SP's Aviation 5 of 08

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Indian Air Force’s MMRCA RFP: Responses pour in Pg 11 • Boeing pitches heavy duty C-17s Pg 26 • EBACE show review: Mercury rising Pg 32 • Cessna sighted down south Pg 30

SP’s AN SP GUIDE PUBLICATION

News Flies. We Gather Intelligence. Every Month. From India. Aviationwww.spsaviation.net ISSUE 5 • 2008

Business Aviation

RNI NUMBER: DELENG/2008/24199 EnthrallsIndia NCOC

C-130J F-16 with Sniper Targeting Pod P-3 MH-60R

PAC-3

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Regular Departments SP’s AN SP GUIDE PUBLICATION 4 A Word from Editor News Flies. We Gather Intelligence. Every Month. From India. 8 NewsWithViews - Laser-Guided Lethality AviationISSUE 5 • 2008 - A Perfect 10 Military - Whispers of Discontent 28 UPGRADES 11 InFocus HIGH COSTS OF INDECISION - Responses Pour in Q&A 13 Forum - Debilitating Pace 14 MMRCA DEAL 40 NewsDigest BALANCING ACT Civil 44 LastWord - Price of Procrastination 21 BUSINESS AVIATION ON A ROLL, UPHILL 23 FLIGHT SAFETY 16

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Cover Photo: �� SAFETY AT STAKE �� The Elite Class: India is home to A Falcon 2000LX in ﬂ ight. �� 30 BUSINESS AVIATION 53 billionaires and 1,00,000 millionaires. India is emerging as a major �� CESSNA SIGHTED The high spending power has engineered hub for business aviation a shift away from just owning a business with key players lining up Cover Story aircraft to having a custom built one. with their wares. 16 BUSINESS AVIATION (Seen above is the recently introduced BusinBusinessess AviationAviation Gulfstream G150. Photo Credit: Gulfstream) NDIA NTHRALLED I E Photo Credit: Dassault �� EnthrallsIndIndiaia Hall of Fame SP's Avn 5 of 08 Cover.indd 1 6/5/08 7:01:09 PM PUBLISHER AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR: Ratan Sonal 38 WRIGHT BROTHERS Jayant Baranwal LAYOUT DESIGNS: Raj Kumar Sharma

CORRIGENDUM—Cover Story “Lightning Pace” ASSISTANT EDITOR © SP Guide Publications, 2008 in SP’s Aviation Issue 4, 2008 made the erroneous Arundhati Das ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION observation: “With the remaining F-35 participant Inland: Rs 850 • Foreign: US$ 250 countries planning to acquire another 600 to 700 SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT & COPY EDITOR Email: [email protected] aircraft, the total production fi gure already exceeds Sanjay Kumar 3,200 and may touch 2,035, making it one of the most ADVERTISING DETAILS’ CONTACTS numerous jet fi ghters.” The correct statement is: “With SENIOR VISITING EDITOR [email protected] the remaining F-35 participant countries planning to Air Marshal (Retd) V.K. Bhatia [email protected] acquire another 600 to 700 aircraft, the production [email protected] fi gure till the year 2035 already exceeds 3,200, making SENIOR TECHNICAL GROUP EDITORS SP GUIDE PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD the F-35 one of the most numerous jet fi ghters.” Air Marshal (Retd) B.K. Pandey A-133 Arjun Nagar, (Opposite Defence Colony) Lt General (Retd) Naresh Chand New Delhi 110 003, India.

26 SUB-EDITOR Tel: +91 (11) 24644693, 24644763, 24620130 Bipasha Roy Fax: +91 (11) 24647093 Email: [email protected] CONTRIBUTORS India Air Marshal (Retd) P.K. Mehra, POSTAL ADDRESS Air Marshal (Retd) Raghu Rajan, Air Marshal Post Box No 2525 (Retd) N. Menon, Air Marshal (Retd) V. Patney, New Delhi 110 005, India. Group Captain A.K. Sachdev REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE Europe Alan Peaford, Phil Nasskau, Justin BANGALORE, INDIA 32 Wastnage, Rob Coppinger, Andrew Brookes, 534, Jal Vayu Vihar Paul Beaver, Gunter Endres (UK) Kammanhalli Main Road USA & Canada Sushant Deb, Lon Nordeen, Bangalore 560043, India. Anil R. Pustam (West Indies) Tel: +91 (80) 23682534

CHAIRMAN & MANAGING DIRECTOR MOSCOW, RUSSIA Jayant Baranwal LAGUK Co., Ltd., (Yuri Laskin) Owned, published and printed by Jayant Baranwal, printed Krasnokholmskaya, Nab., at Rave India and published at A-133, Arjun Nagar (Opposite 11/15, app. 132, Moscow 115172, Russia. Defence Colony), New Delhi 110 003, India. All rights reserved. Tel: +7 (495) 911 2762 No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a Fax: +7 (495) 912 1260 30 retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, photocopying, recording, electronic, or otherwise without prior written permission of the Publishers. www.spguidepublications.com

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For more information visit our website at www.honeywell.com or call: North America – Tel: 1-800-421-2133 • Europe – Tel: +44 (0)1935 475181 • South East Asia – Tel: +61 3 9330 1511 © 2008 Honeywell International Inc. All rights reserved. A Word from Editor Birth, growth and maturity make for a complete cycle in any development process. So even as business aviation takes India by storm, harsh ground realities demand a closer inspection and a blast from the past reminds us from where it all started.

everal notches above the ‘Business Class’ is the fast- news would be the hint of any credence to rumours of certain emerging ‘Elite Class’—a bracket born of the shrink- anomalies that might force a redo of the RFP exercise. Even ing gap between affordability of a business jet and as InFocus and Forum deliberate on the nuances of the deal the purchasing power of a large number of business and the aircraft on offer, SP’s directed a quickfire round at the houses and businessmen. India, home to 53 billion- contestants. Of the six frontrunners, three replied. Stealing a Saires and 1,00,000 millionaires, is enmeshed in the thralls of march, Boeing played host to an entourage of mediapersons the luxury, power and prestige associated with owning a pair and pundits, including self, at a whirlwind tour of its various of wings. The comparison to sports cars is not just on account facilities and operation hubs in the US. A detailed analysis of of sleek looks and speed, there is also the subliminal linkage the C-17 heavy airlift capability transport aircraft in this edi- which renders business jets objects of desire, symbols of status tion is the first in a series of articles on Boeing’s wares. and something you must have if the Jones’s possess one. On a sombre note, the Last Word scans the April 29 episode Capturing the hype and ooh-la-la, Group Captain A.K. when a brand new Hawk, among the fleet of 10 recently ac- Sachdev rightly surmises: “What Internet did to out-of-office quired by the Indian Air Force, crashed at Air Force Station Bi- work, the new class of business jets will do for in-flight work.” dar. India, notes Air Marshal (Retd) B.K. Pandey, is well aware And perhaps the flamboyant Dr Vijay Mallya will bring produc- of the price that has been paid in terms of lives and aircraft lost tion of these glamourous wings to India? News is Dr Mallya’s in the last two decades owing essentially to enigmatic procras- UB Group has initiated talks with France-based EADS Socata, tination in the induction of the Hawk. a leading aircraft manufacturer, to co-develop business jets. Hall of Fame, this time around, presents the pièce de ré- Flipping the coin, Joseph Noronha pragmatically observes that sistance. Quite fittingly so, while the Cover Story captures the Indian business aviation faces daunting challenges, including exciting prospects of the emerging new trends in business woeful infrastructure. aviation, the Hall of Fame reminiscences on the Wright broth- A combination of pragmatism and pace hold the key for ers—the first to demonstrate that sustained flight was possible the smooth transition of the MMRCA deal. Good news is all with heavier-than-air machines. A humbling account of the the six contenders met the revised deadline in submitting indi- pioneers who gave the human race its wings. vidual responses by April 28 to the Request for Proposal. Bad

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF JAYANT BARANWAL WITH THE USN Jayant Baranwal F/A-18 AT THE LEMOORE NAVAL AIR STATION, US Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

4 SP’S AVIATION Issue 5 • 2008 -5 Bleed

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SP_AVIATION_267x420_ LAUNCH.indd 1 15/5/08 14:48:06 ILLUSTRATION: MAMTA NewsWithViews computerscalculate parameters such asdistance, course and flight, illuminating the missile with a trackingthe laserABL wouldbeam acquirewhile and track missiles in altitudesthe boost of phaseabout of40,000 ft. Capable of autonomousBoeing operation, YAL-1 ABL, 747-400F,which christened would modified probably operate the pairsin at manoeuvre to required four,testing.ofcrew copilot,includingand pilotbeAwould Integration Laboratory System for proving theof the concept intoand ground-incorporated was airframe the where Base EdwardsMojaveairporttoAir from wings its without ported road-transand2001 USAFin the by acquired was 747-200 India Air retired velopment, a de initial theIncidentally, for theatre ballisticdown missiles. 400Ffreighter aircraft 747-shootto modified a on mounted laser iodine oxygen chemical high-energy, a of consiststem hostile ballistic missiles. destroy and attack to pability istrying to acquire the ABLca boostphasesegment, theMDA and terminal phases. midcourse It is boost, in the the as such ent segments in their trajectory tion of enemy missiles at differ intercepdefencestheaddress Layered technology. hit-to-kill developing emphasises is it ry tifacetedstrategy. Theweapon theMDA hasdeveloped mula threats, countering of mission programme. its accomplish To and converted to an acquisition (MDA)Agency Defense Missile US the to 2001 transferred in Iran, North Korea—as projected by the 1996,but US,with the emergence of the Axisof Evil countries—Iraq,programme was like sciencefiction?Notanymore. phase itself while still cruising over enemy territory. Sounds I VIEWS 8

or shortly after they are launched. “We stand on the verge of fully demonstrating a revolutionary warfighting capability,” warfighting are launched. they after a or revolutionary shortly Pat “Wesaid Shanahan, on of demonstrating and stand the verge fully President flight, Vice of phase boost their in missiles ballistic destroy to capability quick-reaction and deployable rapidly a providing towards is progress Martin, tremendous Lockheed making and Grumman Northrop Boeing, team industry the and Agency Defence Missile US the by development under (ABL), Laser The Airborne LASER-GUIDED LETHALITY activation testing for the ABL missile defence programme. defence the missile for ABL testing activation laser first the completed Defense Agency Missile US the and 1, meet.June Boeing On media recent a in Systems Defense Missile Boeing of Manager General

h AL epn sys weapon ABL The The ABLprogramme was initiated bythe US AirForce in SP’S ig t h sed f ih, h lsr em tre the target beams missiles so swiftly that these are laser destroyed in the boost the light, of speed the at ling sky.the of out missiles ballistic Travelhostile blasting laser, a with armed airplane, military A this. magine AVIATION

Issue 5•2008 ------

- a missile,a thehigh-energy laser beam burns through theskin aircraftget.theatturnfireSparingeffortand timeto the distinctiveitstarappearance—points the atbeam laserthe worldtobefitted onanaircraft, theturret—which lends ABL missileover the launch area. Reported to be the largest in the seconds from a turret located in the 747’s nose,five lastingburstdestroyingstrength,classbarelytothree a fire would the atmospheric turbulence to determine the aim-point. et h tsig agt f cul etuto o a boosting ballistic missilein2009. a of destruction actual of to target set testing the is meet giants aerospace US three of team ABM the and But all major technology breakthroughs have been achieved network of Ballistic Missile Defences. missiledefence systemsentiretheinnicheownits withof a Afterlocking onto the target, a second laser, with weapon- Developing a cutting-edge system like the ABL isn’t easy. SP — Air Marshal (Retd) V.K. Bhatia of the targettheofmissile whichdis B wl cmlmn other complement will ABL scenarios.manythen,But,the in useful be to short km—too 300 to limited be likelywould range destruction the ICBMs solid-fuel tougher against But, elled ICBMs up to 600 km away. goals, it could destroy liquid-fu design its achieves ABL the If phase. boost during (ICBMs) Missiles Ballistic continental Inter against used it be might suggested Recently, MDA however, missiles. ballistic theatre against use de for signed primarily been has ABL trol/fire control system. Martinprovides thebeamcon Lockheed while, laserminator laseras well as the beacon illu missile-killing,the high-energy supplies Grumman Northrop partners, industry its Among testing. and integration tems mentandleads theoverall sys theaircraft andbattle manage contractor for ABL and provides sile’sflight. Boeing isthe prime stresses experienced in the mis integrateshighduetodynamic s etoe erir the earlier, mentioned As ------ILLUSTRATION: MAMTA NewsWithViews VIEWS thisattemptedmaynotbe before 2025. There arealsoplans by2015. Thereis also talk of landing aman on the moon but earth the around flight space manned followed by 2012 for challengeroboticbigalanding moonplanned thewillbeon mission.thisnextThe on time first the for outtried be will part of this year. The indigenously developed cryogenicI,unmanned missionengine theMoontoscheduled during thelater space exploration, in the challenges most immediate new being undertakethe Chandrayaan market but also its capability to hugethecommercialof launch share fair its claim dentials to clearlyestablishedISRO’s cre cess of this mission has not only sevensecond.perkm sucThe reoriented while moving at over launchvehicle the is required release,to be each After ence. interfer mutual withoutorbits designated their into inserted secondsand 20 intervals of at released were nano-satellites eight precision. The of degree groundhighachievetheand froma exercise whole the trol thanthelaunch itself contois launch vehicle. single a aboard satellites four launchingbeenregularly to up NASA, meanwhile,agency has lites,ended infailure. USspace satel nano Japanese two ing satellites, 18 includ withhicle ve space Russian a 2006, In 824kgcarried bythePSLV C9. was less than 300 kg as against weight total the thatmaintain reports all However, 16. and eight between variessources, Dneprlaunched inApril 2007. figure,The quotedvariousby on the number of satellites on board the Russian spaceRussia. vehicleHowever, there isinconsistency is launch single inthe a various satellites inreports of number large a spaceinto worldrecord.a onlyThe othercountry believed havesentto T lowing burnout of the stage fourth of the carrier rocket, the payload consisting of 10 satellites were released. The PSLV in flew the Core Alone, configuration, with the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 03:53:51 GMT (09:24 local time) and reached a polar, Sun-synchronous low Earth orbit a little over seven minutes later. Fol at pad launch second On the Launch satellites.from Satellite 28,10 off Polar April launched Vehiclelifted Indian successfully rocket an (PSLV) long 44-m The A PERFECT10 Nano Satellites developed by university students in Canada,Nano Satellites developed Japan, Denmark, Germany and The Netherlands—were injected into the desired orbits successfully. no solid rocket boosters around the first stage. All 10 satellites—the 690 kg Indian remote sensing satellite Cartosat-2A, the 83 kg Indian Mini Satellite and eight ht s a mr difficult more far is What ment by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is Thereis some uncertainty as to whether this achieve singleastounding.missiontask.isa Toinlaunch 10 launcho singlea satellite successfully isdemandinga ------the biggest challenge ahead for ISRO is to penetrate the heavy TecSar were launched with similar configuration. Butfore, perhapswasthethird suchmission. TheItalian AgileandIsraeli thathad launched multiple satellites twice before. This,there customers.This wasthe12th successful mission thebyPSLV the timeframe for the lunar probe. fully liberated from US sanctions, a factor thatto sendmay probesimpinge toon Mars and the Sun. Tragically, ISRO is still not tion may well turnout to be a self limiting exercise. If the junk is allowed to pile up, in due course space explora may pose serious threat to the survival of functional satellites. tent at this point in time. However, in the future, space debris appearpo notspace,limitlessthreatmay thenaturetheof particles, big and small moving at of phenomenalmillions of speeds.tens with polluted alreadyGiven is ploration,space o a, SO a luce 1 stlie fr international satellites for 16 launched has far, ISRO So Issue 5•2008 — Air Marshal (Retd) B.K. Pandey egt satelliteweight market. launch in just over five decades of exdecadesfiveoverofjust in that indicate estimates NASA technology available to rid space of cost-effective debris. or convenient no is nately, there Unfortuspace.oflittering the launch business grows, so satellitedoes the As orbit. in tinue con and abandoned merely replace periodicment. Life expired satellites are need and building expertise. satellite in reputation its ploit ex placedtowell also is ISRO engine which is yet to be tested. indigenous cryogenic 25-tonne the of success a make to sary IIIfor which itwould beneces will come through the GSLV Mk launchheavysatellitesbilityto RussiaUkraine.and capaThe EuropeanSpace Agency,China, competition stiff from with ket lowtoayield commercial mar The PSLV capability limits ISRO present capability the of fromtwo tonnes. increase significant a payloads, six-tonne to four- develop the capability to launch Tothis,do ISRO wouldhave to aelts ae iie life limited have Satellites

SP’S AVIATION SP

- 9 ------ILLUSTRATION: MAMTA NewsWithViews al ha-ekn msie ytm, f hc tee r hun are there heat-seeking whichtable systems, missile of largepassengertocalled aircraftareman-porwhatfrom is Countermeasures threatred primary (LAIRCM) system. The NorthropwouldbeGrumman’s it latestLargeAircraft Infra has opted for state-of-the-art equipment, thencontractedIAFIAFbeinginstalledthe the isBBJs.if on in But all probability ors to install the SPS system. remodeland interithesomeof of money for having to dismantle fitmentcosts, additionalan sum overand above the systems and ing company reportedly charged, agreedtheBoeastheUSby to inclusionitswasthatclear but is it subsequently taken been includethe SPS appears tohave to Decision America. of States UnitedPresidentfliesthetheof UStheForceAirin thatOneed facilitiesthetoakin ficeprovid executive of an and room bed communication lines, personal a personal amenities, of-the-art borneoffice incorporating state- air an with complete 737-800 threespeciallyequipped Boeing forwasorder BBJ 17.JulyThe also signed in the same year, on civiliannuclear programme was India’s cooperation in on ment agree Indo-US speculate—the meditated, as some would like to Coincidentally—contrarypre to ispurely commerciala contract. the rhetoric a bit too far. carrying be to appears deal ar seeminglyfailing Indo-US nucle any case, linking the issue to the later, one can’t help wondering at the veracity of similarthe report. report In also appeared in the Pakistaniand Defence press, wings of thealbeit South Block.a day Notwithstanding that a asarude shock to the mandarins of both the External Affairs thePrime Minister—the above media report must have come B VIEWS 10 This notonlythreatenstodelaysupplyoftheaircraft, buthasthepotentialtocallintoquestionentiredealifnototheracquisitionsfromUS. system.the of export the on inked,restrictions was placed deal has arrive,the US to after the scheduled years were three million) and ($183.75 crore 735 Rs million) Special Protection Suite (SPS) to ward off attacks by shoulder-held heat-seeking missiles. But now, a month before the first of the three aircraft costing ($50.2 202-crore Rs a with equipped Jet Business Boeing an own—a get ‘AirOne’his to Force of due was Manmohan 2008,Minister countries.June Prime In collapsed,officially not has it though Even two the between relationship the to damage collateral doing begun apparently has deal nuclear Indo-US stalled the WHISPERS OFDISCONTENT

At this stage it is not very clear as to which SPS systemSPSwhich to asclear very not is itstage this At dealBBJ2005, the inInked

SP’S forferrying the nation’s highest dignitaries, including Communication Squadron—responsible Force’s VIP ted Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) is to join the Indianarely a monthAir before the first of the three specially fit AVIATION

Issue 5•2008 ------

- - - - active countermeasure that defeats the threat pointer-trackermissilemountedin guidance assemblies.turretan isLAIRCM spatial coverage. The counter-measures subsystems missileusewarningmultiple systemuseslasersprovidesensors fullto automaticallyand countermissileadvancedsystems.IR The rates alarm false decrease time, crew-warning increase to man-portablesuchdesigned missiles,LAIRCMsystemis the tantgroups. Specially equippedprotect tolarge aircraft from dreds of thousands floating around among insurgent and mili are so assiduously building upon. the very sanctity of the ‘Strategic Partnership’ both countries appear to be among the companiesfrontrunners US but alsothe put which to forquestion deal MMRCA billion-plus $10 bigger much the jeopardy in put only not would US the of of supplier dependable part the onIndia. movehigh-techequipmentto and a such Also reliable a as US the on sions — Air Marshal (Retd) V.K. Bhatia system by directing a high-inten ae ihy des repercus adverse highly have would it reports, media the in joy similar protection. few,aname reportedlyalso en to Morocco, and Malaysia tina, Australia,as suchstates Argen suites.Aircraft supplied for self-protection the heads of similar with equipped be to supposed Operations,Forcescialalso are SpeforIAFheedMartinthe to C-130Js, being supplied by Lock tileenvironment. fact,Insix the missile-infested in hosoperate routinely to have which mand 130Js of the Special C- Forces and C-17sCom the as suchcraft air military large protection to inagreater measure, to provide to protect onlythe VIP/VVIP not aircraft aimed but, is gramme was detected and jammed. missile threat a that informed from the crew. The pilot is simplysystems with noaction required counterslyadvancedmissile IR the LAIRCM system automatical addition, seeker. In missile the into beam modulated laser sity hud hr b ay truth any be there Should pro LAIRCM the US, the In SP ------PHOTOGRAPHS: SP GUIDE PUBNS InInFocusFocus cooperationoffer, inviteweIndiabecomemembersuccessful theto aof Eurofighter family. Weinterestedare long-lastingin officials and the media, Bernhard Gerwert, CEO Military AirSystems, pitchEADS by inviting Defence India&Security, to join the Eurofighter said, programme “Asas anew part partner. of our industrial Addressingacombined conference of government marketplace today with 24 countries having selected the F-16 as theirinternational fighter theaircraft of inchoice. availablefighter strikemulti-role proven combat most the of derivativeadvanced an be to claimed is to provide outstanding front-line capability, unprecedented reliability and extremely low life-cycle costs. Further, the F-16IN features such as superior agility, excellent pilot situational awareness and critical systems redundancy. The F-16IN is stated suite; and conformal fuel tanks to significantly extend range and endurance. EWeffective highlyThe inventory; a weaponslarge aircraft a thrust;increased for engineF110-132Athealso APG-80 GE AESAthe radar;includes advanced survivability modern,cutting-edgemultitudeofacolour, technologies includefullapecially asdesigned to such all-digitalcockpit;glass es- been has F-16INIAF. sources,thethe companyof requirementsto Accordingthe exceed or meet to tailoreduniquely proposingbyRFPtechnologicallymost thethe to advancedFightingF-16themodel ofFalcon which, and claims,it bewill Raytheon’s APG-79 AESA radar and other high-techF/A-18E/F systems. model flown by the US Navy and currentlyseriousness beingin meeting built its foroffset the commitments. Royal AustralianThe Superpast threeHornetAir years variantForce. through being long-term Theoffered aircraft partnershipto India—the is agreements equippedF/A-18IN—is withwith basedHAL, on theTata Industries and Larson & Toubro,India’s Boeing growing defence aerospace is industry.” showing Indianstrengththeintocatalyst for Force, a Air asserve and that will robustly defend their shores and airspace, infuse new give Indians a direct hand in building advanced fighter aircraftwould F/A-18E/F theadding, Systems,“ChoosingMobility & Engagement Precision Boeing of President Chadwick, Chris aerospace capabilities and enhance its national security,” said long- country’sthe strengthen a help to India withpartnership seek term to been has goal strategic “Boeing’sSystems. Defense Integrated BoeingCEO, and PresidentAlbaugh, Jim today,” said production in fighter combat multi-role proven ers. “We are offering India the best-value, most advanced and tended to April 28 at the request of some of the other contend- meeting the initial in deadline of March well 3. homework That, however, its done got ex- had team proposal Boeing’s the Swedish Saab and the MiG MAPO from Russia. Martin,Dassault,FrenchEurofightertheConsortium, the the fray include two US companies, namely, Boeing and Lockheed deadlinenewthe of April28. potentialsixThe vendorsthein meet to determined others the by closely followed 28, April massive7,000-page proposal tothe Indian AirForce (IAF) on a deliveredCompany Boeing thepack, the lousness.Leading meticu- painstaking for kudos greater deal even deserve perhaps (MMRCA) Aircraft Combat Multi-Role Medium India’s for vendorscontending the byindividually preparedsponses I POUR R MMRCAM DEAL M R Seeking to gain an edge, the European Consortium producing the Eurofighter Typhoon has gone one step ahead in its sales The second US jet fighter in the reckoning is from another military aviation giant, Lockheed Martin, which has responded Evidently, Boeing is aggressively marketing its product. By reaching out to Indian aerospace and technology sectors over the Offering the advanced F/A-18E/F Super Hornet to the IAF, the global military aviation industry, the subsequent re- subsequentindustry, the aviation military global the by received ever documents comprehensive most the of one as appreciation drew pages 200 than more acrossa running (RFP) Proposal for Request exhaustive India’s f C

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evaluation of technical and commercial the race enters the next stage RFP for India’s MMRCA deal,submitted their responses to the With all the six contenders having Issue 5•2008

SP’S AVIATION

11 INFOCUS MMRCA DEAL

UNITED WE RACE: US MAJORS LOCKHEED MARTIN AND BOEING HAVE GRABBED THE SPOTLIGHT. SEEN HERE ARE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE TWO COMPANIES, INCLUDING MIKE KELLEY (2ND FROM LEFT) OF LOCKHEED MARTIN AND DR VIVEK LALL OF BOEING IDS (RIGHT), WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE RESPONSE BOXES IN FRONT OF THE US EMBASSY.

profile could consist of 2X Py- thon CCMs and 4XDerby BVR air-to-air missiles, 4XGBU-12 LGBs with a Laser Designator Pod and 2X300 US gallon fuel drop tanks. The aircraft can also be optionally fitted with an in-flight refueling probe to extend range. Gripen is designed to meet the demands of current and future threats, while at the same time meeting strict requirements of flight safety, reliability, training PHOTOGRAPHS: INTERCORP efficiency and low operating costs. Company officials are political, industrial and military relations which will be based very vocal in promoting their offer as the “complete solution” to on a win-win partnership. Therefore, the door is wide open meet the IAF’s present and future needs, guaranteeing access for India.” Eurofighter is not one nation or one company but to not only all future upgrades, but full transfer of technology to a quadrinational programme with four leading aerospace enable meaningful indigenous endeavours as well. companies—EADS (Germany), EADS Casa (Spain), BAE Sys- While the makers of the French Rafale and the Russian tems (UK) and Alenia Finmeccanica (Italy). Together they have MiG-35 have not been very vocal in public, it is known that joined forces to support the Eurofighter campaign in India. the two have also met the deadline and submitted their re- Fully operational in four countries and with more than sponses. Both aircraft are serious competitors for the IAF’s 700 orders from six customers which, in addition to the 126 MMRCA programme with their supplier countries France aforementioned four key players, include Austria and Sau- and Russia having had historical and time-tested links as far di Arabia, the Eurofighter Typhoon is emerging as the true as supply of jet fighters to India is concerned. The French swing-role fighter aircraft capable of doing both air-to-air were one of the first to equip the IAF with Ouragon (Toofani) and air-to-ground roles either singly or simultaneously in the and Mystere 1V jet fighters in the 1950s. Later, in the 1980s, same sortie. Combining advanced technology with world- the IAF received the Mirage 2000 aircraft from France which class performance, the Typhoon is stated to provide highest proved to be highly successful in the 1999 Kargil conflict and, levels of mission effectiveness for all scenarios and a broad continue to be the proud possession of the IAF. Russia, on the range of mission flexibility with its capability to carry a large other hand, continues to be one of the major suppliers of arms mix of air combat and strike weapons, EW equipment and to India with the IAF having received numerous jet fighters external fuel tanks. Remarkable agility and heightened pilot from it such as the MiG-21s, Su-7s, MiG-23s, MiG-25s, MiG- awareness are other hallmarks of the aircraft which, protago- 27s and MiG-29s. The remarkable Su-30 MKI is the latest Rus- nists insist, allow the Eurofighter Typhoon to meet the chal- sian combat aircraft to be inducted into the IAF in an ongoing lenges of fast-changing operational scenarios. programme for 230 aircraft both through directs sales and April 28 also saw the Swedish Saab, maker of the Grip- indigenous production by HAL in India. en, handing over its response to India’s Ministry of Defence With all the six contenders having submitted their respons- through its Gripen International Business Unit. Christened es to the RFP for India’s MMRCA deal, the race enters the next Gripen IN, the proffered fighter aircraft is based on the Saab’s stage of technical and commercial evaluation. A mammoth newly launched Gripen NG (Next Generation)—an enhanced and arduous task, it is hoped that the concerned departments version of the well proven Net Centric Warfare Gripen multi- of the Government, specially the IAF, are fully geared to com- role fighter which, according to the company, has unbeatable plete this phase of the deal without getting into time over- low acquisition, operational and product support costs. runs. The IAF is already in a tight spot vis-à-vis the dwindling Gripen has been described as the first of the new genera- strength of its combat aircraft. It must, therefore, move on a tion, true multi-role combat aircraft to enter service. Using the war-footing to regain its depleting combat potential. SP latest available technology, it is capable of performing an exten- (For responses to SP’s Q&A from sive range of air-to-air and air-to-surface operational missions Boeing, EADS and Lockheed Martin, turn to page 14) and employing the latest weapons. A typical multi-role mission — Air Marshal (Retd) V.K. Bhatia

12 SP’S AVIATION Issue 5 • 2008 Forum cumstances wherein the lowest bidder would have the best the have would bidder lowest the wherein cumstances cir normal completed.unlike Also, get to months six to up take easily could exercise complex burned,a oil such is fact midnight of amount the of irrespective But,gusto. requisite the with commenced already has exercise revealed this sources, information by the by going and, HQ Air at branch the Staff of would Air Chief Deputy the by spearheaded be to have exercise the of part first The grounds. commercial on and technically both evaluated, and studied thoroughly be to have would RFP the Toto responses six with,all start through before awarding the contract to a particular vendor. national security. of requirements time-bound and urgent the to sensitive be of the elected government, equally prerogative must be its responsibility to justifiable a be may cases such in review a While again. once bottleneck a hit could procedure entire now,the from year a than less scheduled elections general a change of government at the Centre in the aftermath of the delays.and dithering of round fresh Worse,be there should this stage could involve considerable reworking, triggering at a proposal the of minor,modification even major,or Any exercise. RFP the of redo a force might that anomalies tain cer of rumours to credence any of hint the be would news deadline in submitting individual responses by April 28. Bad the contract’s massive50percentoffsetclauses. competing aviation companies to cover all aspects including of six months had to be extended further to enable all the six tender.deadline global initial a The of floating the with ers contend six to year last August in Proposal issued finally was for (RFP) Request the again), revised being of process Procedure Procurement the in is and 2006 in revision a undergone has itself (which Defence on document luminous of issuingaRequestforInformation. principle by the government prior to executing the in first step accepted be to proposal the for years three as many as process for acquisition of defence equipment in India, it took the define that mandates of sequence complex highly the In aircraft (MMRCA) to replace its obsolete and ageing aircraft. A DEBILITATING MMRCA DEAL PACE s t s tee tl ae nme o sae t b gone be to stages of number a are still there is, it As revised the met contenders six the all is news Good vo a of later,issuance twists including and turns Many (six squadrons worth) medium multi-role combat 126 for 2001 January in requirement urgent its submitted (IAF) Force Air Indian the YEARS HALF A AND SEVEN S THE CLOCK TURNS, IT IS NEARLY since wants to stop further bleedingselection of the IAF’s ‘Op Potential’smooth The government would have t - - - - omne aaees f icat n ohr set o the of quotations such as Life Cycle Costs and Transfer aspects of Technol other and aircraft of parameters formance per of range wide a of comparison involving exercise rate chance of clinching the contract, this is by far a more elabo further bleedingoftheIAF’s ‘Op Potential’. stop to wants it if project MMRCA the for process selection government would The have to obsolescence.ensure smooth and time-efficient to due number-plated being are which craft, these cannot compensate for the number of squadrons air MKI Su-30 with re-equipped being are squadrons more squadrons.combat 30 few than a less While to strength nal origi its of quarter a than more by depleted stands already IAF process. The selection the in making decision timely to lead also would it that, and to adhered be would above the that hoped is It transparent. and fair, just be would tition or misdemeanourofanykind. haste undue with charged subsequently are they lest sions deci quick taking to averse naturally are cases acquisition defence the processing for responsible tion Individuals Act. Informa to Rights introduced recently the and operations scare ‘scam’ bureaucracy,the among media, acute intrusive Tehelkasting type Commission, Vigilance Central the by scrutiny deep and oversight menacing are making decision where India is concerned. Among the key factors that retard proposition rare exceptionally time—an on taken are sions deci related all if honoured be only would timeframe this now.However,even from years seven to six good a 2015, and 2014 between period the in expected be could aircraft of batch first the months,of 36 arrival of lead-time a plying 2011-2012.in sometime Thereafter,government the by ap approved is aircraft selected the after signed be could tract wise acceptable. pany offering the lowest price provided the aircraft is other com the with negotiations price by followed be then would complete,to years which two to up take could itself process crews.specialised by compared and verified be to have The parameters performance of range complete the as process com petitors) would be put through six flight trials—a time intensive all include probably would (which requirements ogy. All aircraft that measure up to the stipulated qualitative eh hd ale anucd ht h MRA compe MMRCA the that announced earlier had Delhi con the plan, the per as goes all if that anticipated is It

and

process for the MMRCA project if it

time- Issue 5•2008 o — ensure efficient Air Marshal (Retd) V.K. Bhatia

SP’S SP AVIATION

13 ------Q&A MMRCAMMRCA DDEALEAL Act BALANCINGA cautious mix of optimism and pragmatism emerged in a quickﬁ re round SP’s directed at the contestants in the race for the MMRCA deal. Of the six frontrunners, three were forthcoming with their views.

BOEING IDS response— for exceptional air-to-ground performance, What kind of offset arrangement(s) What would you say are your chances as well as a Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing are you working on, especially consid- of clinching India’s MMRCA deal? System (JHMCS) for enhanced aircrew ering the voluminous size of the deal? We believe Boeing’s F/A-18E/F Super situational awareness and combat lethal- What are the challenges pertaining to Hornet provides state-of-the-art 21st ity. A very large part of the Super Hornet’s direct and indirect offsets you foresee Century warfighting capability and is an appeal is affordability, both unit flyaway and are preparing to address? extremely good value proposition to the and life cycle. In fact, the Super Hornet is We have made a great start in identify- Indian Air Force because of its overall life a fighter that won’t see a scheduled visit to ing some of the industrial partners we cycle cost. Unlike some of our competi- a maintenance depot until it has clocked hope to be working with in India down tors, whose offerings are being phased a minimum of 6,000 hours of flying time the road. In December, IDS CEO and out elsewhere as customers move on to and likely much longer. President Jim Albaugh signed a 10-year more modern capability, the Super Hornet If you bag the contract, what will be memorandum of understanding with will be around for decades to come with the timeframe for delivery of the first Hindustan Aeronautics Limited intended continued investment to ensure robust aircraft? to bring more than $1 billion (Rs 4,253 supportability and capability. The first 18 aircraft will be delivered to crore) worth of new aerospace manu- What, according to you, are the dis- the Indian Air Force in fly-away condition facturing work to India. In February, the tinct advantages inherent in your pro- from our plant in St. Louis, with the first Boeing Company and Tata Industries posal vis-à-vis the other contenders? plane delivered within 36 months after agreed on a plan to form a joint-venture We believe the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet contract signing. The remaining 108 air- company that will initially include more will give India the most advanced see-all, craft will be assembled in India, and the than $500 million (Rs 2,126 crore) of do-all combat fighter in production today, first of these would fly 54 months after defence-related aerospace component capable of defending the nation from contract signing. All 126 aircraft would work in India for export to Boeing and the Himalayas to the Indian Ocean with be delivered to the Indian Air Force by its international customers. As to the unmatched lethality, pilot safety, and the 2020, and would benefit from continual offset challenges you alluded to, while we promise of 30+ years of continual US US Navy-funded technology insertions acknowledge the complexities and chal- Navy-funded upgrades. This is a fighter over that time period, as well as Indian lenges of India’s offset requirements, Boe- that has been proven in combat. The F/A- Air Force upgrades if desired. ing is enthusiastic and is putting together 18 has a hot production line, which means How broad is the technology platform a programme that will meet or exceed India can start replenishing its depleted offered by you in terms of its applica- expectations. Boeing views the MMRCA squadron strength quickly. The Super bility and contemporaneousness for the offset requirement as a mechanism to Hornet boasts the latest generation of US upcoming good many number of years? establish long-term, mutually beneficial manufacturing and military technology. The F/A-18E/F was designed with partnerships with Indian Industry. For example, Raytheon’s APG-79 active built-in growth for tomorrow’s capability What kind of partnership(s) do you electronically scanned array (AESA) radar insertion. In fact, the Super Hornet will propose to offer to the end user, is one of the Super Hornet’s critical key have the same or greater capability than namely, the Indian Air Force, and discriminators. AESA expands the Super the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter until at other related agencies/companies? Hornet’s lethality to beyond the range of least the end of the next decade, and will Choosing the F/A-18 Super Hornet will weapons or platforms that might be a serve alongside it in the US Navy front accomplish a multitude of objectives threat against it. The AESA, and other ad- ranks beyond 2030. for India. Our advanced products will vanced technologies that are opera- contribute substantially to India’s tional on the Super Hornet today do defence as this nation assumes a not exist on some of our competitor’s “BOEING’S SUPER HORNET WILL BE AROUND greater role regionally and around offerings, and are simply long-term FOR DECADES TO COME.” the world. The selection of our and costly developmental promises. —CHRIS CHADWICK, defence products will enhance and The F/A-18I also boasts an advanced President, Boeing Precision Engagement & Mobility deepen a burgeoning partnership targeting pod—the Litening AT Systems that will enhance global opportuni- pod—built by Northrop Grumman, ties for Indian industry. SP

14 SP’S AVIATION ISSUE 5 • 2008 Q&A MMRCA DEAL

If you bag the contract, what will “WE WOULD LIKE INDIA TO BECOME EUROFIGHTER response— be the timeframe for delivery of the What would you say are your chances first aircraft? A MEMBER OF THE of clinching India’s MMRCA deal? We will deliver the first Eurofighter EUROFIGHTER FAMILY.” We are convinced that we have an excel- Typhoon when the customer requires —BERNHARD GERWERT, CEO, lent combat aircraft which is a proven it. According to the RFP, it is mandatory Military Air Systems, EADS Defence & Security weapon system and respected worldwide that the first 18 aircraft come in a “fly by the air forces and their pilots. The away” condition and are to be delivered Eurofighter Typhoon is fully operational from the selected manufacturer. defence companies in Europe. This will in four countries and with more than 700 What kind of offset arrangement(s) give India the access to a very interest- orders from six customers (Germany, UK, are you working on, especially consid- ing international sourcing network of Spain, Italy, Austria, Saudi Arabia), we can ering the voluminous size of the deal? unparalleled scope. offer a mature and stable combat aircraft What are the challenges pertaining to What kind of partnership(s) do you programme to the Indian Air Force. direct and indirect offsets you foresee propose to offer to the end user, namely, What, according to you, are the distinct and are preparing to address? the Indian Air Force, and other related advantages inherent in your proposal Of course, the requirement of 50 per agencies/companies? vis-à-vis the other contenders? cent offset is a challenge. However, we First of all, we regard India not only as a The most important advantages of the Eu- are fully committed that we will submit market but most importantly as a partner rofighter bid proposal is the fact that our a very attractive offset proposal until for joint industrial and military projects. proposal is fully supported by four nations August 2008. Eurofighter Typhoon is Therefore, we invited India to join the Eu- and four leading aerospace companies in a true four nations’ programme, with rofighter programme because we would Europe, such as EADS in Germany and four leading European aerospace and like India to become a member of the Spain, Finmeccanica in Italy and BAE defence companies plus an enormous successful Eurofighter family. Basically, Systems in the United Kingdom. We have supplier base involved. Therefore, our we are interested in long-lasting politi- submitted a robust and winning proposal offset offer will leverage the strength of cal, industrial and military partnerships which will fulfill India’s current and future the whole Eurofighter consortium to- and therefore the door for cooperation is operational requirements. gether with other strong aerospace and widely open for India. SP

LOCKHEED MARTIN response— aircraft would be 36 months from the bly lines in five countries. We know how What would you say are your chances date the contract is signed. to make industrial participation work and of clinching India’s MMRCA deal? How broad is the technology platform we are prepared to be responsive to meet We are confident our proposal for the offered by you in terms of its applicabil- the goals of the government and industry F-16IN meets or exceeds India’s MMRCA ity and contemporaneousness for the of India. The F-16 programme is known requirements for the Indian Air Force. upcoming good many number of years? for its flexibility to meet a wide variety What, according to you, are the distinct The F-16IN has been especially designed of customer requirements and national advantages inherent in your proposal to include a multitude of cutting-edge goals, including technology transfer. We vis-à-vis the other contenders? technologies such as a, full-colour, all- know that Indian aircraft production will No other operational multi-role fighter in digital, glass cockpit; the APG-80 Active be a firm requirement. We want to forge the world today compares to this aircraft. Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) good, long-term strategic partnerships in The F-16IN is a unique configuration of radar; the GE F110-132A engine for India that allow companies with whom the F-16, designed to address the require- increased, thrust; a large weapons we become associated, to develop high- ments specified in India’s RFP. The F-16 is inventory; a highly effective electronic quality, long-term employment for India’s the most reliable, maintainable, afford- warfare suite; and Conformal Fuel Tanks work force on existing programmes that able and safest multi-role fighter in the (CFTs) to significantly extend range and will be of interest to the US government world and the F-16IN will be even better. persistence. The aircraft also includes and other governments around the world. This proposal also represents a long-term advanced survivability features such as What kind of partnership(s) do you partnership between the Air Forces of superior agility, excellent pilot situational propose to offer to the end user, namely, India and the US and between Indian awareness, and critical systems redun- the Indian Air Force, and other related industry and the F-16 industry team. dancy. The F-16IN is designed to provide agencies/companies? If you bag the contract, what will be outstanding front-line capability, unprec- Lockheed Martin has established four the timeframe for delivery of the first edented reliability, and an extremely low F-16 production lines outside of the US. aircraft? total cost of ownership. Additionally, the company has success- The timeframe for the delivery of the first What kind of offset arrangement(s) are fully achieved more than $37 billion (Rs you working on, especially considering 1,57,444 crore) in offset programme the voluminous size of the deal? What credits in 40 countries. A proven corner- “THE F-16 PROGRAMME IS KNOWN FOR are the challenges pertaining to direct stone of these programmes is the ability ITS FLEXIBILITY.” and indirect offsets you foresee and to provide technology transfer to partners. —ORVILLE PRINS, are preparing to address? The F-16IN proposal assures that 108 of Vice President, Business Development, The F-16 programme has a long history the 126 F-16IN aircraft would be deliv- Lockheed Martin Aeronautics of successful industrial participation, ered from HAL under licensed production including delivery of aircraft from assem- with Indian industry. SP

ISSUE 5 • 2008 SP’S AVIATION 15 CIVICIVILL BUSINESS AVIATION COVER STORY

Introducing the

EliteIndia C is home to 53 billionaireslass and By 1,00,000 millionaires. The high spending Group Captain power has engineered a shift away from A.K. Sachdev, just owning a business aircraft to having Bangalore CESSNA : a custom built one—with personalised colour schemes and embellishments. PHOTOGRAPH

16 SP’S AVIATION Issue 5 • 2008 CFO_210x267.indd 1 14/04/08 18:16:45 CIVIL BUSINESS AVIATION

WAY FROM THE AIRBUS AND BOEING Needless to say, the central cause is the bout to secure the largest chunk of the attractive costs at which new business market for commercial jets, the business jets are available. A VLJ is around $1.5 aviation customer is ploughing through million (Rs 6.4 crore) to $3 million (Rs 13 his own bill of fare. And it is a lavish crore). These prices are lower than those spread. Very Light Jets (VLJs) were hailed of most business jets flying around at a couple of months ago as the SUVs of the the beginning of 2007; so is their cost of skies. Small, relatively less expensive jets running—less by as much as 30 per cent (like the Cessna Mustang) are being labeled as the Model Ts according to one estimate. No surprise Athat fly. These and other new business jets are displaying an then that the world wide sale of business eager and impatient yearning for transforming the paradigm jets for 2007 stood at more of business aviation. The new technology business jets, small than 1,000 and the sales over REDEFINING COMFORT: in size, and quick to turn round, represent comparatively the next 10 years are expected INDIAN ENTREPRENEURS inexpensive options for private aviation. The comparison to to average 1,400 per year. PERPETUALLY ON THE sports cars is not just on account of sleek looks and speed, At the recently concluded MOVE ARE READY TO SHELL OUT THE PRICE there is also the subliminal linkage which renders business European Business Aviation FOR HIGH COMFORT AND jets objects of desire, symbols of status and something you Convention & Exhibition, ULTIMATE SPEED. SEEN must have if the Jones’s possess one. That these represent a Bombardier announced its HERE IS THE INTERIOR OF convenient and controllable means of travel between places market forecast. Expressing THE CESSNA XLS+ THAT FEATURES ON PAGE 16. is an important but not the most significant reason for pro- optimism about increasing curing a business jet. The shrinking gap between affordabil- delivery numbers through ity of a business jet and the purchasing power of a large the next decade, the Cana- number of business houses and businessmen is the scene- dian company has predicted growth in setter for a boom in business aviation. non-US markets would drive the busi- While airlines are going bankrupt worldwide (six during ness jet deliveries to 1,320 annually be- the last two months) and mergers are taking place between tween 2008 and 2017, compared with others (Delta and Northwest, for one), the market for cor- the industry average of 620 in the pe-

PHOTOGRAPH: CESSANA porate aircraft is having a comparatively prosperous spell. riod from 1998 to 2007. (For full report

It’s as if we read the minds of India’s business leaders. In many ways, we did.

Some Citation business jets are so perfectly suited to doing business in India, it’s as if they were created specifically for that purpose. Here’s why: Every Citation is based on what customers tell us they need. Those customers come from all over the world, but they all have three things in common: They are poised on the brink of a major breakthrough in the growth of their business. They are seeing opportunities like never before. And they are looking for the undeniably best way to seize them. Their answer can be your answer – the best-selling business jets and propeller aircraft in the world. For a free, no-obligation analysis of what a Citation business jet can do for your company call Mike McGreevy at 971.4.295.4822 or visit Citation.Cessna.com.

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® 18 SP’S AVIATION Issue 5 • 2008 S u r e Th i n g

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on EBACE, turn to page 32.) aviation fuel prices spiraled up due to the unprecedented rise One important reason for the busi- in crude oil prices. It is possible that aircraft manufacturers ness jet prices becoming attractive is may start thinking of fuel efficient turbo-prop options for the fact that the aviation world gener- business aircraft in the near future. While the economics (of a ally uses the US dollar as the functional cheap turbo-prop aircraft) and common sense would indicate currency; the steady fall of the dollar that option as being better than a jet, the slower speeds and has meant that business houses rak- limited ranges of turbo-prop CESSNA

: ing in earnings in currencies other aircraft (in comparison to busi- than US dollars find the price tags The comparison to ness jets) would perhaps hold on these business jets eye catching. sports cars is not back a boom in turbo-prop There is a problem about these jets just on account business aircraft demand. not being fitted with Traffic Colli- In India, the tax rate of 22 sion Avoidance Systems (TCAS), and of sleek looks and per cent on aircraft imports is therefore about their full exploita- speed, there is also quite high, but not high enough

PHOTOGRAPHS ON PG 18, 20 PHOTOGRAPHS ON PG 18, tion (an aircraft without TCAS on the subliminal to prevent business houses board may not fly above 29,000 ft linkage which from queuing up for permission like one with TCAS can). However, renders business to import aircraft; the Business even flights at 29,000 ft and below Aviation Association of India is are worthy of corporate interest. jets objects of reported to have estimated the Another reason for the boom is desire, symbols annual growth in the numbers the globalisation which has brought of status and of business aircraft in India to down trade and psychological bar- be 30 to 40 per cent over the riers and permitted market forces something you must coming years. This boom is to work their way to a broader have if the Jones’s essentially related to the soar- customer base for the business jet. possess one ing of the Indian economy and While 2007 saw the VLJ assaulting the resultant increase in the the business aircraft market, that number of High Net-worth In- year was also the one during which dividuals and business houses

It’s as if we read the minds of India’s business leaders. In many ways, we did.

Cessna Aircraft

® S u r e Th i n g Issue 5 • 2008 SP’S AVIATION 19

IN AUGUST COMPANY:

PHOTOGRAPHS: AIRLINERS.NET AIRBUS A319 AND BOMBARDIER’S GLOBAL EXPRESS FLAUNTS THE COLOURS OF RELIANCE INDUSTRIES WHILE FALCON 2000 (CENTRE) that can afford to purchase and maintain business aircraft. Bird Group SPORTS THE LIVERY OF TATA STEEL. NAVIN JINDAL According to one estimate, there are 53 billionaires in India. is planning OWNED JINDAL INDUSTRIES IS A RECENT ADDITION There are also 1,00,000 millionaires in India and the num- to acquire 12 IN THE ORDER BOOKS OF THE FALCON FAMILY. ber is growing at around 20 per cent per annum; even if aircraft dur- there is a slow down in the rate of economic growth—as is ing the coming being feared—the numbers are impressive. The high spend- one year period and has signed an agreement with Regourd ing power means that there is a shift away from just owning Aviation, a global professional aircraft dealer and broker a business aircraft to having a custom built one—with per- specialising in the sale of business airplanes and helicopters. sonalised colour schemes and embellishments. Thus there is a choice available to the Indian customer in With NetJets and BJETS trying to get a foothold in the terms of several business models that he could use business Indian market, more choices can be expected to become aircraft in. As the customer base broadens and as the collec- available to the private aviation customer. NetJets is starting tive customer spending power increases, market players are off by offering Indian customers fractional ownership in its smartly reacting to the dynamic and flexible requirements of ongoing European and American programmes; simultane- the business aviation requirements. ously it is testing the waters to formulate a business model Coming to numbers, around 30 business jets were de- better suited to Indian conditions. BJETS is also planning livered in 2007 in India and another 45 are expected to be to start a fractional ownership model in India which will delivered in 2008. At the Singapore Air Show, Tata’s BJETS include an option of a prepaid charter block of 25 hours. Ta- ordered 50 aircraft and Club One Air ordered 10. At the re- tas have picked up a cently concluded Extravaganza event, Infovision ordered stake in the company 20 Phenoms. Meanwhile, Aerion which is developing super which has already With NetJets and sonic business jets (SSBJs) is reported to have bagged orders ordered 40 aircraft BJETS trying to from five customers in India and the deliveries are reported (20 Cessna Citation get a foothold in the to start during the end of 2014. The company asserts that CJ2+ and 20 Hawker India is a promising market especially for long range busi- 850XPs and 900XPs) Indian market, more ness jets because of expanding global business relationships. and is investing choices can be Although the names of the customers are not clearly known, around $600 million expected the company plans to open a sales office in India by the end (Rs 2,558 crore) to of 2008 as it expects to do more business in the coming years. make its presence felt The price tag an SSBJ is expected to wear is $80 million (Rs in India which it feels 341 crore), but the advantage is huge—a Mumbai-Singapore is a great place to be trip would be cut down to three hours (current airliners and in at the moment. business jets take around five hours to cover the distance). Existing fractional ownership models also continue to Currently, the charter aviation market in India has around evolve. However, an interesting development is the charter- 30 operators and the market is dynamic in its response to ing out of privately owned business aircraft by individuals perceived business customer needs; one illustration is the and business houses to utilise overspill of aircraft availability plans Club One Air has of launching a Low Cost Charter ser- beyond own use. While this financially wise practice was be- vice as an option for the low end business traveler who does ing followed by some business houses in some form or the not mind not being served hot food and coffee in flight but other in the recent years, an international company, Zurich- wants to get to his business destination fast. At the other end based ExecuJet Aviation, is planning to introduce a business of the spectrum is the “fully loaded” business jet with on board aircraft acquisition scheme called ‘Simpli Fly’ in India. Under conference facilities; the recent clearance for in flight mobile this model, ExecuJet plans to acquire aircraft for interested services (not yet in India but expected soon) and, by extension business houses, maintain them at a fixed monthly fee and of the analogy, for in flight internet services, will enable this if the business house wishes, it could charter it out to a third type of business travel. So the day is not far off when business party, when not in use, to offset the cost of maintenance. An travelers can have a conference on board a business aircraft Indian company, Bird Group, has similar plans with the ad- while traveling on to another city to attend another confer- vertised objective of reducing the net cost for the company ence—all the while being in touch with their respective offices (or individual) which owns an aircraft to be brought down to and staff. What Internet did to out-of-office work, the new almost zero. In another model, Bird Group plans to get a busi- class of business jets will do for in-flight work. Small wonder ness house or individual to commit to a fixed number of hours then, that business aviation is an ascendant market. It would its aircraft will be available per month for charter purposes be propitious for everyone related to the aviation industry to (after meeting the needs of the business house/individual). pray that fuel prices do not play spoilsport. SP

20 SP’S AVIATION Issue 5 • 2008 CIVIL BUSINESS AVIATION

block-charter arrangements usually are the most attractive. Above that, fractional ownership becomes the option of choice. Fractional ownership is similar to the familiar timesharing plans that many tourist resorts offer. An aircraft needs to operate at least 800 hours per year in order to make a profit. With some luck, a five- year fractional ownership deal

on a business PHOTOGRAPH:GULFSTREAM On A Roll, jet for as little UPHILLDespite the excellent outlook for Indian business ARDON THE EXPRESSION, aviation, it faces daunting challenges. The problems but there’s no denying that In- are likely to get worse before they get better. Once the dians are taking to flying like ducks to water. In recent years, bottlenecks are removed, the sector can only soar. the number of passengers has Pgrown by over 30 per cent and it is safe to grow at around 30-40 By as 50 hours’ usage per predict that this rate will be maintained or per cent annually. year would probably be even exceeded over the next few years. A Business aviation Group Captain economically viable. That wide choice of airlines and attractive offers clients are of various Joseph Noronha, represents a one-sixteenth to “fly at Re 1”, where taxes are consigned types. There are execu- share, the smallest share to the fine print, are persuading more and tives who prefer to fly Goa one can buy on a business more people to take to the skies. privately on business plane. Fractional shares And how is the business aviation seg- considering the time on helicopters can be just ment faring? Ironically, the surge in pas- saved, the increased one-thirty-second of the senger flights is driving business aviation productivity and the comfort well worth aircraft’s time, since helicopters generally as well. Many passengers are put off by the the extra cost. There are High-Net-Worth- fly much shorter distances and do not op- congestion experienced at airport lounges Individuals who opt for private air travel erate as many hours. India has a potential and the cascading delays especially in win- rather than risk the hold-ups and hassles 2,000 fractional owners, according to some ter. It is a sad fact that air travel is not the that have become endemic to scheduled estimates. Bombardier has a convenient jet luxury experience it was even a decade or airlines. Then there are groups such as card system in its charter operation busi- two ago. While cut-rate passengers and the athletic teams, entertainers with their ness, Skyjet, which permits clients to use middle-class have no choice but to grin and supporting entourage, event manage- a business jet for as little as 25 hours and bear it, sheer inconvenience is forcing many ment groups and politicians on a cam- also offers ‘on-demand charter’ for clients busy executives to grasp more convenient paign trail. Business aviation is no longer who have only small or irregular require- alternatives. Deregulation of business avia- a luxury but a necessity. ments. Online booking and assured avail- tion, easy availability of ‘splurge money’ in With greater transparency and unfet- ability make it a much sought-after service the rapidly-growing Indian economy and tered competition, prices generally come in America and Europe. It will soon be of- more liberal regulations governing foreign down. Though they may never equal fered across the world. investment are persuading many business- what scheduled services can offer there Pre-owned aircraft are another op- es to take the plunge and acquire their own is a clear trend towards more efficient tion and are hot favourites in this coun- private taxis in the sky. The global ambi- business aviation and reduction of costs. try. With at least 300 planes and helicop- tions of Indian companies are also driving In addition, over the past decade or so, ters expected to be bought in the next five demand like never before. flexible ways to charter or own aircraft years there is a significantly large market There were less than 40 private air- have made this option affordable to more for second-hand aircraft. A pre-owned craft in India in 2005. Today the figure has companies and individuals than ever be- aircraft costs around half the price of crossed 200. The Directorate General of fore. Some of these methods are slowly a new aircraft but can be chartered at Civil Aviation reportedly has another 200 arriving in India as operators woo cus- almost the same price. Thus the break- applications pending for private aircraft tomers to sign on the dotted line. They in- even point comes much sooner. registration. More and more manufactur- clude block charters, jet cards, fractional There are those who prefer their ers see India as one of the strongest mar- ownership and negotiation of discounts own aircraft. The Ambani brothers, Lak- kets for business aircraft in the Asia-Pa- on whole-aircraft charters for payment shmi Mittal, Vijay Mallya and Ratan Tata cific region. India is potentially bigger than made upfront rather than on credit. among others already own one or more China as it already has twice the number For customers who foresee a require- jets. The prestige that goes with a private of billionaires. This segment is projected to ment of 100 hours or less of flying per year, jet obviously far outweighs a Mercedes or

Issue 5 • 2008 SP’S AVIATION 21 CIVIL BUSINESS AVIATION even a yacht. The M&A spree that so many Indian corporations STOP PRESS are indulging in on a global scale often requires transporting negotiating teams to a distant country at short notice in which Vijay Mallya is reportedly in talks with EADS case a company jet becomes essential. Socata to co-develop business jets Any takers for a super sonic business jets (SSBJs)? Aerion r Vijay Mallya’s UB Group has initiated talks with France-based Corporation is offering the Aerion SSBJ to customers for deliv- DEADS Socata, a leading aircraft manufacturer, to invest around $200 million (Rs 847 crore) to co-develop business jets for which ery in 2014. Costing $80 million (Rs 341 crore), it will permit India has now emerged as a hot market. India has 179 aircraft reg- a super-comfortable business trip from Mumbai to Singapore istered for private, corporate and charter purposes, which include and return, all in a day. Reportedly, five Indian customers have business jets, turboprops and helicopters. already been hooked.Here are some of the current business Confirming the on-going talks with the proposals in the pipeline. UB Group and other Indian companies, EADS • Deccan Charters, which will soon be divested from Deccan Avi- Socata spokesperson Phillipe de Segovia ation, hopes to establish itself as a leading provider of corpo- said, “We want to look at a global organisation that has service centres in place with rate aviation in the country. The company’s roots are in heli- tools to market in the country.” copter charters and it plans to build on this by adding at least 15 business jets and an unspecified number of helicopters in the next five years. It believes that helicopters are emerging charter flights, executives are back to square one by having as a viable way for executives to travel. to go through the same time-consuming formalities as general • NetJets plans to introduce a fractional ownership and charter passengers. The same goes for aircraft movement procedures, operation in India perhaps by forming a joint venture with an some of which were made more than half a century ago. For Indian operator. At least 20 Indians already use NetJets’ services instance, it takes about a week for foreign-registered aircraft in Europe and should readily take to the desi offer. coming into India to get clearance. • Club One Air has been in the charter business for some years • Growth depends a great deal on the price of aviation fuel. but now plans to acquire a dedicated fleet of 11 Eclipse 500 Despite the problems, business aviation is expected to keep very light jets and target the vast middle class using a ‘seat- growing at a tidy clip for years. While corporate transport will on-demand’ model. become a key issue for large business groups in an interna- • BJets, a Singapore based company, is scheduled to launch tional growing market, the day is not far when the upper middle Asia’s first dedicated fractional ownership business by the end class will at least consider the option of chartering aircraft, per- of 2008 with a 40 strong fleet comprising 20 Cessna Citation haps even a VLJ, and charter services will surely expand from CJ2+ light jets and 20 mid-size Hawker 850XPs and 900XPs. the metros to Tier II and Tier III towns. The future is bright if Based primarily in Mumbai and Singapore, this would be the the government realises the link between business aviation and biggest fleet of private jets in Asia. the country’s economic boom. But aviation experts have also The picture, however, is not all rosy. Despite the excellent out- sounded a warning that if the growth and expansion turn out to look for Indian business aviation, it faces daunting challenges, in- be unbridled there could be turbulent skies ahead. SP cluding woeful infrastructure creaking even to keep up with current requirements, leave alone projected growth. These problems BUSINESS AIRCRAFT: INDUCTION TRENDS are likely to get worse before they get better. Current estimates 32 suggest that around Rs 100,000 crore ($23.8 billion) needs to be 35 spent over the next five to seven years on improvement of civil 30 airports and air traffic services. aft 25 21 22 • Lack of space at airports is becoming a major hurdle as com- 20 mercial aviation expands. India has around 135 operational Aircr 15 13 airports. However, in addition, there are another 300 or so 10 of 16 rarely used or abandoned airstrips that could well be revived 10

and developed into business aviation hubs. No. 5 8 5 • There is also an acute shortage of maintenance facilities for 0 business aviation. In fact, operators face constraints at every 2004 2005 2006 2007 step. For example, there are no general aviation terminals, Fixed Wing Helicopters poor facilities for ground handling, lack of hangar space and 60 54 parking and no dedicated heliports. • India will require 6,000 pilots besides aviation engineers and 50 aft other skilled personnel to meet its combined aviation needs 40 37 over the next decade. The existing training facilities can meet

Aircr 30 only a small fraction of the requirement. 21 of

• Proliferation of light aircraft into Indian skies would severely . 20 15 Combined Induction

test the abilities of air traffic control services. Automation is No 10 the need of the hour. 0 • There are no separate guidelines for general aviation in India 2004 2005 2006 2007 which entails a difficult regulatory environment for business aircraft. This is partly due to a lack of understanding of the Note: The helicopter data has also been included in order to needs of corporate travel. Having paid extra to save time via depict the overall picture of trends.

22 SP’S AVIATION Issue 5 • 2008 CIVIL FLIGHT SAFETY SAFETYat Stake Airlines do not seem overly perturbed by the impact of cost cutting on safety, perhaps because safety is not tangible. However, there is a need to exercise a degree of ‘cost management’.

Group Captain A.K. Sachdev, Bangalore

lotches marring the golden sheen of what was heralded by some they feel that reduced taxes should have been as the renaissance of the Indian aviation have revealed the mal- rewarded by a drop in fares—which has not aise that lies beneath. Evidently, the Consultative Committee of happened. Meanwhile, fuel costs, account- the Members of Parliament attached to the Ministry of Civil Avia- ing for around 40 per cent of an airline’s tion, and chaired by the Minister for Civil Aviation Praful Patel expenditure bill a year ago, are now moving Bhas a bit of thinking to do. closer to 45 per cent. Profits, therefore, for On a positive note, the aviation industry shows all signs of being on a any of our airlines remain a distant dream. high growth trajectory—four new airlines are waiting in the wings for final The options open to an airline in its pursuit of clearance to take off, the number of passengers is expected to rise by 20 profits are limited. Cutting down fuel costs is to 25 per cent this year, there are better choices of airports connected and beyond their control. Increasing fares in the comparison of air travel to a rail journey still favours the former if the mar- cut throat competition would be self defeat- ginal difference of fares is weighed against the substantial time saving that ing. So, where and how do they cut costs? accrues as a trade-off. Although the 25 per cent growth projection is a bit The answers—almost all of them—impinge modest when compared to the 30 per cent expected earlier on (based on last directly or indirectly on aviation safety. year’s figures), it is still an indicator of robust growth. Airport infrastructure is also gathering momentum with private participation on the rise in parallel DOWNSIZING & OUTSOURCING with a sizeable planned expenditure by the government. The first and foremost cost cutting exercise In comparison, the flip side of the coin is a bit mottled. An inordinate starts with downsizing of manpower. This and unexpected rise in the cost of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) has damp- may not be the easiest thing to do for NACIL, ened the spirit considerably. Airlines have but private airlines have almost full autonomy had to revise their fares ever so frequently in that area. The whole exercise could start Outsourced under the garb of surcharges, and there has with what is euphemistically termed as ‘multi- loaders and been an impact on the volume of passen- skilling’. An ambitious plan to train personnel drivers are gers carried with consequent drop in load hired and trained for one trade to carry out personnel with factors for most airlines. Valiant efforts by other jobs, it is sometimes totally unrelated non-standardised Praful Patel to get all states to reduce the to the skill sets demanded by the original job skill levels, working sales tax on ATF to a standard 4 per cent description. Multi-skilling, while being a laud- in randomly have borne only limited results and his enable concept, is by definition a compromise. treaties to the central government about Unless carried out with great thought and ef- designated positions, the need to do something about the high fort in the form of proper training and moti- with limited scope ATF prices have fallen largely on deaf ears vation, it could end up in a situation where of ascending up as the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of mediocrity becomes the norm because the the learning curve Petroleum also have their own constraints. person performing a particular job as a ‘sec- Even those states which had reduced tax ondary duty’ feels inadequately motivated, on ATF to 4 per cent are now threatening sees the additional responsibility as biting to go back to the earlier, higher figures as into his main one, and often feels indignant

Issue 5 • 2008 SP’S AVIATION 23 CIVIL FLIGHT SAFETY at being asked to carry out the new, additional job. The re- increase in fuel burn due to carriage of extra fuel is weighed sult: an unmotivated person with the potential to bring about against the attendant advantage of carrying fuel from an air- unsafe situations for the airline. As an illustration, prepar- port where it is cheaper to another airport where it is dearer ing the Load and Trim Charts for each flight requires special (referred to as ‘tankering’). If that factor is ignored, every ex- training. If, in pursuit of downsizing, this job was allocated tra bit of fuel carried would mean loss on account of extra fuel as an additional duty to say, security personnel, the result burnt. And hence the attraction of carrying less fuel on board. could be incorrect calculation of the Charts, with a potential Regulations define the minimum fuel that must be carried to for reducing safety margins during take off. ensure safe arrival at the destination or, in the event of bad While on the subject of human resource, outsourcing is weather/runway blockage at the destination, a safe recovery the buzzword in the aviation industry. A large number of at the alternative airport. That bare minimum figure is rarely loaders and drivers are employees of a company which is the actual carried by the pilot in flight; every pilot has his own not an airline but whose business is providing these trades- perception of how much extra he must carry. Indeed, there is men to airlines. Quality control over these persons is almost no standard margin that could be defined for the additional impossible on account of the high turnover and the fact that fuel carried by the pilot to assure himself (as the Captain of these companies are rarely contractually obliged to provide the aircraft with full responsibility of the safety of this aircraft the same personnel for the same job daily (which would and passengers) for a particular flight. “Captain’s discretion” have meant continuity and, therefore, better job familiar- is the magic phrase. Although each airline outlines policy on ity). To summarise, outsourced loaders and drivers repre- the carriage of fuel, the policy did not—till recently—stipulate sent personnel with non-standardised skill levels, working the maximum fuel that could be carried for a sector. However, in randomly designated job positions, with limited scope of in recent times desperate measures to cut costs have included ascending up the learning curve. With cost cutting becom- dictating maximum fuel figures for specific sectors in a bid ing the prime pre-occupation of airlines, there is a pressure to rein in those pilots whose ‘safety margins’ are based on to cut down the number of men for the same job; there is the most pessimistic flight scenarios. Whilst not really making also a fall in the standard of these personnel (semi-skilled flights unsafe, this measure does reduce the safety margins as they are) due to pressure on the outsourcing companies over and above the minimum levels. to provide personnel at lower rates. One of the results is the Some less important cost cutting measures affect crew lengthening of shift hours. It is not uncommon to find out- meals, crew transportation and accommodation, overtime sourced personnel to be working 12-hour shifts. Even when allowances, daily and traveling allowances, which indirectly they are on eight-hour shifts, continuing into the next shift take a toll on safety. As the belt tightens, there would be some (because of unplanned and sometimes unplanned absence of more cost cutting in the areas of ground equipment and ve- relief personnel) and thus working 16 hours at a stretch is a hicles plying on the airside. These measures would also indi- common practice. A person who has not slept for 16 hours rectly impinge on safety. has the alertness of one who has a blood alcohol level of 0.05 A survey, conducted by Ascend, a provider of information per cent; a crew member is not permitted to fly if his alcohol and consultancy to the aviation industry, asked participating level is 0.03 or more. Hence, the risks posed by such individ- industry insiders from across the globe to identify the biggest uals working on long shifts are evident. As these personnel barriers to further improvements in safety by ranking the are working mostly on the airside of an airport, the potential importance of 10 potential threats. Causing the most con- for unsafe acts is considerable. cern is a ‘shortage of experienced personnel’ with an aver- Maintenance costs are a large part of expenditure for an age score of 7.3. Respondents ranked ‘fatigue/work practice’ airline. NACIL (both arms of it) is on one end of the spectrum (7.1) and ‘airline management experience/attitudes/culture’ with the wherewithal, albeit on a deficit mode, of investing in (6.6) as the next most significant risks to improved aviation adequate spares and facilities to provide for the maintenance safety. More than half of the 140 respondents averred that support the doctor (or in this case, the OEM) ordered. At the the aviation safety standards were unlikely to improve dur- other end of the same spectrum are the low fare carriers which ing the next five years. can not afford the luxury of preventive expenditure in the form of spare inventories to cover projected or expected unservice- THE BOTTOMLINE abilities. Thus, even where known statistics indicate a need for So what is the prognosis? Will safety levels nosedive or stabi- a certain kind of spare to be always ready for instant replace- lise at the present levels? Will the cost of maintaining safety ment, the summated cost of such contingent spares is such standards in these days of hardship lead some airlines to fi- that they cannot invest in it with their limited spending power. nancial crises? Airlines do not seem overly perturbed by the The result is dispatch of aircraft under Minimum Equipment impact of cost cutting on safety, perhaps because safety is List or Component Deficiency List—conditions where the air- not tangible. However, there is a need—especially in the light craft is flying with a component either unserviceable or de- of some doomsday soothsayers predicting a $200 (Rs 8,500) ficient. Although this state is permitted, it is under a slightly per barrel oil price by the year-end—to exercise a degree of lowered level of assurance of safety—especially if some other ‘cost management’ instead of ‘cost cutting’. The subtle differ- related unserviceability develops in the air. ence between managing costs and cutting costs would be the higher emphasis on safety. SAVING ON FUEL An accident, caused by desperate cost cutting measures, Then there is the expedient of scrimping on the fuel carried may serve exactly the opposite purpose than desired—by trig- on board. The carriage of extra fuel on board implies burn- gering a shut down. Hopefully, the hard times for airlines will ing up more fuel just to carry the extra fuel. The marginal end before safety levels are compromised unacceptably. SP

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SP_267x210_Diary.indd 1 9/4/08 17:47:55 SPECIAL REPORT INDUSTRY C-17: KEY to Strategic

ndia, which has a five-year defence modernisation term. Lockheed Martin has already bagged a deal to sell six budget in excess of $30 billion (Rs 1,284 crore), is be- C-130J Super Hercules aircraft to the IAF. Acquisition of C-

EING Reach

O ing courted by arms exporters like never before. While 130J aircraft by the IAF will help India to pack more lethality B : the deal for 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft to its anti-terror operations. The C-130J aircraft are used by I(MMRCA) for the Indian Air Force (IAF) is the prime attrac- special forces in western countries for specialised operations tion, US defence and aerospace firms like Boeing are also like storming hostage-holding centres and hijacked planes. pro-actively pushing their wares like the C-17 heavy airlift The aircraft has the capability to land even in improvised PHOTOGRAPHS capability transport aircraft. makeshift landing grounds and that too without lights. While India is already pursuing joint development of a Apparently, the IAF and India’s Border Security Forces Multi-role Transport Aircraft (MTA) with Russia following an are in the market for products to fulfill their special needs. agreement in 2007, US companies are nevertheless realising The IAF is looking to augment its medium lift AN-32 fleet by the opportunity to offer modern transport planes for the near building a more robust 10-tonne lift capacity fleet. India is

US corporations like Boeing are actively marketing their aerospace and defence wares to India as the country scouts around to fulﬁll its MMRCA wishlist. Jayant Baranwal reports from C-17 facilities at Long Beach, CA, USA.

26 SP’S AVIATION Issue 5 • 2008 SPECIAL REPORT INDUSTRY also looking to effectively combat the recurring terror attacks A400M and Russia’s super-giant AN-124 are the other play- it has become susceptible to by purchasing some more tacti- ers in this game. cal transport and strategic lift aircraft. Till such time that its The Pratt & Whitney’s F117-powered C-17 serves the own twin engine, the 10-tonne payload capacity MTA is in strategic airlift and mobility needs of the US Air Force, Brit- place, the IAF, which has about 100 transport aircraft of its ish Royal Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force and the Royal own, is also undertaking an upgrade of these aircraft, as well Australian Air Force. According to Marshall, “Boeing hopes as the heavier IL-76s to extend their life by 10 to 20 years. to market the C-17 to countries like India which could oper- At present, Boeing C-17 Globemaster III and Lockheed ate it as both a commercial and military cargo aircraft.” He Martin C-130 continue to dominate the world’s fleet of mili- said Boeing would like the IAF to have a look at C-17 as an tary cargo haulers. With its intercontinental flight range, interim acquisition before it starts making its own Multi-role short-field performance, and ability to carry cargo over 75 Transport Aircraft. tonnes, the C-17 is viewed by India as being suitable for The C-17 Globemaster is the US’ second largest airlifter meeting its enhanced strategic/tactical airlift requirements. and is capable of hauling more than 75 tonnes of men and According to Mike Marshall, Senior Manager, Interna- material in the air. The aircraft is valued for its ability to tional Business Development at Boeing’s Integrated Defence land on short dirt runways such as those overseas or during Systems, “Boeing has actively marketed the C-17 to many disaster relief. Also, it has four times the carrying capacity European nations including Belgium, Britain, France, and of the C-130 Hercules and its range allows for rapid deploy- Spain. Countries like India and those in the Asia-Pacific and ment of troops, combat vehicles, heavy equipment and he- the Mid-East are potential customers for the C-17 Globe- licopters. It can carry large combat equipment and troops master III strategic lift aircraft. The aircraft does not require or humanitarian aid directly to small austere airfields any- much change or refitting to make it amenable to a particular where in the world. The aircraft has flown numerous mis- country’s specific needs and requirements.” sions in its brief history. These include natural disaster re- Introduced in 1991, the C-17 is retiring the US Air Force’s lief for earthquakes, hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the 2004 fleet of 1960s-era C-141 Starlifters and C-5 Galaxy aircraft. Indian Ocean tsunami, and war missions that included the Lockheed Martin’s medium-range C-130 Hercules, which spectacular dropping of more than 1,000 troops into north- entered the US Air Force’s inventory in 1959 and continues ern Iraq during the first days of the Iraq conflict. This was to remain in demand with its new C-130J model. The Airbus the first combat insertion of paratroopers using C-17s. SP

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FEATURES & CAPABILITY • Primary Function: Cargo and troop transport The C-17 Globemaster III is the newest, most flexible cargo air- • Prime Contractor: Boeing Company craft capable of rapid strategic delivery of troops and all types • Power Plant: Four Pratt & Whitney F117-PW-100 turbofan of cargo to main operating bases or directly to forward bases in engines the deployment area. The aircraft can perform tactical airlift and • Thrust: 40,440 pounds, each engine airdrop missions and can also transport litters and ambulatory • Wingspan: 169 feet 10 inches (to winglet tips) (51.75 meters) patients during aeromedical evacuations when required. • Length: 174 feet (53 meters) The aircraft is 174 feet long, 55.08 feet high and has a wing- • Height: 55 feet 1 inch (16.79 meters) span of 169.75 feet. With a typical payload of 160,000 pounds • Cargo Compartment: length, 88 feet (26.82 meters); width, 18 (72727 kg), the C-17 can take off from a runway of 7,600 feet, feet (5.48 meters); height, 12 feet 4 inches (3.76 meters) fly 2,400 nautical miles, and land on a small austere airfield in • Speed: 450 knots at 28,000 ft (8,534 meters) (Mach .76) 3,000 feet or less. Ferry range of the C-17 (which can also be • Service Ceiling: 45,000 ft (13,716 meters) at cruising speed refueled in flight) is 4,700 nautical miles. The four engines are • Range: Global with in-flight refueling Pratt & Whitney PW2040 series turbofans, designated as the • Crew: Three (two pilots and one loadmaster) F117-PW-100. Each engine produces 40,440 pounds (18,382 kg) of thrust, located on pylons ahead of and below the wing leading edge. The engines are equipped with directed-flow thrust revers- THE C-17, WITH ITS STRONG ers capable of deployment in flight. On the ground, a fully loaded FEATURES, MAY PROVE TO BE AN aircraft, using engine reversers, can back up a 2 percent slope. EFFECTIVE SOLUTION TO INDIA’S Two of the nacelle design features account for the C-17’s STRATEGIC REACH POTENTIALS capability to make extreme short-field landings at heavy gross weights: propulsive lift technology and an advanced thrust re- verser design. Propulsive lift results from directing engine ex- haust across both sides of the flap. A cockpit crew of two, plus one loadmaster operates the C-17, a cost-effective flight crew complement made possible through advanced digital avionics. The system uses four cathode-ray tube displays, two full-capability HUDs (Head-Up Displays) and advanced cargo systems. Cargo is loaded onto the C-17 through a large aft door that can accommodate military vehicles and palletized cargo. The C- 17 can carry and airdrop 102 paratroopers and virtually all of the army’s outsized combat equipment.

Issue 5 • 2008 SP’S AVIATION 27 MILITARYMILITARY UPGRADESUPGRADES HIGH COST of : SP GUIDE PUBNS IndianIndec forces already have a culture of extendingision the life of their equipment PHOTOGRAPHS but it is the defence industry that needs to come up with upgrade proposals

By Air Marshal (Retd) P.K. Mehra general refrain in all the upgrade programmes has team is familiar and has earlier integrated it on other plat- been the delays in the decision-making process. In forms. A half-baked decision can be a costly and time consum- the past, however, problems arising from such dith- ing affair leading to changes in the hardware design and may ering have been further compounded by subsequent necessitate retro-mod of the production aircraft subsequently. Ahitches in implementation. Implementation can be split into This is where the team work shows up and lack of clarity in two phases—design and development phase, and fleet modifi- individual roles has been the root cause of delays in the past. If cation phase. Time taken for decision making can be reduced if the flight test team is well integrated with the design and devel- periodical improvements and upgrades become a culture with opment team then the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) can the user and the industry to ensure exploitation of the aircraft be clearly defined and the capabilities as well as limitations and systems. Operators appreciate the changes taking place in of the system are well known to the user. If the extent of par- the environment and also the weaknesses in the existing sys- ticipation and the roles of the customer teams are not clearly tem, which need to be modified through use of better technol- negotiated then they are denied adequate transparency in the ogy or outright replacement. The indigenous aircraft can even development process. It is agreed that the issue of intellectual undergo generational improvements whilst the manufacturing property rights is important but the knowledge gained during cycle is going on or thereafter but an independent programme the development of equipment and integration is invaluable. of midlife upgrades is inevitable in the case of imported/li- From the foregoing it is clear that Indian aviation industry both cence-manufactured aircraft. in public and private sectors must develop the capability to do system integration independently and take advantage of the DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT PHASE synergy available through team work. This phase commences with defining the operational require- Ideally, design and development post IOC should be limited ments and the system specifications by the user. Designation of to software modifications and also more advanced functions the design and development agency depends upon the platform including integration of weapons. The increased complex- and the complexity of the upgrade. So far, the availability of de- ity as a result of systems upgrade can paradoxically lead to sign data, especially for the airframe modifications, has been increased work load and that can be taken care of through the determining factor in selecting the development agency. improved Man Machine Interface (MMI) and built in decision In the case of systems upgrade, the selected system inte- support algorithms. Data fusion is the key and the latest gen- grator designs the system architecture, finalises Interface Con- eration aircraft in US and other western countries are focused trol Document and various protocols required for integration. on operational data links to provide solutions to the pilot. MMI These steps are identical whether the upgrade is being done activities start on the simulation rig and is fine tuned through by foreign vendor/OEM or indigenous agency. Participation by extensive flight testing simulating near actual scenarios. The the project team comprising of flight test crew and operation test crew must aim to bring about commonality in displays and representatives at the premises of the vendors is of utmost im- functionality of controls in different platforms to reduce effort portance. The extent of participation by the customer project required to train pilots shifting from one aircraft to another. team will have an impact on the timelines for completion of the programme. After the sub-systems have been identified FLEET MODIFICATION PHASE and the hardware planning and interfaces have been finalised Fleet modification raises some unique problems, especially in concurrent activities on the integration rig and building the the Indian scenario where the design and development agency prototype can go on. could be a foreign vendor/OEM or a multi-disciplinary body Next major milestone is the commencement of flight testing, established for this purpose. The fleet modification agency has which can be undertaken only after gaining sufficient confi- invariably been Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, India’s de- dence on the integration rig. Design and development time can fence aerospace industry in the public sector, although Base be compressed in case an early production go ahead is given to Repair Depots of the Indian Air Force have also undertaken the manufacturing agency but this is fraught with danger. The fleet upgrades in the past. Some important issues are: risk can be managed by using hardware with which the design • Although it is not difficult to decide upon the agency

28 SP’S AVIATION Issue 5 • 2008 MILITARY UPGRADES

to carry out the fleet modification but unless the fleet diverse projects running at the same time, but a heavy modification team is involved in all the negotiations cost will be incurred both in terms of time and money in and actual working on the platform along with the case suitable staff is not designated for monitoring the OEM/design and development agency, the programme programme. HIGH COST will be beset with delays. • Ultimately, the responsibilities of each and every par- of • The extent of transfer of technology, decision to set up ticipating agency should be clearly defined in the con- the overhaul/repair facilities, transparency in system tract document with appropriate penalties. integration and the availability of spares back up will determine the smooth induction of the upgraded plat- CONCLUSION forms. Technological obsolescence demands that the aircraft and • Equipment being sourced from various countries be- systems are periodically upgraded to keep them as a front- sides those from India with system integrator having line fighting machine. Planning an upgrade for the equipment Indecision very little knowledge about the hardware also creates developed under the ‘Make’ scheme is easy but upgrade of difficulties in aircraft modification. equipment purchased under the ‘Buy’ scheme depends upon a • Fleet modification also suffers from lack of knowledge number of external factors. about Mean Time Between Failure of new hardware Indian forces already have a culture of extending life of and since the test and repair facilities are yet to be their equipment but it is the defence industry that needs set up, repair cycle and the time taken to repair are to come up with upgrade proposals on indigenous equip- the unknowns. Use of common equipment in different ment as well as that manufactured under licence. Upgrade programmes can alleviate this problem. of systems like the electronic warfare suites, multi-mode • The role of the certification agencies of both countries airborne radar and new weapon systems are likely to pro- (in case the contractor is a foreign vendor/OEM) dur- vide maximum improvement in effectiveness of the up- ing the design and development process as well as the graded platform. The Indian aviation industry and the de- fleet modification should be discussed threadbare and sign agencies are capable of carrying out avionics systems included in the contract. upgrade unilaterally and hence can save costs but they • A project management team with adequate oversight now need to graduate to integration of information from capability must be placed at all the work sites to co- the sensors both onboard and external to bring about a ordinate and provide feed back to ensure smooth plat- generational change. The need for project teams to oversee GA_Ad_178x121_SP_CMYK:Layoutform upgrade and induction into 1 the 2/5/08 operational 10:43 units. Page 1 both design, development and fleet modification cannot be It may be difficult to spare manpower for a number of overstated. SP

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Issue 5 • 2008 SP’S AVIATION 29 CIVIL BUSINESS AVIATION CESSNA :

PHOTOGRAPHS Cessna Sighted lashbulbs popped and gasps of category are priced has a higher payload admiration punctuated the air between $2.8 million capacity (plus 300 as a Cessna Citation CJ2+ Busi- (Rs 11.2 crore) and pounds) and higher ness Jet touched down at Hosur $9.5 million (Rs 38 rate of climb attain- Fairfield in the south of Bangalore on May crore). Those in the ing 45000 ft in 28 3. On a tour to India to entice prospec- mid-size category range between $12 mil- minutes, eight minutes earlier than its pre- tive customers, the aircraft had arrived lion (Rs 48 crore) and $22 million (Rs 88 decessor. At maximum take off weight un- from Singapore piloted by Mike Walton crore). The new Citation model Columbus der ISA conditions at sea level, the take off and John D. Lewis. in the super mid-size jet category is under runway length is 3,360 ft and landing run- Present on the occasion were Michael development and estimated to be priced at way length is 2,980 ft. The aircraft has a McGreevy, Director of Sales, Citation Mar- approximately $28 million (Rs 112 crore). range of 2,987 km and a maximum cruise keting Division; Sameer Rehman, speed of 774 kmph. It has typical cruising Singapore-based Director, Interna- altitudes between 33,000 ft and 45,000 ft tional Finance, Asia Pacific, Cessna In India, there are 20 Cessna above mean sea level. Finance Corporation; and Air Com- Citation business jets Flaunting a fully integrated Pro Line modore B. Banerjee, Indian represen- ﬂying around even as the 21 Flight Deck, the aircraft’s primary tative of US-based Textron, owners of flight, navigation, weather, engine and Cessna. Proprietor of Hosur airfield Citation CJ2+ sensor data are consolidated into large Taneja Aerospace and Aviation Ltd is and the Citation XLS easy-to-scan active matrix LCDs for infor- the authorised sales representative gain in popularity mation management intuitive, at-a-glance and service facility of Cessna Aircraft situational awareness. The aircraft is cer- Company (CAC) in India. tified to the requirements of US 14 CFR Part 23 including day, night, VFR, IFR and THE CESSNA CITATION CJ2+ The Citation CJ2+ has a pressurised flight-into-known icing conditions. It is also A low cost light business jet, the Cessna cabin that accommodates a crew of two certified for single pilot operations. The Citation CJ2+ was built upon one of the and up to eight passengers. With a maxi- aircraft is compliant with all RVSM certi- most popular and successful Cessna mum height of 1.45 m, the CJ2+ does not fication requirements. However, specific models in this category—the Citation have a stand-up cabin. The aircraft is pow- approval is required for operation within CJ2. Cessna delivered the first Citation ered by two Williams FJ44-3A-24 engines RVSM airspace. Cessna offers a fee-based CJ2 in November 2000 and its successor with Full Authority Digital Engine Controls service to assist with this process. SP the CJ2+ in April 2006. (FADEC), each generating 2,490 pounds of — Air Marshal (Retd) B.K. Pandey, Cessna Citation models in the light jet thrust. Compared to the CJ2, the aircraft Bangalore

CESSNA & THE TEXTRON CONNECTION TANEJA AEROSPACE The Cessna Aircraft Company, owned by Textron of the US, introduced business jets in 1972. Based on unit sales, Cessna is the Taneja Aerospace and Aviation Ltd (TAAL) represents the Cessna world’s largest manufacturer of general aviation airplanes. Cessna’s market share in 2007 in the light and mid-size jet catego- Aircraft Company in India for the Citation range of business jets ries stood at 55 per cent. In 2007, Cessna delivered 1,272 aircraft, including 387 Citation business jets and reported revenues and caravan aircraft. With Indian companies looking to replace of about $5 billion (Rs 21,425 crore). There are nine different Citation models currently under production and Cessna has a outdated turbo-props with modern business jets and Cessna current backlog of $14.5 billion (Rs 62,133 crore). In 2008, the company plans to delver 500 business jets. Since the company dominating the light and mid-sized jet market worldwide, TAAL was originally established in 1927, nearly 200,000 Cessna airplanes have been delivered around the world. sees tremendous business opportunity in this area. In the last The global fleet of more than 5,100 Citations is the largest fleet of business jets in the world. In India, there are 20 Cessna two years, five Citation Jets and two Cessna Caravan aircrafts were Citation business jets flying around and seven more (five CJ2+ and two XLS) are expected to be delivered this year. Meanwhile, delivered in India. TAAL is setting up a Cessna authorised service the Citation CJ2+ and the Citation XLS steadily gain in popularity. SP facility for maintenance of Cessna aircraft in the country. SP

30 SP’S AVIATION Issue 5 • 2008 SPECIAL REPORT INDUSTRY

takesSSJ off PHOTOGRAPHS: SUKHOI With the successful maiden ﬂ ight ADVANTAGE SSJ100 of the 98-ft long Sukhoi Superjet With a price tag of $28 million (Rs 118 crore), the Sukhoi Super- 100 on May 19, the aircraft jet is expected to breathe a fresh lease of life into the $8 billion (Rs 33,600 crore) per annum regional jet market. The market is on course to enter service by share of regional aircraft has plummeted from 17 per cent in end-2008 or early-2009 2004 to 13 per cent in recent times. The SSJ100 will compete directly with Brazil’s Embraer and Bombardier of Canada, which at present dominate the 70 to 100 seat aircraft market. But the ussia’s largest warplane maker is poised to launch competitive price of SSJ100 and its other advantages could well the country’s regional passenger jet production tar- give rivals Embraer and Bombardier cause to worry. geted at the markets in the West. Barely a few days Low cost, locally sourced materials ensure the Superjet is after successful taxiing and run tests, the Sukhoi Su- around 20 per cent cheaper to build than the competitors’ air- Rperjet 100 (SSJ100) accomplished its first test flight at its manu- craft. The Russians also believe that new fuel-efficient engines facturing base at Komsomolsk-on-Amur, setting the stage for developed with the help of French engine-maker Snecma, will the 78 to 98 passenger mid-liner to create a big bang in the lead to operating costs that are 10 to 15 per cent lower than regional jet market. either Bombardier or Embraer models. “To witness the Sukhoi Superjet 100 take to the air for Expectedly, Sukhoi has drawn up aggressive export targets the first time makes it the most important day for all of us. together with Italian partner Alenia Aeronautica. “It is with It has been a long way but the result we achieved is truly great pride and satisfaction that we welcome the Sukhoi Super- inspiring for our team of thousands of people from all over jet’s maiden flight. Participating in the SSJ 100 programme is the world who share in this great success,” said Mikhail Po- a great opportunity for us to capitalise the technical and com- gosyan, Director General of Sukhoi Holding. mercial know-how previously acquired by Alenia Aeronautica Commenting on the smooth accomplishment of the first in the regional aircraft market sector,” said Giovanni Bertolone, flight test of SSJ100, Victor Subbotin, President of Sukhoi CEO Alenia Aeronautica. He further added, “Alenia Aeronau- Civil Aircraft said, “In the aviation industry first flights are tica thinks that the strategic investment in Sukhoi Civil Aircraft always milestones and the most important event for people Company (SCAC) and the partnership with Sukhoi in the new involved in a new aircraft project. A first flight is a chal- joint venture Superjet International for the sales and after sales lenge, but the excellent technical and flight characteristics of the new aircraft will bring long term success in a high com- make the Sukhoi Superjet 100 a super new product and a petitive market.” unique project for the Russian industry. Every minute of Having pre-sold 73 aircraft mainly to Russian airlines, Suk- the first flight was both an exciting expectation and an im- hoi aims to sell 1,000 planes with 700 of them going to global pressive experience, making this an incredibly emotional export markets. Sukhoi predicts that 163 units of all variations moment for us.” of the Superjet 100 will be delivered by the end of 2016. The If the programme adheres to schedule, Sukhoi’s Superjet is Superjet 100 airliner family is being developed based on the expected to enter service by end-2008 or early-2009. “While principle of maximum standardisation of frame assemblies and much remains to be completed on the way to certification, I am systems, vis-à-vis wings, fins, chassis, engine unit, crew cabin, certain that we are well prepared for them and that the aircraft basic aircraft systems and component parts. will enjoy the success it deserves,” said a euphoric Pogosyan. Standardisation of design makes it possible to improve the Completion of the first flight test of the SSJ100 propels the Suk- economic performance of the aircraft family operation with ex- hoi Superjet project nearer to the delivery date. Russia not only penditures kept at a rational level. “This aircraft is remarkable. It’s hopes to secure at least 10 per cent of the world airliner market pleasant to see how smoothly it goes. The Sukhoi Superjet 100 is but also to take third place among aircraft-producing countries easy to control and very good in ergonomics. This new aircraft I by 2015-2018. Sukhoi aims to produce five to six SSJ100s a piloted for the first time is every bit as good as Airbus and Boeing’s month by 2010. planes,” remarked SCAC Chief Pilot Alexander Yablontsev. SP

Issue 5 • 2008 SP’S AVIATION 31 SHOW REPORT EBACE ’08

Mercury Rising According to Bombardier’s latest market forecast, growth in non-US markets is expected to drive the business jet deliveries to 1,320 annually between 2008 and 2017, compared with the industry average of 620 in the period from 1998 to 2007

By Alan Peaford, Geneva, Switzerland

urope’s business aviation showcase, the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibi- tion (EBACE) is the second biggest business aviation event in the world after the National Busi- ness Aviation Association. Several of the major Emanufacturers, however, insist it is the most important—a claim substantiated by this year’s show in Geneva that was voted a huge success. Bolstered by a record number of visitors and representation by top OEMs across the world, the event witnessed a flurry of orders and tales of major new investments in the sector. Little wonder that both operators and manufacturers left Geneva beaming. California’s on-demand operator XOJet announced $2.4 billion (Rs 10,247.5 crore) of fresh investment and has unveiled ambitious plans to launch operations from Abu Dhabi later this year. “No one has ever raised this kind of capital

32 SP’S AVIATION Issue 5 • 2008 SHOW REPORT EBACE ’08

in this industry,” says Chief Executive Paul Touw. “Of course, which is awaiting UAE approval of a new air operator’s cer- no one ever had a model like ours.” In September, the first of tificate. “That will take between three and six months, so we’ll 80 Challenger 300s joins the fleet, and soon the company will begin operations towards the end of 2008,” says Touw. select a long-range aircraft—the third and final model for the Swiss-based VistaJet stunned visitors with the announce- fleet. The fourth round of XOJet’s financing revealed at EBACE ment that it is to buy Bombardier’s international charter op- is from the Economic Development Corporation of Canada, erator Skyjet. The two companies have signed an MoU for the White Oak Investments, and TPG Growth. Morgan Stanley led acquisition of Skyjet International. The deal includes Skyjet’s the effort that brought $964 million (Rs 4,116 crore) in im- bases in Farnborough, Dubai and Hong Kong, and makes mediate financing. The remaining $1.5 billion (Rs 4,269 crore) VistaJet the second-largest private jet company outside North is via a joint venture with Tasameem Real Estate Company, America, behind NetJets. Both parties have agreed not to dis- close the sum VistaJet paid, and the deal depends on a final contract being signed by the end Mercury of June at the latest, says VistaJet’s Group CEO Bing Chen. Skyjet’s operations in North America are not affected by the deal. Rising Another company with aggressive expansion plans is ExecuJet. Expanding its worldwide presence, the Swiss-based company announced the setting up of new national head- quarters for Russia, India and China, Swiss- and has continued based its expansion into VistaJet Europe with the stunned opening of a UK base in March. The visitors new Russian office, with the in Moscow, already announcement has two sales rep- that it is to buy resentatives “to Bombardier’s support a booming market where international three to four busi- charter ness jets are be- operator Skyjet ing delivered each month”, according to Gerrit Basson, ExecuJet Group Managing Director. Primary sales focus of the Moscow office will be for Grob’s spN light jet and Aerion’s SBJ. The company’s expansion into Asia is testament to the growing demand for business aviation in the Asia-Pacific region. The Indian office, in Mumbai, will initially focus on the SimplyFly ownership model, as well as sales of all its representative brands: the Bombardier range of business jets and Grob’s spN light jet. “We clearly recognise the growing requirements from business jet owners in India for professional business jet services,” says Basson, who intends to develop the office to establish a local aircraft management division, a charter office and a full maintenance facility from where it can AIMING FOR THE SKY: best support the huge numbers of jets that are XOJET CHIEF EXECUTIVE coming into the Indian market. PAUL TOUW Earlier this year, ExecuJet opened facilities at Singapore’s Seletar airport in February and the new Beijing office supports the region’s demands. “There are 300 business jets operating

Issue 5 • 2008 SP’S AVIATION 33 SHOW REPORT EBACE ’08

LEFT TO RIGHT FRESH ENTRANT: DASSAULT ANNOUNCED LX VERSION OF SPOTLIGHT ON COMPONENTS FALCON 900EX EASY • DONE —By Phil Nasskau, Geneva Bombardiers Learjet 85 taking on a pair of PW307B engines. DEAL: NETJETS CEO EUROPE BILY Cessna released details of suppliers that will work with on its new, While avionics supplier Rockwell Collins unveiled major new com- KELLY FLANKED BY DASSAULT’S large cabin, intercontinental model 850 Citation Columbus. Following mitments by business jet manufacturers to its new-generation cockpit JOHN ROSANVALLON AND CHARLES EDELSTENNE AFTER SIGNING THE its success with the upper and lower panels assemblies on the Cessna and cabin systems, Bombardier has selected the Pro Line Fusion in- DEAL FOR 20 FALCONS 2000LX • Citation X wing, Dallas-based Vought Aircraft Industries will produce tegrated cockpit for the new, all-composite Learjet 85. The HGS-6000 SUCCESS SMILES: P&WC’S the aircraft’s wing at its Nashville facility. Cessna has also decided head-up guidance system has been named as part of the Fusion fit for EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT JOHN SAABAS LEANS ON CESSNA’S to outsource the design and manufacture of the landing gear system. Cessna’s Citation Columbus, which is due to enter service in 2014. Col- CITATION COLUMBUS WITH This work has gone to Goodrich, who will also be providing the wheels lins has also announced that its new Venue cabin entertainment system CESSNA’S VICE PRESIDENT SALES and brakes—something they do for other Citations. Argo Tech is for for the Citation CJ4, set for first deliveries in 2010, will incorporate iPod AND MARKETING ROGER WHYTE the first time designing and producing the complete fuel system for docking. Meanwhile, Avidyne announced a new weather and text-mes- a Cessna aircraft. Columbus will be powered by twin P&WC PW810s. saging system it’ll promote through their new Avidyne-Europe office. The in Asia-Pacific, and the ma- The Columbus, the flagship of the Cessna Citation family, is aiming new MLX770 will rely on the 66-satellite Iridium constellation to connect jority are privately owned. for FAA certification by the end of 2013. P&WC didn’t stop there with instant weather to Entegra- and EX500-equipped aircraft. SP So there is plenty of opportunity for an experienced organisation like ExecuJet to further bolster the number jets categorised as Very Light Jets, such as the Beechcraft Pre- flying in the region,” Basson adds. mier I, the Cessna Citation Mustang, CJ1+, CJ2+, Eclipse and Certainly, there will be more. Bombardier took the oppor- Embraer Phenom 100. tunity to announce its market forecast. Fuelled by a strong Bombardier Vice-President Strategy and Business Devel- order intake and a record backlog, the Canadian company opment Mairead Lavery says deliveries should rise steadily is optimistic about increasing delivery numbers through the from nearly 1,000 this year to almost 1,500 in 2017, al- next decade. Growth in non-US markets is expected to drive though orders are expected to drop from just under 1,800 the business jet deliveries to 1,320 annually between 2008 last year to fewer than 1,000 next year before beginning to and 2017, compared with the industry average of 620 in climb again. Last year’s surge in orders came as a surprise, the period from 1998 to 2007, according to the Canadian Lavery says, encouraging Bombardier to boost its delivery company’s latest forecast. forecast dramatically from the 2007 forecast of 995 a year The forecast—estimating in the period from 2007 to 2016. International markets will DEBUTANT: (BELOW) PILATIUS’ PC12 NG value of more than $300 continue growing, says Lavery. ON DISPLAY FOR THE FIRST TIME ON A HIGH: (RIGHT) HAWKER billion (Rs 12,80,244 crore) In addition, she adds, industry backlogs represent 29 BEECHCRAFT TOOK 40 FIRM ORDERS over the 10 years—does months’ production and the market for second-hand air- AND A FURTHER 30 POSITIONS ON not include aircraft it has craft is healthy. Commenting on US economic worries, Pres- ITS NEWLY UNVEILED PREMIER II ident and Chief Operating Officer Pierre Beaudoin says: “As far as aviation is concerned, we have not seen an impact. We see growth.” The current industry record backlog was estimated by Lavery as being the equivalent of two-and-a-half years’ production (2,571 units worth $63 billion, or Rs 2,69,086 crore). Golf maestro Adam Scott, meanwhile, is the new face of Gulfstream in Asia Pacific and he came to EBACE to seal the agreement. The Australian star, who is consis- tently ranked in the world top 10 and has six PGA Tour titles to his name, will promote the Gulfstream brand across the region. SP

34 SP’S AVIATION Issue 5 • 2008 SHOW REPORT EBACE ’08

AMBITIONS UNVEILED

—By Phil Nasskau, Geneva production line. Speaking at the show, President John Rosan- Eclipse has been struggling to secure the European Aviation vallon said: “The 900LX will make one of the most popular Safety Agency’s (EASA) certification for the last two years and Falcon series much more capable, economical and environ- there is still no date in sight for European certification of the mentally responsible to operate.” very light jet, according to Eclipse Aviation executives at the Plugging the gaps in its family, Embraer added to its Leg- European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition 2008 acy with the launch of MSJ and MLJ programmes. The mid-light (EBACE). A two-configuration move would go directly against the is the Legacy 450, while the large mid-size becomes the Legacy company’s plans for the type’s single equipment fit worldwide. 500. The two jets come with a ‘special offer’: an introductory Eclipse also denied any anticipated EASA demands on price for the aircraft. The Legacy 450 is priced at $15.25 mil- equipment or performance would entail changes to the air- lion (Rs 65 crore) and the 500 will cost $18.4 million (Rs 78 craft that were not already within the company’s plans. Couch crore). Both are clean-sheet designs, with around 95 per cent says EASA requirements mean the aircraft’s Avio NG avionics commonality. The main difference is that the mid-size 500 has a fit has yet to undergo some development before it will be longer fuselage. First deliveries of the Legacy 500 are scheduled ready for EASA, but says the company was doing that anyway for Q2 2012, with the 450 arriving in Q2 2013. Embraer was for fleet-wide retrofit. open for orders at EBACE. Boeing announced that it had started work on the first Competitor Bombardier further clarified Learjet 85 per- BBJ 3, the VIP variant of the 737-900ER. At its Washington formance figures. The programme has now entered the “Joint facility, the staff is currently building wing parts which will be Definition Phase” which is where the design will start to be- fixed to the fuselage prior to the aircraft joining the 737 mov- come frozen. Vice President for the programme David Coleal ing assembly line. Boeing has orders for eight and the first is said, “The 85 is 42 per cent bigger than the 60 XR and fits set to enter service in 2009. in nicely between the 60 XR and the Challenger 300.” Hawker Business aviation stalwart Gulfstream, meanwhile, re- Beechcraft unwrapped the Premier II, an upgraded version of vealed more about the G650. The new jet, when it enters service the Premier IA. The more capable variant of the Premier family sometime in 2012, will take on the mantle of the fastest civil jet offers greater range, speed and altitude. Swiss manufacturer from Cessna’s Citation X. The G650 will have a maximum cruise Pilatus introduced its PC12 NG, which gained EASA and FAA speed of Mach 0.925, as well as offer 28 per cent more cabin certification on March 28. The NG features a number of “sig- volume and 30 per cent more floor area than Gulfstream’s cur- nificant improvements” over the PC12—namely, fully integrated rent flagship, the G550. Twin Rolls Royce Deutshchland BR725 Honeywell Primus Apex avionics, a redesigned cockpit by BMW TOP TO DOWN engines with a 4.6 per cent thrust increase—now 16,100 lbf— Group DesignworksUSA and a more powerful version of Pratt & WINNERS TAKE IT ALL: will power the G650, besides a 3.1 per cent increase in thrust Whitney Canada’s venerable PT6 engine, the PT6A-67P. (2ND FROM LEFT) BOMBARDIER’S to weight ratio, as well as a 3.5 per cent reduction in specific Italian manufacturer Piaggio used EBACE to unveil its PIERRE BEAUDOIN RAISES A CHEER fuel consumption in the cruise to 0.657lb/lbf/hr. The G650 is new interior upgrade package for the Avanti II. The new interior FLYING HIGH: (LEFT TO RIGHT) GERAR WISSEL, GLOBAL HEAD earmarked for first flight in 2009 with dual FAA and EASA certifi- comes under the marque of Avanti II.it. Vice President Com- OF LUFTHANSA PRIVATE JET, cation scheduled for 2011 and the first delivery in 2012. mercial Giuliano Felten said at EBACE: “.it stands for ‘Italian TREVOR ESLING, VICE PRESIDENT French airframer Dassault formally announced its LX, technology’ and that is exactly what we have brought on the INTERNATIONAL SALES FOR CESSNA, AND STEFAN SIPPEL, LUFTHANSA the upgraded versions of the 900EX EASy. It will be built on P.180 with this new option.” DIRECTOR OF AIRCRAFT PURCHASING the same platform as its predecessor, but features winglets French airframer EADS Socata showed off the new Model A DASH OF GLAMOUR: GOLF MAESTRO and an extended range to 4,800 nm. Certification of the twin- 2008 TBM850 turboprop. The single-engined aircraft features ADAM SCOTT IS THE NEW FACE OF GULFSTREAM IN ASIA PACIFIC jet is expected in the first half of 2010 and deliveries will start an all-glass cockpit based on the Garmin G1000 for reduced in mid-2010 when it will replace the Falcon 900EX on the pilot workload and ease of maintenance. SP

BIG BUDGET BUYS —By Phil Nasskau, Geneva customer to convert its letter of intent (LOI) to firm contracts for taken 40 firm orders and a further 30 positions on its newly un- Airbus secured its largest ever widebody VIP order for the sale of Bombardier’s Learjet 85. The contract covers six firm aircraft and veiled Premier II. Additionally, the company inked a deal with In- six A350 XWB Prestiges to MAZ Aviation of Saudi Arabia. The deal was valued at $103 million (Rs 439 crore). dian-based start-up fractional and block charter operator BJETS at list prices was valued at some $1.5 billion (Rs 6,391.5 crore) Europe’s largest business jet operator NetJets Europe signed for 10 Hawker 4000s as well as options for a further five worth in and the first delivery is scheduled for sometime in 2015. “Some for 20 more of Dassault’s Falcon 2000LXs worth approximately excess of $330 million (Rs 1,406 crore). of these aircraft are for our customers, while others are for our $720 million (Rs 3,068 crore), adding to NetJets’ previous order Cessna, meanwhile, received an order from Austrian charter own purposes,” explained MAZ Chairman Mohammed Al-Zeer as for 10 of the type. Interest has been strong in the new jet and as giant Jet Alliance for 24 more aircraft, taking its Citation orders he signed the contracts in Geneva. “The range of the aircraft was such the next available delivery slot is in 2015 with a base price this year to 50: four Mustangs, seven CJ2+s, 11 CJ3s, three CJ4s, interesting and the cabin was very spacious, spacious enough to of $20.5 million (2015 price). Assuming all LOI holders convert 10 XLS+, seven Sovereigns, four Citation Xs and four of the OEMs stay in for long journeys. It can go point to point from anywhere to firm orders. Embraer also tasted success with sales totalling latest large-cabin Citation Columbus variant. Additionally, an or- in the world.” $105 million (Rs 447 crore) covering firm orders of four Phenom der from Russian air taxi operator Dexter for 20 Mustangs was Bombardier secured a massive order worth some $1.3 bil- 100s, a single Phenom 300 and two Legacy 600s. It also has op- also clinched at the show. Cessna’s entry level jet should be cer- lion (Rs 5,539 crore) from Swiss-headquartered, but Malaysian- tions signed for two more Phenom 100s as well as a two Legacy tificated in Russia in early 2010. Cessna also penned a deal with financed, VistaJet. The deal covers 35 firm aircraft and a further 500s and a single Legacy 450. The orders come from a variety of Lufthansa Private Jet worth more than $50 million (Rs 213 crore) 25 options. Firm orders are for 11 Challenger 605s, 13 Learjet operators from the Middle East right across to Europe. for seven Citations, two CJ1+, two CJ3 and two XLS+. Delivery of 60 XRs and 11 Learjet 85s. Elsewhere, ExecuJet was the first Hawker Beechcraft was not left out in the cold and had the Citations will be by spring next year. SP

Issue 5 • 2008 SP’S AVIATION 35 SHOW REPORT EBACE ’08 MONEY MATTERS Deals worth over $5 billion (Rs 2,135 crore) were struck at EBACE 2008

FIXED WING AIRCRAFT Manufacturer Aircraft Number Buyer Value

Airbus ACJ 1 Jetalliance $185 mn A318 Elite 2 Jetalliance (Above figure is combined) A350 Prestige 6 MAZ Aviation $1500 mn

Bombardier Challenger 605 11 VistaJet $1300 mn Learjet 60XR 13 VistaJet (Above figure Learjet 85 11 VistaJet is combined) Learjet 85 6 ExecuJet $103 mn Global Express XRS 2 Comlux $100 mn*

Cessna Citation Mustang 20 Dexter $54 mn* Citation (various) 24 Jetalliance $700 mn** Citation (various) 13 Lufthansa Pvt Jet $50 mn

Dassault Falcon 2000LX 20 NetJets Europe $720 mn

EADS Socata TBM 850 2 JetFly $6 mn*

Embraer Phenom 100 1 Legacy 450 1 Option ASAIG Aviation Legacy 500 2 Options Phenom 300 1 }

Legacy 600 1 SS Lootah Group Legacy 600 1 Burgan Company Legacy 600 1 Linxair $25 mn* Phenom 100 1 (+ 2 Options) VLJ Consultants Phenom 100 2 Finnish Av Academy $10 mn* Phenom 300 2 (+2 Options) Executive Airshare (Above figure is combined)

Gulfstream G650 5 Prestige Jet $300 mn* G650 5 Ocean Sky $300 mn*

Hawker Beechcraft Hawker 4000 10 (+ 5 Options) BJets $330 mn Hawker 4000 1 Western Aviation Premier II 40 information unavailable

Honda HondaJet 1 Jenson Button $4 mn

Helicopters

AugustaWestland AW119Ke 1 Private (Russia) $10 mn* AW109S Grand 1 Ultimate Security $10 mn* Tanzania

Eurocopter EC 135 Hermes 1 Falcon Aviation $9 mn*

TOTAL (Approx) $5.356 bn

* List Prices derived from open sources • ** Citation prices are estimations • mn = million; bn = billion

36 SP’S AVIATION Issue 5 • 2008 SPECIAL REPORT SP’s AirBuz Launched

Inaugural Issue SP’s

An Exclusiv e M a g azine on Civil A viation from India

Deceptively BRIGHT? Analysing the true picture of Indian aviation

• PILOTS TRAINING 2 • BUDGET ANALYSIS & MUCH MORE...

1 www.spsairbuz.net AN SP GUIDE PUBLICATION

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1. Ashok Chawla, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), releases the inaugural edition of SP’s AirBuz with the Editor-in-Chief, Jayant Baranwal; 2. Boeing officials express their appreciation; 3. The Editor-in-Chief flanked by Ashok Chawla and Captain Gopinath of Deccan Aviation together with a host of dignitaries, including Dr Dinesh Keskar of Boeing; Srivastava, Jt Secretary, MoCA; Ramalingham, Chairman, AAI; and Dr Amit Mitra, Secretary General, FICCI, among others; 4. The Editor-in-Chief makes a point as SP’s AirBuz Editor Air Marshal (Retd) B.K. Pandey (left) and Boeing’s Dr Dinesh Keskar look on; 5. Captain Gopinath looked especially pleased at the launch of an exclusive

PHOTOGRAPHS: SHARAD SAXENA magazine on civil aviation

Issue 5 • 2008 SP’S AVIATION 37 Hall of Fame “Before the Wright brothers, no under much better control. The one in aviation did anything course for the next four or five fundamentally right. Since the hundred feet had but little undu- Wright brothers, no one has lation. However, when out about done anything fundamentally eight hundred feet, the machine different.”—Darrel Collins, Kitty began pitching again and, in one Hawk National Historical Park of its darts downward, struck the ground. The frame supporting the front rudder was badly broken, but the main part of the machine ILBUR WRIGHT WAS was not injured at all. We esti- BORN on April 16, mated that the machine could be 1867 and Orville four put in condition for flight again years later on August in about a day or two.” Thus was 19, both in Dayton, crafted a truly momentous day in WOhio. Any bright schoolchild asked history. what was special about the Wright Long hours spent in the brothers would probably reply, “Oh, printing press they built and in they were the first to fly a heavier-than- the bicycle repair and design- air powered plane.” Not quite. The first ing business they established heavier-than-air fixed wing aircraft—a next perhaps helped to hone the glider designed by Sir George Cay- brothers’ mechanical prowess. ley—was flown half a century earlier Later, their interest in aviation in Britain with Sir George’s coachman was aroused. They read what- Orville Wright (1871 – 1948) persuaded, against his better judge- ever was available on the sub- ment, to be sole occupant. Neither was ject and began their mechanical & the addition of an engine to their glider aeronautical experimentation in Wilbur Wright (1867 – 1912) the defining accomplishment of the 1899. The humble bicycle taught Wrights. The Wright brothers were, in them the fundamental truth that The world’s first powered, fact, the first to invent the aircraft con- there may be inescapable rea- trols that make sustained flight pos- sons why a machine is unstable, controlled and sustained sible, and demonstrate their invention. but successful operation is as- Every aircraft flown since then has sured only when one overcomes heavier-than-air flight used their principles of aerodynamic this instability and controls the control in some form or the other. beast. This was at variance with took place on December The world’s first powered, con- the approach of other enthusiasts 17, 1903. The Kitty Hawk trolled and sustained heavier-than-air who searched in vain for “inher- flight took place on December 17, 1903. ent stability” and either believed Flyer, with Orville at the The Kitty Hawk Flyer, with Orville at that (a) practice makes perfect the controls, lifted off at 10.35 am. The and eventually human beings controls, lifted off at 10.35 flight was over rather quickly—in 120 could learn to control skittish am. The flight was over seconds—and covered a distance of aircraft by sheer persistence; or just 120 ft (36 m). The speed, as can be (b) that ever more powerful en- rather quickly—in 120 imagined, was fairly slow at 6.8 mph gines would some day succeed in (10.9 km/h) and the average height, 10 keeping the aircraft flying. The seconds—and covered a ft (3 m). The Flyer had a wingspan of brothers made numerous glider 40 ft (12 m), weighed 625 lbs (283 kg), flights at Kitty Hawk in North distance of just 120 ft (36 and was powered by a 12 hp (9 kW) Carolina on the Atlantic coast m). Wilbur and Orville engine. After the initial success, Wil- between 1900 and 1903. The bur and Orville took it in turns to get strong winds helped the gliders took it in turns to get airborne again and prove that the first get airborne without too much flight was no flash in the pan. difficulty but controlling them in airborne again and prove In those days, landing was never a flight was another matter. Soft smooth affair but a sudden precipitous sand helped limit the damage that the first flight was no descent when the aircraft became un- and injury in a crash (of which flash in the pan. controllable—in other words, a crash. there were many). To quote from Orville’s account of the The Wrights were obsessed final flight of the day: “The first few with control. By observing birds, hundred feet were up and down, as be- they learnt that it is necessary to bank speed bore this out. After much ex- fore, but by the time three hundred feet in order to turn to one side smoothly. perimentation the duo hit upon a novel had been covered, the machine was Their experience with bicycles at high way to achieve control by twisting the

38 SP’S AVIATION Issue 5 • 2008 Hall of Fame wing. They discovered that when the ends of the wings century. were warped or twisted in opposite directions by means of Two bits of Wright trivia. First, neither of the brothers a pulley system, the differential lift would bank and turn the ever married. Second, May 25, 1910 was unique for the craft. Later, the siblings created a twin rudder arrangement family. On this day, Orville flew a six-minute trip with Wilbur in front to stop the aircraft yawing from side to side and as his passenger, the only time the brothers flew together. to balance turns. Elevators (fitted at the wing leading edge Apart from this occasion, they never flew in the same plane, in their design) provided control in the pitching axis. Such so that if an accident cut one life short the other brother controls enabled them to balance the plane, maintain it in could continue the experiments. Next, Orville took his fa- equilibrium despite turbulence and steer it in the desired ther on a nearly seven-minute flight, the only one of Milton direction. In 1906, they were awarded US patent 821,393 Wright’s life. It is said that the 82-year old man called out, for a “Flying Machine”, a system to manipulate an aircraft’s “Higher, Orville, higher!” control surfaces in order to achieve three-axis aerodynamic Dogged by business and patent troubles, the Wright control, this is, in pitch, roll and yaw). brothers’ triumph was rather short lived. Many other teams Another notable first was reliance on wind-tunnel data— copied and even improved on their designs. Soon the Wright now considered indispensable in the design of aircraft. The Flyers were no longer the best in the business. The public duo built a six-foot wind tunnel and conducted systematic only seemed interested in the most dangerous and death- tests on miniature wings. A viewing window in the top of defying stunts by the new machines and many lives were the tunnel permitted continuous observation of the wings lost in risky demonstrations. Wilbur’s spirit was probably to determine which designs worked well and which were broken by the legal wrangles and he died of typhoid on May unsuitable. The painstaking tests produced a wealth of aero- 30, 1912. Orville sold the aircraft business in 1916 and went nautical data of superior quality, enabling the brothers to back to inventing, but did not succeed in making anything design and build wings and propellers more effective than half so spectacular as an airplane. He succumbed to a heart any before. Adding power to the controllable glider was the attack on January 30, 1948. last step in the long process. The Wrights realised that a pro- There were many competing claims by rival aviators at peller can be understood as a wing (aerofoil) rotating in the the time, most notably Glen Curtiss and the Smithsonian vertical plane and installed a pair of contra-rotating propel- Institution. They attempted to belittle the Wright brothers’ lers on the Flyer to offset the torque effect on the airframe. achievement, claiming that Samuel P. Langley’s design was Remarkably efficient, their propeller design was way ahead actually the first successful airplane. However, the Fédération of its time. It proved virtually impossible to obtain an engine Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), the official body charged sufficiently light yet powerful. Finally, their shop mechanic with record keeping and standard setting in aeronautics, Charles Taylor designed and built a lightweight, aluminium recognised the December 17, 1903 flight as the first con- cast, gasoline fuelled engine trolled, sustained, powered under the guidance of the flight. It was not until 1943 brothers, in just six weeks. that the Smithsonian Institu- After the December 1903 tion finally abandoned its bit- feat, the next few years were ter fight against the Wright spent in refining data and im- brothers and acknowledged proving on subsequent ver- their pioneering feat. The sions of the Flyer. The 1905 Wright brothers’ invaluable Flyer was the world’s first legacy was aptly summed up practical airplane—it could by Darrel Collins of the Kitty remain airborne till the fuel Hawk National Historical ran out or land in a planned Park thus: “Before the Wright fashion, without crashing. brothers, no one in aviation The Wrights demonstrated did anything fundamentally their Flyers all over Europe right. Since the Wright broth- and America to an incredu- ers, no one has done anything lous public. Their flights cap- fundamentally different.” SP tivated the world and made — Group Captain (Retd) the brothers the first great Joseph Noronha, celebrities of the twentieth Goa

Issue 5 • 2008 SP’S AVIATION 39 NEWSDigest MILITARY the IAF eight years back, fail and design deficiencies in PTA. RoundUp to provide the desired results? Though these were brought to Quick Asia-Pacific If sources at the defence base the notice of the DRDO, none of in Chandipur-on-sea are to be the improvements was proved. AGUSTAWESTLAND Raytheon to transfer AESA believed, the PTA, also known And worse, now the MoD has radar technology to India to as Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, ordered HAL for bulk pro- • Within the frame work of the first the level permitted by the US didn’t perform as required duction without verifying the Moscow International Exhibition Heli- American space and airborne reportedly forcing the defence aircraft’s performance.” Russia-2008 Oboronprom Corporation systems company, Raytheon, authorities to purchase the and AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica has said the Indian Air Force same from Israel and Italy. The IAF clears Hawk trainers company, have declared commence- (IAF) will get access to cutting- imported PTAs have, however, to fly again ment of a long-term co-operation edge radar technology in the been successfully test-flown. India’s newly-acquired fleet in the helicopter business. Both the form of the AESA radar up to But what has left the defence of Hawk trainers, which had companies have agreed upon a stage- the level permitted by the US experts shocked is that after been grounded after a crash wise consolidation. government, should it decide spending over Rs 165 crore at the Bidar airbase in late to opt for the Boeing F/A- and a lapse of nearly three April, have been cleared to fly • AgustaWestland has announced that 18E/F Super Hornet under its decades, the Indian PTA, again, even as the IAF is yet New Zealand’s Ministry of Defence has global tender for 126 me- produced by Defence Research to fully determine the cause signed a contract for five AW109 LUH dium-range multi-role combat and Development Organisation of the accident. Sources said multi-role light twin turbine engine aircraft (MMRCA) tender. (DRDO) and Hindustan Aero- the inquiry will take time helicopters plus a dedicated flight sim- “We are willing to support nautics Limited (HAL), did not to come up with a defini- ulator. The helicopters are scheduled Active Electronically Scanned fully meet the requirements of tive answer as data from the to enter service in 2011. Array (AESA) radar technology the IAF. Flight Data Recorder (FDR), transfer up to the level the US Disclosing the drawbacks which registers all commu- AIRBUS government allows us,” said of the PTA, the sources said nication and flight details, Dave Goold from Raytheon’s the engine developed by HAL has not been examined. The • Airbus has awarded the contract for F-18 business development, had certain limitations. “But sources added that India does the design and manufacture of lower Tactical Airborne Systems. the IAF had accepted these not have the facility to read composite centre fuselage frame of its “The technology transfer, limitations so that training its contents. The FDR is in the new A350 XWB aircraft to US Company though likely to be limited, did not get further affected,” process of being sent abroad, Spirit AeroSystems of Wichita, Kansas. would meet the requirements a source said. “It was a most likely to South Africa of the IAF. Our proposal will nightmare for the IAF after where it was manufactured, BOEING be compliant with the request it revealed numerous defects for detailed examination. for proposal issued by the IAF • Just as Airbus hits a rough patch, US for the 126 combat aircraft.” aerospace giant and Airbus competitor FALCON 7X PASSES 1,000 FLIGHT HOURS Boeing has signalled a further nine- Israel missile deal on hold month delay to clients awaiting delivery The government has formally of its 787 Dreamliner launch, German put on hold India’s largest- newspaper Die Welt reported on May 3. ever military joint venture Contacted by AFP in London, a Boeing with a foreign country, the spokesman refused to comment. Rs 10,000 crore ($2.5 billion) effort with Israel to build a • The Boeing Company and Asiana medium-range surface-to- Airlines have completed an order for air missile for the Air Force. two 777-200ERs. The South Korean The ghost of Barak—the airline holds rights to substitute the naval missile deal now under larger 777-300ER which features investigation by the CBI — is increased payload and range capabil- being cited by sources as the ity, if needed, in the future. key reason behind dumping the project. Sources indicate • The Boeing Company has been that the decision is as good awarded a $5.2 million (Rs 22 crore) as the closure of the JV, given US Air Force Research Laboratory the ongoing CBI probe into contract to demonstrate the effective- the Barak scandal, and the ness of Guidance Integrated Fuzing government’s efforts to en- technology developed under the sure that the military accepts The first and only business jet to incorporate a digital flight control system, the Falcon 7X s/n Seeker Integrated Target Endgame ‘Akash’, the indigenously 04 has accumulated over 1,000 flight hours since it entered service last July. The airplane is operated by Dasnair and is based in Geneva, Switzerland. During the nine month span of ser- Sensor programme. developed medium range vice, the aircraft has carried over 1,000 passengers and made over 415 stops in 110 countries surface-to-air missile. The on five continents. This Falcon 7X is now the fleet leader having flown over 7,50,000 km, in- • Boeing has achieved six years of proposed missile, a new gen- cluding several non-stop flights both to and from Europe and the West Coast of the US. “We’ve consecutive on-time deliveries for the eration Barak missile, was to flown a great number of long range flights in the 7X,” said Angelo Conti, Managing Director of Minuteman III missile programme with have around 70-km range. Dasnair. “And the feedback we’ve received from our passengers has been consistent. The cabin the recent delivery of the 593rd missile is spacious, quiet and bright. The environment and pressurisation are comfortable. And the air- guidance set (MGS) to the US Air Force. India-made pilotless plane plane stability is exceptional. The digital flight control system provides exceptional control and The MGS has accumulated more than response, and is particularly appreciated by our pilots.” The aircraft comes standard with the fails to take off award-winning EASy flight deck designed to reduce pilot workload and improve pilot interac- 15.6 million operational hours since its Did the indigenously developed tion through elevated situational awareness in the cockpit. Announced at the Paris Air Show in first deployment in August 1999. Pilotless Target Aircraft (PTA), 2001, the Falcon 7X was simultaneously certified by both the European Aviation Safety Agency which underwent extensive tri- and Federal Aviation Administration on April 27, 2007. • The Boeing Company and El Al Israel als and was even inducted into

40 SP’S AVIATION Issue 5 • 2008 NEWSDigest APPOINTMENTS UNLOCKING MARS’ SECRETS QuickRoundUp CHANGES IN THE IAF With effect from May 1, Air Airlines have completed an order for Marshal G.S. Kochar moved After a journey of 10 four 777-200ERs. The Israeli airline has from the post of Senior Air months traversing more also secured options for two additional Staff Officer, Eastern Air than 400 million miles, 777s and holds conversion rights for Command to HQ Central Phoenix arrived at the Red the 777-300ER, a larger version of the Air Command in the same Planet to begin its study of 777 with increased payload and range appointment. The latter post water and possible condi- capability. was vacated by Air Marshal tions for life S. Mukherji on his taking over ASA’s Phoenix spacecraft CANADIAN SPACE AGENCY as the Air Officer Personnel at landed at Martian arctic Air HQ. Air Marshal Kochar’s Nsite in the northern polar • MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates post has been filled by Air region of Mars on May 25. Phoe- Ltd, a provider of essential informa- Marshal A.S. Karnik. nix’ three Mars orbiters watched and relayed information from the spacecraft as it tion solutions has announced it has plunged into the Martian atmosphere at about 13,000 mph (21,000 kmph). Mission received a contract from the Canadian BOEING NAMES HEAD OF team members at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California Space Agency to continue providing FLORIDA CHAPTER comprising members from Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver; and the Uni- support and enhancements of the Boeing has named Kevin versity of Arizona, Tucson cheered confirmation of the landing and the news that the Mobile Servicing System (MSS) through Hoshstrasser site director for Phoenix Mars Lander had survived its difficult final descent and touchdown on Mars. 2012. The MSS is a sophisticated its Florida Operations at Ken- “For the first time in 32 years, and only the third time in history, a JPL team has car- information solution critical to the nedy Space Centre. ried out a soft landing on Mars,” said NASA Administrator Michael Griffin, who noted continued maintenance and servicing this was the first successful Mars landing without airbags since Viking 2 in 1976. of the International Space Station. NEW MBDA HR For the next three months, the Phoenix spacecraft will be examining a site which GROUP DIRECTOR has chances of having frozen water within reach of the lander’s robotic arm. The US DEFENSE SECURITY European missile systems Phoenix Mission has two bold objectives which are to study the history of water in the COOPERATION AGENCY group MBDA has appointed Martian arctic and search for evidence of a habitable zone and assess the biological Craig Murray as its new Group potential of the ice-soil boundary. Among the first critical deployment is the use of • The Defense Security Cooperation Director Human Resources, the 7.7-foot-long robotic arm on Phoenix during future weeks to get samples of soil Agency has notified the Congress of succeeding Kim Reid. and ice into laboratory instruments on the lander deck while a camera mounted on a possible Foreign Military Sale to the arm monitors the action. Korea of AIM-9X Sidewinder Missiles GULFSTREAM SHUFFLES The immediate goals of the Phoenix mission are to study the geologic history as well as associated equipment and TOP MANAGEMENT TEAM of water, and to search for evidence that Mars may have sustained life. Continued services. The prime contractor will be Gulfstream Aerospace, a research will be done to determine whether dormant organisms could come back Raytheon Electronic Systems Company subsidiary of General Dynam- to life. As on Earth, the past history of water is found in the subsurface as liquid of Tucson. For now, specific offset ics, announced changes to its water changes the chemistry of the ground substance. The questions waiting to be agreements are undetermined and will senior management team by answered according to Dr. Peter Smith of the University of Arizona, Tucson, who is the be defined in negotiations between appointing Larry Flynn Senior leader of the Phoenix mission are, “is there life on Mars, has there ever been life on the purchaser and contractor. Vice President, Marketing and Mars and if there is or was, how does it compare to life on Earth?” It remains to be Sales. On assuming his new seen what the data will actually show us but the scientists are assured that they will • The Defense Security Cooperation position on June 30, Flynn will be provided with many exciting discoveries that they cannot even contemplate now. Agency notified Congress of a possible turn over his product support Foreign Military Sale for the Strategic responsibilities to Mark Burns, Airlift Capability of two Boeing C-17 a 25-year Gulfstream veteran Eurojet Turbo pitches for its the 51 Mirage-2000 fighter Globemaster III aircraft as well as who has been Vice President, engine for Tejas jets in the IAF combat fleet, associated equipment and services Customer Support, Gulfstream A nine-member delegation which comes after a $964 to an international consortium made Product Support. from Eurojet Turbo, leading million (Rs 4,135.5 crore) up of allies in the North Atlantic Treaty European military aero-engine deal was inked with Russia Organization together with Sweden and NEW CHIEF FOR NORTHROP consortium, recently conclud- to upgrade 63 MiG-29s. The Finland. The sale includes AN/ALE-47 GRUMMAN NETWORK ed a three-day workshop for bone of contention between Counter-Measures Dispensing System COMMUNICATIONS the Aeronautical Development India and France for the Mi- and AN/AAR-47 Missile Warning System Northrop Grumman Corpora- Agency (ADA), on the feasibil- rage-2000 upgrade, however, apart from other systems and stores. tion has appointed Roger Fujii ity of their engine being used remains the huge cost of the Vice President and General to power the underpowered deal which is in the region US DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE, Manager of Network Com- Tejas Light Combat Aircraft. of 1 billion euros (Rs 6,607 CIVIL PROTECTION AND SPORT munications Division at its The workshop comes in the crore) and, for which, the Mission Systems sector. wake of an air force com- negotiations are going on. • Department of Defence, Civil Protec- munication to the Ministry of The upgraded Mirage-2000 tion and Sport (DDPS) had invited PAUL-JEROME EVETTE Defence that the Tejas, with its jets will get new avionics and, Boeing, Dassault, EADS and Gripen APPOINTED CEO OF EADS present engine—the General of course, better armaments International to submit an offer for TEST & SERVICES Electric manufactured GE and weapon systems. the partial replacement of the Tiger Paul-Jérôme Evette has been F404 IN20—cannot meet air fighter aircraft but Boeing has informed appointed CEO of EADS Test staff requirements. DRDO developing hyper- that it will not submit an offer for the & Services within the Business sonic missile F/A-18E/F within the evaluation. The Unit Defence Electronics of India plans 1 billion euro The Indian Defence Research DDPS regrets Boeing’s decision, but the EADS Defence & Security. He Mirage upgrade and Development Organisa- company has assured it will continue will report to Bernd Wenzler, India is moving towards tion (DRDO) is developing a its full support for the operation and CEO Defence Electronics, and signing a big contract with hypersonic missile that could modernisation of the C/D models. succeeds Jean Bultel. France for the upgrade of double up as a long-range

Issue 5 • 2008 SP’S AVIATION 41 NEWSDigest

SAAB UNVEILS PROTOTYPE GRIPEN Pakistan, China threat: RoundUp IAF to deploy Sukhois Quick With Pakistan getting new Estimated to cost $76 mil- F-16s from US and JF-17 EMBRAER lion (Rs 324 crore) each, ‘Thunder’ jets from China, IAF the Gripen has been de- now has plans to progressively • Embraer has received final approv- scribed as more computer deploy its most potent Su-30 al from Russia’s Interstate Aviation than aircraft. MKI fighters on the western Committee for the 37 to 50-seat ERJ wedish manufacturer Saab front. This comes after IAF 145 regional jet family, comprised of has unveiled a prototype identified Tezpur and other the 37-seat ERJ 135, the 44-seat ERJ SGripen fighter plane that bases in the Northeast to also 140, and the 50-seat ERJ 145. will pioneer a “new generation base the multi-role Sukhois of technologies and capabili- as a safeguard against China, • Embraer and Régional, a wholly- ties”. The Swedish technology group says its latest iteration of advanced commu- which has gone in for a mas- owned subsidiary of Air France, signed nications and defensive systems, as well as a recently developed Saab/Thales ac- sive upgrade of airbases in a contract for two additional EMBRAER tive electronically-scanned array radar could be retrofitted onto existing versions of Tibet and other areas near the 170 jets, confirming options originally the Gripen, such as those now entering service with the SA Air Force. Saab CEO Åke Line of Actual Control. At pres- placed in August 2007. Both aircraft Svensson says the Gripen Demonstrator programme is “the pathfinder to ensure that ent, IAF has just about 60 of are scheduled for delivery in 2009. Gripen remains at the leading-edge of fighter aircraft performance and capability the 230 Sukhoi-30MKI fighters well beyond 2040”. contracted from Russia. FINMECCANICA “This is a landmark event for Saab and its international industrial partners (that include several SA companies) and a significant moment in the future of fighter Europe • Finmeccanica, S.p.A., a world leader aircraft technology and performance,” said Svensson. Several local companies are in the supply of electronics equipment providing parts and components to the Gripen programme, including BEE aviation EADS to roll out A400M and defence and security systems and company Aerosud and state arms-maker Denel. on June 26 services, and DRS Technologies, Inc., a European aerospace group leading supplier of integrated defence Gripen International MD Johan Lehander said the demonstrator programme will EADS plans to roll out the electronics products, services and sup- showcase new technology for existing and potential Gripen customers. “We have con- A400M heavy airlifter for first port, have announced that they have centrated on the key strategic performance and capability areas. That includes the public viewing on June 26. The signed a definitive merger agreement aircraft sensors, communications fit, weapons load, self-protection systems, range four-engine turbo-prop aircraft under which Finmeccanica will acquire and engine performance. will add tactical and strate- 100 per cent of DRS stock for $81 “But we also need to build and deliver a system that remains affordable. In gic airlift capacity to seven (Rs 3,475) per share in cash and at the coming years, Gripen will find itself in a league of its own when it comes to European NATO nations. But an approximate cost of $5.2 billion costs, particularly long-term lifecycle costs,” he said at a launch event at Linköping production has been delayed (Rs 22,308 crore). The transaction in Sweden. “We are already delivering systems and capabilities that our competitors by six to 12 months, amid allows Finmeccanica to consolidate its still can only offer as promises. In the years to come, Gripen will get even more wrangling between developers international role by entering the US advanced, even more sophisticated while staying every bit as affordable as it is now. over engine performance. The market as a key player. It further allows We understand cost control.” A400M has been designed to DRS to seek business opportunities in Estimated to cost $76 million (Rs 324 crore) each, the Gripen has been de- meet gaps in Europe’s airlift the US and abroad. scribed as more computer than aircraft. Saab flight test operations manager and capability and replace ageing test pilot Magnus Olsson says the fighter is fitted with 40 Pentium-type processors to Lockheed Martin C-130 Her- INDIAN MINISTRY OF DEFENCE control its cockpit avionics, engine, weapons and flight surfaces through a systems cules and the Franco-German architecture called “fly-by-wire”. C-160 Transall. • The Indian Ministry of Defence has clarified that the supply of Hawk Americas aircraft has not been stopped. In fact, cruise missile. Besides, it Israel lags on Phalcon two aircraft arrived from UK on May 12, could be used for launching delivery Boeing fires high-energy along with large quantities of spares, satellites at low cost, accord- After the Russians and the laser aboard advanced as per the induction plan. Two more ing to V.K. Saraswat, Chief Americans, with whom the tactical laser aircraft aircraft would arrive in June. Controller, R&D (Missiles and Indian armed forces have The Boeing Company has Strategic Systems), DRDO. issues over delays or condi- fired a high-energy chemi- ISRAEL AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES The Hypersonic Technol- tions attached to their military cal laser aboard a C-130H ogy Demonstrator Vehicle equipment, it is now the turn aircraft in ground tests for • Itzhak Nissan, President and CEO (HSTDV) was the new technol- of Israel to slip behind sched- the first time, achieving a key Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd (IAI) ogy initiative of the DRDO. Dr ule for the delivery of high-tech milestone for the Advanced and Ratan Tata, Chairman Tata Sons Saraswat said, “The HSTDV hardware for the IAF. A source Tactical Laser (ATL) Ad- have signed a framework agreement project, through which we in the IAF has confirmed vanced Concept Technology for cooperation in the development, want to demonstrate the per- that the delivery of the first Demonstration programme. manufacturing, marketing and support formance of a scram-jet engine Phalcon will be delayed. It was “First firing of the high-en- of defence products in India. The agree- at an altitude of 15 km to 20 expected in September but is ergy laser aboard the ATL ment covers a wide range of defence km, is on. Under this project, now more likely to reach India aircraft shows that the pro- and aerospace products. we are developing a hyperson- only at the end of the first gramme continues to make ic vehicle that will be powered quarter of 2009, disrupting the good progress toward giving L-3 COMMUNICATIONS by a scram-jet engine. This IAF’s force-building plans. This the warfighter an ultra-preci- is dual-use technology with is the second time that the sion engagement capability • L-3 Communications has received multiple civilian applications. delivery schedule of the Phal- that will dramatically reduce a contract from Danish Defence It can be used for launching cons has been disrupted. The collateral damage,” said Scott Acquisition and Logistics Organisa- satellites at low cost. It will also original schedule envisaged Fancher, Vice President and tion to upgrade existing simulators be available for long-range the delivery of the first aircraft General Manager of Boeing and provide training devices for the cruise missiles of the future.” in November 2007. Missile Defense Systems.

42 SP’S AVIATION Issue 5 • 2008 NEWSDigest

SHOW CALENDAR CESSNA ROLLS OUT FIRST PRODUCTION CITATION XLS+ QuickRoundUp June 13-15 AEROEXPO 2008 The Citation XLS+ will travel as fast Royal Danish Air Force F-16 Midlife Wycombe Air Park, London. as 440 knots and have a range of Update programme. Organiser: World Aviation more than 1,800 nautical miles Events Ltd essna has rolled out the first produc- LOCKHEED MARTIN Email: [email protected] tion Citation XLS+ at the company’s Cprimary design and manufacturing • Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co., June 26 facilities in Wichita, Kansas. The XLS+ is is being awarded a cost plus incentive NBAA BUSINESS AVIATION the latest version of the world’s best-sell- fee/cost plus award fee contract for REGIONAL FORUM ing business jet model. The first production $1,463,969,301 (Rs 6,280 crore). This Dayton, Ohio unit now will go to paint and interiors, while two flight test aircraft continue to work is a new contract for the first increment Organiser: National Business toward type certification. Federal Aviation Administration certification is expected by of the next generation of Global Posi- Aviation Association mid year, with deliveries starting before the end of 2008. tioning System, a satellite-based radio Email: [email protected] The upgrade to the mid-size Excel/XLS will feature the fully integrated Rockwell navigation system that serves military Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suite and electronically controlled engines from Pratt & and civil users world-wide. July 14-20 Whitney Canada. Exterior and interior restyling is also integrated into the new model, FARNBOROUGH most prominently the extended contour of the nose and expanded seat widths, both NORTHROP GRUMMAN INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW introduced to more closely resemble Cessna’s Citation X and Citation Sovereign mod- Organiser: Farnborough els. The Citation XLS+ will travel as fast as 440 knots, have a range of more than • Northrop Grumman Corporation has International Ltd 1,800 nautical miles and land on runways as short as 3,180 ft at its maximum land- been selected by Royal Netherlands Email: enquiries@farnborough. ing weight, 2,700 ft at its typical landing weight. Air Force to provide the AAR-54 Missile com Priced at $11.595 million (Rs 49 crore), the XLS+ will continue the tradition of Warning System (MWS) for its CH-47F the Excel and XLS as the most affordable stand-up cabin business jet. The family of Chinook helicopters. Under the terms July 23-25 Excel/XLS aircraft comprises nearly 650 planes with an accumulated total of more of the contract, Northrop Grumman’s CIAM CANCUN INTERNA- than 1.4 million flight hours. The original Citation Excel was delivered in May 1998, Defencive Systems Division will provide TIONAL SHOW & CONGRESS followed by the Citation XLS in July 2004. The 500th Excel/XLS was delivered in June eight MWS ship sets and spares. Organisers: CIAM 2006, making the Excel/XLS the best-selling aircraft of all business jet models since Email: [email protected] its introduction.. SAFRAN GROUP • The SAFRAN Group, with extensive an agreement for the creation in Europe and so far buoyant operations in North America, is further CIVIL AVIATION of the joint venture company, spending in the US are at- expanding its presence with the Samtel Thales Avionics Pvt. tracting European companies. opening of a CFM56 MRO facility in Asia-Pacific Ltd. Leveraging on the track Honeywell’s top European Querétaro, Mexico. record and domain expertise executive, Paolo Carmassi, said ASEAN to ink air ties with of both companies, Thales and the company was talking to SELEX China, India, Japan, Korea Samtel will work towards the potential partners. The Philippine Department of local development, production, • Selex Galileo of Finmeccanica has Transportation and Commu- sale and maintenance of Hel- signed a contract with Thales Alenia nication revealed on May 21 mets Mounted Sight & Display SPACE Space to supply the Sea and Land that the Association of South and avionics systems destined Surface Temperature Radiometer, a cru- East Asian Nations (ASEAN) for the Indian market. Americas cial element of the Sentinel 3 payload countries signed among them- whose main task is the measurement selves together with China, Europe Boeing’s Wideband Global of land and sea surface temperature. India, Japan and Korea an SATCOM satellite operational air agreement to be effected Rheinmetall buys majority The US Air Force has placed SOUTH AFRICAN AIR FORCE in December this year. The stake in Jenoptik’s LDT Boeing’s first Wideband ASEAN countries have agreed By acquiring a 51 per cent Global SATCOM (WGS) satel- • South African Air Force has received in principle to liberalise their share in Jenoptik subsidiary lite into operation over the its first new Gripen fighter aircraft. As skies with the possible signing Laser Display Technology Pacific region. WGS is the first part of its 1999 Strategic Defence of a ‘common air agreement’ (LDT) GmbH of Jena, Ger- operational SATCOM system Procurement, South Africa had ordered with China, India, Japan and many, Rheinmetall Defence supporting the government’s 26 Gripen fighters for its front-line air Korea joining in the regional has widened its lead as the transformational communica- defence and fighter requirement. air services grouping. Member world’s topmost supplier of tions architecture. Each satel- countries have already been simulators for flight crew lite can transmit information at THALES developing airports with mul- instruction and training. rates of more than three giga- tiple runways. bits per second—more than • Thales Alenia Space has signed Americas 10 times the capacity of the a contract with Korea Telecom to government’s Defense Satellite provide their next telecommunication INDUSTRY Honeywell opens door to Communications System. satellite, Koreasat 6. For this con- Europeans on defence tract, Thales Alenia Space has teamed Asia-Pacific US manufacturer Honeywell Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne with US manufacturer, Orbital Sci- International, the world’s larg- successfully completes tests ences Corporation. Designed for 15 Samtel, Thales seal on est maker of cockpit systems, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne years lifetime, Koreasat 6 satellite will joint venture could team up with European has successfully completed have 30 active Ku-band transponders Samtel Display Systems Ltd partners seeking a foothold in hot-fire tests on heritage J-2 with 2,750 kg launch mass and 3.4 and Thales announced on the American defence market. rocket engine components of kW payload power. May 8 that they have signed A weak dollar, defence cuts the new J-2X rocket engine. •

Issue 5 • 2008 SP’S AVIATION 43 LASTWord

of PPROCRriceASTINATION

PHOTOGRAPH: SHARAD SAXENA The nation is well aware of the price that has been paid in terms of lives and aircraft lost in the last two decades owing essentially to enigmatic procrastination in the induction of the Hawk and quality issues raised by the media. n April 29, Indian Air Force (IAF) plans to commence It took 26 years after training on the newly acquired fleet of Hawk Advanced the need for an AJT was projected by the IAF to actually induct Jet Trainer (AJT) in February this year suffered a jolt the aircraft for training. At the point in time Hawk emerged as when one of the 10 brand new aircraft crashed at Air the platform of choice by the IAF, it was a top-of-the-line ma- OForce Station Bidar. As per reports, the aircraft met with an ac- chine and given the IAF experience with British aircraft such cident during take-off for a training mission and was complete- as the Vampire, Hunter and the Canberra, the selection ap- ly destroyed in post-crash fire. It was indeed providential that peared quite logical and the right one. Two decades down the there was no loss of life. As is the practice, a Court of Inquiry line, however, despite the modern avionics suite, navigation (C of I) has been ordered to “establish the precise cause of the systems and other software driven features, one could easily accident and recommend measures to prevent recurrence”. be misled to believe that the aircraft is not contemporary. As a precautionary step, the remaining nine aircraft were Where then does the problem lie? The Indian establish- grounded pending verdict of the C of I. But subsequently the ment dithered for over two decades to take a decision. Dur- fleet was cleared to resume flying training within a week of the ing this period, it is quite likely that Hawk production would accident even while investigators sifted through the charred have petered out and experienced hands retired or rede- wreckage, poured over data from recording devices, scruti- ployed. If there are any workmanship problems with the nized orders, instructions, standard operating procedures, aircraft under induction in 2008, it could, in all likelihood maintenance procedures, air traffic control logs as also inti- be related to lack of technical manpower with high levels of mately questioned the host of witnesses. expertise and experience in production of the Hawk which It will take some time before the final word is said and was available two decades ago. Such a situation is not un- hence it would be inappropriate to be judgmental. At this stage common in cases where large scale production is resumed we may only conjecture. But the fact that the fleet has been after a long break. Fortunately, response from BAe to re- cleared to fly again without waiting for the findings of the C of I, deem the situation is positive and there is no doubt that the suggests that prima facie there are good reasons to believe that British aerospace major would leave no stone unturned to it is more likely to be a case of error of skill on the part of the dispel all doubts about the future of the AJT programme. pilots. However, in the absence of complete and precise infor- While the IAF may project the need for hardware, evaluate mation on the episode, one should not be surprised if doubts products from different vendors and indicate the order of pref- about the AJT programme plague the public mind. erence, in a system where there is civilian control over the mil- Unfortunately, fuelling public apprehensions are reports itary, responsibility of final and timely decision rests with those in the media based on sketchy information and incomplete who control the purse strings—namely, the government. The understanding, alleging that some of the components used nation is well aware of the price paid in terms of lives and air- to manufacture the first batch of aircraft are old, used, rust- craft lost in the last two decades owing essentially to enigmatic ed or recycled and there are problems in the availability of procrastination in the induction of the Hawk. In a democracy, spares due to which the fleet has had low serviceability since despite rhetoric and lofty pronouncements, the process of deci- induction. Such reports could also be planted in the media by sion making is often an agonizingly tardy process. Sometimes, vested interests. There is admission to the media by BAE Sys- even issues critical to national security are not addressed ef- tems that there are issues but only “minor” and that these are fectively or promptly in the absence of clear political will and being addressed with all sincerity and seriousness as usual. direction. Often major defence deals are mired in post-deal There is, however, no formal acknowledgement from the IAF controversy initiated and sustained by internal political para- and one should not expect any. Also, as it is not a practice in digms. The acquisition of the Hawk ought to be a case study of the IAF to release to the public domain explicit details of an significance to the ongoing $10 billion (Rs 42,916 crore) deal to aircraft accident , it would be reasonable to expect that many acquire 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft. SP would spontaneously presume a link between the accident — Air Marshal (Retd) B.K. Pandey

44 SP’S AVIATION Issue 5 • 2008 ��

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