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SP's Aviation - ISSUE No 03-08

Issue Features

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  Space - Jules Verne’s Unmanned Voyage
  By Air Marshal (Retd) V.K. Bhatia

  From a Space Truck to a Space Garbage Disposal System, from an ISS supplier to an ISS sustainer— the robustness, size and cutting-edge technologies of the ATV are so remarkable that Jules Verne could easily usher in what may be termed Revolution in Space Affairs.

• Operations - Defending Home Turf
  By Air Marshal (Retd) Narayan Menon, Bangalore

  Defence of homeland is the primary responsibility of the armed forces. However, the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in the US has infused a new dimension to homeland defence— or, more appropriately, homeland security.

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  Upgrades - Surging Ahead
  By Air Marshal (Retd) P.K. Mehra

  There has been a great learning process in the aviation industry in India, thanks to the DARIN I, LCA and participation in Su-30 development.

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  Region - A Gathering Force
  By Air Marshal (Retd) N. Menon, Bangalore

  Many lessons are to be learnt from PLAAF’s implementation of acquisition programme and China’s capability-enhancement to produce its own aircraft.

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  Business Aviation - Healing At Home
  By Group Captain A.K. Sachdev, Bangalore

  Corporate aviation is fast expanding in India in response to the imperatives thrown up by economic growth. But is the growth sustained by a corresponding quality in MRO services?

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  Flight Safety - ICAO Beckons
  By Group Captain A.K. Sachdev, Bangalore

  India is one of 52 original signatories to the 1944 Convention on International Civil Aviation, the charter of ICAO.

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  Business Aviation - Netjets Flies into India
  By SP’s Team

  World’s leading private jet operator forays into Indian market.

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  Celebration - The Tigers Turn 75
  

  No. 1 Squadron—the first ever squadron of the Indian Air Force (IAF)—celebrated its Platinum Jubilee on April 1 at Air Force Station Gwalior.

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  J.R.D. Tata (1904 – 1993)
  By Group Captain (Retd) Joseph Noronha, Goa

  On an October dawn in 1932, a Puss Moth and I soared from Karachi on an inaugural flight to Bombay. As we hummed towards our destination, I breathed a silent prayer for the success of our venture. We were a small team. We shared successes and failures, joys and headaches, as we built up the enterprise which blossomed into Air-India and Air-India International.

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

  Exciting times in the aviation industry call for serious introspection of operations and infrastructure. Amid the debuts and distinctions, appraisal of prevalent policies is essential for a smooth flight. Are we ready? Yes. Are we prepared? May be.

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  Air China vs Air India
  By Air Marshal (Retd) V.K. Bhatia

  Driven by a growing domestic economy and the appreciation of Yuan, Air China and Air Macau parent Air China Ltd posted a net profit of CNY4.23 billion ($600 million or Rs 2,406 crore) in 2007, up 57.3 per cent over the CNY2.69 billion reported in 2006, on a 14.2 per cent lift in operating revenue to CNY51.33 billion ($7 billion or Rs 29,195 crore).

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  Brussels to Sydney on hypersonic wings
  By Air Marshal (Retd) V.K. Bhatia

  A British team has designed a hypersonic passenger aeroplane that could one day fly passengers between Europe and Australia in less than five hours. The A2 aeroplane designed by Oxfordshire-based Reaction Engines would carry 300 passengers at a top speed of almost 4.000 mph.

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  FAA cracks safety whip
  By Air Marshal (Retd) B.K. Pandey

  The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has directed federal aviation inspectors to ensure all commercial airlines operating in the US are in compliance with its safety standards, regulations and other directives.

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  Till the Next Fog
  By Air Marshal (Retd) V.K. Bhatia

  Even as clear summer skies drive away the harrowing memories of air travel on fogged out winter mornings, here’s a look at the burgeoning aviation industry’s challenges and shortcomings that effectively clip its wings during the cold season.

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  Airlines in a Daze
  By Air Marshal (Retd) V.K. Bhatia

  All airlines will have to take necessary steps to train their pilots in judicious numbers in CAT III ILS operations to prevent flight delays occurring due to low-visibility weather phenomena such as fog, smog and dust-in-suspension.

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  Air India head in place
  By Air Marshal (Retd) B.K. Pandey

  Considering his long association with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Air India, the new CMD is perhaps aware that translating vision into reality may be a more daunting challenge than his rhetoric indicates.