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SP's Aviation - ISSUE No 11-12

Issue Features

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  Advanced Fighters
  By Air Marshal (Retd) V.K. Bhatia

  Synergy of stealth, super-cruise and information fusion for complete situational awareness are the attributes of fifth generation fighter aircraft.

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  'Our ground-based air defence systems constitute a critical component of our overall operational plans'
  

  Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne, Chief of the Air Staff, Indian Air Force

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  Special Mission - In Demand
  By Air Marshal (Retd) B.K. Pandey

  Driven by the growing demand of the armed forces for new aerial tankers, airborne early warning platforms, electronic warfare and maritime patrol aircraft...

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  Pace up Home Capabilities
  By Air Commodore (Retd) K.B. Menon

  The absence of an attack helicopter capable of operating at high altitude was driven home during the Kargil conflict and the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited-built light combat helicopter is to plug this gap in capability, but progress has been slow.

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  Air Force Day - IAF is 80 Now
  By Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne on Air Force Day 2012

  “The Indian Air Force (IAF), over the last 80 years, has truly transformed into a strategic Air Force—fully ready and committed to guard our nation’s vital interests.

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  Jaunty Jets or Practical Props?
  By Group Captain (Retd) Joseph Noronha

  In India, regional aviation is getting ready for take-off. And the only regional aircraft available are turboprops. Regional jets may not be viable here because many far-flung airfields lack the necessary runway length and facilities.

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  Boeing CH-47F Chinook - Winner
  By SP’s Special Correspondent

  The US-built Boeing CH-47F Chinook has won the Indian heavy-lift chopper competition

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  A330 MRTT - Victorious!
  By SP’s Special Correspondent

  Airbus Military seems to have won the Indian mid-air refueller tender, now cautiously waits for signatures

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  NBAA - Good Show
  By SP’s Correspondent from Orlando, Florida, USA

  The 65th Annual Meeting and Convention of NBAA went off well despite the devastating Hurricane Sandy. It offered a new study showing that even during the worst economic times...

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  Betty Skelton Erde (1926-2011)
  By Group Captain (Retd) Joseph Noronha, Goa

  The First Lady of Firsts set 17 aviation and automobile records. She flew helicopters, jets, airships and gliders, and participated in practically all US major air events of the 1940s.

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  A Word from Editor
  By Jayant Baranwal, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

  Chinook outperformed its rival on price, which includes a matrix of not only the unit f lyaway cost of each platform, but also ownership costs comprising the operating and life cycle costs, as well as ToT

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  Cabinet approves mission to Mars
  By Air Marshal (Retd) B.K. Pandey

  At a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, the Cabinet cleared the proposal of the Department of Space to put a satellite in an orbit around Mars to study the Red Planet.

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  Army to have its attack helicopters
  By Air Marshal (Retd) V.K. Bhatia

  Overruling stiff opposition by the Indian Air Force (IAF), the government has allowed the Army to have its own attack helicopter units, meeting its long-time demand.

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  The 'Siachen' Issue
  By Air Marshal (Retd) V.K. Bhatia

  Many in India have begun to project a new found positivity in Pakistan’s attitude towards India.

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  The Siachen Imbroglio
  By Air Marshal (Retd) V.K. Bhatia

  Demilitarisation would involve India losing both strategic and tactical advantage, while for Pakistan it would be a great strategic gain traded off against a small tactical loss.

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  Struggle Goes On
  By Air Marshal (Retd) B.K. Pandey

  Unless the government progresses beyond rhetoric and takes radical steps with speed and sincerity to address the problems, it is only a matter of time before other carriers may go the Kingfisher way