This article is only available for ch-aviation PRO subscribers.
News
Also on ch-aviation
Indian Air Force scouts for used E145s for AEW conversion
26.09.2023 - 03:44 UTCThe Indian Air Force (IFC, Delhi International) has turned to the market for used E145s to convert into EMB-145SM airborne early warning and control system (AEW&CS) Netra Mk1 aircraft, the industry news website India Defence Research Wing has reported.
IAF officials said there were plans to add six more E145-based Netra Mk1s. India currently operates two such aircraft, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), with a third aircraft used as a testbed. All three were acquired by the military directly from Embraer and were delivered in 2012, according to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module.
The Brazilian manufacturer has reportedly offered its Praetor 600 business jet, which, while slightly smaller than the E145, has improved range and operating capabilities and is similar enough to facilitate the installation of the already designed AEW&CS modifications.
The Indian Air Force's DRDO is concurrently working on the modification of six ex-Air India A321-200s into Netra Mk2 AEW&CS aircraft. It also operates three Il-76A-50EIs converted into...
Air India's simulator training permit conditionally restored
13.09.2023 - 06:37 UTCAir India (AI, Mumbai International) can resume using its flight simulators to train and certify pilots after India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) conditionally re-approved the carrier's training organisation (ATO) licence on September 7. This followed the DGCA suspending the airline's training licence after identifying some issues during a spot check.
The Business Standard newspaper reports that the conditional re-approval is valid for 30 days and allows Air India to resume pilots' licence renewals and certifications. The airline has an Airbus simulator at Hyderabad International, which it uses to train and certify pilots to fly its fleet of Airbus narrowbodies. A second similar at Mumbai International is used to train and certify pilots flying the airline's fleet of Boeing widebodies.
According to the newspaper, during a spot check, the DGCA inspectors discovered that the simulator’s quality manual had expired, and there was no assigned quality control officer to oversee operations. There were also problems with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for preventive maintenance checks of the simulators.
Following...
India's IndiGo eyes Amsterdam with A321neo(XLR)s
08.09.2023 - 06:10 UTCIndiGo Airlines (6E, Delhi International) is mulling services to Amsterdam Schiphol if the incoming A321-200NY(XLR)s can cover the distance in a single flight, according to CEO Pieter Elbers.
Speaking to the Elsevier Weekblad (EW) outlet, Elbers said he wanted to expand existing international codeshare arrangements, including with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL, Amsterdam Schiphol). "At a certain point, we have to start thinking about ourselves." The CEO expects the first of sixty-nine A321neo(XLR)s to start arriving in 2025. With a claimed maximum range of 8,700 kilometres, it puts Western European destinations within range of some Indian cities.
"Rome Fiumicino is perfectly feasible from India. Mumbai International - Amsterdam is just not possible. Depending on the final specifications, the XLR will reach Amsterdam from Delhi," he said.
According to the ch-aviation schedules module, KLM and Air India (AI, Mumbai International) already fly on the Delhi - Amsterdam city pair using B787-8s and B787-9s. An existing codeshare arrangement with KLM also sees IndiGo...
Tata, Adani, Emirates vie for SriLankan Airlines - report
06.09.2023 - 02:19 UTCThe Sri Lankan government is in talks with many private companies and airlines as it prepares to privatise SriLankan Airlines (UL, Colombo International), including Emirates (EK, Dubai International) and the Indian conglomerates Tata Sons and Adani Group, according to Veeraperumal Ravindran, the carrier’s regional manager for India, Bangladesh, and Nepal.
Ravindran was speaking to the Indian broadsheet The New Indian Express to raise the airline’s profile in the Indian state of Kerala, where it is planning to increase its frequencies between Colombo and Thiruvananthapuram in the coming winter schedules from 6x to 7x weekly and to maintain its 10x weekly frequencies to Kochi International. It also plans to start flights to Kozhikode given the availability of aircraft.
There has been a steep rise in traffic from India to Sri Lanka in the last seven months, he said, adding that business at the airline is picking up as “things are becoming more normal in Sri Lanka”. However, he said nothing more about the privatisation.