Robert Rangel as Senior Vice President for

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Washington Operations and a Corporate Officer effective Jan 1, 2015. The company has also has appointed Bridget Lauderdale, as Senior Vice President for Corporate Strategy and Business Development and a Corporate Officer effective Jan 1, 2015.

MBDA

John Pranzatelli has been appointed as President and CEO.

NORTHROP GRUMMAN

Northrop Grumman Corporation has appointed the following: • Carl Hahn as Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer, from Jan 15, 2015. • Retired US Air Force Brigadier General Richard “Scott” Stapp as Admiral Vice President of Technology Development for its Aerospace Systems sector effective December 2, 2014. • Industry veteran Faith Jennings and retired Rear Adm Vic Beck to lead Communications for its Aerospace Systems sector’s Unmanned Systems and Military Aircraft Divisions respectively. • Patrick M Antkowiak as Corporate Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, effective immediately.

SAFRAN

Safran’s Board of Directors has made the following appointments: • Philippe Petitcolin as Chief Executive Officer. • Ross McInnes as Chairman of the Board.

TAG AVIATION, EUROPE

TAG Aviation has announced the appointment of Christof Späth as Chief Executive Officer of TAG Aviation Europe, effective January 12, 2015.

UNITED TECHNOLOGIES

United Technologies Corp has announced the following appointments: • Akhil Johri as the corporation’s Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective Jan 1, 2015. • Gregory J. Hayes as President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director. • Edward A. Kangas, Lead Independent Director has been elected NonExecutive Chairman of the Board.

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News Digest Civil Aviation Americas GE9X’s New TAPS Combustor

Component testing of the TAPS III (twinannular pre-mixing swirler) combustor for the GE9X engine for the Boeing 777X is demonstrating promising results. The GE9X TAPS III combustor is a unique third-generation combustion system that pre-mixes air and fuel prior to combustion for leaner burn and fewer emissions than conventional combustion systems. The TAPS combustion was introduced on the GEnx engine for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the 747-8 aircraft and was enhanced for the TAPS II combustor in CFM International’s LEAP engine for narrow body aircraft. The GE9X engine will be in the 1,00,000 pound thrust class. Almost 700 GE9X engines have been ordered by customers since it was launched on the Boeing 777X aircraft last year. The first demonstration core test is scheduled for 2015. The first engine will test in 2016 with flight-testing on GE’s flying test bed anticipated in 2017. Engine certification is scheduled for 2018.

technological advances related to its ongoing sense and avoid (SAA) system development efforts. In collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Honeywell, GA-ASI tested a proof-of-concept SAA system, marking the first successful test of the FAA’s Airborne Collision Avoidance System for Unmanned Aircraft (ACAS XU). The company also performed the first flight tests of a pre-production air-to-air radar for SAA, called the Due Regard Radar, making it the first radar of its kind designed for a remotely piloted aircraft (RPA). During the test, Predator B proved the functionality of ACAS XU during collision-avoidance manoeuvres against ADS-B and transponderequipped aircraft executed automatically onboard the RPA with the pilot ready to override the system.

K-Max Helicopter UAV Demonstrate Firefighting Capability

Industry China Wraps Up Air Show with Record Deals

Americas GA-ASI Advances Sense and Avoid capability

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) has announced two key

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of offer for the government of Israel in support of the F-35 Lightning II joint programme. Work is expected to be completed in December 2022.

Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman Corporation has delivered the first operational MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter to the US Navy. The system will be used by ship-based commanders to improve the Navy’s intelligence-gathering capabilities. Northrop Grumman Corporation has been selected by prime contractor Lockheed Martin to provide its space inertial reference system for the US Air Force space-based infrared system’s fifth geosynchronous earth orbit satellite. The US Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation a $210 million contract to continue sustaining its E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) fleet. The contract is a continuation of Northrop Grumman’s Joint STARS sustainment contract, which was first awarded in 2000.

Raytheon

Asia-Pacific According to the organiser of the show, China wrapped up its air show in the Southern port city of Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, on November 16 with over 300 deals worth a record $23.4 billion. The 10th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, which started on November 18, witnessed sales of 227 aircraft of different types. More than 700 aviation and aerospace manufacturers from 41 countries and regions attended the six-day air show. Meanwhile, the show attracted a record audience of nearly 4,10,000 people, the organiser said. More than 130 aircraft types were displayed at the air show with aerobatics being performed by female fighter pilots from the PLAAF with J-10 fighters. The next air show will be held from November 1 to 6, 2016, in Zhuhai.

QuickRoundUp

A team from Lockheed Martin and Kaman unmanned aircraft successfully demonstrated the ability to aid in firefighting operations. During the demonstration, the Indago Quad Rotor effectively identified hot spots and provided data to an operator who directed the unmanned K-MAX helicopter to autonomously extinguish the flames. In one hour, the unmanned K-MAX helicopter lifted and dropped more than 24,000 pounds of water onto the fire. The industry leader in lift efficiency, unmanned K-MAX provided heavy-lift services by autonomously dipping water from a pond and delivering it precisely to the fire location. Manufactured by Kaman and outfitted with an advanced mission suite by Lockheed Martin, the unmanned K-MAX has a twin-rotor design that maximises lift capability in the most challenging environments. Using its electro-optic/infrared camera, the K-MAX can locate hot spots and designate the location to its operator for water drops at that location. •

Raytheon Missile Systems has been awarded a $3,22,21,204 modification contract to previously awarded contract for Enhanced Paveway II guided bomb unit kits and a 10-year warranty for each kit, under the foreign military sales. Work is expected to be completed by July 1, 2016.

Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce has been awarded a new, two-year contract to provide aftermarket engine support for the US Marine Corps and Air Force V-22 fleets, which provides a more than 30 per cent reduction in support costs. The contract is valued at up to $287 million and will cover all V-22 aircraft across the Marine and Air Force fleets. Rolls-Royce is the sole engine provider for V-22 aircraft and has delivered 750 AE 1107C engines to the programme.

Russian Helicopters

Russian Helicopters (part of State Corporation Rostec) has delivered the first batch of four Mi-171Sh military transport helicopters, made by Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant, to the Ministry of Defence of Peru. The Mi-171Sh are being delivered a month ahead of schedule.

Selex ES

The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded a contract to a Selex ES-led team which will enable the introduction of a new Mode-5 identification friend or foe (IFF) standard across a range of UK armed forces’ land, sea and air platforms. Mode-5 IFF is the latest version of the system used to identify and track military aircraft and uses modern cryptographic techniques.

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Last word

Illustration: Anoop Kamath

MAKE IN INDIA FOR DEFENCE In September this year, Prime Minister Modi launched his ucts. And also, the biggest concern was that of compromise to ‘Make in India’ campaign in an effort to turn the nation into a national security, a problem that is more in imagination and less global manufacturing hub. This concept is not new to the world in the regime of reality. And finally, technology in the domain of as it has been adopted with high degree of success by China as defence and aerospace industry is not stagnant, but advances also by a number of countries in East Asia, notably the so-called at a frenetic pace calling for frequent upgrade of infrastructure ‘Asian Tigers.’ Analysis of all the successful models of domestic and human skills. All this requires continuous and higher levels manufacturing reveals that the focus invariably has been on of investment. Even the public sector that has monopolised the manufacture largely for exports with only a miniscule share of defence and aerospace industry for over six decades has not the production for domestic consumption. This is clearly evident really put in place the level and quality of infrastructure or built in the way Chinese products have pervaded the markets across up the pool of appropriately qualified human resource to match the world from the North America to Australia. It is therefore the aspirations of the Make in India campaign of the Prime Minquite understandable that the business and industry segments ister in so far as it would apply to the defence and aerospace of the nation have been swept by considerable optimism and industry. This segment of the national economic endeavour has euphoria generated across the nation in the wake of the launch of not really developed its inner strength, but instead has been the Make in India campaign. This campaign is important also in content with licensed production, bereft of the benefits of transthe context of the rivalry with China on the economic front. While fer of technology. As the private sector had been excluded from the defence India took the lead over China in the regime of information technology, China galloped far ahead of India in the manufacturing industrial sector, there has understandably been no developsector. It is a fact that the manufacturing sector in India is weak ment in this respect. Today, while a number of companies in the contributing only 15 per cent to India’s gross domestic product. private sector are keen to venture into the challenging world of This segment of the economy does need radical changes in poli- defence industry and some have even ventured to make substancies to enable it revive and compete with the established play- tial investments in the creation of infrastructure, there is much ers in the world. Undoubtedly, this campaign will drive India’s more to be done both for further development of infrastructure as also the development of the skill base in the country. Unforgrowth story in a new direction and to new heights. The concept of Make in India is relevant to and beneficial for tunately, both these cannot be created or developed in a hurry. Given the limitations of the private sector, the defence public the non-military segment of the industry as it will open doors for Indian entrepreneurs to the global market resulting in a sector undertakings (DPSUs) cannot and should not be wished away. The more pragmatic bonanza for this sector of the option would be to restructure economy. However, the situation the DPSUs to enhance their with regard to production of accountability, forge partnermilitary hardware is somewhat ship with the private sector different. Defence equipment is and upgrade their capabilities highly technology-intensive and through foreign collaboration. requires elaborate and expenTo this end, the government has sive infrastructure as well as enhanced the limit of foreign large pool of highly specialised direct investment (FDI) from 26 human resource. The Indian to 49 per cent. However, at 49 defence and aerospace industry per cent, the foreign investor has since independence been will have no control and hence the exclusive preserve of the this step alone may not help public sector for reasons that at attain the desired goals. Make the time of independence were in India, when applied to the entirely valid. The investments indigenous defence and aerorequired were so huge that the space industry will be far more private sector was not in a posicomplex than imagined. Unless tion to afford. Besides, unlike the government approaches this consumer goods, markets for problem in a slow, steady and military hardware are extremely more calibrated way, Make in limited and restrained by geoIndia for military hardware will political paradigms. There are continue to remain a dream. SP also the issues of quality control Make in India when applied to the indigenous and certification that are far defence and aerospace industry will be far more stringent than standards —By Air Marshal more complex than imagined. that apply to non-military prodB.K. Pandey (Retd)

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