The Challenges Today and the Changes Tomorrow

AMID The rising reports of India coming under the garb of COVID-19, the 5th edition of the BizAVIndia Conference was held on March 11, 2020, in Hyderabad. Organised by the Business Aircraft Operators Association (BAOA), the conference had some cancellations but still witnessed many delegates brave the travel and mark their presence despite the threats of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The conference also marked the start of the 2020 edition of WINGS India conference, one of the largest civil aviation conference in Asia.

“The annual event of BAOA – BizAvIndia 2020 – was successfully conducted in Hyderabad, on the sidelines of Wings 2020, the ‘four-day’ event of air show and conferences held by ministry of civil aviation from March 12-15. Notwithstanding the unprecedented situation prevailing globally due COVID-19 threat, we had reasonable attendance for the afternoon conference and the networking dinner, that followed. The discussions during the conference were rich in content with forward looking approach,” the association stated.

The following sessions were held during the BizAvIndia Conference:

• Panel Discussion I: Boosting Economic Growth with Business and General Aviation
• Panel Discussion II: Safety / Infrastructural / Security Challenges for achieving optimal growth of GA/BA in India and, the way forward
• Speakers/ Discussion – Session III: Emerging Trends & technologies to boost GA/BA growth in Asian region.

The welcome address at the conference was moderated by Group Captain Rajesh K. Bali, MD BAOA. The panelists included BAOA President, AVM S.S. Chauhan, Rohit Kapur, Managing Director, Arrow Aircraft Sales & Charters Pvt Ltd, Ashish Saraf, President Airbus Helicopter South Asia and Varun Gupta from Honeywell.

The session witnessed the significant release of a special concept report prepared by Pratt & Whitney Canada in collaboration with BAOA titled ‘Social impact of General Aviation’. There were simultaneous ‘press releases’ at Montreal and Hyderabad to mark the occasion. Touching upon various sectors under this topic, the report highlighted how the number of operators as well as the fleet of Non-Scheduled Operators (NSOP) has gone down instead of witnessing any growth. The budgeting issues were put forth as the major reasons by the BAOA President. The cost on the accounts of lack of trained pilots, fuel cost, and maintenance and handling charges by the airports has increased the loss of apparition.

This report focused on three areas most important to India: remote air connectivity, emergency medical services (EMS) and disaster management. Pratt & Whitney’s team of experts examined changes effected by nations with similar conditions to optimise GA/BA potential in these areas. The team has described financial models that have been successful elsewhere and how, with due modifications, they could be adapted in India.

The whitepaper examined the financial and operational models of aviation missions around the world that focus on the common public good. “Pratt & Whitney turboprop, turboshaft and turbofan engines have powered the growth of business and general aviation for decades. BAOA is the voice of business and general aviation in India and we’re delighted to have collaborated with them on this project. The study demonstrates just how vital these kinds of missions are to societies around the world,” said Ashmita Sethi, Managing Director of Pratt & Whitney India.

“THIS CONFERENCE IS VERY TIMELY. THE GOVERNMENT IS INTERESTED IN PROVIDING A THRUST AND PUT IN PLACE A REGULATORY SYSTEM WHICH ENABLES THE BUSINESS AVIATION SECTOR TO REALISE ITS TRUE POTENTIAL IN INDIA. MANY INITIATIVES NEED TO BE TAKEN WHETHER THEY ARE TAX-RELATED, REGULATORY-BASED OR POLICY-RELATED,” SAID MS. VANDANA AGGARWAL, ECONOMIC ADVISOR, MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION (MOCA), GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.

Many emerging countries are looking for ways to develop better models and methods to lift up their citizens, from connecting remote communities to the broader economy, to ensuring fast and reliable access to medical attention, to helping citizens through natural disasters. This report looked at the many ways that nations around the world are building success in these important areas.

While presenting the report, Group Captain R.K. Bali also talked about the need to explore and expand helicopters for private aviation in the country as well as the tremendous potential that India has when it comes to amphibious aircraft in the form of coastal tourism with a coastline of over 7,516 km and 246 islands, along with vast lakes and rivers. The session further showcased the scope of GA/BA (General Aviation/Business Aviation) for emergency medical services (EMS), remote air connectivity, and disaster management.

“In India and around the world, social missions like these are helping millions of people. The study demonstrates how important it is to set up the best possible policies and financing models to empower our fellow citizens and boost our economy,” said Group Captain Bali.

The many challenges that the industry faces were also discussed through the conference from infrastructure to limited economic opportunities, governance challenges, taxation policies, etc. as the hurdles for an effective growth of the sector.

“This conference is very timely. The government is interested in providing a thrust and put in place a regulatory system which enables the business aviation sector to realise its true potential in India. Many initiatives need to be taken whether they are tax-related, regulatory-based or policyrelated. We have been working in close concert with the association (BAOA) in order to put in place a regime for BA/GA which enables you to grow and fulfil your rightful place along with scheduled airline operations,” said Vandana Aggarwal, Economic Advisor, Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Government of India.

The conference proceeded further with panel discussions divided into three sections catering to three very significant topics of the GA/BA industry which required conversation. The first session was about ‘Boosting economic growth with business and general aviation’. The panelists for the same included Sudhir Nayak, Senior Vice President, Reliance Commercial; Rohit Kapur, Managing Director, Arrow Aircraft Sales & Charters Pvt Ltd; Ashish Saraf, President Airbus Helicopter South Asia and Narayana Vislavat, Deputy Director of Air Safety, DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation). The last session was moderated by Wing Commander Julian D’Souza, Vice President – Aviation, Jupiter Capital Pvt Ltd on ‘Safety/Infrastructural/Security Challenges for achieving optimal growth of GA/BA in India, and the way forward’ and added Ashish Kumar, Chief Commercial Officer, GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd, and Harsh Wardha Sharma Director, Himalaya Airlines in the panelists.

The panelists presented the challenges with single-engine operations in the country and the steps that can be taken for better utilisation of the single-engine turboprop aircraft including proper routing, operational and training requirements, etc. There were also extensive talks about the elitist tag that this industry has unnecessarily carried and how it’s high time that’s done away with along with many other infrastructural steps being worked out for the future.

“We understand the importance of GA and the role it plays in a developing country like India, the government has already acknowledged the challenges and we are taking these up to the highest level and working to have dedicated areas for GA aircraft,” said Usha Padhee, Joint Secretary, MoCA.