On July 14, the world looked up as Chandrayaan-3, India’s third lunar exploration mission, embarked on its extraordinary journey toward the moon. Propelled by the robust LVM3 rocket of the ISRO, this mission aims to make history by landing on the lunar South Pole, a feat yet to be achieved by any nation. If successful, India will become the fourth country to softly touch down on the moon’s surface, following the United States, the former Soviet Union, and China. This venture is India’s second attempt at a lunar landing, following the Chandrayaan-2 mission in 2019. It shall also be important economically for India’s space industry in attracting possible customers for the launch vehicle. A detailed report by Ayushee Chaudhary on this launch is featured in this edition.

India’s space industry is active, growing, and expanding especially ever since the private reforms were introduced by the government in 2020. Additionally, the recent release of space policy and increasing international collaborations are becoming significant. One such player, Godrej Aerospace has been strengthening India’s Aerospace manufacturing capabilities and Neetu Dhulia presents a glimpse into that in this issue.

A key aspect of any successful operation is efficient training and quality assurance whether it’s aerospace or the upcoming era of new-age transportation. A report on prioritising quality of training over quantity by Byron Bohlman is also a part of this issue. He talks in terms of the volume of orders for new aircraft that have been placed by Indian carriers, grabbing headlines for months, establishing the need for thousands of well-trained and qualified pilots over the next 20 years. Given the sheer number of new pilots airlines must recruit, especially since many will be off-the-street candidates with little or no flying experience, high-quality training is essential.

The forthcoming eVTOL market is poised to revolutionise the aviation industry, marking a significant milestone in 2025 with the introduction of the first commercial eVTOL flights. The intricate demands of navigating eVTOLs in bustling urban landscapes necessitate pilots with flawless training, unparalleled decision-making abilities, and the capacity to navigate uncharted challenges effortlessly which is another area highlighted by Rohit Goel in this edition.

In the aviation industry, where precision and preparedness are paramount, FlightSafety International (FSI) has emerged as a leading provider of standardised quality training for over seven decades. A report in this edition profiles FSI and what it offers to train high-quality pilots.

In the Last Word, Rohit Goel highlights that airlines must continue to invest in quality training of their commercial pilots as it plays a vital role in charting a course of safety, excellence, and success for the carrier. Training is an essential component of any industry, ensuring efficiency, growth, and safety.

Indian carriers were much in the news recently, especially Air India and IndiGo, who also announced a major aircraft order at this year’s Paris Air Show. A detailed show report of the Paris Air show by Ayushee Chaudhary, highlighting these orders and other important deals is also included in this issue. This issue also underlines advancements in propulsion technologies especially those on showcase at the air show.

All this and more in this issue of SP’s Aviation. Welcome aboard and we wish you many happy landings!