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.

Groundbreaking endeavours inevitably carry elements of dogged uncertainty. There’s no saying until the last minute whether the effort will fructify or backfire as merely foolish ambition. Presumptuous it would perhaps be to assume that a sense of utter relief engulfed and ousted the exuberance of achievement, but certainly the minders of the unmanned Jules Verne heaved a collective sigh of deliverance when it docked with the ISS as scheduled on April 3. History was created but not without some anxious moments when a day after the launch, with the ATV coursing in the low earth orbit, the mission came close to being a cropper when an electronic fault sent the entire propulsion system crashing. An overnight recovery operation saved the day.

If small steps help gain the momentum for a giant leap, the MRO industry for corporate aviation in India is going through precisely that phase. A service centre for Hawkers inaugurated recently at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport gave an indication of things to come even as concerns are raised about whether the boom in the country’s corporate aviation centre is matched by a corresponding establishment of MRO services. Perhaps not yet. But there’s no denying the government seems to have taken some steps to encourage the setting up of MROs in India. While maintaining the 49 per cent FDI limit in domestic airlines, and up to 74 per cent stake in non-scheduled, chartered and cargo airlines that do not have any participation by foreign airlines, it has permitted a 100 per cent FDI for MRO service providers.

Yet another India debut, this time in private jet travel, was crafted by NetJets. The world’s leading private jet operator declared a strategic partnership with Ashish Chordia, CEO of Shreyans, on March 19. The company is now poised to offer business jet services to Indian corporates and business bigwigs. We bring you the details of the wings on offer, and the costs involved.

Cost considerations are never far when it comes to airlines functioning on tight budgets, so much so that it is one of the major deterrents for operators to train pilots on the latest Instrument Landing System. Consequently, chaos in flight operations posed by fog during the winter season and other weather phenomenon, such as dust-in-suspension or heavy rain, has assumed seemingly perennial proportions. In Focus and Forum zeroes in on this menace before the clear summer skies drive away the harrowing memories of air travel on fogged out winter mornings.

Fumbling for a solution to its myriad problems, Air India is now looking to write a new chapter under the stewardship of its new CMD Raghu Menon. Striking an optimistic note in the Last Word, it finely balances out the critique in the News With Views on the airline’s rather bleak affairs vis-à-vis the flourishing Air China which posted a whopping net profit of CNY4.23 billion ($600 million or Rs 2,406 crore) in 2007. Quite by coincidence, Hall of Fame showcases the vision and vigour of the beleaguered airline’s founder, J.R.D. Tata.

An engrossing account of the growth and acquisition programmes of China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force, together with an attractive pictorial layout of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of the IAF’s No. 1 Squadron on April 1 at Gwalior, round up the edition.