India needs 400 airports: aviation minister

India needs 400 airports: aviation minister

India's aerospace industry is likely to require 400 airports and 3,000 passenger aircraft over the next 10 years as the country continues to register strong growth figures, says the country's civil aviation minister Praful Patel.

While the country's air transport market affected by the high fuel prices of 2008 and economic downturn of 2009, it has registered a "compounded annual growth rate of...18%" for the past few years and this will continue, says Patel, who adds that if the recovery that began in the fourth quarter of 2009 holds, the industry is likely to continue registering strong growth figures from 2011.

"We have been able to weather the thunderstorm that struck the world with composure, and I am looking at 2010 with cautious optimism and am hopeful that the worst will be over this year," he adds.

The Airports Authority of India says that around $8.5 billion was earmarked for the development airports during the 11th Five Year Plan (2007-12). This includes privatising and upgrading Mumbai and New Delhi airports.

The authority also plans to invest an additional $3.07 billion over the next five years to upgrade airports in Chennai, Kolkata and Trivandrum. It will also modernise dozens of other non-metro airports through a public-private model.

CFM opens Hyderabad maintenance training centre

CFM opens Hyderabad maintenance training centre: "CFM opens Hyderabad maintenance training centre"

CFM International's fourth CFM56 maintenance training centre has opened in Hyderabad in India to support its customers in the country and the region.

This facility mirrors those in China, France and the USA and will provide hands-on training for the maintenance of CFM56-5B and CFM56-7B engines, says the engine manufacturer. When fully operational, the centre will have the capacity to train 500 students annually.

"India is one of the most dynamic economies in the world and the long-term potential is virtually limitless," says Eric Bachelet, president and chief executive of CFM International. "At CFM, we are very pleased and proud to be a part of the aviation infrastructure here in India and to help support the continued growth of this industry in the region."

The first CFM56 engines entered service with Jet Airways in 1994, and the company says that there are more then 500 CFM56 engines in service or on order in the region. These power Airbus and Boeing aircraft for Air India, Air India Express, Go Air, and SpiceJet, as well as airlines in Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka.

CFM also provides engines for the Indian government's VIP fleet of Boeing Business Jets, in addition to commercial applications. In January 2009, the CFM56-7B-powered Boeing P-8I was selected to provide long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare capabilities to the Indian navy.

CFM's parent companies, Snecma and General Electric, also have Indian investments. In 2007, Snecma's 50:50 joint venture with HAL reached full production capability and supplies tubes and pipes for CFM56 engines. GE's large commercial engines such as the CF6 and the GE90 have been operating in India since 1982.

Both companies also have extensive research and development capabilities in the country.

India unveils details of indigenous 70-seat turboprop

India unveils details of indigenous 70-seat turboprop

India has adopted a turboprop design for its first indigenous regional aircraft and has released preliminary specifications for the planned 70-seater.

NAL is looking for foreign partners for the Regional Transport Aircraft RTA-70 and hopes to secure additional government funding later this year.

NAL officials say that they plan to design the RTA-70 with the Indian market in mind, adding that existing turboprops do not meet those requirements. These include improved fuel efficiency, short landing and take-off capability, and the ability to transport cargo.

This will give the aircraft 25% lower acquisition costs, 25% lower operating costs and 50% lower maintenance costs than existing turboprop regional aircraft, says NAL.

"Many towns and cities remain unconnected due to the cost of operations. Short take-off and landing abilities, capability to land on ill-equipped airfields, including all weather operations, can be of very high benefit," NAL says in its RTA-70 brochure.

"Given the high cost of fuel and its implication to operating economics, developing an aircraft that is fuel-efficient compared with present regional aircraft can be very promising. Lower weight, lower drag can mean higher performance and lower emissions. Capability to carry cargo means additional revenue to an operator," NAL says.

"Initial seed funding has enabled preliminary studies preliminary studies to start," it adds. This has been used for work on aerodynamics including computational fluid dynamics and windtunnel studies, it adds, while preliminary studies on sizing, specifications and performance are in progress.

NAL is eyeing a composite airframe. The aircraft will be powered by two "next-generation turboprop engines", it adds. It would have a fly-by-wire control system, open distributed modular avionics, automatic dependence surveillance - broadcast navigation capabilities, and advanced displays.

The aircraft will have better "energy efficiencies" than its current rivals, says NAL. However, it is unable to say when it hopes to move into the detailed design phase and begin the production of the aircraft.

India's state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics will manufacture the aircraft. This agreement will be similar to a deal to produce the Saras utility/transport turboprop, which NAL has developed primarily for the military, and the Tejas light combat aircraft.

NAL is seeking international partners to help it in several areas. Diehl has come on board to help design the cabin and the two teams unveiled a proposed cabin at India Aviation 2010 in Hyderabad.

India's Taj Air adds two new aircraft

India's Taj Air adds two new aircraft: "Indian charter operator Taj Air has added two new aircraft to its fleet - a Dassault Falcon 2000LX business jet and a Piaggio P180 Avanti II twin turboprop, for which it is the exclusive distributor for Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Mauritius, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Taj, which showcased the two aircraft at Indian Aviation 2010 earlier this month in Hyderabad, says the new additions to its fleet will 'enhance its offering of efficient and highly personalised travel experience'." The charter operator is owned by hotel group Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, which is part of India's Tata Group. It has operated to more than 150 airports in 56 countries, says the company.

Taj's Avanti II is able to carry six passengers, and has a range of 2,720km (1,470nm). The Falcon 2000LX is equipped to fly up to nine passengers to any destination within a radius of nine flying hours without refuelling, says Taj.

Both aircraft are equipped with a satellite telephone system and fax system for its business passengers.

Taj also performs maintenance on its Falcon jets and Avanti II from its $2.5 million maintenance facility in Mumbai.