From the Editor-in-Chief

Dear Reader,

Business Aviation is an industry that strives to serve the business community in order to achieve the key objectives. Which in turn comes back as the crucial contribution to the economy of any country. Business Aviation (BA) offers mobility, peace of mind for the corporates and their executives while on travel, employment opportunities, establishing its own MRO fraternity, to mention the same. In fact this industry also chauffeurs the State-Heads from one country to another. In spite of such well-established factors, the industry continues its battle to exist, to grow and to contribute.

Even with feathers added to the hat of BA, there are many issues that the industry is facing in India, especially with the tax regime. In this issue of BizAvIndia, the President of BAOA narrates some of the hurdles that are hitting the growth of the business aviation industry and appeals for immediate intervention by authorities to process an objectified resolution.

The industry has been dealing with the painful chore that importing, buying or selling of an aircraft brings along. While the introduction of GST did reduce some import duties, the addition of it has not made the scenario any better. A report by Rohit Kapur highlights the overdue need to simplify the tax regime for the growth of the industry which in turn is sure to benefit the government with higher revenues.

Interestingly, in July this year, the world witnessed yet another milestone accomplished by BA. A mission, under the name ‘One More Orbit’, broke all the previous round-the-world records of an aircraft flying over the North and South poles. The mission that kick-started the commemoration of 50 years of Apollo 11 mission, attained this feat in a Qatar Executive’s Gulfstream G650ER. Such a milestone has further uplifted the contribution of BA and enhanced the possibilities that lie under the wings of this industry. “Qatar Executive, together with the One More Orbit team has made history,” said Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker, who was present to greet the arriving business jet, noting many people behind the scenes worked tirelessly to make the record attempt a success. A story on the mission by Ayushee Chaudhary has been included in this issue. An exclusive interview with the Mission Director can be read in SP’s Aviation 10/2019.

In an exclusive interview, BizAvIndia’s Neetu Dhulia talks to Bobby Chadha, Chairman & Managing Director, SRC Aviation, about the industry’s safety standards, the call to look at the business aviation industry beyond a luxury and much more.

In this issue, Indocopter’s Per Smedegaard highlights certain persisting issues related to cross-utilisation of pilots in BA and GA sector, specifically within smaller operators.

All this and much more in this issue of BizAvIndia.

Wish you happy landings!