tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-201961922012-02-17T07:55:32.489+05:30Aviation IndiaIndian Civil Aviation NEWSAv Indianoreply@blogger.comBlogger303551100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-13168095270326013222012-02-17T07:51:00.002+05:302012-02-17T07:55:32.500+05:30We don't need FDI for Jet Airways: Naresh GoyalJet Airways does not need foreign direct investment but will back moves to open up the aviation sector to foreign airlines, its chairman Naresh Goyal said on Thursday. The government has said it will open up the airline sector and there is a proposal to allow 49% FDI to help cash-strapped carriers. "We do not need any FDI. We are doing fine. But we welcome the move," Goyal said.He said the Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-91907332338694328562012-02-17T07:51:00.000+05:302012-02-17T07:53:10.333+05:30Govt inks MoU with AAI to develop Deoghar airportRanchi: Jharkhand Government on Thursday singed an MoU with Airport Authority of India for developing airport at Deoghar, a town of immense religious importance.As per the agreement, the airport would be developed within two years time, after land acquisition is done. About Rs350 crore would be spent on the project in which Rs300 crore would be coming from the Centre as grants, whereas the rest Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-32405685322563209912012-02-17T07:49:00.001+05:302012-02-17T07:51:15.886+05:30Shimoga airport may be delayed by six monthsShimoga: People in Malnad region were hoping to see the first flight land in the newly built greenfield airport in Shimoga by March but their hopes have been dashed. The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) that monitors and approves work of airports and their airworthiness has raised air-safety concerns and directed the local administration to remove some high-rise buildings and power Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-4384795988243235442012-02-17T07:49:00.000+05:302012-02-17T07:50:28.726+05:30Air services to Jamshedpur resume from Feb 15Kolkata: With the Northeast Shuttles announcing regular flights between Kolkata and Jamshedpur from February 15, the steel city made will make a comeback into the aviation map with non-scheduled operator on Wednesday. In the past five years, the sector has experienced a lot of turbulence with Air Deccan, Kingfisher, MDLR and Deccan Charters pulling out of services due to various reasons recordingAv Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-57585515811835890802012-02-17T07:46:00.001+05:302012-02-17T07:49:42.027+05:30Kingfisher Airlines third quarter loss mounts to Rs444 croreMumbai: High fuel costs and falling revenue resulted in Kingfisher Airlines' losses in the third quarter of the current fiscal mounting to Rs444 crore from a net loss of Rs254 crore suffered in the like quarter of 2010-11.The company told the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in a regulatory filing that its total income declined by five percent at Rs1,547 crore in the period under review from Rs1,625 Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-77812198388697607692012-02-17T07:46:00.000+05:302012-02-17T07:48:03.631+05:30Kingfisher worst-performing airline in December quarterAlong expected lines, all the three listed airlines have posted losses in the recent December quarter, the fourth consecutive quarter in the red. High fuel cost (exacerbated by a weak rupee), and inability to raise fares to commensurate levels have again been the main culprits.Of the lot, Kingfisher Airlines posted the highest loss (Rs 444 crore) compared with the loss of Rs 101 crore and Rs 39 Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-66634336024889626132012-02-17T07:44:00.000+05:302012-02-17T07:46:26.961+05:30Jet fuel price cut by Rs.350.70 a kilolitreNew Delhi: State-owned oil marketing companies (OMCs) on Thursday cut aviation fuel prices by Rs.350.70 or 0.56 per cent a kilolitre (kl), effective from midnight Friday. With this, the price of air turbine fuel (ATF) at Indira Gandhi International Airport will come down from Rs.62,907.82 a KL to Rs.62,557.12 per KL. Just a fortnight ago, Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum had Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-24773616827801709332012-02-17T07:42:00.001+05:302012-02-17T07:45:28.946+05:30Patna airport safety: Over 3000 trees to be felledBihar's capital city will lose its green cover to ensure smooth air traffic operations at the Patna airport. More than 3000 trees will be felled in Patna as they pose a threat to air traffic.For the safety of Patna airport, trees in the Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park (Patna zoo) are likely to be cut or pruned soon, officials said on Thursday.The Airport Authority of India and other airlines Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-43600376439056521652012-02-17T07:42:00.000+05:302012-02-17T07:44:49.706+05:30Govt goes ahead to allow direct import of jet fuel by airlinesGovernment today moved forward to implement its decision to allow Indian carriers to directly import jet fuel, with the Civil Aviation Ministry writing to the Commerce Ministry to take the necessary steps.The decision was taken earlier this month at a meeting of a Group of Ministers on aviation, headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, that the Commerce Ministry would permit direct import of Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-67783006698777937472012-02-17T07:40:00.001+05:302012-02-17T07:42:30.017+05:30IFFCO Director figures in Aviation Ministry PanelIffco’s Director Mr R P Singh has been made a member in a new panel set up by Civil Aviation Ministry to sort out the integration of huge number of staff in the wake of merger of Indian Airlines and Air India.The three member panel has two joint secretaries Prashant Shukul and A K Sinha of Civil Aviation Ministry and Department of Public Enterprises respectively.The panel’s job is to examine the Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-40875821243686224252012-02-17T07:40:00.000+05:302012-02-17T07:41:46.176+05:30Virgin Atlantic urges Delhi airport to go slow on tariff hikesNew Delhi: The British carrier Virgin Atlantic has urged the operators of Delhi airport to “think very carefully” about the proposed decision to increase tariffs at the airport. The Delhi airport operator has proposed a seven-fold increase in its tariff pointing out that another year at the existing tariff would completely erode its net worth.“We urge them to think very carefully and make sure Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-54242289662455091442012-02-17T07:38:00.000+05:302012-02-17T07:40:08.160+05:30New CIAL terminal offers more facilitiesKochi: The new state-of-the-art international terminal coming up at the Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) will have 16 aero-bridges and an additional 30 parking bays besides the capacity to handle 4,000 passengers at any given point of time.Expected to be commissioned by the last quarter of 2014, the new terminal wil also have 10 baggage carousels and increased immigration facilities.“The Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-64523582228429122142012-02-17T07:30:00.000+05:302012-02-17T07:39:29.581+05:30Flight bar for pregnant womenChennai: The incident of a woman scheduled to fly to Kuala Lumpur giving birth to a child at the airport and the child dying after two hours put the focus on the norms adopted by airlines with regard to pregnant passengers.A woman can travel on board a flight up to 28 weeks of pregnancy and it is mandatory for her to carry a fitness certificate after completion of seven months.“Each airlines has Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-86957192912672370362012-02-17T07:29:00.000+05:302012-02-17T07:38:44.140+05:30Govt told to conduct comprehensive probe into Aranmula airport issueThe ongoing public agitation against the proposal to construct a private international airport, converting the water-rich Aranmula Puncha (paddy fields) and wetlands in Aranmula should be viewed as a crucial people’s movement to protect the remaining paddy fields and wetlands in the State, said former Agriculture Minister, Mullakkara Ratnakaran, MLA.Mr Ratnakaran was inaugurating the day-long Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-20318260720192384682012-02-17T07:25:00.000+05:302012-02-17T07:29:08.832+05:30Cargo flights from Surat soonSurat After Union government's decision to allow even private airlines to fly to international destinations from different parts of the country without insisting on Air India's first use right, talks of bonded cargo operations from Surat to places like Antwerp in Europe via Mumbai have started to pick up pace.After Air India, it was SpiceJet that began its domestic operations connecting Surat Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-3270697963194414242012-02-17T07:23:00.000+05:302012-02-17T07:29:47.913+05:30Woman gives birth to stillborn baby at Chennai airportChennai: In a tragic incident, a 36 year-old Malaysia-bound woman gave birth to a stillborn baby boy at the airport on Thursday, minutes after she was denied permission to fly a private airliner on fitness grounds.Shyamala, hailing from Rajamundhry in Andhra Pradesh, was scheduled to fly to Kualalumpur to meet her husband there, airport sources said.She was however denied permission to fly as sheAv Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-86085347480953486362012-02-15T20:30:00.002+05:302012-02-16T20:35:25.681+05:30Indian pilots flying away to foreign carriersMumbai/New Delhi: Plagued by salary woes, Indian pilots have begun to look for greener pastures as leading carriers like Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines and Air India struggle under heavy losses.According to airline sources, foreign carriers are looking to tap the talent pool in India and hire pilots.Leading carriers in India have been witnessing an exodus of pilots. Sources indicate that in theAv Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-9163914865663470132012-02-15T20:27:00.000+05:302012-02-16T20:30:18.563+05:30PM clears Praful in Canadian bribery caseNew Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has cleared Union Minister Praful Patel of allegations that he took a kickback when he was Civil Aviation Minister from a Canadian businessman for an Air India contract for supply of security equipment. In a letter to Patel, the Prime Minister is understood to have told him that the External Affairs Ministry has been asked to convey to Canada that the Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-39558774777348458852012-02-15T20:26:00.000+05:302012-02-16T20:29:09.698+05:30India, China attack EU on Carbon taxNew Delhi: India, China and other major developing economies on Tuesday attacked European Union saying the bloc's "unilateral" decision to levy charges on international flights "in the name of climate change" would "seriously jeopardise" efforts to fight global warming. Talking tough on the issue of EU's Emission Trading Scheme during their 10th meeting on Climate Change here, Environment Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-1498744143073026792012-02-15T20:24:00.001+05:302012-02-16T20:26:48.532+05:30390 flights delayed one in five times at Mumbai airportMumbai: Delays at the Mumbai airport do not appear to lessen. The monthly list of flight delays for January sent to the ministry of civil aviation shows that a total of 390 flights were delayed one out of five times they operated in and out of the Mumbai airport. More arrivals were delayed in comparison to departing flights. According to the data, 167 flights departing from the Mumbai airport Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-45600512535326730922012-02-15T20:24:00.000+05:302012-02-16T20:25:58.793+05:30Air India flight lands sans luggage as authorities fail to load itBangalore: At least 70 passengers who flew from Mumbai to Bangalore on Air India flight AI-607 on Tuesday evening had a rude shock waiting for them on arrival at Bengaluru International Airport (BIA). When they went to the conveyor belt to collect their luggage, they were informed that their cargo was not loaded on the plane at all.The flight had taken off from Mumbai at 6.15pm.“After alighting Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-85827904079577738562012-02-15T20:21:00.000+05:302012-02-16T20:24:21.266+05:30Mangalore Air Crash Compensation: Kerala-based Org Demands JusticeMangalore: Urging minimum and equal share of compensation amount of Rs 75 lac to the kin of Mangalore Air crash victims, members of Pravasi Sangam, an organisation for overseas affairs and returnees based in Kerala, observed a fast in protest in front of the Mangalore Air India Office on Wednesday February 15 from 10 am to 4 pm. K V Abdul Khader, MLA, Guruvayoor, K Kunhiraman, MLA, Uduma, B Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-40070888439716702122012-02-15T20:18:00.001+05:302012-02-16T20:21:47.197+05:30Aviation minister forms panel to review wage issues from Air India and Indian Airlines mergerMumbai: Civil aviation minister has formed a panel to examine wage-related issues arising from the merger of national carriers Air India and Indian Airlines. The three-member panel will examine the recommendations of the Justice Dharmadhikari Committee on HR related issues by the first week of March, the aviation ministry said in a statement. 15/02/12 Reuters/Economic TimesAv Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-52431591689208242502012-02-15T20:18:00.000+05:302012-02-16T20:20:58.575+05:30GoAir says P&W engine deal worth $1 blnNew Delhi: Low-cost airline GoAir's engine supply deal with United Technologies Corp's Pratt & Whitney unit is valued at about $1 billion, managing director Jeh Wadia said.The privately held airline, which has a market share of about 6 percent in India, ordered 72 A320 aircraft from Airbus last year for about $7.2 billion.Pratt & Whitney will supply about 150 engines when the planes are deliveredAv Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-17247656618589137762012-02-15T20:16:00.000+05:302012-02-16T20:18:24.651+05:30Indian Air force expresses interest in acquiring six more C-17 planes: BoeingSingapore: The Indian Air force has expressed interest in acquiring six more C-17 heavy lift transport aircraft, in addition to a contract for 10, the US defence giant Boeing said today."Indian Air Force has expressed for six more C-17s," Paul Lewis, Director of International Communications for Defence, Space and Security said.Five of the 10 aircraft will be delivered by next year and the other Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-86800532975853532982012-02-15T20:15:00.000+05:302012-02-16T20:17:20.616+05:30Cargo service at Bengaluru International Airport wins awardAir India-SATS, the joint venture of AI, providing ground handling and cargo handling services at the Bengaluru International Airport, has been awarded the Air Cargo Terminal Operator of the Year award at the Indian Supply Chain and Logistics Summit and Excellence Awards, 2012, organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce in New Delhi.The award was based on the excellence of service provided by Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-62457708919896422752012-02-15T20:14:00.000+05:302012-02-16T20:16:31.515+05:30APTDCs chopper ride still up in the airHyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation’s (APTDC) much-hyped chopper ride over the city’s landmark destinations might well remain a dream unless some miracles happen.Tourists were promised a spectacular aerial view of landmarks like Birla mandir, Golconda Fort, Charminar, Hussainsagar etc on a 15 minute-helicopter ride, when Tourism Minister Vatti Vasanth Kumar had launched Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-47923025646550605712012-02-15T20:12:00.000+05:302012-02-16T20:13:55.738+05:30BIAL clarifies on safety, efficiencyBangalore: The Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) has issued a clarification with reference to the report ‘Public plundering partnerships in infrastructure projects,’ that appeared in the February 6 edition of Deccan Herald.The BIAL said it has taken consistent initiatives to keep the airport safe and passenger-friendly. The runway is closed for 24 days for the ongoing expansion work Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-51488751485970269722012-02-15T20:09:00.001+05:302012-02-16T20:12:19.496+05:30Indigo's daily direct flight from Coimbatore to Mumbai from tomorrowCoimbatore: Reinforcing its commitment to the South India market, low fare carrier, IndiGo, today announced its new direct flight from here to Mumbai from tomorrow. The company will operate daily flight from Coimbatore to Mumbai, with a starting fare of Rs 3735 from February 16. It marks a double milestone this year, by inducting 50th brand new aircraft into its existing fleet, which will be Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-610316276932502782012-02-15T20:09:00.000+05:302012-02-16T20:11:02.993+05:30Airport cargo caught in clash of the SenasMumbai: Months after Sena-led trade union begins charging Rs 500 from every vehicle for entry at airport cargo complex, MNS counterpart does the same; traders allege authorities are aware of the malpractice but haven't taken any actionThe Shiv Sena-MNS rivalry seems to have spilled out from rallies and election campaigns into the airport complex. Sample this: sometime in the middle of last year, Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-30664903132460977282012-02-15T20:03:00.001+05:302012-02-16T20:09:19.828+05:30Now, Jet seeks help from govtNew Delhi: The financial troubles of big boys of Indian aviation are spreading fast. After almost bankrupt Air India and Kingfisher, the country's largest airline -Jet Airways - has sought government help in seeking additional working capital loans from banks and enhancing credit period with oil PSUs. Jet Airways had posted a loss of Rs 101.2 crore in Q3 of this fiscal. In April-December , 2011 Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-31215891271721013032012-02-15T20:03:00.000+05:302012-02-16T20:08:28.278+05:30Copper pipes worth over 1 lakh stolen from IGINew Delhi: Thieves have struck twice at the high-security air traffic control building at IGI Airport this month, stealing copper pipes worth Rs 1.10 lakh from airconditioners.The first theft occurred on the night of February 4/5 and the second on the night of February 10/11. In a complaint lodged with police, Airports Authority of India has asked for a probe into the role of CISF, which is Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-7069143900856327812012-02-15T19:55:00.000+05:302012-02-16T20:02:12.665+05:30Delhi, Mumbai airports bag global awardsMumbai: The international airports here and at New Delhi have secured global rankings at the Airport Council International's (ACI's) airport service quality awards. While the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi has listed second, the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport stands at fourth position among 180 airports surveyed by the ACI for their performance in 2011, statements issued Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-10986262515185833952012-02-15T19:52:00.000+05:302012-02-16T20:03:11.377+05:30Honeywell opens 4th centre in IndiaNew Delhi: Honeywell International Inc, a diversified industrial solutions provider, is looking at introducing technologies for optimising fuel production and generating green fuel in India as it opened its fourth technology centre here at Gurgaon at an investment of $24 million.The US-based company is looking to bring in Uniflex, coal-to-liquids and coal-to-chemicals technologies as refineries Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-63468875002469581422012-02-14T03:04:00.001+05:302012-02-15T03:09:09.832+05:30Jet Airways suspends pilot for allowing trainee to be co-pilotNew Delhi: Jet Airways had suspended the pilot of one of its flights and another cockpit crew for two and half months for allowing a trainee pilot to take over from co-pilot to land the plane in Mumbai, endangering all those onboard. Aviation regulator DGCA had asked the Jet to take action against the pilot and the chief of its flight safety in connection with the incident that had taken place Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-2669263588589291952012-02-14T03:04:00.000+05:302012-02-15T03:06:22.184+05:302 near misses during poll flying stirs DGCAMumbai: After two major mishaps involving aircraft ferrying Union ministers on poll campaigns were averted in the past three weeks, a concerned Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has stressed on strict adherence of safety guidelines.The aviation regulatory body is investigating the reasons behind the two near misses -- one with Health Minister Salman Khurshid, the other with Rural Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-91583422411330784572012-02-14T03:02:00.000+05:302012-02-15T03:04:41.517+05:30Jet, Kingfisher Airlines staff not paid for two months; 20 Kingfisher pilots may have joined IndiGoMumbai: Nearly 18,000 employees of Jet Airways and Kingfisher have not received salaries for two months, a reflection of the deepening crisis in the aviation industry. On Monday, Kingfisher Airlines delayed payment of its December salaries again citing 'large unanticipated payments'. Employees of Jet Airways, the country's largest private carrier by market share, have not been paid for January. Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-71173331096512081152012-02-14T03:01:00.001+05:302012-02-15T03:03:37.000+05:30Another arrest in Raj fake pilot licence scamJaipur: The Rajasthan Anti Corruption Bureau has arrested a person for allegedly obtaining commercial pilot license in a fraudulent manner. Rakesh Mehta, a former student of the Rajasthan Flying School, hails from New Delhi. He was arrested yesterday at Sanganer locality here. "Mehta was the student of state flying school in Jaipur, whose chief flying instructor, MK Chaudhary, and others were Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-10540111850633901792012-02-14T03:01:00.000+05:302012-02-15T03:02:38.961+05:30KPMG to frame regulatory approach for Airports Authority of India airportsNew Delhi: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has appointed consultancy firm KPMG to recommend an appropriate regulatory approach for its airports, keeping in mind its unique operating environment and socio-economic obligations. The AAI manages 125 airports and is the sole provider of air traffic navigation services in Indian air space. The Airports' Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) has Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-69570138156222881842012-02-14T02:58:00.001+05:302012-02-15T03:01:01.460+05:30Indian airlines should raise fares by 15%: BoeingSingapore: Cash-strapped airlines in India should raise fares by at least 15% by achieve the break-even point, a senior official of Boeing said here today.Boeing Senior Vice-President, Sales in Asia Pacific and India, Dinesh Keskar also said airlines in India are estimated to post over $1 billion loss in the current fiscal. Stiff competition, depreciating rupee and the rising costs of fuel have Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-14571492016513529282012-02-14T02:58:00.000+05:302012-02-15T02:59:52.058+05:30India Hungry to Develop Hi-Tech Aerospace ExpertiseIndia’s big-ticket military acquisitions are expected to aggressively push schedules for the transfer of production to the country’s ambitious aerospace and defense industry. But the technology that India expects to be transferred through co-development work generated by offset agreements is raising concerns among vendors about possible violations of intellectual property rights (IPR).A revised Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-5169648131086471202012-02-14T02:56:00.001+05:302012-02-15T02:58:23.752+05:30Rs 1500 crore bad loan of 1 firm alone, Air India not be an NPA before April: SBIMumbai: Reporting a massive 85 per cent rise in provisioning against non-performing assets, State Bank of India today said one company alone accounted for Rs 1,500 crore of bad loans in the quarter ended December, 2011. It also noted that Air-India will not become a non-performing asset before April. "Out of the total fresh slippages, as much as one-fourth or one fifth has come from a single Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-41234176555973746042012-02-14T02:56:00.000+05:302012-02-15T02:57:32.220+05:30Airline refuses to fly ailing MLAPatna: Ugly scenes were created at the city airport on Tuesday evening when an ailing JD (U) MLA from Maharajganj assembly constituency, Damodar Singh, was disallowed from boarding Go Air's G8-344 Patna-Delhi flight.The airline staff refused to carry the ailing MLA even as he was issued a boarding pass. Doctors at PMCH had referred Singh to Delhi for better treatment. The MLA is suffering from Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-66632665615263691702012-02-14T02:53:00.000+05:302012-02-15T02:54:47.693+05:30Air passenger outrages modesty of female staffNew Delhi: In yet another case of misbehaviour, the modesty of a female employee of a private airline was outraged by a disgruntled passenger.The accused, Kapil Singhal, not only used derogatory language directed at her, but also pushed and shoved her. On complaint of the victim, Avinash Kaur, Delhi Police has registered a case under sections 354 and 509 for outraging the modesty of a woman and Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-52727596026826056502012-02-14T02:52:00.000+05:302012-02-15T02:55:58.054+05:30Taxi owners, drivers protest against toll collection at BIA RoadBangalore: Day three of toll collection on BIA Road saw stiff resistance from taxi owners and drivers; about 350 of them sat on a dharna at the toll plaza at Devanahalli.Radhakrishna Holla, general secretary of Bangalore Tourist and Taxi Owners’ Association, said most of the taxis going towards the airport make two-four trips to and from the airport every day. He said paying toll for each trip Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-13263914325332940082012-02-14T02:50:00.001+05:302012-02-15T02:52:49.998+05:30Spice, Jet Airways to operate from MysoreMysore: Two private airlines – Spice Jet and Jet Airways – have agreed to link this heritage city with key destinations like Chennai, Kochi, Hyderabad and Goa. Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda chaired a meeting with representatives of private airlines, officers of Airport Authority of India, chief secretary S V Ranganath, and district in-charge minister S.A. Ramadas in this regard on Monday. Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-77397742498700278252012-02-14T02:50:00.000+05:302012-02-15T02:51:44.826+05:30SriLankan gets contract to service IndiGo's aircraftColombo: SriLankan Airlines Engineering has secured its largest contract this year to conduct maintenance checks for an Indian airline.IndiGo, India's budget carrier with a fleet of 48 Airbus A320 airliners has awarded the contract to SriLankan Engineering to conduct C-checks on 26 Airbus A320 through 2012.This is the fourth consecutive year IndiGo has outsourced to SriLankan and this year's Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-76108232727593963322012-02-14T02:47:00.001+05:302012-02-15T02:49:58.466+05:30Fliers to pay more tax at Mumbai airportNew Delhi: Flying out of Mumbai airport is set to become more expensive. The airport operator is in the process of acquiring 16 acres of nearby land, for Rs 250 crore, with the cost to be added to the bill for expansion. Any such rise in project cost means a rise in the Airport Development Fee (ADF) charge on passengers.The cost of acquisition will be paid by the airport operator, Mumbai Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-29129092047063540932012-02-14T02:47:00.000+05:302012-02-15T02:49:05.387+05:30DGCA to take action against Jet Airways for flouting normsMumbai: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked Jet Airways (India) Ltd to explain why it allowed a trainee pilot to land a packed flight in Mumbai in October 2011, violating safety norms.The regulator has summoned the airline’s chief of flight safety and the chief of operations today after it received a complaint this month that the airline had failed to report to the Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-7031719367845434892012-02-14T02:45:00.000+05:302012-02-15T02:46:58.178+05:30‘Photo kiosk' installed at RGIAHyderabad: The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) has, for the first time, installed a ‘photo kiosk' for passengers to take pictures free of cost at the airport.Set-up at the Domestic departures, post security hold area, the kiosk offers options of airport backgrounds for passengers to choose from. This is, apparently, the first time a photo kiosk, has been introduced in any Indian Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-36495042960105195432012-02-14T02:44:00.000+05:302012-02-15T02:46:09.889+05:30Airport flouting fire norms: TMH docMumbai: A senior doctor from the Tata Memorial Hospital has written a letter to Mumbai Airport authorities apprising them of violations of fire safety norms within the airport.In the letter, Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, associate professor of the head and neck department of TMH and a joint secretary with Action Council against Tobacco, pointed out that how the smoking lounge blocks, nearly a third of Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-82645022203235359972012-02-14T02:15:00.000+05:302012-02-15T02:43:58.954+05:30IB to take over emigration at Kerala airportsKochi: The Central Intelligence Bureau will take over the control of emigration procedures at the Kochi, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram international airports of Kerala, probably from April.The move to hand over the control of emigration wings of these airports, being manned by personnel from the Intelligence wing of the State police, was adopted after serious allegations had come up against Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-3912572871636728622012-02-14T02:13:00.000+05:302012-02-15T02:44:49.652+05:30Fire near BIA Cargo TerminalBangalore: A fire broke out near the forest cover opposite the cargo terminal of the Bangalore International Airport (BIAL) in the early afternoon on Monday. A fire tender stationed in the BIAL premises was rushed to the spot at 2 pm and officials revealed the fire had been bellowing for almost an hour before the fire tender reached.“The fire could have started because of a cigarette butt. We Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-62874852555626243792012-02-14T02:11:00.001+05:302012-02-15T02:14:42.155+05:30Kannur airport : 632 acres of land to be taken on leaseThiruvananthapuram: A total of 632 acres of land would be given on lease to the company formed for constructing the proposed airport at Kannur, Minister in charge of airports, Mr K. Babu, said .The Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Ltd (KINFRA), which had acquired the land, would hand it over to the airport company at a rate of Rs 100 per acre, he said in a press release here.14/02/12 PTI/BusinessAv Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-86719600443664113172012-02-14T02:11:00.000+05:302012-02-15T02:13:38.758+05:30‘Fixing of boundary of Hubli airport is almost complete'Hubli airport director K.M. Basavaraju has said that about 90 per cent of the work on fixing of the boundary of the Hubli airport had been completed. The airport is being expanded to make it an all-weather airport.Mr. Basavaraju told presspersons here on Monday that the Government had acquired and handed over 598 acres of land for the airport expansion.According to Mr. Basavaraju, 615 acres of Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-13653123391770697472012-02-14T02:08:00.000+05:302012-02-15T02:10:59.043+05:30Wanted - A Sentry for Entry Point at Airport!Mangalore: Over the past several weeks, the Bajpe Airport, which is on the verge of getting international status (if Moily is to be believed), has been seeing serious violation of a traffic rule at its entrance. The airport has only one entry point from the main road for all the vehicles irrespective of which route they come from. It is strictly a ONE-WAY, and no vehicles are allowed from the Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-75305133186844402092012-02-14T02:06:00.000+05:302012-02-15T02:11:50.005+05:30After two-month delay, Jet to pay salaries todayMumbai: Jet Airways says it hopes to clear payment of salary to all employees by Wednesday, after having delayed it for the second month in a row to pilots, managers and senior executives.The airline said, it has already paid the salaries of ground staff, technicians and security staff.Kingfisher Airlines, too, has defaulted on salary payments for two months and has said it would start disbursingAv Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-39741180771447000652012-02-13T07:22:00.000+05:302012-02-14T07:22:39.563+05:30Air India may lose monopoly over international flying rightsNew Delhi: Air India’s monopoly over bilaterals, or international flying rights, may soon come to an end. The government is considering doing away with the special ‘Right to First Refusal’ privilege enjoyed by the state-owned carrier almost a decade after private domestic airlines were allowed to fly overseas.This would free up foreign flying rights reserved for AI which are not being utilised Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-73474044746149240782012-02-13T07:21:00.000+05:302012-02-14T07:21:56.635+05:30Aviation ministry, AERA at loggerheads over method of defining revenuesNew Delhi: The civil aviation ministry is working on new policy for the economic regulation of greenfield airports, overriding the airport regulator's existing guidelines and opening another chapter in their ongoing tug-of-war.The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) and the ministry are at odds over the method of calculating revenue for airport operators. While AERA says the 'single Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-56726909933015449802012-02-13T07:20:00.000+05:302012-02-14T07:21:18.598+05:30Direct ATF import: GMR, GVK ready to offer support facilitiesNew Delhi: Domestic airlines planning to import jet fuel directly have got support from private airport operators. The two private airport operators GMR and GVK have said that they are ready to provide storage and refuelling facilities to the airlines at Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore.GMR operates Delhi and Hyderabad Airport while GVK operates Mumbai and Bangalore. Delhi, Hyderabad and Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-12524843851630125362012-02-13T07:19:00.001+05:302012-02-14T07:20:39.525+05:30EU Vows to Keep Airline-Emission Levies as China-India Opposition MountsThe European Union will press ahead with emissions levies for international airlines, putting the bloc on course for a trade spat with countries including China, India and the U.S.“The EU will not suspend the legislation,” Siim Kallas, the European Commission’s vice president for transport, said today in Singapore at an airline conference. “It’s a very high- profile environmental issue.”At least Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-88432967053148173902012-02-13T07:19:00.000+05:302012-02-14T07:19:50.897+05:30India's aviation policies not supportive of competitiveness: IATA chief Tony TylerNew Delhi: India was "missing out" on the potential of civil aviation as a key economic contributor as its policies were not supportive of competitiveness in the sector and stunted its growth, global airlines' body IATA said today."India is one market that is missing out on aviation's potential as a result of a policy framework that does not support aviation's competitiveness," International Air Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-22383746770073634142012-02-13T07:18:00.000+05:302012-02-14T07:19:10.591+05:30Hindustan Aeronautics Limited prepares to manufacture Rafale combat jet in IndiaNew Delhi: State-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is getting ready to progressively manufacture the Dassault Rafale combat jet that has apparently been chosen by the Indian Air Force (IAF) for its $10.4 billion order for 126 planes.HAL officiating Chairman and Managing Director P.V. Deshmukh told India Strategic defence magazine (www.indiastrategic.in) that the company had already Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-71586366303350438242012-02-13T07:06:00.001+05:302012-02-14T07:18:26.921+05:30AI debt recast:Federal doesn't see much impact on balancesheetMumbai: Kochi-based private sector lender Federal Bank doesn't fear much impact on its balancesheet due to the proposed debt restructuring of Air India."We don't see much of an impact on our balancesheet after the proposed debt recast of Air India, as total provisioning for this will be only around Rs 4-5 crore," managing director and chief executive Shyam Srinivasan told PTI in an interview.The Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-65663709836898137252012-02-13T07:06:00.000+05:302012-02-14T07:06:45.053+05:30Meghalaya exempts tax on aviation fuelShillong: Meghalaya Government has exempted tax on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) to attract more flight operators to the State.“The exemption is aimed at attracting more aircraft operators to use the airport and help make the Shillong Airport as a re-fuelling centre in the NE,” Excise and Taxation Commissioner J Lyngdoh said. The exemption of tax on ATF would also make the airfare more competitive Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-37602700386142049152012-02-13T07:05:00.000+05:302012-02-14T07:06:04.882+05:30Loaders, porters at IGIA indulging in theftsNew Delhi: Confiscation of work passes and ultimately loss of job have failed to act as a deterrent to the loaders and porters who are increasingly involved in committing petty thefts at the premises of the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport.While the security agencies and Delhi police are busy brainstorming ways to curtail such thefts, the offenders are getting bolder each passing day, inAv Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-19740004461380780642012-02-13T07:04:00.000+05:302012-02-14T07:05:28.855+05:30Airlines need 33,500 new planes by 2030: BoeingSingapore: Global airlines will need 33,500 new planes valued at $4.0 trillion by 2030, with Asia accounting for about 35 percent of the total, US aircraft maker Boeing said on Monday.Asia-Pacific carriers will require 11,450 new aircraft, worth $1.5 trillion, during the same period, Boeing's vice president for commercial planes Randy Tinseth said at a news conference on the eve of the Singapore Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-37916156661375324392012-02-13T07:03:00.001+05:302012-02-14T07:04:44.933+05:30No private airlines to take off in KarnatakaBangalore: While the Karnataka Government is busy trying to either expand airports or build new ones by acquiring hundreds of acres of land, there has been no offers from private airline operators to render their services on these routes.The latest of these expansions are taking place in Hubli airport, where 400 acres has been handed over to Airports Authority of India (AAI). But in reality only Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-38514926336049949552012-02-13T07:03:00.000+05:302012-02-14T07:03:53.787+05:30Retired Indian Major General to Lead HAL and CAE Helicopter Joint Venture in IndiaBengaluru: Helicopter Academy to Train by Simulation of Flying (HATSOFF), the joint venture owned equally by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and CAE, today announced the appointment of Major General (Ret’d) Ajit Hari Gadre as Chief Executive Officer of HATSOFF.“I am pleased to join an organization established by HAL and CAE, two of the world’s leading and most reputable aerospace and defence Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-5796652745656105022012-02-13T07:02:00.000+05:302012-02-14T07:03:10.987+05:30Punjab CM seeks direct flights to NandedChandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal urged the Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ajit Singh to immediately start direct domestic flights from Amritsar and Chandigarh to Nanded in Maharashtra for facilitating the pilgrims to pay obeisance at Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib.According to spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office, Badal put forth this demand before the Union Civil Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-84137142041621519382012-02-13T07:01:00.000+05:302012-02-14T07:02:29.051+05:30CIAL cleaning staff on the warpathKochi: About a year after the Cochin International Airport Limited rapped its contractor agencies for violating the labour laws, about 600-odd employees in its house-keeping section are on a warpath against the company. According to V.P. George, a leader of CIAL Contract House Keeping Employees union in Nedumbassery, CIAL was not doing enough to ensure the salaries of employees and other benefitsAv Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-19518468455090505292012-02-13T07:00:00.000+05:302012-02-14T07:01:51.742+05:30Austrian Airlines to Stop Mumbai OperationsMumbai: The Austrian Airlines today joined AirAsiaX to announce its move to quit a part of its operations in and out of the country by deciding to discontinue the Mumbai-Vienna sector from March 25."Austrian Airlines confirms that the Mumbai-Vienna flight will be suspended from March 25 due to the challenging economic situation. The airline remains committed to its Indian customers and will Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-14763940156936990352012-02-12T23:24:00.002+05:302012-02-12T23:25:24.194+05:30Air India: CBI begins probe into pay-off chargesNew Delhi: The CBI has begun an in-house probe into pay-off allegations concerning a $100 million Air India contract in 2007 when Mr Praful Patel was Civil Aviation Minister, a charge which he has rubbished as “baseless and preposterous“.The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) had approached the probe agency through diplomatic channels informing them about the scandal and allegations made Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-58128848324220619922012-02-12T23:24:00.001+05:302012-02-12T23:24:31.630+05:30New National Air Cargo Policy on the anvilNew Delhi: With air freight traffic in India projected to grow over five times in the next two decades, the government is giving shape to a new national air cargo policy on the basis of a roadmap which is being prepared by the Airports Authority of India to meet the situation.Disclosing this, Civil Aviation Secretary Nasim Zaidi said a working group on air cargo, set up by the Civil Aviation Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-39748483744974463242012-02-12T23:23:00.002+05:302012-02-12T23:24:00.366+05:30CM Badal asks Aviation minister to start flights to NandedChandigarh: he Chief Minister of Punjab, Parkash Singh Badal has asked Union Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh to immediately start direct flights from Amritsar and Chandigarh to Nanded in Maharashtra for facilitating pilgrims to pay obeisance at Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib. A spokesperson for the Chief Minister's Office said Badal put forth this demand before the minister in a meeting heldAv Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-9808197323871989452012-02-12T23:23:00.001+05:302012-02-12T23:23:28.044+05:30DIAL proposes new rate card for aeronautical chargesNew Delhi: As it pitches for increase in aeronautical tariffs at the IGI airport, airport operator -- Delhi International Airport Limited -- has come up with a rate card proposing charges according to the type of aircraft from the airlines.DIAL has also proposed to impose user development fee from arriving passengers, who at present don't have to pay any such cess for using the infrastructure."Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-2302100837794208682012-02-12T23:22:00.001+05:302012-02-12T23:22:57.963+05:30Green signal for Chennai's second airport likely by April-MayNew Delhi: Chennai could become the third city after Goa and Mumbai to have two airports. The new airport is likely to be completed by 2016-17 and is about 30 km from the existing one.An announcement for a second airport in Sriperumbudur, near Chennai, could be expected as early as April this year, official sources in the know told Business Line.“We expect to have the inauguration ceremony for Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-73342889819630067762012-02-12T23:21:00.002+05:302012-02-12T23:22:23.519+05:30CM hears family's plea at airportKolkata: Two women from Rajarhat met chief minister Mamata Banerjee after she landed at the airport and was about to take her convoy on Saturday. Bandana Pal, accompanied by her daughter, told the CM that no probe was conducted into the death of her son, who was murdered in 2010. She pleaded Mamata to look into the matter.Mamata had returned from her North Bengal trip on Saturday and was coming Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-40804305360999912142012-02-12T23:21:00.001+05:302012-02-12T23:21:47.827+05:30Meet the earphone smugglersCustom officials at the Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport on Saturday detained two passengers for smuggling in hi-end mobile phone accessories to the tune of Rs 13 lakh. The duo, Shabjada Khan (22) and Mohshin Khan (20) were returning from Dubai in an Air India flight.An official on the condition of anonymity said, "We got a tip-off from our source about the duo smuggling in cell phone Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-90816638040333913352012-02-12T23:20:00.002+05:302012-02-12T23:21:16.366+05:30International routes: AI may lose special privilegeNew Delhi: Air India's monopoly over international flying rights may soon come to an end. The government is considering doing away with the special 'Right to First Refusal' privilege enjoyed by the state-owned carrier almost a decade after private domestic airlines were allowed to fly overseas. This would free up foreign flying rights reserved for AI which are not being utilised currently.Two topAv Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-19684466332975505022012-02-12T23:20:00.001+05:302012-02-12T23:20:44.128+05:30Airline pilot refuses to fly critically ill childMangalore: Inhuman treatment by pilot of a private airline forced Ramlath, a Kasargod based housewife to take her seriously ill child for further treatment to NIMHANS, Bangalore in an ICU ambulance by road here on Sunday.Doctors at a private hospital where Abdul Hadi, the 1-1/2 year-old-child of Ramlath and Ibrahim, was admitted with high fever had suggested that the child be immediately shifted Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-34077849632846071382012-02-12T23:19:00.000+05:302012-02-12T23:20:12.195+05:30ATF consumption growth slows on less trafficNew Delhi: It’s always a good indication of growth in this sector. So, when aviation turbine fuel (ATF) consumption in December grew much slower than the average for the current financial year, there were concerns.This was reinforced by domestic passenger traffic also growing by only single digits in December, after a gap of two and a half years. However, sector experts say fears on the score of Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-66603644343452839652012-02-12T23:18:00.002+05:302012-02-12T23:19:18.706+05:30Mangalore Air Crash Compensation Row - Kerala-based Org to Go on FastMangalore: Members of Pravasi Sangam, an organisation for overseas affairs and returnees based in Kerala, have announced a fast in protest against discrepancies in disbursing compensation to kin of 2010 Mangalore air crash victims.The protest will be held on Wednesday February 15 from 10 am to 4 pm in front of Mangalore Air India Office, informed P K Abdulla, central vice-president of Pravasi Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-76190781220667698502012-02-12T23:18:00.001+05:302012-02-12T23:18:40.355+05:30Politics keeps airport ‘grounded’Chandigarh: City's quest to mark its presence on international flight map appears to have been smitten by "political" bug. In December 2011, just before announcement of elections in Punjab, chief minister Parkash Singh Badal had written to Centre to accord necessary approvals for starting an international flight from Chandigarh.However, no positive signal has been received from the Centre in the Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-51877534647679506492012-02-12T23:17:00.000+05:302012-02-12T23:18:00.226+05:30HAL’s Nashik airport to begin air cargo operationsMumbai: Export-oriented air cargo operations to Dubai are scheduled to begin shortly from Hindustan Aeronautics' airport at Nashik division in Ojhar.The Nashik division of HAL manufactures Sukhoi warplanes under licence from its Russian collaborator.“This is a result of a 50:50 joint working group called Halcon, set up by HAL and the Container Corporation of India. The ground-handling will be Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-51045210592394998512012-02-12T23:16:00.002+05:302012-02-12T23:17:22.510+05:30DGCA asks airlines to fix work hours for maintenance staffNew Delhi: Concerned over work pressure of aircraft maintenance personnel (AMP) occasionally taking a toll on safety, aviation regulator DGCA has asked all airlines to formulate duty time limitations for this workforce in line with pilots and cabin crew.The DGCA, in a latest airworthiness circular, has asked all airline companies to frame policy for AMP duty time limitations and giving them Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-70429480410194992702012-02-12T23:16:00.001+05:302012-02-12T23:16:47.082+05:30Maha mulling relief on ATF tax to help airlinesMumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has indicated that the state government may share an "equitable burden" with the Centre to provide relief to the aviation sector by reducing sales tax on aviation turbine fuel (ATF). "The country needs a very robust aviation sector, and a developed state like Maharashtra needs it much more than a state like Mizoram or Manipur," Chavan said hereAv Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-41449506483857756902012-02-12T23:14:00.001+05:302012-02-12T23:16:08.754+05:30India finalises contract with GE for 99 aircraft enginesBangalore: The only thing left before India signs the estimated $800 million deal with GE Aviation for 99 GE-F414 engines now, is the clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).The Price Negotiation Committee (PNC), which was set up late 2010 after GE had nipped Eurojet to become the lowest bidder, has recently finalised the deal after having surpassed all the hurdles before it and Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-58334511215038479922012-02-12T23:13:00.002+05:302012-02-12T23:14:24.578+05:30Airport developer wants police protectionKochi: Developers of Aranmula airport approached the Kerala high court on Friday seeking police protection against BJP and Yuva Morcha activists staging protests at the proposed site for the international greenfield airport in Pathanamthitta.Considering a petition by KGS Aranmula International Airport Ltd executive director Nandakumar PT, division bench of Justice CN Ramachandran Nair and JusticeAv Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-55983298007654018862012-02-12T23:13:00.001+05:302012-02-12T23:13:46.781+05:30114 stranded at Rajkot airport as AI flight gets cancelledRajkot: Around 114 passangers have been stranded at the airport, after a Mumbai-bound Air India (AI) flight was cancelled due to technical snag, airport sources said. Last evening, the same flight had landed at the Rajkot airport safely with nearly 118 passengers on board. However, while the aircraft was going to the apron area the flight wheel collided with a solid object, sources said. Even Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-60569512328447600262012-02-12T23:11:00.003+05:302012-02-12T23:12:59.709+05:30Choppers giving a high to city lovebirdsHyderabad: This could well be the season of love and nobody is more excited than city-based chartered chopper services who have been giving couples a chance to write their love stories in the clouds, in exchange for a fee.Smitten souls who wear their hearts on their sleeves and who are willing to spend as they please are turning out to be prime customers for chopper service providers. Earlier, Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-36410354488735350772012-02-12T23:11:00.001+05:302012-02-12T23:11:50.782+05:30Business class flier gets roach in food-plateMumbai: A Dadar resident travelling by business class on a Jet Airways flight on the afternoon of February 5 lost all her appetite when she saw a dead cockroach lying beneath the Brinjal served in 52-year-old Pramila Sawant’s plate.“I was completely shocked and angry. To add insult to injury, I was denied a complaint book by the staff, who also forcibly took the plate away from me. They were Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-14089122929838845942012-02-12T23:10:00.000+05:302012-02-12T23:11:06.776+05:30Medha Patkar to address rally in AranmulaPathanamthitta: The National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) has called upon the Government to take a strong resolve not to permit any more conversion of paddyfield or wetland in the larger interests of the very existence of the land of Kerala.In a joint statement issued here on Saturday, the NAPM leaders, Medha Patkar, Gabriele Dietrich, Prafulla Samantara, Sandeep Pandey, Goe Ghosh, Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-64646937314700731862012-02-11T18:10:00.000+05:302012-02-11T18:11:58.276+05:30Andal airport takeoff likely in mid-2013Andal (Durgapur): The airport was initially scheduled to take off in 2011 but a bitter wrangle with Coal India Ltd kept it grounded for months and delayed the project by a year. Even as construction of the runway, terminal building, air traffic control tower and other facilities is under way full swing with promoters Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd (BAPL) and strategic investor Changi Airports Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-47836414165356874452012-02-11T18:06:00.001+05:302012-02-11T18:09:56.840+05:30Bengal Aerotropolis woos airlines for Durgapur airportDurgapur: With the construction of Changi's proposed airport at Andal near Durgapur in West Bengal going on in full swing, to meet the 2012-end deadline, promoter Bengal Aerotropolis Projects (BAPL) has initiated talks with major airlines for participation."We were always confident about the potentiality of the airport due to the huge a catchment area in the Durgapur-Asansol-Dhanbad region. ThereAv Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-48030090627790762162012-02-11T18:06:00.000+05:302012-02-11T18:08:36.651+05:30India, EU to resolve differences over move to tax air travelNew Delhi: India and the European Union on Friday stuck to their respective stands on EU's move to tax air travel by including aviation in their Emissions Trading System (ETS), but decided to resolve the differences urgently.India, along with over 30 countries like Russia, the US and China would meet in Moscow later this month to decide whether to take retaliatory measures against the EU's "Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-91048868107553464372012-02-11T18:03:00.000+05:302012-02-11T18:05:31.015+05:30Tiger Airways to resume Kochi-Singapore serviceKochi: Tiger Airways, one of Asia's leading low-cost carriers, has announced a new direct service between Kochi and Singapore, becoming the first regional low-cost carrier to connect these two cities.11/02/12 City JournalAv Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-68330183502515175912012-02-11T18:01:00.000+05:302012-02-11T18:06:47.482+05:30India’s Air Works Extends Its MRO ReachAir Works, India’s only third-party maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) provider in commercial aviation, is making large investments to enter the general aviation market for heavy maintenance and, at the same time, is putting down roots in Europe, with the imminent opening of a new aircraft paint facility at Bratislava Airport in Slovakia. The 60-year-old company already claims to hold a 30- Av Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-91766817601274558762012-02-11T18:00:00.000+05:302012-02-11T18:02:10.245+05:30Azad, Thakre unhurt after plane tyre burstsNagpur/Amravati: Union minister for health Ghulam Nabi Azad, state Congress committee president Manikrao Thakre, All India Congress Committee secretary and in charge for Maharashtra Mohan Prakash and three others had a providential escape after their aircraft suffered a tyre burst while landing at Belora airstrip near Amravati on Friday afternoon.The politicians were flying from Akola to AmravatiAv Indianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20196192.post-46599804007211055392012-02-11T17:45:00.000+05:302012-02-11T18:00:29.738+05:30New runway becomes operational at RGIAHyderabad: The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport on Friday commenced operations from its second runway. The new parallel runway designated as Rwy 09L/27R is 3,707 m long and CodeE aircraft compliant (A340/B747).The GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd, the airport operator has obtained clearances from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, making it the first greenfield airport in the Av Indianoreply@blogger.com