SP's Aviation August 2011

RNI NUMBER: DELENG/2008/24199 `75.00 (India-based buyer only) Aviation www.spsaviation.net the Shuttle SP’s sa It’s Official: F-35isonly $65million (perunit), ys LockheedMartin–SP’Exclusive(p Salute News Flies. We Gather Intelligence. Every Month. From India. ›› Business InfrastructureforBusiness 2011 AirVenture Oshkosh AGE 24) ›› ›› ›› MirageDealDone Homeland Security Regional Aviation: RegionalAviation: Boeing787Debut Networking India ›› Aviation inIndia An SPGuidePublic ›› ShowReport: IAF's Role in IAF'sRolein

PAGE 39 AUGUST •2011 AUGUST a tion

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Table of Contents News Flies. We Gather Intelligence. Every Month. From India. AviationIssue 8 • 2011

26 Homeland Security Keeping a Close Watch 29 Upgrade Deal Done, Finally 32 Rafale Agile & Distinct 35 Snapshot 39 Browne is the New Air Chief Show Report A view from the international space 36 AirVenture 2011 station shows the Enthusiasts’ Delight Space Shuttle Atlantis backdropped over terrain Space as the two spacecraft were nearing their much- 39 Atlantis anticipated link-up in Salute the Shuttle Earth orbit. Hall of fame

TecKnow 43 Kalpana Chawla 10 Fly Like a Bird Lead Story

first Regular Departments 12 Flying Safe & Efficient The Road 4 A Word from Editor Less Travelled Privatisation of airports 5 NewsWithViews Business Aviation pose their own problems – Fighter deal gets bigger 14 Infrastructure in terms of exorbitant The Road Less Travelled and escalating cost of – Yet another MiG-21crashes, pilot killed 17 Viewpoint operation for aircraft Regulatory Snags operators 7 InFocus • IAF Controlling HAL 18 Viewpoint IT’S OFFICIAL: F-35 IS ONLY $65 MILLION (PER UNIT), SAYS LOCKHEED MARTIN – SP’S EXCLUSIVE (PAGE 24)

Are We Ready? SP’s AN SP GUIDE PUBLICATION 8 Forum News Flies. We Gather Intelligence. Every Month. From India. 75.00 (INDIA-BASED BUYER ONLY) BUYER 75.00 (INDIA-BASED ` Aviationwww.spsaviation.net AUGUST • 2011 Steering HAL Projects ›› Infrastructure for Business Civil Aviation in India ›› Boeing 787 Debut ›› Mirage Deal Done ›› Regional Aviation: Networking India 20 Boeing 787 ›› IAF's Role in 44 NewsDigest Homeland Security ›› Show Report: Dreamliner Lands 2011 AirVenture Oshkosh LastWord 21 Regional Aviation 48 Networking India Salute A Growing Liability

RNI NUMBER: DELENG/2008/24199 the Shuttle PAGE 39

SP's Aviation cover 8-11.indd 1 24/08/11 9:32 AM Military Cover Photo: Fisheye view of Earth and NASA’s Space Shuttle Next Issue: 24 Exclusive Atlantis as seen from Russia’s Mir Space Station Civil Aviation in India: An Overview $65 million only Image By: NASA

Issue 8 • 2011 SP’S AVIATION 1 Table of Contents

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2 SP’S AVIATION Issue 8 • 2011 www.spsaviation.net Dassault Aviation • Snecma • Thales

What will protect India in the 21st century?

In matter of national defence, there can be no substitute for complete trust in the source, no compromise on the reliability and the availability of the aircraft and its technologies. For over half a century, we have proudly been supporting India’s air defence mission. Today, we look forward to keeping the privilege of serving India, for the next 50 years, with the world’s most advanced latest generation aircraft, Rafale. The OMNIROLE fighter

RAF_inde_210x267_SA_uk 1 24/09/10 17:32:04 A Word from Editor As the country decides on which of the two European fighters is chosen for the medium multi-role combat aircraft contract, there is now an US offer for the F-35 joint strike fighter, lower in cost than the two finalists

ne of the major challenges of the economic of the two European fighters is chosen for the medium multi- surge in India has been how to handle this phe- role combat aircraft (MMRCA) contract, there is now an US nomenal growth. The aviation sector is faced with offer for the F-35 joint strike fighter, lower in cost than the this scenario and it is here that the wisdom of two finalists. In an exclusive interview with SP’s Aviation, the government in formulating policies comes to Lockheed Martin has clarified that the fifth generation fighter the fore. Liberalised policies go a long way in en- F-35 is highly affordable and have an average unit recurring couraging growth. The policies have to be proactive and here flyaway price of $65 million (`292.5 crore) in 2010 dollars. Oit needs to be mentioned how while the Terminal 3 (T3) at Air Marshal (Retd) V.K.Bhatia makes a case for the IAF to Delhi Airport showcases international class to the world, there improve its proactive surveillance capabilities by acquiring are still niggling issues which the airlines are not comfortable more capable and more persistent platforms both manned with. Kingfisher Airlines and Jet Airways have approached the and unmanned aerial vehicles and space-based satellites of Ministry of Civil Aviation wanting to move back to Terminal 1D all types. The upgradation of Mirage 2000 would usher in as they find the cost of operations, particularly the price of fuel state-of-the-art technologies with modern radar, weapons at T3, very high. These have to be amicably sorted out. and electronic warfare capabilities. But the way the contract The general aviation sector which is in the cusp of is structured, it would take seven to eight years from now for growth is faced with several challenges. The President of its completion, which means it could be the end of 2018 by Business Aircraft Operators Association, Rohit Kapur in the the time the 51st aircraft is configured into its new avatar. article “Are We Ready?” has clearly outlined what needs to In both military and commercial aviation, the wis- be done by the authorities, if India has to be a favoured des- dom and foresight of the government is required and tination for all general and business aviation (GBA) aircraft required urgently. manufacturers in the coming decade. India is expected to have approximately 2,000 GBA aircraft by 2020. The biggest challenge is that the country lacks infrastructure and worse that there is no planning for infrastructure. In another article, A.K. Sachdev mentions that the foremost impediment to corporate aviation has been purchase of aircraft, caught up in regulatory imbroglio. Echoing similar concerns as Rohit Kapur, he mentions how the corporate aviation sector has to contend with lack of infrastructure; no fixed based operators, ineffective ground handling systems, etc. With the prospect of phenomenal growth of the aviation sector, the government has no doubt embarked upon modernisation of airports, albeit the pace is not as desired. R.Chandrakanth writes about how with low cost carriers gaining currency, secondary and tertiary airports will get increasingly active in the years to come. There are 136 airports in the country and once properly networked, sustain- ing the economic growth momentum will become easier. Jayant Baranwal Moving from civil aviation to defence, Air Marshal (Retd) Publisher & Editor-in-Chief B.K.Pandey opines that even as the country decides on which

4 SP’S AVIATION Issue 8 • 2011 www.spsaviation.net Illustration: anoop kamath NewsWithViews T the possibilityofdelayisreal. Hencetheproposaltoenhance ects. As uncertaintiescontinuetoafflict boththeprojects, light combataircraftand/or theIndo-RussianFGFA proj- craft isapparentlytocaterfor thepossibledelayin Tejas through theforeignmilitary sales routeisalsosimilar. ered in2004. Timeframe fortheprocurementof theC-130J 30 MKI was taken in 2000 and the first aircraft was deliv- decision forlicensedproductionofthefourthgeneration Su- of aircraftwasinducted into squadron service in1997. The began in 1994 and the first batch Su-30 fleet;theprocessforwhich the speedofprocurement procurement. Compare this with leading toexcruciatingdelaysin infinite complexity in the process tion, hasalsoservedtointroduce several timessincepromulga- DPP whichhasbeenamended sure bestvalueformoney, the process, widenoptionsanden- transparency intheprocurement (DPP) 2005. Intendedtoensure fence ProcurementProcedure Russia, wasreplacedbytheDe- the SovietUnionandlaterwith ment transactioninitiallywith through government-to-govern- lowed sincethemid-1960swas The acquisitionprocessfol- are consigned to the museum. tage fightersofRussianorigin fewer than30squadronsasvin- expected to reduce further to 34 andinthenextfewyearsis ure of39.5squadronstoaround clined fromtheauthorisedfig- combat fleetoftheIAFhasde- fore theMMRCA finallyentersservicewiththeIAF. to finalisation, itmaytakeyetanotherfourtofiveyearsbe- issued in2007. While reportsindicatethatthetenderisclose before therequestforproposal(RFP)MMRCA wasfinally weight parameters, the aircraft typesand the list ofvendors VIEWS ing the American F/A-18andF-16, eliminatedfromtheMMRCAracein April 2011. MMRCA fray—theFrenchRafaleandtheEurofighter Typhoon. The MoDhasalreadyrejected “any scopeforcomeback” bytheotherfourjets, includ- officials. astheMinistryofDefence(MoD)withinaweekortwoisallsettoopencommercialbidsjetsleftin This comeseven the first126mediummulti-rolecombataircraft(MMRCA)if “timelines” projectsarenotmet, foritsotherfighterdevelopment saytopdefence The “mother” couldwellbecomethe “granny” ofalldefencedealsintheyearsahead. Indiaislikelytogoinforanother63fightersafterdeliveryof Fighter dealgetsbigger The proposaltoenhancethe MMRCA tenderby63air In theinterveningperiodsince2001, thestrengthof went a number of modifications in the initially defined went anumberofmodificationsintheinitiallydefined Headquarters in2001. However, theproposalunder role combat aircraft (MRCA) was initiated by Air he casefor126MMRCA, initiallycalledthemulti- - - may beanoptionleastexpensive andmostexpedient. fleet tocompensatefordeficiency inthecombatpotential at the MoD. But perhaps increasing the size of the Su-30 could giveanewdimension to thedecision-makingdilemma F-35 jointstrikefightercoming India’s way, anofferthat price regimethatIndiamayfinddifficulttoafford. vestment originallyenvisaged, pushingtheentire deal intoa total of189aircraftmaywellinvolvetwicethelevel in- of theliberalisedrulesinthisregardarenotavailableto fulfilling hugeoffsetobligationsespeciallywhenprovisions tries oftheselectedvendorandbuyerasalsoplansfor ogy, long-term relationship between the aerospace indus- word willbesaid. The issuesrelatedtotransferoftechnol- experience sofar, onecanneverbesureastowhenthefinal tations thatthetenderingprocessisinlastlap, giventhe ponderables andalternatives. Despitetheheightenedexpec- and logicalstep. However, theremaybeimpediments, im- the MMRCA fleet by 50 per cent would appear a reasonable And thenthereisthepossibilityofUSofferfor Issue 8•2011 —Air Marshal(Retd)B.K. Pandey the finalisationoftender. A utable totheinordinatedelayin account ofcostescalationattrib- ficult toobligeatthisstageon price, the vendormayfind it dif- aircraft attheoriginallyquoted in optionforupto63additional 2007. While therewasabuilt- billion (`46,800crore) made in the initialassessmentof$10.4 contract would clearly overshoot crore) apiece, thevalueof of around$100million(`450 nal contenders. With a unit cost forms from among the six origi- two mostexpensivecombatplat- Rafale andthe Typhoon arethe cost escalation. Ironically, the more seriousproblem may be ously impededecision-making. scam-riddled milieu could seri- its kind. Besides, themurkyand as thisisthefirstexperienceof finalising the contract especially to thebureaucracyinMoD can poseadauntingchallenge vendor intheMMRCA tender, The secondandperhapsthe

SP’S AVIATION

SP 5 Photograph: Sp guide pubns NewsWithViews A VIEWS 6 actions excepttoejectassoon aspossible. leaves fewoptionsforthepilot totakecorrectiveemergency at alowheightandspeed (inlandingphaseoftheflight), source ofpowerinthesingle-engine MiG-21aircraft;thattoo possibility of a bird hit cannot be ruled out. Losing the sole proaching therunwayatNal foralandingandthereforethe out. As thepreliminaryreportssuggest, thepilotwasap- bird strikecanstillchoketheintaketocauseengineflame - in theaccidenthasacomparativelysmallerradome, alarge gine/bird strike. Eventhough Type 96(MiG-21 M)involved technical malfunctionoftheen- be lossofthrust/flameoutdueto other mostprobablecausecould reasonably be ruled out. The volving fighteraccidents—could tion—one ofthemajorcausesin- at 11:30a.m. Spatial-disorienta- curred duringbroaddaylighti.e. er bediscussed. The accidentoc- some probabilitiescouldhowev- to indulge in premature analysis, eject and while itis not intended lot totakeaconsciousdecision sons whichmighthaveledthepi- in fatalinjuriestothepilot. cessful whichultimatelyresulted The ejection however was unsuc- abandon theaircraftatlowlevel. the sortie, whichledthepilotto tions duringthelandingphaseof curred due to certain complica- to believethattheaccidentoc- in themediahoweverleadone Preliminary findingsasreported IAF’s operational squadrons. come ‘Fully Ops’ontypeinthe the newlyinductedpilotstobe- part oftheOpsU/Tsyllabusrequiredtobecompletedfor cate thatthepilotwasonaroutinetrainingsortie, perhaps What hasbeenrevealedbythedefencecorrespondentsindi- tight-lipped aboutthedetailsofaccidentatthisstage. inquiry (COI)hasbeenordered, theIAFisunderstandably in thedesertsandsofwesternRajasthan. While acourtof district butthepilothadejectedsafely. 4, anIAFMiG-21 ‘Bison’ inMadhyaPradesh’s fighterplanehadcrashedapparentlyduetoanengineproblemwhileonaroutinesortie Sheopur near theairfield, whichisabout15kmfromBikanercity, hesaid. This isthesecondcrashofaMiGseriesfighteraircraftthisyear. OnFebruary ejected butdiedduetoinjuriessustainedbyhim,” adefencespokespersonsaid. The MiG-21 ‘Type-96’ andcrashed aircraftwasonaroutinesortie On August 2, aMiG-21fighteraircraftcrashedsoonaftertakingofffromNalairfieldinRajasthan’s Bikanerdistrictkillingthepilot. “The pilot MiG-21 crashes,Yet another pilot killed

There couldbeahostofrea- SP’S AVIATION happened which led to loss of life of a young pilot happened whichledtolossoflifeayoungpilot IAF’s Nal Air Base, therewasnoclarityastowhat ing since the tragic air accident occurred at the s only 48hourshadelapsedatthetimeofwrit-

Issue 8•2011 which unfortunately, cananddogo wrongsometimes. pilots duringtraining, butthesearesplit-seconddecisions, on successfulegressfromthe aircraftisingrainedinyoung less thanwhollyopenedparachute. The effectofdescent it isquitepossiblethatthe pilot impactedthegroundwith pleted. While nothingcanbesaidwithcertainty atthisstage, insufficient height for the ejection sequence to befully com- indicative of ejection being only partially successful due to capability. Grievousinjuriessufferedbythepilotwouldbe on parorevenbetterthanthe ‘west’. Forexample, Russians can faulttheirejectionseattechnologywhichhasalwaysbeen cerns ofRussianaircraftespeciallyoldervintage, nobody seats andtheircapabilities. Whatever maybethesafetycon- cumstances. That bringstotheforequestionofejection the pilottosafelyleaveastrickenmachineunderextremecir aircraft areinevitablyequippedwithejectionseatstoenable safety incaseofaconflictbetweenthetwo. That iswhyfighter to bemeanmachineswhereperformanceconcernsoverride Operational requirements demand the combat jet fighters Operational requirementsdemandthecombatjetfighters —AirMarshal(Retd) V.K. Bhatia from the original zero-altitude 280 metres—a great departure ejection, thisworksoutto200 ed intodecision-altitudeforsafe m/sec rateofdescent. Translat- ing heightatanabominable40 drop likeatonneofbricks, los- which inapowerlessglidecould razor-thin delta-wingdesign, tives oftheoriginalMach2, (Type 96)variantsarederiva- successful ejection. MiG-21M times therateofdescentfora mum altitudesatfivetoseven thumb-rules could limit mini- slightly ineachcase, basic in caseofanaircraftdescent. pability cangetseriouslyeroded especially the ‘zero-altitude’ ca- But thereisacaveatasthese, creasing theejectionenvelope. kmph ejectionseat, greatlyin- titude)/zero (speed)orzero-90 it isfittedwitheitherzero(al- MiG-21M maybeoldvintagebut sisted flightcrewescapesystems. were the first to invent rocket-as- While figuresmayvary www.spsaviation.net

SP - InFocus M a fewexamplesbutthestory doesnotendhere. There are value exceeding$10billion (`45,000 crore). These arejust at least108aircraftunderthe MMRCA projectwithatotal and licence-manufactureunder transferoftechnology 200 aircraftworthmorethan $5billion(`22,500crore) aircraft Tejas which may eventually total up to more than worth $3.2billion(`14,400crore), indigenouslightcombat include, manufactureof180Su-30MKIsundera contract rectly arealsoroutedthroughHAL. Somecurrent examples from foreign original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) di- licence-manufacturing. The ones that have been imported factured byHALeitherthroughindigenousrouteor fact thatpracticallyallcombatfleetsoftheIAFaremanu - of deliveringontime, tostemitsfasterodingcombat edge. can “transform” HALintoacutting-edgecompany, capable stands aerospaceconcepts” and should besomeonewho “under to theMoDisthatHALChief contention inforwardingthecase also labeleditrevolutionary. IAF’s by timeandcostoverruns” –has by thePSU, havebeenplagued that mostprojectsbeinghandled has everyreasontobeworried HAL’s biggestcustomer, it(IAF) porting theIAFproposal—“As memory, themediawhilesup- MoD itself. Hans, MSTC andofcourse, the ent organisationssuchasPawan include bureaucratsfromdiffer been reportedlydrawnupto neously, apanelofnameshas has beentakenasyet. Simulta- at theMoD, butnofinaldecision The matterisunderexamination post ifagreedtobytheMinistry. posed aspecificnameforthe ing thattheIAFhadevenpro- confirmed theIAF’s requeststat- tober 31thisyear. MoDsources the present incumbent Ashok Nayak lays down office on Oc- rector (CMD)ofHindustan Aeronautics Limited(HAL), when Manage How far the IAF is dependent on HAL is evident from the Not knownforanelephantine ment (Air Marshal)astheChairmanandManagingDi- fence (MoD)toappointoneofitsthree-starofficers abuzz withtheIAF’s callontheMinistryofDe- edia, both print and electronic, seemstobe - - aviation company? HAL into a world-class as itsCMDtransform three-star IAFofficer appointment ofa But willthemere to take charge ofHAL. behemoth, IAFwants theaerospace pervading bureaucratic culture and fed upwiththe operational capabilities Stung by HAL’s eroding IAF possible solutions. issues involved? Turn to Forum for individual opinions and world-class aviationcompany? What arethemany-faceted a three-starIAFofficeras its CMD, transformHALintoa mation itisstrivingfor. Butwillthemereappointmentof of HAL, tostayoncourseforthemetamorphic transfor pervading theaerospacebehemoth—wantstotakecharge tional capabilitiesandfedupwiththebureaucraticculture Unfortunately, thathasnothappened. quirements properlyandinastimelyamannerpossible. valued customer, withtheutmost care, meetingallitsre- HAL ontheotherhand, shouldhavetreatedtheIAF, itsmost overall well-beingandefficientrunningoftheorganisation. deeply involvedwithHAL, withadirectsaytoensure the involved inthejointdevelopmentandproductionofPAK-FA programmes asandwhentheygetunderway. HALisalso where HAL has played or will be directly involved in the 27, MiG-29, Jaguar, Mirage2000andeventheSu-30MKI ing fromMiG-21Bison at the lower end rightthrough MiG- examples ofmid-lifeupgradesmostexistingfleetsstart- Little wonderthen, theIAF—stungbyitseroding opera- HAL

SP Issue 8•2011 —Air Marshal(Retd) V.K. Bhatia is but natural for the IAF to be operational capabilitiesetal—it Force. With somuchatstake— will continuetobetheIndian Air bread andbutterhasbeen got someexportorders, its vices andinrecenttimeseven the requirements of other ser has beenoffandoncateringto ally andwhileitistruethat $2 billion(`9,000crore)annu- erating businesswortharound endless. of things, thestoryappearstobe port aircraftalsointhescheme types of helicopters and trans- IAF. When oneincludesdifferent indigenous basictrainerforthe veloping theIJTaswell under licenceHawk AJTs, de - in the middle ofmanufacturing than thefighterfleets, HALis billion (`1,57,500crore). Other finally beworthmorethan$35 sia—a programmewhichmay fifth generationfighterwithRus- HAL currentlyboastsofgen-

SP’S AVIATION 7 - - Management

Forum HAL It must be clearly understood that as the major practitioner of aerospace power in India’s context, it is the IAF which should be in the driver’s seat to steer such projects. Going a step further, it would be most desirable for the IAF to emulate the Indian Navy and gradually establish its own design bureaus for aircraft and systems development.

as the reported request by the Indian including the last two of these had come up from within HAL Air Force (IAF) to the government to appoint a itself having retired from the IAF for permanent absorption three-star Air Force officer as the next Chair- in the company. This may have provided the precedence for man and Managing Director (CMD) of Hindu- the selection of the CMD from the HAL cadre, except that stan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) stirred a hornet’s they ceased to be from the Air Force. This, though never nest? While there is little doubt that it will gen- brought out in the open, might have further dented the level erate considerable controversy, the IAF’s proposal is not at all of cooperation and interaction which existed between the Hrevolutionary as it is being made out to be in some quarters. two organisations. But the bigger question is, will the mere appointment of a The present imbroglio with regard to finding a suitable re- three-star Air Force officer as its CMD transform HAL into placement to the outgoing CMD, if anything, could worsen the a world-class aeronautics company capable of providing an matters further. A question that looms large is why is it that effective source for meeting the aviation needs of the IAF and the panel drawn up by the government does not include any other defence forces? On the face name from the HAL cadre? Does it of it, reviving the earlier practice of mean that HAL has failed to find a appointing IAF officers to head the suitable replacement from within HAL is not only desirable but emi- its own cadre? On the other hand, nently sensible too. But this alone the government shortlist, mostly of would not help matters much un- civil servants, also does not inspire less major reforms are simultane- much confidence in their ability to ously carried out – not only the way oversee an aerospace giant that is HAL and all other public sector so vital for the country. Opinions enterprises are run in this country, vary, as would be normal in any but also to effectively integrate de- vibrant democracy, but generally sign, development and production they lean towards non-inclusion of activities; closely knitted together bureaucrats in running the show in an almost seamless fashion—if, at HAL. Reacting to the panel of meaningful capability accretion is short-listed candidates for HAL’s the ultimate goal. top post, Kapil Bhargava, a retired To redux, after India’s inde- ex-Air Force test pilot of eminence, pendence for 10 years till 1957, who served in HAL for a long time HAL was headed by bureaucrats. opines, “My personal view is that But from 1958 onwards till 1997, first of all, bureaucrats and finan- its Managing Directors (MDs) and cial experts must be totally banned later the CMDs have all been IAF from being considered for this ap- officers in an unbroken chain. The pointment. The best man from IAF importance of the post could be or having come up from within gauged from the fact that at least HAL should head it.” Manoj Joshi is four of them; Aspy Engineer, P.C. of the view that if there is no inter- Lal, O.P. Mehra and L.M. Katre, nal candidate (within HAL) of the subsequently went on to head the right calibre then, “this is a par-

i on: A noop Kamath Illustrat IAF itself. However, three officers ticularly opportune moment for the

8 SP’S AVIATION Issue 8 • 2011 www.spsaviation.net Management

government to push for an IAF man to head the outfit.” design, and development agencies—in that order. Air Mar- But based on his long association as a test pilot with HAL shal (Retd) Philip Rajkumar, who once headed the ADA is

Forum and deep knowledge of its working, Kapil Bhargava strongly of the firm view that “it is the user service which should be feels that even the best man from the IAF will not be able managing such projects.” to improve matters because of the inherent multi-fold ills of Back to the basics; it must be clearly understood that as HAL. “If improvement is considered essential, HAL must be the major practitioner of aerospace power in India’s context, taken out of the control of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), it is the Indian Air Force which should be in the driver’s including control by the Secretary Defence Production,” he seat to steer such projects. Going a step further, it would contends, to allow it to run as an autonomous organisation be most desirable for the IAF to emulate the Indian Navy with no bureaucratic remote control. Even though in the de- and gradually establish its own design bureaus for aircraft fence sector and notwithstanding the fact that it has been and systems development. The naval model for design, de- conferred the title of ‘Navaratna’, afflictions associated with velopment and manufacture of warships not only incorpo- public sector undertakings, such as overstaffing, indifferent rates a Directorate of Naval Design as also the Weapon and work culture, mediocrity, low productivity, lack of opera- Electronics System Engineering Establishment (WESEE) tional efficiency and unionism pose debilitating challenges for system development and integration under the Naval to HAL as well. These are the corporate ills which can only HQ, but also a Controller of Warship Production with the be addressed by the political top brass through sweeping defence shipyards in the country being headed by suitable industrial reforms. It is to be hoped high-ranking serving and ex-naval of- that ultimately these will form part and ficers. The Navy has been able to build parcel of the overall economic reforms a strong self-reliance capability by being adopted to shore up the coun- Why is it that keeping the design, development and try’s economic progress. That said, a production in a seamless synergy with senior service (Air Force) officer, with the panel Defence Research Development Or- an inherent sense of discipline, com- drawn up by ganisation (DRDO) and other research mitment and leadership, could at least agencies being consulted as required. bring about positivity in the areas of the government Can the IAF do the same? Accord- work culture and productivity. In addi- does not include ing to Air Commodore (Retd) Jasjit tion, being intimately au fait with HAL’s Singh, Director, Centre for Air Power prime customer IAF’s requirements, he any name from Studies (CAPS), the new order can be would be in a better position to steer implemented by the simple method of and synergise HAL’s activities. the HAL cadre? appointing the Director General of ADA It would perhaps be in order to under the Chief of the Air Staff as an ad- understand what HAL stands for ditional Deputy Chief of Air Staff (DCAS) and what are its objectives? H.K.L. and merge the HAL’s design bureaus, Anand, a retired Managing Director of little that exists, with the ADA. The oth- eminence from HAL opines about his er alternative would be to transfer ADA former company: “Hindustan Aero- to HAL (or vice versa) to build a larger nautics Limited is much more than just a public sector un- design bureau for the future, eliminating the need for the DG dertaking. It is an aerospace industry of unique embodiment DRDO to remain as the Chairman of the ADA society. What- of the country’s aspirations for attaining self-sufficiency in ever the case may be, one cannot but underscore the need for development and production of highly sophisticated air- the IAF to control the specific projects from design to develop- craft and allied equipment in the defence aerospace sector.” ment and timely induction of the end products to maintain Its aim should therefore be to serve as a tool to translate operational capabilities at the desired levels. By emulating the the national policy of achieving self-reliance in the design, Navy, the IAF would be able to define the architectural design development and production of aircraft and aeronautical of the desired platforms/equipment with the manufacturing equipment to meet the country’s growing needs. Post-inde- agency HAL, entrusted with the specific engineering designs pendence, HAL was actually entrusted with these tasks but for the development and production of the end products main- somehow lost its way midstream for a variety of reasons, es- taining a seamless synergy as the Navy maintains with the pecially in the field of design and development of new prod- defence shipyards in the country. The DRDO agencies could ucts and essentially became a facility for licence-production engage in pure research and called upon to develop specific of aircraft and allied equipment procured from abroad. It technologies on as required basis. was after many wasted decades, a push was finally given to Reverting to the current controversy on the subject, could revive indigenous design and development capabilities with there be any further argument as to who should be head- the launching of the LCA programme. Here again, adoption ing the HAL to ensure the necessary synergies—not only of piece-meal policy formulations and formation of ad hoc in all departments of indigenous design, development and establishments led to many difficulties preventing smooth production of defence aeronautical products, but also in the and time-efficient progression of the overall effort as HAL field of joint ventures? For the IAF to not repeat the alarm- had literally lost its design expertise. But the Aeronautical ing situation of depressingly low level of combat strengths it Development Agency (ADA), which was created exclusively has been driven to in recent times, the final verdict can’t be for the LCA project, proved to be a topsy-turvy solution as anything else but the obvious. SP it failed to provide a seamless connect between the user, — Air Marshal (Retd) V.K. Bhatia

Issue 8 • 2011 SP’S AVIATION 9 ec Know T T Fly Like a Bird The SmartBird can start, fly and land autonomously with no additional drive mechanism

K based Festo, a leading supplier of automation agility for the flying craft. The outcome is an intelligent bio- technology globally, has succeeded in unravelling mechatronic overall system. the mystery of how birds fly. SmartBird is an ultra The onboard electronics ensure precise wing control. light powerful flight model with excellent aerody- In addition, the torsion control parameters can be adjusted Unamic qualities and extreme agility. With SmartBird, Festo and thus optimised in real time during flight. The wing flap- has succeeded in deciphering the flight of birds. ping and twisting sequence is controlled within a few mil- The bionic technology-bearer, which is inspired by the liseconds and results in optimum airflow around the wings. herring gull, can start, fly and land autonomously with no The SmartBird flight model has no rotating parts on its ex- additional drive mechanism. Its wings not only beat up and terior and therefore cannot cause injury. down, but also twist at specific angles. This is made possible The system operates in an energy-efficient manner—the by an active articulated torsional drive unit, which in com- propulsion and lift are achieved solely by the flapping of bination with a complex control system attains an unprec- the wings and have a power requirement of only around 23 edented level of efficiency in flight operation. watts. SmartBird has a total weight of around 450 grams An unusual feature of SmartBird is the active torsion of and a wingspan of two metres; electromechanical efficiency its wings and the fact that it dispenses with the use of ad- factor of around 45 per cent and an aerodynamic efficiency ditional lift devices. The aim of the SmartBird project was factor of up to 80 per cent. SmartBird demonstrates optimal to achieve an overall structure that is efficient in terms of use of airflow phenomena. SP resource and energy consumption, with minimal overall weight, in conjunction with functional integration of propulsion and lift in the wings and a flight control unit in the torso and tail regions. Further requirements were excellent aero- E-mail your comments to: [email protected] Photogra p h: festo dynamics, high power density for propulsion, and maximum

10 SP’S AVIATION Issue 8 • 2011 www.spsaviation.net Upgrade a little. Upgrade a lot. It’s all up to you.

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t the 59th Annual Experimental Aircraft As- meric input rather than an onscreen virtual keyboard that sociation (EAA) AirVenture in Oshkosh, Rockwell was decided would cover up too much important information. Collins unveiled the industry’s first touch-control “These displays demonstrate our focus on empowering primary flight display for business jets and turbo- pilots with natural head-up, eyes-forward interfaces,” says Aprop aircraft. It will be available on future applications of Colin Mahoney, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the company’s Pro Line Fusion avionics system. Rockwell Collins. “Touch-controlled, icon-based controls on The touch-controlled interface is designed to make the the main displays help keep pilots’ attention focused up and cockpit user-friendly and keep the pilot’s eyes focused up and forward for safer and more efficient flying. forward instead of down at the centre console. A tap of the dis- “When programming the flight management system, in- play brings up a context-sensitive menu that lets pilots change stead of entering information on a console-mounted keypad, things such as the speed, altitude and heading of the aircraft pilots can redirect to a graphically displayed waypoint or with just a couple of taps. Through the icon-based graphical destination with the single swipe of a finger.” SP user interface, the pilot can manage aircraft systems, complete checklists, and review the flight plan on a scrollable map.

ockwell C ollins Through gesture controls, pilots can also redirect the air- For more information and video, visit: craft to a graphically displayed waypoint or destination with a www.spsaviation.net/video swipe of a finger instead of entering information on a console- mounted keypad. Other gestures control panning and zoom E-mail your comments to: [email protected] Photogra p h: R features, while a physical keyboard is retained for alphanu-

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The Road Less Travelled The metros represent a better standard of infrastructure than the smaller airports, but privatisation of airports at Bengaluru, Delhi and Hyderabad and impending privatisation of others, pose their own problems in terms of exorbitant and escalating cost of operation for aircraft operators

he ascendant march By A.K. Sachdev and corporate aviation in particular. of the Indian economy is The contributive potential of corpo- inexorable and irreversible; rate aviation to the growth of nation- experts predict that it would al economy remains largely incom- be the sixth largest in the prehensible to the establishment. As world by 2020. There are a result, the regulatory mechanism in visible portents of the ongoing growth respect of corporate aviation is indif- Tall around us and the disparity between India and the devel- ferent; the tax burden prohibitive; and there is total lack of oped nations we compare ourselves with is gradually dimin- focus on dedicated infrastructure required to support cor- ishing. One jarring note in India’s growth story, however, re- porate aviation.

hs: Cessna, Feren c H amori & M ike Fu hslo her Photogra p hs: Cessna, mains the government’s apathy towards aviation in general The foremost impediment to any corporate ambition

14 SP’S AVIATION Issue 8 • 2011 www.spsaviation.net business aviation infrastructure towards owning and operating an air- Corporate ones numbers only 44 in the public cat- craft is its purchase. All aircraft, fixed egory and 16 in the private one. Inciden- or rotary wing, that catch the attention aviation is tally, a remarkable manifestation of the of a potential owner are produced out- establishment’s indifferent approach to- side India, as indigenous capability to especially at wards aviation infrastructure is the fact do so is practically non-existent. Barring the mercy that it is almost impossible to obtain an a few cases of transfer of ownership authentic list of airports in India. DGCA, of business aircraft within the country, of the which frequently forays into areas not di- purchase of new or pre-owned aircraft monopolistic rectly defined in its scope of work (airline from abroad involves import. The regu- ticketing, for example), has not yet been latory mechanism that governs the im- regimes on able to draw up a directory for airports in port process is so elaborate and com- account of India. A document of this nature is an ur- plex that it could take up to a year from gent necessity so that authentic informa- the time one decides to buy an aircraft the avaricious tion on airfield data such as coordinates’ to its arrival in the country. It may be desire of of airfield location, runway dimensions, stated in the defence of the Ministry of aprons, navigational aids, watch hours Civil Aviation (MoCA) and the Director- the airport and contact details, etc is available to air- ate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) that operators for craft operators. Scheduled airlines oper- the checks and balances put into place ate largely from and to metros, and when perhaps are necessary and appropriate the highest commencing operations to a new airport, to our overall corporate/national culture return on their go through a formal diligence process be- and security concerns. However, what is fore sending by the first revenue flight. indefensible is the slumberous approach investments However, corporate aviation tends to be to paperwork. Since the exposure of need-based and unstructured in terms the pilot’s-licence-for-money scam, the of the airports visited. Thus, when a re- overbearing and intrusive presence of quirement arises to fly to an airport not multiple investigating agencies has cur- visited for some time in the recent past, rently reduced the staff at DGCA respon- especially a small airport, there is a flurry sible for paperwork to a paralytic state. of desperate activity amongst the opera- Even otherwise, paperwork was agonisingly slow, under- tional staff and the crew to obtain the latest information on the-table lubricants notwithstanding. it. Occasionally, the source of information is another corpo- To add to the pain of prolonged wait is the sting of a rate (or NSOP) crew who may have visited that airport lately. hefty customs duty on an aircraft being imported. The duty This arrangement understandably is far from perfect and no is 18 per cent for corporate or private use and three per substitute for authentic, updated database which can ensure cent for use by an aircraft operator holding a non-scheduled safe flights if correct, and serve as evidence to facilitate inves- operator permit (NSOP). The logic favouring NSOP is that tigation, if inaccurate. A corporate aviation pilot is unlikely to its operations are for public use. Considering the fact that refuse to fly to a small or remote airport for non-availability aircraft cost millions, an aircraft buyer ends up paying a of complete and updated database. However, if that lack of large amount of money as customs duty. However, there is information were to lead to a mishap, he would almost cer- a simple circumlocutory duty-saving arrangement, import tainly be blamed by the very agency that is responsible for the aircraft under the NSOP category, a method which some documenting airport information for the benefit of all aircraft corporate houses adopt to save on customs duty. A cursory operators but has not been able to do so. glance at the list of 132 registered NSOP holders on DGCA Regulation and strict diligence by DGCA is restricted website would indicate that many of those listed are associ- largely to the larger airports primarily due to shortage of ated with corporate houses not engaged with the aviation manpower. Thus inspections of smaller airports are few and industry per se. Some of the aircraft registered under NSOP far between and their fitness for operations is left largely to category available for charter, belong to big corporate hous- the discretion of the operators. Corporate flying is all about es whose main business is related to real estate, textiles, saving time (time is money) and quite often the passenger hotels, etc. Thus the dividing line between corporate avia- who is invariably a ‘big shot’ in the company if not the em- tion and NSOP is blurred. The number of aircraft registered ployer of the crew himself, is inclined to influence ‘go’ or ‘no under the corporate category is so few that the DGCA does go’ decisions. On occasions, the crew is compelled to land at not find it worthwhile to list. airfields against their professional judgement, lest they are Let us move on to the main pillar of aviation infrastruc- shown the door. While many privately owned or operated ture, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) constituted by an airports, some owned by corporate houses, are in excellent Act of Parliament on April 1, 1995, by merging the National state, inability on the part of DGCA and AAI to ensure mini- Airports Authority and International Airports Authority of mum standards of safety at all our airports across the board, India. The AAI is responsible for creation, upgradation and remains sad and lamentable. maintenance of civil aviation infrastructure in the country. The metros represent a better standard of infrastruc- However, privatisation of airports is now on the increase with ture than the smaller airports, but privatisation of airports Kochi having led the way. The total number of airports in at Bengaluru, Delhi and Hyderabad and impending priva- India, large and small, is about 500, but the list of licensed tisation of others, pose their own problems in terms of ex-

Issue 8 • 2011 SP’S AVIATION 15 business aviation infrastructure

Corporate Aviation: Aircraft operators are learning to live with a orbitant and escalating cost largely unexploited by corporate aviation. One silver lining single ground handling of operation for aircraft op- apparent in the recent past has been the introduction of a regimes erators. Corporate aviation regulation that permits helicopter pilots to land at a suitable is especially at the mercy of place away from an established airport or helipad, in case of the monopolistic regimes on inclement weather, preventing adherence to flight plan. account of the avaricious de- Ground handling is another problem area for the cor- sire of the airport operators for the highest return on their porate world and indeed for civil aviation in India. Starting investments. At Delhi, for example, all corporate flights, with the metros, the malaise of monopolistic ground han- whether they like it or not, have to use the general avia- dling regimes has engulfed even Tier II and III airports. Cor- tion lounge, get their flight handled by the sole ground han- porate aircraft operators are learning to live with a single dling agency permitted to do so and pay huge amounts of ground handling service provider at increasing number of money for this forced hospitality. At Mumbai, the parking airports. The problem therein is the high and arbitrary cost apron earmarked for corporate and other general aviation of service which is not limited to private airports only but aircraft, is overcrowded with aircraft parked wing-tip over prevails at several AAI-operated airports as well. No amount wing-tip. The implication is that any corporate aircraft seek- of protest has been registered by the establishment so far. ing overnight parking at Mumbai is an unwelcome guest The institution of the Airports Economic Regulatory Author- even though it represents revenue for the airport opera- ity (AERA) is yet to make its presence felt in this area, as tor. The overcrowding on the ground is complemented by the defined scope of the AERA does not include majority of congestion in the air over all metros. Steps initiated by the the airports patronised by corporate aviation aircraft. Con- DGCA to reduce congestion, such as rationalisation of net- stant refrain about the monopolistic regimes permitted for work schedules and introduction of departure slots, has only ground handling being bad in law, a suitable response from been partially successful. the AERA or the DGCA is yet to come. The concept of fixed base operators (FBOs) is non-existent One of the reasons for the legitimate concerns of corporate in India. In the past, Delhi airport did toy with the idea of an aviation being ignored by the establishment is the absence FBO located in the erstwhile Terminal 1B. However, the idea of a mechanism for their voices to be heard by responsible was shelved after initial negotiations with the eight contend- functionaries. The DGCA has no officer specially designated ers that had responded to the tender. Terminal 1B was subse- for affairs related to corporate aviation. Regulations drafted quently demolished. However, cynics aver that the FBO con- primarily for scheduled operators are imposed on corporate cept could, in all probability, be monopolistic in nature and aviation. There is lack of unity amongst owners of corporate hence distasteful for the general aviation fraternity at large. aviation aircraft, each relying on their own clout to push spe- Problems confronting corporate entities owning he- cific agendas. Two associations were formed in the past with licopters are no less daunting. There appears to be an in- the laudable objective of representing collective issues plagu- surmountable mindset against dedicated facilities for heli- ing general aviation which includes corporate aviation, but copters. There are no heliports in India and operations over without noticeable results. Recently, these have merged and and into urban areas are frowned upon. There is only one a third entity called the Business Aircraft Operators’ Associa- rooftop helipad that has DGCA approval. These figures are in tion has come up. This association is yet to stabilise and it stark contrast to those from the US and Europe. As a result of remains to be seen whether it can serve the interest of cor- woefully inadequate attention to rotary wing oriented infra- porate aviation to make it safer and more efficient through a structure, the potential of these versatile machines remains quantum change in the quality of infrastructure. SP

16 SP’S AVIATION Issue 8 • 2011 www.spsaviation.net Business aviation viewpoint Snags There is a need to increase the number of business aviation airfields and FBOs in place and to ease the restrictions on when aircraft can land

“ he Indian economy is grow- By Trevor Esling inhibitors to the fast acquisition of air- ing strongly. India is important craft. Furthermore, the limited business to Cessna and the expanding aviation infrastructure is currently an economy should soon support a impediment to the development of the Trobust business aircraft fleet and infra- Indian business jet market. structure. The Indian market has read- “There is a need to increase the ily accepted both the Citation CJ2+ and number of business aviation airfields the Citation XLS+ as particularly strong aircraft for the sub- and fixed base operators (FBOs) in place, and to ease the continent, alongside the Citation Sovereign. These aircraft restrictions on when aircraft can land. Airports tend to pre- offer excellent short-field capability in hot climates and non- vent business jets from landing at peak times and without stop capability anywhere within India, so are well-suited to fixed base operators, business jet passengers need to be the market. processed through the same terminal facilities, such as se- “There are currently 20 Cessna Citation aircraft operat- curity, as all other passengers. Furthermore, a larger supply ing in India, part of a total fleet of around 100 business jets. of professional aircraft management companies and indig- I would expect to see a total business jet fleet of 200-250 enous pilots will be a key ingredient for further growth. aircraft in India in 10 years’ time. “By 2025, I would expect India to be in the top 10 indi- “There are nonetheless bureaucratic and regulatory issues vidual countries for business jet ownership outside the US.” SP that are not very favourable for the business jet market in In- dia, such as high import taxes and the difficulty of transferring —The author is the Vice President, International money into and out of the country. These issues are certainly Sales, Cessna Aircraft Company

suitable for india: CITATION XLS+ Ph oto gr ap h: Ce ssna

Issue 8 • 2011 SP’S AVIATION 17 Business aviation viewpoint Ready Are We By Rohit Kapur ?

While much is said about infrastructure requirements for commercial airlines to stay in the growth path, surprisingly there is little or no mention of the infrastructure requirements to support the growth of general and business aviation.

Slow Growth: There is a craving need ndia and China will continue to be the most commercial airlines to stay in for MRO and FBo services favoured destination for all general and business the growth path, surprisingly for General and business aviation (GBA) aircraft manufacturers in the coming there is little or no mention aviation in India decade. With the recession and slowdown in west- of the infrastructure require- ern economies, GBA in India is expected to grow at a ments to support the growth compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20-25 per of GBA, which has some pe- cent over the next decade. By moderate estimates, India is culiar needs. Iexpected to have approximately 2,000 GBA aircraft (both FBOs: Fixed base operator (FBO) is defined in Wikipedia fixed and rotary wing) from the present number of 650 or as “a commercial business granted the right by the airport so. This implies that about 1,300 GBA aircraft will be added sponsor to operate and provide aeronautical services such over the next nine years, which translates into 125 aircraft as fuelling, hangarage, tie-down and parking, aircraft rent- every year or one aircraft every three days. These projec- al, aircraft maintenance, flight planning, etc and is primarily tions can keep the adrenalin pumping for any GBA aircraft a service provided to general and business aviation.” FBOs manufacturer in the world. are essential to the growth of GBA, as it provides the flexibil- But let’s take a pause and see whether we are ready to ity and standards business aviation is expected to operate. achieve this growth. The biggest challenge to the growth of FBOs also provide crew rest facilities, lounges/conference GBA in India today is the lack of infrastructure and the lack rooms for passengers, custom and immigration services of infrastructure planning. Infrastructure will only happen if and maintenance facilities. It enables its users to transit we plan for it. Sadly, we haven’t even reached that stage yet. smoothly without the delays of passenger terminals and all

m m a.co & www.lsgskychefs.co Pho t ogra p hs: www.rj While much is said about infrastructure requirements for the hassles associated with it. FBOs normally operate out of

18 SP’S AVIATION Issue 8 • 2011 www.spsaviation.net Business aviation viewpoint airports dedicated to GBA, such as Teterboro in New York, Till the time heliports and city helipads are developed Seletar in Singapore, and Luton in London, etc. In the least, in India, the right utilisation of helicopters in roles such as even if operating out of regular airports, they have a totally emergency medical services (EMS), traffic control, disaster separate access away from the regular passenger traffic. management, law enforcement, electronic news gathering, Sadly, FBO planning and development in India is still at a etc will remain a dream, and helicopters will continue to fly very nascent stage. With the possible exception of Chhatrapa- for passenger carrying from airport to airport. ti Shivaji International Airport (CSIA), Mumbai, which oper- MROs: There is a special need for maintenance repair over- ates a facility closest to being a FBO, there are no other FBOs haul (MROs) dedicated to GBA, which are different from MROs in India which are either operational, or even in the process catering to commercial airlines. GBA MROs have peculiar re- of being developed. The airport developers are still busy get- quirement since they cater to a vast variety of aircraft and ting their act on commercial aviation together and don’t seem most of the flying is non-predictive, unlike airlines, thereby to have much idea or plans for FBO to development in the making maintenance and spares planning more difficult. GBA country. Ideally, international airports should have more than aircraft are also more sensitive to environment and need cov- one FBO while regional airports which cater to GBA move- ered parking unlike the robust airliners, and therefore, there ments should have at least one FBO. Until this happens, GBA is a need to hangar them when parking for extended periods. will not be able to grow in the manner it should. The present policy for GBA MROs (if any) leaves a lot to be Heliports: Helicopters the world over, fly from heliports desired. The airport developers have not yet revealed their plans about allocat- ing space for han- gars/MROs at their General and airports. The present premises being business aviation used by some GBA MROs in Delhi and is a tool for Mumbai are under expanding the notice for being va- cated, without any reach of business viable alternative across the length plans in place. The duties and tax re- and breadth gime make it unvi- of the country, able for these MROs to stock spares in thereby adding the country. In the to GDP absence of maintenance support, most GBA aircraft go to international destinations for heavy maintenance, thereby increasing which are normally located in the heart of the city. In cities the cost manifold and thus leading to loss of foreign ex- like New York, helicopters transfer passengers from New- change for the nation. This needs to be looked at urgently. ark and John F. Kennedy (JFK) international airport to and The list goes on. General aviation needs smaller airports from the New York City heliport in the heart of Manhattan. to be developed near urban cities to encourage the sports and In Sao Paulo, majority of the helicopters operate out of roof- hobby flying activities. This segment is totally being ignored top helipads, including single-engine helicopters. In India, in our country. In the US, business aviation has grown on the only functional heliport is Juhu in Mumbai, which has its the strength of hobby and sports flying, which gave a strong own problems. Rohini Heliport in New Delhi, which was an- foundation to the booming GBA industry of the country. nounced some time ago, is being developed by Pawan Hans In our growing economy, general and business aviation Helicopters Ltd (PHHL). However, the plans are still to be need to grow along with commercial aviation. It is a tool for shared with the industry, especially the terms and charges growth and for expanding the reach of business across the for its use by non-PHHL helicopters, which I suspect may length and breadth of the country in remote areas, not well not be commercially viable for them. Meanwhile, helicop- connected by commercial airlines, thereby adding to growth ters continue to operate out of international airports, adding of gross domestic product (GDP). Unless we plan for it now, to the congestion. The overzealous security concerns do not our projections will remain what they are—mere numbers allow ideal places like Safdarjang Airport to be used as a to be used in seminars and conferences. SP heliport, wherein there is a case to find ways to utilise it by establishing helicopter corridors which prohibit flying over —The writer is the Managing Director, Arrow Aircraft no fly zones. Rules and regulations are restrictive and re- Sales and Charters Private Ltd and the President of strict the use of roof-top helipads. Business Aircraft Operators’ Association (BAOA)

Issue 8 • 2011 SP’S AVIATION 19 civil Boeing 787 Dreamliner Lands

thumps up: Dreamliner landing at t3; Boeing India President Dinesh Keskar in the cockpit (below left); inside the aircraft (below)

he Boeing 787 Dreamliner made its India debut land- Air India which placed the order in 2005 will get its first ing at the Terminal 3 of the New Delhi International aircraft in October this year, followed by two in November TAirport on July 13. “Indian air carriers have recog- and one more in December. nised the tremendous value the Boeing 787 offers airlines,” The 787 Dreamliner is built by an international team said Dinesh Keskar, President, Boeing India. Air India is one and will provide airlines around the globe with a new level of the early customers and has ordered 27 787s. Jet Airways of efficiency in operations, with a 20 per cent reduction in has also ordered 10 Dreamliners. The 787 offers the poten- fuel use when compared to similar-sized airplanes. The 787 tial to enhance the revenues of customers due to its pas- also brings a new level of passenger comfort to travellers in- senger appeal and reduction in maintenance costs and fuel cluding bigger windows and more personal space as well as burn. “We look forward to the airplane’s introduction into an environment designed to help them arrive at their desti-

mit bhardwaj / Sp guide p ubns Photogra p hs: A mit bhardwaj the fleets of our valued customers in India,” Keskar added. nations feeling refreshed. SP

20 SP’S AVIATION Issue 8 • 2011 www.spsaviation.net Civil Regional Aviation

Networking India The passenger traffic has grown tremendously, registering more than 250 per cent growth over a decade. And enthused by the increasing traffic, the government has embarked upon developing non-metro airports to spur regional aviation which is growing at a healthy pace.

n the last four years, the By R. Chandrakanth the last five years, aircraft movement number of operational airports at Indian airports increased at a CAGR in India has increased from 50 of 15.4 per cent between 2004-05 and to almost 90, indicative of the 2009-10. The passenger traffic has rapid growth of the economy in grown tremendously, registering more general and the aviation sector than 250 per cent growth over a de- in particular. The fact that new desti- cade, reaching 58 million in 2009-10, Inations are getting networked augurs well for the overall a substantial chunk contributed by non-metro sectors. The development of the country. “Airports are also catalysts of main factors contributing to this phenomenon include eco- economic growth, being the very gateway to the nation. The nomic growth; new airport destinations; reasonable fares Ministry through the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has and increasing capacities of domestic private airlines. embarked upon developing 60 airports, covering most of the states,” the Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Vayalar Ravi Healthy passenger movement has said. As per AAI statistics for May 2011, the total passenger traffic Enthused by the passenger traffic, the government has during the month increased by 13.9 per cent as compared to embarked upon developing non-metro airports to spur re- May 2010. The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of

p ress.com www.word mvsdeve l o p ers, Photogra p hs: BI A L, gional aviation which is growing at a healthy pace. During India (AERA) has determined 12 airports as ‘major airports’

Issue 8 • 2011 SP’S AVIATION 21 Civil Regional Aviation no-frill airports: airports being developed in (l-r) kannur, tiruchirapalli, cooch behar and mysore

based on traffic and they include Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, ed that the first airline to connect cities that are not linked Chennai, Calicut, Dabolim, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolka- by air should be exempt from all airport and navigation ta, Mumbai, Pune and Thiruvananthapuram. charges at both airports for the first year of operation. For In 2010, domestic airlines in India flew about 44 million regional airlines, navigation and landing charges often con- passengers of which 17 million were on the high-density stitute up to 10 per cent of the overall costs. city pairs of the top seven cities. The rest of the passenger There is a growing demand for no-frill and low-cost air- movement has been from low-to-medium density markets. ports. At a recent seminar, a SpiceJet executive said, “We The growth rates of traffic handled by different catego- don’t need a Taj Mahal of an airport. What we need is basic ries of airports: infrastructure in place and with reasonable costs.” The high There are 89 domestic and 16 international airports in airport costs in some of the airports have been squeezing the country. With the encouraging growth of low cost carri- the airline finances and a few of the airlines are contemplat- ers in India, secondary and tertiary airports are to get in- ing moving back to Terminal 1D in New Delhi as they find creasingly active in the years to come. the costs too high at Terminal 3. And as and when the Civil Aviation Ministry’s proposal In a bid to encourage regional airlines and provide air for setting up regional airlines materialises, there will be links to small cities and towns, nearly 25 Greenfield airport added momentum. Regional airlines have been defined as projects (no-frill airports) have been identified for devel- carriers with aircraft having less than 80 seats and which opment by various states. This is besides the development will operate exclusively on regional routes from any one of the 35 non-metro airports. A no-frill airport is built at a metropolitan airport such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kol- minimum cost and allows operation of small jets as well as kata, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. slightly bigger aircraft like Boeing’s B737 or Airbus’ A320. To encourage regional airlines, the Ministry has suggest- The investment in such an airport could range from `40

RANCHI airport: Major increases (in per cent) this airport has seen a major increase in Goa 14.7 Indore 20.1 passenger traffic Guwahati 23.5 Visakhapatnam 19.0 Srinagar 34.5 Jammu 69.9 Delhi (DIAL) 20.5 Vadodara 17.0 Hyderabad (GHIAL) 14.7 Agartala 29.4 Nagpur (MIPL) 16.5 Chandigarh 15.9 Lucknow 36.0 Raipur 59.4 Trichy 18.6 Madurai 33.8 Patna 42.6 Ranchi 40.4 Varanasi 37.5 Leh 73.0 Bhubaneswar 51.6 Aurangabad 61.5

22 SP’S AVIATION Issue 8 • 2011 www.spsaviation.net Civil Regional Aviation

crore to `100 crore. The places identified for the purpose to determine the level of airport charges. In the double-till include Hassan, Shimoga, Gulbarga, Bidar, Mysore (all in model, only aeronautical are considered and airlines prefer Karnataka), Shirdi, Jalgaon, Solapur, Akola (all in Maha- the single-till model. The battle continues. Currently, most rashtra), Kannur (Kerala), Madurai, Tiruchirapalli (Tamil Indian airports do not earn significant commercial income. Nadu), Rupsi (Assam), Ajmer, Mount Abu, Kailashar (Rajas- “We have tentatively taken a stand that single-till is suit- than), Behala, Cooch Behar, Malda (West Bengal), Jharsu- able in the Indian context. We have sought comments and guda (Orissa), Muzaffurpur (Bihar), Kamalpur (Tripura) and views from the industry stakeholders. The final decision Passighat (Arunachal Pradesh). would be taken shortly,” AERA Chairman Yashwant S. Bhave had said at the seminar. Amendments in policy sought The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has liberalised Currently, some private regional airports are losing money, certain policies. Now, a company planning to start regional such as five in Maharashtra set up by the Reliance Group air services will need to reach a fleet size of three aircraft and the reason is obvious. There is not enough traffic move- within two years instead of the earlier stipulated one year. ment as the operating costs are high. As airport operators Only by the end of five years would the carrier be required to start looking at aeronautical revenues to begin with, the operate five aircraft against the earlier deadline of two years. pressure is felt on airlines. The need to increase revenues from the non-aeronautical component has been empha- Private regional airport sised, but then it is a chicken and egg syndrome. Meanwhile, Regional Airport-Holdings International Lim- Several airlines fly smaller aircraft on trunk routes as ited (RAHI), a private airport developer, has announced that they have substantial advantage. Kingfisher has 27 ATR; Jet 15 airports along with city side infrastructure would be de- Airways 20; and Air India 7 which they ply on trunk routes veloped in the next five years with an investment of `3,000 as well as some Tier-II cities. The smaller aircraft have the crore. RAHI is a joint venture between IL & FS Transporta- potential to connect newer destinations where the passen- tion Networks Limited (ITNL) and Comet Infra-Developments ger growth is just picking up. The grounded airline Para- Private Limited (CIDPL). The joint venture is currently devel- mount had an Embraer fleet. oping airports in Shimoga and Gulbarga in Karnataka un- At a seminar, the CEO of Reliance Airports, Vidya Basar- der the public-private partnership model, both of which will kod had made a case for support to airport infrastructure be operational by mid-2012. The concession period for both development at smaller airports if projects is 30 years, extendable by an- they had to act as catalysts of growth. other 30 years. The small airports were constrained The founder Chairman of RAHI, currently as there was limited traf- Umesh Kumar Baveja has said that the fic, high operating costs and growing There is a company would follow a three-pronged need for airport security. For the non- growing strategy for regional aviation in Tier-II aeronautical revenues to flow in, first and Tier-III cities. “We will not only aeronautical revenues have to exist. demand for no- develop airports and associated infra- AERA has suggested single-till frill and low- structure but also have our own re- model for airport charges while the air- gional airline that will serve Tier-II and port operators are seeking double-till cost airports Tier-III cities.” The company expects to model. In the single-till model, all air- get its regional airline going by mid- port activities (aeronautical and non- 2012, by which time at least two air- aeronautical) are taken into account ports would have been developed. SP

Issue 8 • 2011 SP’S AVIATION 23 $65Military Exclusive million only Dave Scott is the Director, F-35 International Business Development, Lockheed Martin who works closely with the US Government to ensure the required coordination between international and domestic governments. In a brief interview with SP’s Aviation, Scott clarified why and how the fifth generation fighter F-35 is highly affordable.

SP’s Aviation (SP’s): The price of F-35 has been an issue ing fighter fleets. All three F-35 variants have a high degree of debate. What is the list price of the F-35? The usual of commonality enabling the aircraft to be built on a single perception has been that the price is close to about $125 production line, with common parts and at a high produc- million. tion rate providing affordable fifth generation capabilities. Dave Scott (Scott): The F-35 is built in three versions. The conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) version is the ver- SP’s: How is the international partnership progressing sion that will likely have the broadest international appeal. for this fifth generation fighter programme? The CTOL F-35 is projected to have an average unit recur- Scott: The F-35 international partnership remains strong ring flyaway price of $65 million in 2010 dollars. It is im- and is a model for international co-development and coop- portant to note that this price includes all the sensors, the erative production. Nearly ten years ago, eight nations joined electronic warfare system and weapons launching equip- together with the USAF, USN, and USMC to co-develop the ment that must be purchased separately for current genera- F-35. Today those eight nations—United Kingdom, Nether- tion fighters. lands, Italy, Norway, Australia, Canada, US and Denmark—all remain committed partners in the development programme SP’s: Can we have a little background as to how the and all intend to acquire and operate the F-35. Till date, ini- price is considerably cheaper than $100 million? tial F-35 production aircraft orders have been received from Scott: The F-35 is designed to provide fifth generation ca- the UK, Netherlands, Italy and Australia. In addition to the pabilities in a highly affordable aircraft allowing the US Air eight partner nations, Israel has placed the first foreign mili- Force (USAF), US Navy (USN), US Marine Corps (USMC) and tary sale (FMS) aircraft order, and Singapore and Spain are eight partner nations to cost-effectively recapitalise their ag- receiving F-35 information from the US Government. SP

Dave Scott assists international countries in developing their fighter aircraft requirements and provides information concerning the capabilities and value of the F-35. His responsibilities include both F-35 partner nations and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) nations. Previously, Scott was the F-22 Business Development lead responsible for developing F-22 new production, modernisation and sustainment business opportunities. Prior to this assignment he was the Director of Market Development for Asia Pacific, responsible for developing markets for all Lockheed Martin aircraft products. He worked extensively in Australia, South Korea, Singapore, Japan and Thailand developing sales for the F-16, C-130J, F-35 and other Lockheed Martin aircraft programmes. He joined the legacy Lockheed Martin Company, General Dynamics/Fort Worth as an avionics engineer and has since held positions of increasing responsibility in Engineering, Advanced Programmes and Business Development. Scott graduated from Ohio State University in 1981 with a B.S. in electrical engineering and from Southern Methodist Uni- Photogra p h: US A F versity in 1986 with a M.S. in electrical engineering. •

24 SP’S AVIATION Issue 8 • 2011 www.spsaviation.net A CENTURY OF SPECIALIZATION

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Bombardier_SPAviation_210x267mm.indd 1 16/05/11 1:37 PM Military Homeland Security Keeping a Close Watch There is a great need to integrate all radars, military and civil, to be brought together in a seamless network for the IAF to discharge its responsibility in an adequate manner

aerostat Long-Range multi-level AN IAF GARUD Indian Navy’s Air Defence Radar IN ACTION Heron 1

aving fought four By Air Marshal (Retd) in Bangladesh, laden with a cargo of wars in six decades illegal arms and ammunition dropped since independence V.K. Bhatia the entire lethal load clandestinely in —a short span in a na- Purulia, a remote district in the Indian tion’s history—India is state of West Bengal, by hoodwinking no stranger to external the civilian radar/air traffic controllers military threats. But what is most con- at Kolkata and escaping to Thailand. Hsternating is the never-ending cross- Was it not for an alarm sounded by an border terrorism thrust on the nation either directly from alert IAF corporal at the Chennai Flight Information Centre external sources or home-grown but aided and abetted in (FIC), which started a chain reaction ordering the aircraft whole or substantially by the same sources to create may- to return to Mumbai, the audacious crew and the villain- hem in the country. Whether it was the tribal insurgency ous arms dealer on board would have managed to again es- in the Northeast (still ongoing in some form or the other), cape from the Indian airspace on their return journey from the extinguished insurgency in Punjab, the dissidence and Bangkok to Karachi. Paradropping of such a large cache of proxy war in Jammu and Kashmir, the burgeoning Naxalite weapons (later used for unlawful/terrorist activities) over violence and the jehadi terrorism unleashed by its unscru- the Indian territory with total impunity by a foreign aircraft pulous western neighbour, threats to India’s homeland secu- represented severe public embarrassment for New Delhi. rity have been multi-faceted and multi-directional. While its subsequent apprehension did save the blushes Considered to be a soft nation with one of the highest for the Indian Government, it also brought to light gaping levels of tolerance-quotients, India has been repeatedly sub- deficiencies in India’s air surveillance capabilities, severely jected to humiliating terror activities without adequate re- impinging on its homeland security mechanism. sponse. Couple this with short public memory and a govern- The failure however paled in comparison to the mari- ment lacking in political will and resoluteness in tackling the time intrusion perpetrated by a bunch of Inter-Services menace of terror, the nation continually faces the ignominy Intelligence (ISI)-trained Pakistani terrorists in 2008. On of being subjected to repeated terrorist activities at regular November 26, a mere 10 km from the Mumbai shore, intervals. To cite an example, other than perhaps the Indian where the night waves from the Arabian Sea routinely Air Force (IAF), how many Indian citizens remember the splash against the bustling Marine Drive, popularly known fateful evening of December 17, 1995, when a Ukrainian- as the ‘Queen’s Necklace’, lay an Indian registered trawler,

ro navy & usaf navy p ro p ib, l ogs p ot.com, P h otogra ph s: www.nosint.b built An-26, on a flight from Karachi in Pakistan to Dhaka Kuber, hijacked by the Pak terrorists off the Gujarat coast,

26 SP’S AVIATION Issue 8 • 2011 www.spsaviation.net Military Homeland Security the craft’s sole legal occupant, the skipper, lay slain with his throat slit from ear to ear, al- jehadi style. Two inflatable rubber boats, with 10 men and substantial quantities of arms and ammunition, detached themselves from the trawler and raced towards Mumbai, their navigation made easy by the hand-held GPSs. What followed was a blatant and brutal assault on the Indian soil carried out with military precision. The planners in Pakistan had selected the targets for the human carnage with a sinister focus to also include affluent segments of society as also high-value citizens NEW FOR 2011 from abroad. The terrorist act not only bru- talised Mumbai with a senseless death toll reaching 180 and a much bigger figure for the wounded, it traumatised and left a permanent MORE NEW scar on the very psyche of the financial capital Visiting Naval Ships than Static Vehicle Display for of the country, an otherwise vibrant, dynam- the 2009 show Land, Air & Naval Sectors ic and a world city. The terrorist attack once again laid bare the porosity of the Indian bor- NEW NEW ders—this time adding the maritime frontier Waterborne Innovation to the many times exposed land borders and Demonstrations Showcase airspace domains of the country.

US Response to Terrorism Image Copyright of BAE Systems Image Copyright of Force Protection Europe Why is it that India continues to be subjected Inﬁ nite opportunities. One world-leading event. to repeated terrorist’ activities while the other most vulnerable democratic country, the USA, has succeeded in preventing such occurrences since the gruesome 9/11 attacks? The main NEW NEW reason is that the US, starting from its Presi- Security Focused Martin Corporation Increased Air dent downwards swore to do their utmost to Exhibitors Capabilities protect the country—never to be subjected to Image Copyright of Lockheed Image Copyright of Smiths Detection such an atrocity again—and went methodically NEW NEW to achieve the aim. In less than a month af- Security Demonstrations Robotics & Unmanned ter the attacks, the then President George W. & Showcase Systems Showcase Bush established the Office of Homeland Se- curity within the White House on October 8, 2001, and gave it their first task of producing a comprehensive ‘National Strategy for Home- With 1,300 exhibitors and a host of exciting features, DSEi is the world’s leading land Security’ which was prepared within Defence & Security exhibition, allowing you to meet the whole supply chain in eight months. In a proactive move, he also un- four productive days; 13-16 September 2011, ExCeL London. leashed a war against global terrorism (GWOT) during the same period, which is still continuing. To counter the most horrendous challenges of terrorism, the US Congress considered REGISTER AT WWW.DSEI.CO.UK/EARLY the most extensive reorganisational mecha- FOR EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT nism by creating a Department of Homeland Security at the national level and integrating all concerned agencies, including federal and local, into a seamless network, imbibed with Platinum Sponsors across the board ‘unity of purpose’ for greater accountability over critical homeland security missions. Vastly improved intelligence gathering mechanisms and networked to and fro dissemination has ensured that timely actions can be taken to thwart terrorist activities by nipping them in the bud. While constant vigil is maintained to prevent any in-house activity, special efforts have also been made to insulate

Issue 8 • 2011 SP’S AVIATION 27 Military Homeland Security the continental US (CONUS) from unwanted ingress, in any Guard, marine police, etc—to name a few—for the coastal form or from anywhere—be it land, air, sea or space—to defence of the nation. The other measures include setting up prevent terror attacks on the US homeland. That the con- of Joint Operations Centres (JOCs), creation of 1,000 person- certed efforts taken at each level of the US homeland secu- nel-strong Sagar Prahari Bal, acquisition of fast interception rity apparatus have paid off is evident from the fact that no crafts (FICs) and setting up of a coastal radar chain and a repeat terrorist attacks have been allowed to take place in comprehensive network of automatic identification system CONUS for almost a decade since 9/11. along the entire Indian coast as well as island territories. But much needs to be done on the implementation front, both in The Indian Scenario the area of jointness as well as augmentation of equipment Stung by public outrage and political opposition in the after- and personnel, to achieve the desired capabilities. A stark re- math of Mumbai 26/11 attacks, a slew of long-awaited mea- minder has been sent to the Indian establishment in the form sures were initiated by the Indian Government to prevent of the abandoned Panama-flagged ship MV Pavit—which ran such attacks in the future. But three years have passed since aground at Juhu Beach at Mumbai after drifting 800 km un- the Mumbai carnage with a responsive, effective and ac- detected in the Arabian Sea—that India’s maritime security countable mechanism to prevent/counter such activities still is still leagues away from being leak-proof. eluding the nation. In the wake of Mumbai attacks, public outcry has been for punitive action against Pakistan which Air Aspects ranges from total war to hot pursuit. But saner thinking, Unlike its sister services, Army and the Navy, which share geopolitical realities and ensuring the continuing transfor- the task of securing their respective land and maritime borders with other paramilitary and Central Police Forces (CPF), etc, the task of the Indian Air Force (IAF) has been well cut out with the Union War Book clearly pin- ning the responsibility of securing/defending the country’s skies squarely on the shoulders of the IAF. There- fore, there is least confusion on this aspect. But the key to comprehensive air defence lies in the IAF’s ability to provide seamless, round-the-clock radar cover for the entire airspace over the national territory and beyond, at least up to the limits of extended air defence identification zones (ADIZs). However, due to paucity of financial resources in the past, the IAF has been only partially successful in providing the required cover. There is a great need to integrate all radars—military and civil—to be brought together in a seamless network for the IAF to discharge its responsibility in an adequate manner, at least at medium- and high-altitudes. For low level cover, while the IAF is constantly trying to improve its capabilities by acquiring additional low looking ra- hunter UAV: MQ-9 Reaper dars, there is little possibility of filling the deficiencies because of the huge requirement. One option for the IAF would be to acquire additional aerostats, which de- ployed at their optimum tethered heights could provide much greater area coverage and therefore, in effect, be mation of India as a global economic powerhouse—which more economical. The IAF would need to augment its pres- in the long run would be in its strategic interests—it would ent holding of only two aerostats to a dozen or more, as also perhaps be imprudent at this stage to take recourse to a pro- integrate other assets such as the Navy’s proposed coastal active military action against India’s errant western neigh- radar chain to adequately cover the Indian airspace and bour. The need of the hour is to ensure that preventive mea- areas of interest beyond its borders at low leavel. sures are in place which includes integrated command and The above capability caters to only the passive surveil- control for greater accountability, actionable intelligence lance part of the entire gamut of requirements. The IAF and its across the board availability for prompt and timely would have to greatly improve its proactive surveillance action and credible reaction force(s). capabilities by acquiring more capable and more persis- In the above context, insulating the land, air and maritime tent platforms both manned and unmanned aerial vehicles frontiers to safeguard the country and its population against (UAVs) and space-based satellites of all types. In the counter- cross-border terrorism ought to be India’s one of the most terrorism role for homeland security, the IAF would have vital goals. Reacting to the Mumbai attacks, Defence Minis- to seriously consider the option of acquiring unmanned ter A.K. Antony had announced a comprehensive package to combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) to augment its manned plat- counter the threat from the sea. Most important part of the forms. Flexibility of use being an inherent ability of aerial package was to designate the Indian Navy as the authority platforms, the IAF would then also be in a unique position to responsible for overall maritime security and integrating all cater to the entire spectrum of air warfare including asym- the concerned agencies both military and civil such as Coast metric scenarios and homeland security. SP

28 SP’S AVIATION Issue 8 • 2011 www.spsaviation.net Military Upgrade

Deal Done, Finally The upgradation of Mirage 2000 would usher in state-of-the-art technologies with modern radar, weapons and electronic warfare capabilities. But the way the contract is structured, it would take seven to eight years from now for its completion, which means it could be the end of 2018 by the time the 51st aircraft is configured into its new avatar.

oinciding literally By Air Marshal (Retd) detailed list provided by the Indian with the ‘change of side for the fighter’s upgradation, the guard’ for the top post of the V.K. Bhatia French companies had initially quoted Indian Air Force (IAF), the an exorbitant price close to $3 bil- much awaited contract to lion (`13,500 crore). This amounted upgrade its fleet of Mirage to about $60 million (`270 crore) per 2000 jet fighters was finally signed on aircraft, which was coming close to the CJuly 29, 2011. After a tortuous period price of a brand-new fighter jet of the of financial duelling lasting more than two years, issues re- Mirage 2000 calibre. With the final price arrived at through lated to price negotiations between the two sides appear to not only hard negotiations but also carefully timed nudges have been resolved for the Indian Government to take the at the highest political quarters; at `10,000 crore ($2.22 bil- final step of inking the contract. The deal had been stuck lion) as the total cost of the project, per unit cost to upgrade for the past two years primarily due to differences over the 51 aircraft is still coming close to a hefty $40 million (`180 price being offered by French original equipment manufac- crore). However, the Indian Government has decided to ink

ubns, mbda, defenseindustrydaily.com, wiki p edia & defenceforumindia.com defenseindustrydaily.com, mbda, Photogra p hs: Sp guide ubns, turer (OEM) Dassault and Thales. After going through the the deal in view of the reasonable reduction in price and

Issue 8 • 2011 SP’S AVIATION 29 Military Upgrade agreeing with the IAF’s plea that upgradation is crucial to the French Air Force has taken a conscious decision to move help cope up at least to some extent with its neverending one more step ahead to further upgrade its fleet of Mirages, problem of ageing fleets and diminishing numbers in com- at least for the aircraft with sufficient residual operational bat force levels. life to Mirage 2000-5 Mark 2 standards. First inducted in 1985, the IAF had acquired a total of It may be mentioned that in response to the initial re- 51 aircraft (41 single-seat fighters and 10 twin-seat train- quest for information (RFI) issued in 2001 for the IAF’s am- ers) by 1988. At the time of the 1999 Kargil conflict, Mi- bitious 126-aircraft MMRCA programme, the French man- rage 2000, also known as the Vajra (Thunderbolt) was the ufacturer Dassault had offered Mirage 2000-5 to compete frontline fighter of the IAF. The IAF went on to acquire an with the Russian Mikoyan MiG-35, the US Lockheed Martin additional 10 aircraft in 2004 with somewhat improved avi- F-16 Fighting Falcon and the Swedish SAAB JAS39 Gripen onics such as the RDM-7 radar, but the bulk of its Mirage aircraft. The undue delays in progressing the programme fleet was indeed in need of a midlife upgrade. French manu- to the next stage from the Indian side and the fact that two facturer Dassault and its associated partners in the Mirage heavy-weight contenders Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet 2000 programme have continued to keep the aircraft on from the US and EADS Eurofighter Typhoon, had joined the par with the latest models of the US F-16 fighters. By the competition, prompted Dassault to replace the Mirage 2000- late 1980s, Thomson-CSF had already begun work on a pri- 5 with its own state-of-the-art twin-engine Rafale jet fighter vately funded update of the Mirage 2000C to be renamed by citing its inability to keep the Mirage 2000 assembly line Mirage 2000-5, which first flew on October 24, 1990. The open for an indefinite length of time. Simultaneously how- French Air Force had by 1993 decided to upgrade a major ever, the French OEMs also offered to upgrade the IAF’s Mi- portion of its Mirage 2000 fleet to the 2000-5 specification rage 2000 fleet to ‘–5 standards’. as a stopgap arrangement before the induction of the Rafale, Interestingly, as the saga of India’s most ambitious MMRCA which at the time was still under development. The upgrad- defence deal unfolded, Dassault and its Rafale, which at one ed aircraft were re-designated Mirage 2000-5, and became time came very close to being knocked out of the race on operational in 2000. The improvements included the Thales technical/procedural grounds, not only survived the danger thermal camera TV/CT CLDP laser designator pod as well of elimination but creditably came to be selected as one of as the Thales multimode radar doppler multi-target (RDY), the only two shortlisted aircraft in the competition. That it which allows detection of up to 24 targets and the ability to stands tall along with the other contender—the Eurofighter simultaneously track eight threats while guiding four MICA Typhoon—and has at least a 50 per cent chance of winning missiles to different targets. Updates to defensive systems the competition, its offer along with its other compatriot com- included the integrated countermeasures (ICMS) 2 counter- panies to upgrade the IAF Mirage 2000 fleet to Mirage-5 Mk measures suite and the Samir Détecteur De Missile (DDM) 2 standards takes on altogether a different hue. missile warning system. ICMS 2 incorporated a receiver and The Mk2 version of the Mirage 2000-5 incorporates associated signal processing system in the nose for detecting further enhancements to offensive systems which include hostile missile command data links, which could be inter- a data link for the targeting of MICA ER missiles, the ad- faced to a new programmable mission-planning and post- dition of the Damocles FLIR targeting pod, and a newer, mission analysis ground system. Avionics were also updat- stealthier Thales RDY-2 all-weather synthetic aperture radar ed, using a new night vision-compatible glass cockpit layout with moving target indicator capability, which also grants borrowed from the Rafale, a dual-linked wide-angle head-up the aircraft improved air-to-ground capability. The avion- display, and hands on throttle-and-stick (HOTAS) controls. ics have been further updated with higher resolution colour The Mirage 2000-5 was enabled to carry the oversized drop displays, an optional top-sight helmet-mounted display and tanks developed for the Mirage 2000N, greatly extending its the addition of the modular data processing unit (MDPU) range. And while the Rafale has entered operational service, designed for the Rafale. A new Thales Totem 3000 inertial

What’s New: The upgrade will bring MBDA the manufacturer of Long-range missile Meteor and Mica (left) into the picture

30 SP’S AVIATION Issue 8 • 2011 www.spsaviation.net Military Upgrade

What’s more: Damocles flir and Thales RDY-2 radar (Right)

navigation system with ring laser gyroscope and global po- sion guidance and BVR/stand-off capabilities could cost the In- sitioning system (GPS) capability has been added, providing dian exchequer close to $1 billion (`4,500 crore) or more. This much greater accuracy, higher reliability, and shorter align- would also bring into the act MBDA, the manufacturer of aerial ment time than the older ULISS 52 navigation system which weapons such as the AIM-132 ASRAAM short-range, Meteor it replaces. The other upgradation includes the addition of long-range and dual-use MICA air-to-air missiles and Apache an on-board oxygen generation system (OBOGS) for the pi- or its derivatives Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG, etc as a major lot and an ICMS 3 digital countermeasures suite. Further supplier of arms to the IAF for its upgraded Mirage 2000 fleet. planned upgrades include Thales AIDA visual identification The entire package could well touch the $4 billion (`18,000 pod, a GPS receiver, MIDS data link, new long-range sen- crore) mark in the end. sors, and the top sight helmet-mounted display. Other tech- While agreeing with the critics to some extent, the high nologes developed for the Rafale will also be integrated into cost of the programme should be considered in view of the the Mirage 2000, including infrared and optical sensors for fact that the upgradation will transform the fleet into a fourth identification friend and foe (IFF) and targeting. generation fighter in terms of operational capabilities. The Understandably, the IAF has not di- upgradation of Mirage 2000 would vulged the exact details of the upgrade, also usher in state-of-the-art technolo- but keeping in view the financial outlays, gies with modern radar, weapons and it could be presumed that the IAF’s Mi- electronic warfare capabilities. The Mi- rage 2000 fleet would indeed be upgrad- The IAF has rage 2000 has indeed stood the test of ed to Mirage 2000-5 Mk 2 standards. not divulged the time and post-upgradation would cer- The contract reportedly entails the first tainly soar to new heights of lethality two aircraft to be upgraded in France exact details of and effectiveness. There is only one is- which may take between 40 and 44 the upgrade, but sue though, which could spoil the party months. Thereafter, under a technology and that is the time factor. The way the transfer programme, the next two air- keeping in view contract is structured, it would take craft would be upgraded in India under the financial seven to eight years from now for its French supervision followed by the Hin- completion, which means it could be dustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) un- outlays, it could the end of 2018 by the time the 51st dertaking the remaining aircraft at the be presumed aircraft is configured into its new ava- rate of one a month. As most of the work tar—that too, if the stated time frames entails upgradation of avionics, Thales is that the IAF’s are strictly adhered to. With the bulk expected to have a major (2/3rd) share of the aircraft inducted in and around of the workload, while Dassault’s contri- Mirage 2000 1985, by that time, Mirage 2000 fleet bution would amount to around 26 per fleet would of the IAF would have already crossed cent of the upgrade programme. But the the three-decade-old mark. To realise story does not end here. Apart from the indeed be full amortisation of the high upgrada- `10,000 crore for the upgrade project, upgraded to tion costs, ideally, the fleet would have a sum of $500 million (`2,250 crore) to remain effective for at least two would be needed to set up facilities at Mirage 2000-5 more decades, which brings to the fore, the HAL to be able to undertake the nec- Mk 2 standards integrity factors of an airframe—older essary work. In addition, acquisition of than half a century. Will the IAF be able a plethora of state-of-the-art air-to-air to grapple with this problem success- and air-to-surface weapons with preci- fully? Only time will tell. SP

Issue 8 • 2011 SP’S AVIATION 31 Military Rafale

Agile & Distinct assault R afale assault Photogra p hs: news.admin.ch & D

32 SP’S AVIATION Issue 8 • 2011 www.spsaviation.net Military Rafale The Dassault Rafale has the firm support of the French Government that has placed orders for 120 aircraft and has made a commitment for another 180. Apart from Dassault, technologies incorporated in the Rafale are the most advanced in the world and the programme is supported by the leading global aerospace and defence majors in Europe such as Snecma and Thales.

f a moderate size, By Air Marshal (Retd) from the Falklands to the Gulf, from yet extremely powerful, Bosnia to Kosovo, in Afghanistan and superbly agile and very B.K. Pandey, Bengaluru more recently in Libya. discrete, the latest type of Military aviation is undoubtedly combat aircraft from Das- the strategic weapon of choice today sault Aviation does not both in terms of combat effectiveness only integrate the largest and most and of critical technologies incorpo- Omodern range of sensors, it also mul- rated in combat platforms. In modern tiplies their efficiency with a technological breakthrough, warfare, from day one, air dominance is a pre-requisite so the “multi-sensor data fusion”. In the Rafale, Dassault has that air-to-ground and air-to-sea operations can be con- designed and produced a combat platform which meets or ducted safely and efficiently. In the course of asymmetrical even exceeds the defined parameters of each type of mis- and counter-insurgency conflicts, the air arm also remains sion. The aircraft has exhibited remarkable survivability at the forefront of the military effort, its flexibility and fire- rate during the recent operations by the French Air Force power helping to ensure that allied forces prevail. The 9/11 and the French Navy, thanks to an optimised airframe and events have shown that in peacetime it is essential to secure to a wide-range of smart and discrete sensors. Versatile and the national airspace with easily deployable control and air regarded as a true force multiplier, the Rafale is slated to be defence assets. The decisive place of the air component in the prime combat aircraft for the French armed forces until modern warfare is demonstrated by the defence strategies 2040 at least. Apart from Dassault, technologies incorporat- decided by those nations who want to keep a leading role on ed in the Rafale are the most advanced in the world and the the world stage. programme is supported by the leading global aerospace According to the French Air Force Adviser, General and defence majors in Europe such as Snecma and Thales. Herve Longuet, based on its deployment and performance in Meanwhile, engineering work is already being done to Afghanistan and Libya, the Rafale is ‘combat proven’. Since further extend the air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities. 2006, Rafale aircraft of the French Air Force and the French The ongoing effort will ensure more robust detection, track- Navy have been engaged in countless combat missions in ing and identification of emerging air-to-air threats and in- Afghanistan where they have demonstrated very high pro- crease the aircraft’s survivability with new low observable ficiency. The AASM precision-guided modular air-to-surface modes and with the latest advances in electronic warfare weapons systems, laser-guided bombs and the 30mm can- systems. Air-to-surface capabilities could benefit from as- non have been successfully employed on many occasions sisted target recognition and enhanced sensor resolution scoring direct hits with remarkable precision. More recently, enabling the combat platform to attack ever more elusive the Rafale fighters have been engaged in operations over targets. The Rafale was developed taking into account a Libya as part of the coalition forces. “During the Libyan joint requirement projected by the French Air Force and the campaign, the Rafale has proved its versatility. When some French Navy for an omni-role combat aircraft that would of our allies need two or three different planes for different replace the seven types of fighter aircraft in service at that missions, we can perform all missions with only one aircraft time. When developed, the Rafale was expected to carry out type,” added General Herve Longuet. a wide-range of missions as follows: Lessons learned from the recent conflicts where air power • Air defence was used can be summarised into four overarching expecta- • Air superiority/air dominance tions about weapon systems by political decision-makers: • Reconnaissance • Versatility: The capability of the combat platform to • Close air support perform different missions. • Air-to-ground precision strike • Interoperability: The ability to undertake operations in • Interdiction coalition with the allies using common procedures and • Anti-shipping strike agreements, collaborating and communicating in real • Nuclear strike time with other systems. • Flexibility: The ability to conduct different missions in Operational Deployment the course of the same sortie. With this capability, it is Over the last few decades, air forces have always been the possible to switch mission objectives instantly on de- first military component engaged in all crises or conflicts mand from the political and military leadership.

Issue 8 • 2011 SP’S AVIATION 33 Military Rafale

combat proven: In the Rafale, Dassault has designed and produced a combat platform which meets or even exceeds the defined parameters of each type of mission

• Survivability: The capability to survive in a dense and bility and bring support costs down. This version which has hostile threat environment owing to stealth features upgraded high-pressure compressor and the high pressure and/or advanced electronic warfare systems. turbine of the M88-2 is now in the final qualification tests. Life The Rafale combines all these attributes and is relevant expectancy between two overhauls has been considerably ex- against both traditional and asymmetrical threats. It ad- panded for a number of modules, helping further to minimise dresses the emerging needs of the armed forces in a chang- the impact of planned maintenance on engine availability. ing geopolitical context and remains at the forefront of tech- Production deliveries are expected shortly and the Rafale de- nical innovation. livered from 2012 onwards, will be powered by the M88-4E. To meet stringent customer requirements, ease of sup- Powering the Rafale and Logistics port has driven Rafale design from the beginning, reduc- The omni-role Rafale is powered by the M88-2 turbofan, a ing significantly its logistic footprint for easy and speedy new-generation engine featuring state-of-the-art and ad- deployment. Innovative technologies have been devel- vanced technologies such as integrally bladed compressor oped and employed to boost reliability, accessibility and disks (blisks), non-polluting combustion chamber, single-crys- maintainability and reduce the need for manpower and tal high pressure turbine blades, powder metallurgy disks, ce- elaborate infrastructure. Deployment at forward operating ramic coatings, composite materials, etc. It also features the bases including austere airfields has been made easier by latest advances in technology to reduce electromagnetic and keeping the requirement of ground support equipment to infrared signatures. The M88-2 offers high thrust-to-weight a minimum. ratio with easy maintainability, high despatch reliability and lower operating costs. With thrust rating at 10,971lbs dry Sales and16,620 lbs with afterburner, the M88-2 is equipped with The Rafale programme has the firm support of the French redundant full authority digital engine control (FADEC), which Government that has placed orders for 120 aircraft and has provides carefree engine handling anywhere in the flight en- made a commitment for another 180. Apart from India that is velope. The pilot has the freedom to slam throttle from idle considering the Rafale for the requirement of medium multi- to combat power and back to idle in less than three seconds. role combat aircraft for the Indian Air Force, the United Arab The M88 was launched in 2008 and has been subjected Emirates (UAE) is looking at buying 60 fighter aircraft, Brazil to continuous improvement by Snecma, leading to the latest 36 and Switzerland 22. The Rafale with its omni-role attri- M88-4E version which builds on the total cost of ownership butes is the right answer to the capability approach selected (TCO) programme initiated to further improve engine dura- by an increasing number of governments. SP

34 SP’S AVIATION Issue 8 • 2011 www.spsaviation.net Military Snapshot Browne is the New Air Chief

At 12 noon on July 31, Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik handed over the reins of the Indian Air Force (IAF) to Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne, who became the 23rd Chief to head the service. The handing over/taking over ceremony was conducted in the office of Chief of the Air Staff in Vayu Bha- wan, New Delhi, in the presence of Air Officers Command- ing-in-Chief of various commands from different parts of the country and the Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) from Air HQ. Outlining his vision statement for the IAF—‘People first Mission Always’, the new Chief, while extolling his ‘men and women in blue’, also exhorted them to discharge their individual and collective responsibilities to the nation in a befit- ting manner. SP

Excerpts of Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne’s address

“The IAF is well poised on the path of transforming itself our subordinates, by giving them required operating skills, into a potent strategic force. While induction of the state- through dedicated training and mentoring.” of-the-art equipment and systems would lead to a major “While change is the hallmark of growth and progress, the upgradation of our combat potential, our biggest strength, biggest challenge facing us in the coming years, is to manage this ‘Our People’ must receive our highest attention. In what- fast paced change effectively, without compromising on high op- ever capacity you serve in the Indian Air Force, you remain erational standards. Operating across a broad spectrum of equip- our most valuable asset.” ment vintage, would test our innovativeness and capabilities. The “I firmly believe that each one of us has a duty to care nation has reposed a high degree of trust and confidence in our and look after the people placed under our charge. It is a sa- capabilities. It is indeed an onerous asking, and I am confident cred calling, for all leaders, men and women, irrespective of that as capable men and women we will work shoulder to shoul-

hardwaj / Sp guide p ubns Photogra p hs: Pib & amit B hardwaj the rank and position. Our endeavour should be to empower der in discharging our responsibilities befittingly.” •

Issue 8 • 2011 SP’S AVIATION 35 Show Report AirVenture 2011 Enthusiasts’ Delight

Not dominated by commercial competition or military thunder, it is a showcase of all things related to aviation—antique restorations and warbird formations, homebuilt completions and microlight aircraft, seaplanes and gyroplanes—each have its area and following. But there’s no denying the marketing opportunity that the Oshkosh show presents, given its attendance of over half a million.

here are very few By LeRoy Cook composite-construction airliner land- such massive influxes of ed at Oshkosh for a one-day stopover, like-minded people as the Oshkosh, USA allowing the assembled enthusiasts to annual migration of avia- troop aboard and engage in a walk- tion enthusiasts to Oshkosh, around. In the previous years, the Wisconsin, located in the show has been visited by the Airbus north-central US. Similar to a religious A380, Concorde SST, Guppy cargo Tpilgrimage, with overtones of rock mu- haulers and various Boeing 747 itera- sic festival, vintage car rally and military reenactment mixed tions. Military attractions have included the C-5B, An-124 in, it is, quite simply, an aviation extravaganza. Commonly and C-17 transports, SR-71 and U-2 spyplanes, and tankers, written off as a sport aircraft gathering, the Experimental Air- fighters, bombers and trainers of all types. craft Association’s (EAA) mid-summer AirVenture event has AirVenture remains, however, an enthusiast’s show. Not evolved into a venue for all aspects of aviation. dominated by commercial competition or military thunder, it For example, this year’s AirVenture featured the first- is a showcase of all things related to aviation. Antique resto-

Photogra p hs: E AA ever public showing of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner. The new rations and warbird formations, homebuilt completions and

36 SP’S AVIATION Issue 8 • 2011 www.spsaviation.net Show Report AirVenture 2011 microlight aircraft, seaplanes and gyroplanes—each have Everyone comes sightseeing from its area and following. But there’s no denying the market- M*A*S*H-type heli- ing opportunity that the Oshkosh show presents, given to Oshkosh, to copters. The Com- its attendance of over a half-million. That is precisely the merative Air Force’s reason many business aircraft makers take booth space see what can Boeing B-29 bomber, on the grounds, to expose their wares to a large audience be done with Fifi, returned after a with hopes of finding a prospect. Not every AirVenture 16-year absence, giv- attendee is a mere light plane pilot and of those who are, innovation and en the new engines some own business and company aircraft in addition to enthusiasm under the sponsor- their personal plane. ship of the Cavana- ugh Flight Museum. Notable Events of AirVenture 2011 As the only flyable As usual, there were noteworthy happenings taking place World War II Super- at the air show. On day two, we witnessed the retirement fortress in existence, announcement of Tom Poberezny, long-time President and it filled the Conoco- Chairman of EAA and son of its founder, Paul Poberezny. Effec- Phillips Square apron with style. tive from August 1, he is handing over the chairmanship reins A rare Mitsubishi Zero fighter, a full-scale faithful replica to Rod Hightower, currently the organisation’s President. For of a Focke-Wulf FW-190 fighter and the only flyable SB2C the first time in the EAA’s 60-year history, there will no longer Curtiss Helldiver torpedo bomber attracted an appreciative be a Poberezny at its head. warbird-lover crowd. In smaller scale, Supermarine Aircraft By happenstance, well-known aviation publisher Dave showed its 90 per cent scale Spitfire kit aircraft. The Vintage Sclair died later the same day, fittingly succumbing to brain Wings of Canada museum brought its Fairey Swordfish bi- cancer at his home while the Oshkosh airshow was in full plane torpedo bomber from World War II. As 2011 marked bloom, just as he would have wanted. It was Sclair who be- the 100th Anniversary of the US Navy’s entry into aviation, it gan the daily newspaper circulated at the show, seeing the was proclaimed that the airport would be called “Naval Air need for a communication outlet at the event. Station Oshkosh” for the week, and numerous events and The 2011 show was favoured by benign weather con- aircraft centred on a nautical theme, including showings of ditions at its outset and at its conclusion, with some rainy practically every aircraft type in the Navy’s inventory. spells at mid-week to enhance attendance at the interior ex- Sikorsky Innovations showed its 250-knot X-2 research hibits. The temporary city constructed for AirVenture takes helicopter, soon to be installed in a museum. Innovative such minor difficulties in stride. home built aircraft designers receiving special honours this year included Zenith Aircraft’s Chris Heintz and Scaled Noteworthy Aircraft Seen Composites’ Burt Rutan, both of whom had many examples There are always significant aircraft making an appear- of their designs flown in by builders for display. ance at Oshkosh. This year, the Farm- In the business aircraft arena, ers Insurance advertising dirigible, a Kestrel Aircraft announced the se- Zeppelin NT, cast its 246-foot shad- lection of Honeywell’s TPE331-14GR ow over the show. Dirigible rides turboprop engine for the production old and modern: were offered, for those not satisfied boeing’s B-29 was one of the largest version of Kestrel’s single-engine with hops in the Ford TriMotors or aircraft in service during World composite aircraft, currently flying War II; BURT RUTAN’s SCALED composites AIR AND SPACE VEHICLES

Issue 8 • 2011 SP’S AVIATION 37 Show Report AirVenture 2011

At the Show: seaplanes on display; around the display ground in test-bed form with a Pratt & Whitney continues to hold promise for revitalising Canada PT-6A. Blackhawk Modifications general aviation with simpler, less-costly proclaimed certification for its 850-shp aircraft. In addition to production of LSAs, XP42A conversion of the Cessna Cara- many of the amateur-built experimental van 208B, boosting horsepower by 175 kit designs can fit into LSA requirements, to 250 shp and vastly improving high-and-hot, known ic- which allow flying suitable aircraft with (in the US) no medical ing and high-gross operation for Caravan operators. Mean- certification and less training. while, Evektor Aircraft of the Czech Republic announced As always, a few mishaps marred the Oshkosh airshow’s its twin-PT6A turboprop EV-55 Outback utility plane, and week. A Piper Cub went down in the adjacent Lake Win- GripsAero division of Mahindra Aerospace announced the nebago, claiming two lives, and a Cessna pilot crossing the selection of the Rolls-Royce M250 turboprop engine for its larger Lake Huron, farther to the east, suffered engine fail- GA10 utility single, an expanded version of the GripsAero ure and had to tread water for 18 hours until rescued by a GA8 piston-engine bushplane. passing boat. A US Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon over-ran Also seen at the show were Bombardier’s Learjet 65, the runway end on the fourth day and suffered a collapsed Hawker Beechcraft’s King Air 90GT, 250 and 350 models, nosegear and damaged engine inlet. Considering the 10,000 the Hawker 200, Cessna’s Mustang and Caravan, Piper’s aircraft and thousands of operations taking place during Altair single-engine jet and Cirrus Aircraft’s Vision SJ50 the event, the overall AirVenture safety record is quite good, jet. Embraer proudly showed its Phenom 100 and 300 light thanks to the measures taken. jets and announced record sales for the entire Embraer Even with a prolonged economic recession casting a pall, line. The reborn Total Eclipse twinjet was repeatedly flown the AirVenture event defied the trend of doom-and-gloom and HondaJet demonstrated its over-wing-engines light and attracted a strong showing of 5,41,000 attendees, up business jet prototype and announced flights of the con- by 1.3 per cent over 2010. Of the estimated 10,000 aircraft forming certification test aircraft. Daher-Socata marked its flown in, 2,522 were registered as “showplanes”; 974 home- 100th anniversary as a company, dating from the Morane builts, 899 vintage category, 367 warbirds, and so forth. Saulnier origins in 1911; strong demand for the TBM850 There were 803 exhibitors taking part, up by 33 from 2010. very fast turboprop fuels speculation of a follow-on NTx The general mood of the show was one of survivorship and twin jet, perhaps based on the Grob SPn. Pilatus Aircraft, belief in aviation as a life-style. which always pursues a unique thematic for the Oshkosh A total of 2,098 international visitors were recorded, event, presented its PC-12NG as the centerpiece at a retro- with many more no doubt arriving without visiting the 1950s “Pilatusville” bistro. official pavilion. While the greatest numbers came from As always, many developmental aircraft were shown, Canada, Australia and Brazil, about 68 countries were rep- including a fanjet-equipped conversion of an Aerostar pis- resented. Even the Chinese People’s Republic sent a del- ton twin shown by Aerostar Aircraft. Boosted to nearly 400 egation to observe and take notes, promising in carefully- knots by Pratt & Whitney 615F-A engines of 1,460 pounds couched terms to open airspace to private aviation in Red thrust, it fulfills designer Ted Smith’s dream of an ultimate China. Other regions with a stronger record of developing Aerostar. Quest Aircraft’s well-established Kodiak utility tur- aviation included India, Africa and Latin America. Eventu- boprop will be available with an executive interior; was an- ally, everyone comes to Oshkosh, to see what can be done nounced at the show. with innovation and enthusiasm. Nearly all of the light sport aircraft (LSA) under production, The 60th anniversary AirVenture gathering will take mostly from Central Europe, were on display. The LSA arena place from July 23 to July 29, 2012. SP

38 SP’S AVIATION Issue 8 • 2011 www.spsaviation.net Space atlantis

Final launch: space shuttle atlantis soars into the sky on its final journey

Salute the Shuttle

During an eventful journey, Atlantis was the first shuttle to dock with the ISS; fittingly, it was also the last. It was also the final spaceship to visit the other iconic symbol of success in space: the Hubble Space Telescope. No space shuttle will ever fly again; the shuttle is history. hotographs: level10realtyblog.com & N asa P hotographs: level10realtyblog.com

Issue 8 • 2011 SP’S AVIATION 39 Space atlantis

as it a space- By Joseph Noronha, members aboard Columbia. Enterprise craft? It was never flew in space, Challenger exploded launched like one. Goa soon after lift-off in 1986, and Columbia Was it an aircraft? It disintegrated during its return to earth landed much like a in 2003. Atlantis, Discovery and Endeav- conventional glider our are now in peaceful retirement. on a runway. Was it a space passen- The space shuttle was the most com- Wger bus? It was certainly promised to plex flying machine ever built. The stub- be, but the cost worked out way too high and the US Gov- by-winged device was mounted on a huge external fuel tank ernment finally baulked at paying the price. Was it a cargo containing cryogenically stored liquid hydrogen and oxygen, truck? The space shuttle’s enormous load carrying capac- strapped to two solid rocket boosters, which collectively be- ity was vital in building and replenishing the International came known as “the stack”. In launch configuration, the entire Space Station (ISS) which might otherwise have taken de- assembly contained more than 3,500 subsystems and 2.5 mil- cades to complete. lion parts. Fully fuelled, it had the explosive potential of a small On July 8, almost a million people thronged the beaches nuclear device. Launched vertically like a rocket and gliding around the Kennedy Space Center in Florida for a final glimpse back to earth like an aircraft, shuttles proved their worth in of the majestic Atlantis as it raced skyward. This was the 135th carrying astronauts, cargo, heavy machinery, satellites, even and last mission of a shuttle—the pioneering craft that has de- the Hubble Space Telescope. That versatility, however, meant fined the US space programme for 30 years. Only four astro- higher construction and operating costs, because a crewed ve- nauts were on board, since no shuttle was available to mount hicle needs complex life-support systems, escape methods and a rescue mission if Atlantis sustained damage—the stricken high safety that an unmanned rocket can do without. crew would have to be recovered aboard the smaller Russian Through three decades of its operational history, 355 in- Soyuz capsule. In the event, Atlantis landed safely on July 21, dividuals (306 men and 49 women) flew 852 times on 135 42 years almost to the day after human beings first set foot on shuttle missions. The astronauts were from 16 countries. the moon. During an illustrious career, Atlantis was the first They conducted more than 2,000 experiments in the fields shuttle to dock with the ISS; fittingly, it was also the last. It was of earth, biological and materials sciences and astronomy. also the final spaceship to visit the other iconic symbol of suc- Shuttles have docked with two space stations—nine mis- cess in space: the Hubble Space Telescope. No space shuttle sions flew to the Russian Mir station and 37 flights were will ever fly again; the shuttle is history. to the ISS. Shuttles were responsible for the orbiting and repair of Hubble, just one of the 180 satellites and other History in the Making spacecraft they successfully launched. Shuttles were critical Officially known as the Space Transportation System (STS), in the construction and replenishment of the ISS, more than the shuttle programme was launched in 1972. The US space 12 years and 37 shuttle trips in the making. Construction of programme’s manned flights had begun with the Mercury pro- the space station began in 1998, and is planned for comple- gramme, followed by Gemini and Apollo. They were all single- tion in 2012. It should remain operational till 2020. use spaceships. The space shuttle was revolutionary because it was the first reusable spacecraft in history. Only six shuttles Complex and Costly were built. STS-1 was launched on April 12, 1981 (twentieth In the early 1970s, the National Aeronautics and Space Ad- anniversary of the first human spaceflight) with two crew ministration (NASA) projected a rate of 48 shuttle flights

Space shuttle Atlantis’ bright-white, This unprecedented view of the space THE LAST LAP iconic frame illuminates the darkness shuttle Atlantis, appearing like a bean as it touches down on the Shuttle sprout against clouds and city lights,

STS-135 is the final shuttle mission to the orbital Landing Facility’s Runway 15 at NASA’s on its way home, was photographed laboratory. Kennedy Space Center in Florida for by the Expedition 28 crew of the the final time. On board were STS-135 International Space Station. Airglow This image of the International Space Station was taken by Commander Chris Ferguson, Pilot Doug over Earth can be seen in the Atlantis’ STS-135 crew during a fly around as the shuttle Hurley, and Mission Specialists Sandra background. departed the station on Tuesday, July 19, 2011. Magnus and Rex Walheim.

40 SP’S AVIATION Issue 8 • 2011 www.spsaviation.net Space atlantis

per year, at a cost per launch different missions: Drifting smoke plume from the of around $15 million (`67.5 launch of the Space Shuttle crore). In the event the pro- Atlantis; During sts-125, Atlantis gramme averaged five launch- Astronauts Repair the Hubble es per year. NASA claims that Space Telescope a single launch eventually worked out to about $450 million (`2,025 crore). But if the en apart, inspected, cleaned, costs of development and op- many components replaced, eration over the duration of the and the whole craft reassem- programme are factored in, the bled for the next flight. The total tab has been estimated at process took months, some- $208 billion (`9,36,000 crore) times years. And the promised in 2010 dollars. For the tally of simplicity of a reusable space- 135 missions, this works out craft was invalidated by the to around $1.5 billion (`6,750 need for a new external fuel crore) per flight and perhaps tank for each mission. Flori- $250 million (`1,125 crore) for da’s famously stormy weather each person going into space. did its bit to ensure that shuttle The space shuttle was flights never became a rou- conceptualised as a reusable tine, as had been hoped. Con- launch system and orbital sequently, against the target spacecraft. It was certainly an life of 100 missions apiece, no amazing machine. However, its shuttle exceeded 39 launches. designers had to make a host of What really hurt, however, compromises to meet the com- was the safety gap. NASA prob- peting demands of various US ably underestimated the risks civilian and defence agencies. shuttle astronauts faced. On Ultimately, the craft emerged January 28, 1986, Challenger fragile, complicated to oper- disintegrated 73 seconds after ate and unsafe. Being large and aerodynamically unstable launch due to the failure of the right solid-rocket booster, it needed sophisticated “fly by wire” systems that were still killing all seven astronauts on board. Columbia burned up under development during the 1970s. The engineers also on February 1, 2003, during re-entry into the earth’s atmo- faced a huge challenge in building rocket engines sturdy sphere, just 16 minutes from landing. The cause was later enough to work repeatedly and flawlessly for over 50 mis- traced; it was because of the damage to the carbon-carbon sions. Before the shuttle, space rockets were like Diwali fire- leading edge of the wing during launch. The entire seven- crackers—good only for a one-off burn. Shuttle maintenance member crew died. Notably, Columbia’s fatal flight had been and refurbishment was an expensive and time-consuming delayed 18 times over the course of two years before its affair. Each time a shuttle touched base, it had to be tak- actual launch date of January 16, 2003 (despite its designa-

After completing the STS-135 mission, STS-135 crew and space flown tribute space shuttle Atlantis is rolled over banner to Space Shuttle workforce to the Orbiter Processing Facility

Atlantis and the STS-135 crew Space shuttles Endeavour and Discovery meet in a nose-to-nose photo opportunity as the vehicles completes a 13-day mission to the switch locations August 11 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Now in Orbiter Processing Facility-1 International Space Station and the (OPF-1), Discovery will go through more preparations for public display at the Smithsonian’s National final flight of the Space Shuttle Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia next spring. Endeavour will be stored in Programme on July 21, 2011, in Cape the Vehicle Assembly Building until October, when it will be moved into OPF-2 to continue being readied Canaveral, Florida. for display at the California Science Center in Los Angeles next summer.

Issue 8 • 2011 SP’S AVIATION 41 Space atlantis tion as the 107th mission, it was actually the 113th mission deadline is December 2015. Is the age of private space launched). After each shuttle accident, the remaining craft enterprise about to dawn? were grounded for two to three years. It has been calculated that the space shuttle was 138 times riskier than an airliner, The End of an Era based on deaths per million miles travelled. When Atlantis executed its flawless landing on July 21, it marked the final chapter in a 30-year saga of numerous triumphs and What Next? tragedies. Ultimately, the space shuttle left unfulfilled expecta- With America’s long-term fiscal outlook looking increasingly tions. The greatest event for America so far happened on July bleak, President Barack Obama’s options in space are se- 20, 1969, when Neil Armstrong stepped on the surface of the verely limited. He has shelved plans to build a powerful new moon. It was also one of the supreme achievements of human spacecraft to return to the moon. Instead NASA’s goal is to history. The space shuttle did maintain America’s leadership in put Americans on an asteroid by 2025. To some, aiming to space exploration, and many find it depressing to see that great reach a giant rock floating in space doesn’t quite seem an in- nation seemingly abandon the final frontier. spiring objective. But beyond that, there’s destination Mars Some experts believe that NASA’s apparent retreat from and its moons by the mid-2030s. human spaceflight could have far-reaching consequences It is remarkable that just before Neil Armstrong’s Apollo for scientific discovery. Others feel that there will be a wel- 11 spacecraft lifted off in July 1969, Vice President Spiro come switch to new areas of robotic exploration that have Agnew declared that America’s next goal should be a been missed due to preoccupation with costly human travel. manned landing on Mars by the end of the century. A presi- However, although unmanned probes and space telescopes dential committee on post-Apollo strategy even said that the have indeed produced spectacular scientific progress, hu- United States could send astronauts to Mars by the mid- man spaceflight missions are still the most convincing proof 1980s for not much more than the $24 billion (`1,08,000 of space prowess. Space explorers inspire us with their crore) cost of the Apollo programme. However, 40 years courage, determination and skill, and not the least by the later, human flights to Mars are still some decades away. fact that they face mortal risk unflinchingly. For now, NASA has decided to farm out much of the Meanwhile, the space race has changed beyond recogni- routine work of ferrying astronauts into low-earth orbit tion. Nine countries have now succeeded in placing space- (especially to the ISS) to commercial firms. The first com- craft in orbit. Citizens of almost 40 countries have sampled mercial cargo craft could demonstrate its docking capability spaceflight. China, India and others have ambitious pro- with the ISS as early as December. And commercial “space grammes to explore space. For some years, Russia will have taxis” could be ferrying American astronauts there as ear- complete control of access to the International Space station ly as 2015. Although several corporations are in the race, (ISS). A statement from the Russian space agency Roskos- Space Exploration Technologies Inc. (SpaceX) seems to be mos after Atlantis landed said it all: “From today, the era the frontrunner. According to company sources, its Falcon 9/ of the Soyuz has started in manned space flight, the era of Dragon combination has a tremendous advantage over oth- reliability.” Indeed, following the shuttle’s exit, the US will ers intended to carry astronauts, because SpaceX vehicles not have the ability to send astronauts into space until a new were designed from the start to take humans. Besides, they American launch vehicle materialises. have already flown successfully. Another company, Orbital “It was a magnificent failure,” says space historian Alex Sciences Corporation has a contract to ferry supplies to the Roland summing up the shuttle. However, where it failed, was ISS beginning next year. Till the private firms (with NASA’s fi- in attempting the impossible—being cheap, safe and reliable, nancial and technological backing) come up with something all at once. There’s no shame in that. Half a century after concrete, the US will rely on Russia for resupply of the ISS. the first human being crossed the threshold of space, space For the next few years, the only way for the US astronauts to travel is still a fairly risky and expensive affair. NASA’s mis- reach the ISS will be to board a Soyuz space capsule at a cost sion was to create a reusable, economical spaceship, but it of $51 million (`230 crore) per person. discovered that creating a reusable craft was far more costly NASA is continuing work on a space vehicle capable than conjectured. Still, the shuttle provided invaluable expe- of carrying human beings beyond the rience in managing complex, re-useable earth’s orbit. Up to four astronauts may space systems; the development of ad- be able to survive for 21 days in this vanced materials, tools and testing tech- multipurpose crew vehicle (MPCV), a re- The shuttle niques; new life-support technologies, and finement of the abandoned Orion. The extensive space-walk practice. The shuttle MPCV is designed to be 10 times safer experience experience is a solid foundation for what- than the space shuttle. Beyond that, is a solid ever comes next in space. When all the there’s the new Space Launch System technological and scientific progress that (SLS) which will be based on Apollo and foundation shuttle flights achieve is balanced against shuttle technology, although not much is for whatever the economic and human costs, the space known about it yet. And attracted by the shuttle programme will be seen as an im- $30 million (`135 crore) Google Lunar comes next portant (if somewhat wearisome) journey X-Prize, 29 privately-funded teams are in space on a necessary path to eventual success. competing to become the first to suc- Was it a failure? As the space shuttle cessfully launch, land, and move a ro- era comes to an end let us salute its indis- bot across the surface of the moon. The putable magnificence. SP

42 SP’S AVIATION Issue 8 • 2011 www.spsaviation.net Hall of Fame he US Space Shuttle space science, advanced technology de- (reinforced carbon-carbon panels and was one of the most spectac- velopment, and astronaut health and thermal protection tiles) on the lead- ular symbols of technological safety. As the mission came to an end it ing edge of the left wing of the shuttle. achievement ever. For the was time to return to earth. On Febru- During re-entry, this allowed the hot hundreds of men and wom- ary 1, 2003, Columbia commenced its gases to penetrate and weaken the Ten who flew on board, the shuttle rep- re-entry sequence. On crossing Califor- wing structure, ultimately causing it resented the fulfilment of a cherished nia, the shuttle appeared to observers to fail. The shuttle became uncontrol- dream. And yet twice during its 30-year on the ground as a bright spot of light lable and was destroyed by the extreme operational history, the inspiring narra- moving rapidly across the sky. Then heat. Sadly, during the mission itself, tive faltered. Kalpana Chawla was ground engineers had requested one of 14 astronauts for whom the high resolution images that may dream ended in disaster. have provided an understand- Kalpana was born on July 1, ing of the extent of the damage, 1962, in Karnal, Haryana. The while a senior NASA engineer re- youngest of four children, she al- quested that astronauts on board ways longed to be an engineer. She Columbia be allowed to carry out earned an aeronautical engineer- a space walk to inspect the dam- ing degree in Chandigarh in 1982. age. However, NASA managers Bent on higher studies, she flew to felt these measures were unwar- the USA the same year. Her educa- ranted. The report also delved tional quest culminated in a PhD into the underlying organisational in aerospace engineering from the and cultural issues that led to the University of Colorado in 1988. accident. It was highly critical of Later that year, she began work- NASA’s decision-making and risk ing with the National Aeronautics assessment processes. As with the and Space Administration (NASA). doomed Challenger space shuttle She gained a Certificated Flight in 1986, NASA seemed to have Instructor rating for airplanes and grown complacent following a gliders and Commercial Pilot Li- string of successful missions. Its cences for single and multi-engine Kalpana Chawla managers were prone to accept airplanes, seaplanes and glid- unusual phenomena since no se- ers. Intensely attracted by space, (1962–2003) rious consequences had resulted Kalpana volunteered for NASA from similar episodes earlier. They astronaut training in March 1995 She was posthumously failed to recognise the relevance of and was selected. She lifted off on engineering concerns for safety. her first mission on November 19, awarded the US Although America was Kalpa- 1997, as part of the six-member Congressional Space na’s adopted country (she married crew that flew the space shuttle an American and became a US citi- Columbia, STS-87. This made her Medal of Honour, the zen in 1990) she never forgot her the first Indian-born woman and NASA Space Flight Medal roots in India. During her tenure the second Indian to fly in space at NASA, she arranged for five stu- (cosmonaut Rakesh Sharma who and the NASA Distinguished dents from her school to visit NASA flew in 1984 was the first). Service Medal every year to acquaint them with In 2000, Kalpana was chosen the space programme. Honours for her second flight aboard STS- flowed in from both countries after 107. Once again the craft was the she passed away. She was post- space shuttle Columbia. The crew humously awarded the US Con- went into training for the scheduled the superheated air around it suddenly gressional Space Medal of Honour, the launch date of January 11, 2001. How- brightened, leaving a noticeable streak NASA Space Flight Medal and the NASA ever, due to a number of factors, includ- in its luminescent wake. It was the first Distinguished Service Medal. In India, ing scheduling conflicts and technical sign of debris being shed. Four or five ISRO’s meteorological satellite Metsat problems (like the discovery of cracks minutes later, Columbia disintegrated was renamed Kalpana-1. That would in the shuttle engine flow liners) the over Texas, killing its crew of seven. The have pleased Kalpana Chawla because mission was delayed 18 times before accident occurred at about 9 a.m. (local space was in her blood. Describing the its actual launch date of January 16, time), 16 minutes prior to the planned view from orbit she once said, “Earth is 2003. So despite its official designation touchdown at Kennedy Space Center. very beautiful. I wish everyone could see as STS-107, this was actually the 113th Later, the Accident Investigation it.” And for those who might claim her as shuttle mission launched. As Mission Board determined the cause of the their own, she had a diplomatic answer: Specialist, Kalpana’s responsibilities in- crash to be a piece of foam that broke “I am a citizen of the Milky Way.” SP cluded microgravity study, and the crew off during launch and damaged the —Group Captain (Retd) made over 80 experiments in earth and thermal protection system components Joseph Noronha, Goa

Issue 8 • 2011 SP’S AVIATION 43 newsDigest Military tanker aircraft. The contracts, Next-Generation 737-based RoundUp valued in excess of $73 P-8A anti-submarine war- Quick Asia-Pacific million, relate to the Engi- fare, anti-surface warfare, neering and Manufacturing intelligence, surveillance and AAI Gripen operational in Royal Development (EMD) phase reconnaissance aircraft to Thai Air Force of the programme, including replace its P-3 fleet. • AAI Corporation has been awarded During a ceremony on July 8, development hardware. a $18.7 million cost-plus-fixed-fee 2011 the Royal Thai Air Force Earlier this year, the Unit- F-35 Jet Blast Deflector contract. The award will provide for (RTAF) officially declared its ed States Air Force (USAF) testing under way the engineering services in support of new air defence system con- selected Boeing to provide the Shadow 200 unmanned aircraft sisting of the Gripen fighter the next generation strategic system. Work will be completed by and Saab 340 Erieye AEW tanker, the KC-46. Shortly May 31, 2013. operational. The ceremony thereafter, it was announced took place at the Wing 7 that Boeing had selected Cob- AgustaWestland base in Surat Thani. The new ham to provide the hose and era for the RTAF began in drogue refuelling systems. • “It was fantastic!” That was 2008, when an agreement These systems will be manu- the verdict of highly-experienced was signed between FMV, factured by Cobham Mission Australian Defence Force pilots who Sweden’s Defence Materiel Equipment at its air-to-air took the controls of the GrandNew Administration and the RTAF, refuelling centre of excellence F-35C Lightning II car- helicopter after it was demonstrat- for the delivery of six Gripen in Davenport, Iowa. Deliver- rier variant aircraft CF-2 is ed by AgustaWestland, CAE and BAE C/D multi-role fighter aircraft ies on the engineering phase performing Jet Blast Deflec- Systems team for AIR9000 Phase 7. to replace its outgoing F-5 begin in 2014, with low-rate tor (JBD) tests at Joint Base The GrandNew is a new generation aircraft. The order also initial production starting McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in light twin-engine helicopter that is included one Saab 340 Erieye in 2015. The USAF plans to New Jersey. The JBD, located successfully operating worldwide. AEW, a single Saab 340 for acquire 179 KC-46 tankers behind the catapults aboard It is light enough for ab initio transport purposes and a from Boeing. Cobham expects aircraft carriers, deflects pilot training but large enough to ground-based Command and to equip each aircraft with high energy exhaust from the perform air crew training for other Control system. A further a centerline drogue system. engine to prevent damage helicopter missions. batch of six Gripen C fighters Approximately 30 tankers and injury to other aircraft and another Saab 340 Erieye will also be provided with a and personnel located in Airbus was ordered in 2010. Deliver- pair of wing-mounted aerial close proximity. JBD testing ies will be completed in 2013. refuelling pods. is one portion of the tests • Lufthansa has placed a firm order required to ensure the F-35C for 30 Airbus A320neo Family aircraft. $5.1 billion proposed Boeing P-8A Poseidon is compatible aboard the This contract follows the selection for PAF F-16s completes first flight aircraft carrier. Testing con- by the Lufthansa Supervisory Board Recently, the US Defense tinues with varying distances of the A320neo Family in March Security Cooperation Agency between the aircraft and JBD, this year. The order comprises 25 (DSCA) had notified Con- and at power settings up A320neo and five A321neo aircraft gress via a series of releases to and including maximum which will be powered by new- of its intention to provide afterburner power. CF-2 ar- generation Pratt & Whitney PW1100G Pakistan with a $5.1 billion rived at Lakehurst on June turbofan engines. foreign military sales package 25 for JBD tests. to upgrade the F-16s that ATK serve as the PAF’s top of the Propane, anti-freeze, and line fighters. Some of these other toxins in pilots' blood • ATK has received a $48 million items had been put on hold The first Boeing P-8A First it was oxygen problems. major subcontractor award from following the October 2005 Poseidon production aircraft Then there was treatment for Orbital Sciences Corporation to earthquake in Pakistan & completed its first flight "physiological symptoms." provide commercial solid rocket Kashmir, but the request for on July 7, taking off from And now the news is that motors for the Missile Defense 36 new F-16 Block 50/52s Renton Field and landing toxins are keeping the F-22s Agency intermediate range bal- is now going ahead, along three hours later at Boeing down. According to the US listic missile (IRBM) target rocket with new weapons, engine Field in Seattle. The P-8A is Air Force Times, blood tests programme. With follow-on options, modifications, and upgrade the first of six low-rate initial of F-22 pilots showed a host ATK believes that the contract has a kits for Pakistan’s older F-16 production (LRIP) aircraft of chemicals, including anti- potential value of up to $90 million. A/Bs. The buy went through, Boeing is building for the U.S. freeze, propane and burned Orbital is the prime contractor for and was accompanied by the Navy as part of a $1.6 billion polyalphaolefin, a synthetic the IRBM programme. supply of 26 older F-16s from contract awarded in January. oil, after flights where they USAF surplus stocks. The successful flight marked reported experiencing cogni- BAE Systems LRIP-1's completion of final tive problems. These toxins, Americas assembly in the company's along with carbon monoxide, • BAE Systems has completed a suc- Renton factory and transition may be causing hypoxia, cessful production readiness review Cobham awarded USAF to mission system installation which is a lack of oxygen. (PRR) for manufacturing critical KC-46 tanker subcontracts and checkout in Seattle. Boe- Hypoxia can cause reduced airframe components for the F-35 Cobham has been awarded ing will deliver LRIP-1 to the brain function and memory joint strike fighter (JSF) programme. two subcontracts by Boe- Navy next year in prepara- loss. F-22 pilots reported be- The PRR was an important step for ing related to the hose and tion for initial operational ing unable to remember how South Australia becoming a key sup- drogue aerial refuelling capability, which is planned to change radio frequencies plier in the JSF programme's global system that will be used by for 2013. The Navy plans to and scraping treetops when supply chain. the US Air Force’s new KC-46 purchase 117 of the Boeing approaching the runway.

44 SP’S AVIATION Issue 8 • 2011 www.spsaviation.net newsDigest Appointments conflict seems to bring its RoundUp own share of innovations. Quick Indian Navy Recently, for example, the air Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Nirmal Verma has taken over strikes over Libya – Opera- Bell Textron as the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC). The baton tion Harmattan for France, was handed over to him by the outgoing Air Chief Marshal and Operation Unified • Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. has P.V. Naik prior to the latter’s retirement on July 31. Protector for NATO in the been awarded a $550 million framework of the UN resolu- modification to a previously awarded Indian Air Force tion 1973 – have spotlighted advance acquisition contract for With Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne having taken over as the unexpectedly power- long lead materials and components Chief of the Air Staff on July 31, the Indian Air Force (IAF) ful performance of a new associated with the manufacture and has witnessed a number of changes in its top hierarchy. Air French-made weapon, the delivery of 19 Lot Eight UH-1Y new- Marshal K.K. Nohwar is now the Vice Chief of Air Staff; Air AASM Hammer (Highly Agile build aircraft; eight AH-1Z remanufac- Marshal S. Varthaman is the Air Officer Commanding-in- Modular Munition Extended tured aircraft; and six Lot Eight AH-1Z Chief (AOC-in-C), Eastern Air Command; Air Marshal S.P. Range) air-to-ground modu- new-build aircraft. Work is expected to Singh is the AOC-in-C, Southern Air Command; Air Marshal lar weapon developed and be completed in February 2014. M.K. Matheswaran is the Senior Air and Staff Officer (SASO), produced by Sagem. The Eastern Air Command; Air Marshal P.S. Gill is the SASO, Cen- AASM Hammer is a medium- Boeing tral Air Command; and Air Vice Marshal J.S. Walia is the AOC range guided weapon that Jammu & Kashmir. can be used day or night and • The Boeing Corporation, St. Louis, under all weather conditions has been awarded a $32.15 million Boeing – which is not the case of cost-plus-incentive-fee contract Boeing Company has announced the appointment of Dennis regular laser-guided bombs, modification for an aircraft closure D. Swanson as the International Business Development Vice which have to be launched redesign; eight massive ordnance President for Boeing Defense, Space & Security in India. in the vicinity of air defence penetrator assets; 16 separation nuts; systems. The AASM stands and eight MOP loading adapters. Embraer out because it’s a modular Boeing has been awarded Embraer has named Paulo Penido Pinto Marques as the new weapon system, totally au- a $190 million contract for the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to replace Cynthia Marcondes tonomous and jam-proof, fly- modification of an existing contract Ferreira Benedetto. ing resolutely towards its tar- to provide 16 AH-64D Apache aircraft get once the coordinates have and related support. Work is likely to Jet Aviation been manually loaded into be completed by February 28, 2014. Jet Aviation has appointed Stephan Krenz as the Senior Vice the onboard computer by President and General Manager of Jet Aviation Basel. the pilot. The most advanced Bombardier AASM models, like the Laser Honeywell version now undergoing final • Bombardier Aerospace has an- Honeywell has appointed Mike Lang as the company's Vice tests, allow the modifica- nounced that the letter of intent (LOI) President and Chief Information Officer (CIO). tion of terminal guidance if from Korean Air signed at the 2011 needed to hit moving targets. Paris Air Show to acquire 10 CS300 In short, the AASM is a real airliners has now been converted into From the Air Force Times: defence of US Navy ships. “fire & forget” weapon. a firm order. The transaction also in- “Part of the problem, at least The Navy awarded the BAE cludes options on 10 CS300 aircraft for pilots flying from Joint Systems team an initial Eurofighter Typhoon on and purchase rights for an additional Base Elmendorf-Richardson, contract in March to build Libya operations 10 CS300 aircraft. Alaska, where many of the a demonstrator unit of the known incidents have oc- system. Boeing is a subcon- Denmark curred, may be the start-up tractor to BAE Systems under procedures used in winter, this contract. The Mk 38 • Airbus and Satair A/S (Satair), a one source said. “Because of Mod 2 Tactical Laser System Danish company listed on the NAS- the harsh climate, pilots often couples a solid-state high- DAQ OMX Copenhagen, have entered start their jet engines inside a energy laser weapon module into an agreement under which Airbus hangar before taking off. That with the operational Mk 38 will offer the shareholders of Satair could allow exhaust gases to Machine Gun System. The a price of DKK 580 (about $112) be trapped in the building, addition of the laser weapon in cash per share and the warrant sucked back into the engines, module brings high-precision At the 2011 Royal Interna- holders in Satair a price of DKK and ingested into the bleed accuracy against surface tional Air Tattoo, in Fairford, 378.661(about $74) per warrant. air intakes that are located and air targets such as small UK, the Royal Air Force held within the engines’ compres- boats and unmanned aerial a media briefing on opera- Embraer sor sections that supply the vehicles. The system also tions in Libya. Some of the OBOGS, sources said. provides the ability to deliver key points from the brief- • Embraer Defense and Security different levels of laser en- ing have been summarised has selected BAE Systems to pro- Boeing, BAE to develop ergy, depending on the target in the succeeding text. vide hardware, embedded software, directed energy weapon and mission objectives. Typhoon’s rapid deploy- system design and integration sup- On July 25, Boeing an- ment to Gioia del Colle air port of the flight control electronics nounced that its Directed Europe base in Italy, 72 hours from for the KC-390 military transport Energy Systems (DES) divi- the initial UN mandate and jet. Under the contract, BAE Systems sion has signed a teaming Rafale and AASM-Hammer, subsequent first mission on will supply flight control computers agreement with BAE Systems a dynamic duo Operation Odyssey Dawn 12 and actuator control electronics for to develop the Mk 38 Mod As witnessed throughout hours later, are testament to the KC-390. 2 Tactical Laser System for recorded history, each new the deployability and rele-

Issue 8 • 2011 SP’S AVIATION 45 newsDigest Show Calendar vance of this new generation two. The aircraft, equipped RoundUp aircraft. More impressive with PW 127M engines, is Quick 16-21 August has been the re-rolling of configured to transport 72 MAKS 2011 Typhoon and its pilots from passengers. It will be used to General Electric Zhukovsky, Moscow, Russia an air-to-air aircraft to an enhance the airline's domes- www.aviasalon.com/en/static/ air-to-ground fighter bomber. tic network, adding to its cur- • General Electric Aircraft Engines page/welcome_to_MAKS_11.htm From a pilot’s perspective, rent fleet of three ATR 42-320 has been awarded a $71.5 million the aircraft is spectacular. and two Airbus A320 aircraft. modification to a previously awarded 13-16 September Despite spending on average The second ATR 72-500 is firm-fixed-price contract to exercise DSEi - Defence and 7 hours in the cockpit per scheduled for delivery at the an option for the supplemental S ecurity Equipment mission one could not find end of July. The two ATR 72- engine requirement to procure (18) International a more comfortable aircraft 500s will allow the airline to F414-GE-400 engines and (18) ExCeL, London, UK to fly. The cockpit is large by increase its capacity and the F414-GE-400 engine device kits. The www.dsei.co.uk fast-jet standards and the number of flights operating F414-GE-400 engine powers the F/A- information from the radar, on its main route from Tel 18E/F Super Hornet aircraft. Work is 14-15 September DASS and LINK-16 is dis- Aviv Sde Dov (City Airport) expected to be completed Business Aircraft played easily and accessibly. to Eilat (Red Sea Resort). The in July 2013. Europe - Incorporating This allows you to function airline will also be able to in- 5th annual Light Jets at 100 per cent capability crease the number of charter Iberia Europe throughout the sortie, not flights to other Mediterranean Biggin Hill, UK plagued by fatigue or a lack tourist destinations. • Iberia has selected GE's CF6-80E1 www.miuevents.com/bae2011 of situational awareness. engines to power its fleet of eight firm Americas Airbus A330 aircraft with an option 14-16 September for eight additional A330s. The engine Jet-Expo Air Show 2011 Civil Aviation Gulfstream G150 sets order is valued at more than $260 1 bld.3 Airport VNUKOVO speed record million list price. Moscow Asia-Pacific www.2011.jetexpo.ru Immarsat Boeing delivers first 21-24 September 777-300ER to Air China • Inmarsat plc has announced that Aviation Expo China 2011 Boeing delivered in July the Inmarsat SA, one of its subsidiary China National Convention first 777-300ER (extended companies, has signed a contract Center, Beijing, China range) to Air China, the flag with International Launch Services www.beijingaviation.com/en carrier of the People's Repub- for the launch of three Inmarsat-5 lic of China. The new airplane satellites. The launches, which are 15-18 September is the first of 19 777-300ERs scheduled for 2013-14, will use China Helicopter Air China has on order with Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.’s the ILS Proton launch vehicle from Ex position Boeing. With this new ad- G150 demonstration aircraft the Baikonur Cosmodrome Tianjin Airport Industrial dition to its fleet, Air China recently set a world speed in Kazakhstan. Park, China becomes the first airline on record between Gander, www.helicopter-china-expo. the Chinese mainland to Newfoundland, Canada, and Indian Air Force com/index.php/en operate the new generation Geneva, Switzerland, beating 777 family member. Boeing the existing record by 37 • Encapsulating the rich legacy of 22-24 September is scheduled to deliver an minutes. The wide-cabin, a house whose illustrious residents AOPA AVIATION SUMMIT additional three 777-300ERs high-speed aircraft travelled have shaped the contours of the Connecticut Convention Center, to Air China by the end of the 2,464 nautical miles Indian Air Force (IAF), Marshal of Hartford, Connecticut, USA 2011. Air China will use the (4,563 km) between the two the Air Force (MIAF) Arjan Singh www.aopa.org/summit airplanes for route expan- cities in 5 hours and 6 min- released a coffee table book on sion including direct routes utes. Its average cruise speed Air House, the official residence 27-29 September to Frankfurt, London and was Mach 0.80. The aircraft, of the Chief of Air Staff titled “Air MRO EUROPE 2011 Paris, as well as for gradual en route to the 2011 Europe- House….Down the Years”, at 23 IFEMA, Madrid, Spain replacement of the Boeing an Business Aviation Confer- Akbar Road, in New Delhi, on www.aviationweek.com/ 747-400s currently serving ence and Exhibition (EBACE), July 19, 2011. events/current/meu/index.htm North American routes. carried four passengers. The G150 has a range of 3,000 Iraq 24-26 October Israeli carrier Israir receives nautical miles (5,556 km) at Aerospace & Defense its first ATR 72-500 its normal cruise speed of • Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is Programs Mach 0.75. attempting to use defence contracts Arizona Biltmore, Phoenix, as a means of ensuring some US AZ, USA Gulfstream renames G250 troops remain past the withdrawal www.aviationweek.com/ Gulfstream has announced deadline. US officials remain wary of events/current/ad/index.htm that it has renamed the super the ability of Iraqi Security Forces to midsized Gulfstream G250 maintain complete security over the 26-27 October aircraft. The business jet is country in the short-term and have Future MRO & Ageing now called the Gulfstream pressed Baghdad for an extension Aircraft 2011 G280. Gulfstream officials to allow a sizeable residual force Holiday Inn Bloomsbury, said that the move was of US "trainers" to remain after the London, UK The Israeli airline Israir has prompted by the company’s deadline. Thus Iraq is likely to double www.smi-online.co.uk/mro- taken delivery of its first ATR sensitivity to the varied its order of F-16 jets. ageingaircraft19.asp 72-500, of a total order of cultures of its international

46 SP’S AVIATION Issue 8 • 2011 www.spsaviation.net newsDigest customer base. “Since intro- technology licensing outreach and ground/mission opera- RoundUp ducing the Gulfstream G250 with new industrial partners tions – all part of Boeing’s Quick in 2008 and presenting it to in India and Europe.These ac- Commercial Crew Transpor- customers around the world, cords were inked during June tation System – for NASA’s Lockheed Martin we determined that G280 is 2011 Paris Air Show and new Commercial Crew hu- a more amenable number involve a contract with Ger- man spaceflight programme • Lockheed Martin and Raytheon sequence in certain cultures,” many’s Grenzebach Automa- that will provide access to the Missile Systems are being awarded said Larry Flynn, Senior tion GmbH for metallic pro- International Space Station. a $475 million firm-fixed-price Vice President, Marketing duction technologies based The CST-100 is a reusable, contract for Paveway II laser-guided and Sales, Gulfstream. The on the friction stir welding capsule-shaped spacecraft bomb computer control groups renaming will not affect any solid-state joining process, that includes a crew module (seekers) and GBU-12 air foil groups other in-production Gulf- along with four Letters of and a service module. (tail kits). stream aircraft. Intent (LoIs) with one German Lockheed Martin's joint air- and three Indian companies P&W Rocketdyne's Next to-surface standoff missile (JASSM) for metallic and composite Generation J-2X has recently completed a successful Industry manufacturing processes. product verification test at White Sands missile range. Released by a Asia-Pacific Americas B-52 at an altitude of 25,000 feet and speed of Mach 0.76, JASSM GippsAERO selects Rolls- Aeronautical Accessories to navigated through a preplanned route Royce M250 engine distribute TrueView EVS before destroying its intended target, On July 28 Rolls-Royce, the Bell Helicopter has an- meeting all mission objectives. The global power systems compa- nounced that it has formed test validated software upgrades for ny, announced a development a distributor partnership to 158 Lot 8 JASSM missiles, which will agreement with GippsAERO, sell products from TrueView begin delivery in the third quarter a wholly owned subsidiary of Enhanced Vision Systems Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne of 2011. Mahindra Aerospace. Under (EVS), LLC under its Aero- has successfully completed a the agreement, Rolls-Royce nautical Accessories brand. chill test and 1.9 second igni- Navmar will supply M250-B17F/2 TrueView EVS’ infrared ther- tion test of NASA’s J-2X engine turboprop engines for the mal imaging system improves at John C. Stennis Space • Navmar Applied Sciences Corpora- GA10, a new 10-passenger flight safety in compromised Center. The J-2X upper-stage tion has been awarded a $75 million fixed-wing plane that will de- flight conditions such as engine is in development to cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for a liver enhanced performance, darkness or low light/low power NASA’s next era of hu- Phase III Small Business Innovation fuel efficiency and reliability. visibility conditions and virtu- man spaceflight. The J-2X is Research project for the development ally eliminates the chance of based on a proven design that and use of the persistent surveillance Eurocopter Mahindra controlled flight into terrain could provide a safe and reli- unmanned aerial systems. Contract sign MoU (CFIT). Under the agreement, able solution for NASA’s future funds in the amount of $30 million On July 27, Mahindra Aero- Aeronautical Accessories heavy-lift launch vehicles. will expire at the end of the current space and Mahindra Satyam will distribute TrueView EVS The engine also leverages fiscal year. – representing the aerospace infrared enhanced vision the investment taxpayers manufacturing and engineer- systems worldwide. have already made in the Singapore Technologies ing capabilities of India’s in- Constellation programme and dustrial house, the Mahindra other programmes such as the • Singapore Technologies Aerospace Group signed a Memorandum Space space shuttle. Ltd has concluded over S$260 of Understanding (MoU) for million (about $216 million) worth a trade partnership with the Americas Europe of new maintenance contracts in the Eurocopter Group and its second quarter of 2011. Ranging Indian subsidiary, Eurocopter Boeing selects Atlas Thales Alenia Space from three to 12 months, these con- India. This partnership will V Rocket contracts for Solar Orbiter tracts for the aircraft maintenance be focused on the manufac- On August 4, Boeing Com- On July 19, Thales Alenia and modification, component total ture of subassemblies, engi- pany announced it has Space announced that it has support and engine total support neering and customisation of selected the United Launch won the Phase B contracts businesses will be carried out at its civil helicopters, and the joint Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket from Italian space agency facilities in America, Asia Pacific and development of specific mar- to launch the Boeing Crew ASI for the entire METIS Europe. ket segments. The coopera- Space Transportation (CST)- (Multi Element Telescope for tion with Mahindra is aligned 100 spacecraft from Florida’s Imaging and Spectroscopy) US with Eurocopter’s strategy to Space Coast. If NASA selects instrument and the Data become a manufacturer in Boeing for a development Processing Unit (DPU) on the • Boeing, Embraer, and the Inter- India through arrangements contract with sufficient fund- Solar Wind Analyser (SWA), American Development Bank (IDB) with local partners, thereby ing, ULA will provide launch both part of the Solar Orbiter have announced that they will improving its knowledge of services for an autonomous Mission in the European jointly fund a sustainability analysis the market and adapting the orbital flight, a transonic Space Agency’s Cosmic Vision of producing renewable jet fuel company’s products to the autonomous abort test programme. The Solar Or- sourced from Brazilian sugarcane. The region’s operational needs. launch, and a crewed launch, biter satellite will, for the first groundbreaking study will evaluate all in 2015. The Commercial time, observe the Sun and its environmental and market conditions EADS broadens its Crew programme consists of environment at a distance of associated with the use of renewable technology licensing reach developing, manufacturing, just 0.28 Astronomical Units jet fuel produced by Amyris. World Five agreements signed by testing and evaluating, and (i.e., 28 per cent of the mean Wildlife Fund will serve as an inde- EADS have extended the demonstrating the CST-100 distance between the Earth pendent reviewer and advisor. scope of the company’s spacecraft, launch vehicle and the Sun). •

Issue 8 • 2011 SP’S AVIATION 47 LastWord A Growing Liability It is abundantly clear that Air India’s chances of survival as a state-owned airline is practically non-existent. The key to its survival undoubtedly lies in privatisation.

nce regarded as a jewel in the crown of der included a combination of 68 Boeing aircraft including 27 the nation and the pride of the airline industry, Dreamliners for Air India and 43 Airbus aircraft for India. The the state-owned Air India is now engaged in a total number of aircraft ordered which was regarded as being desperate struggle for survival. The finances of way beyond their optimum requirement, resulted in a colossal the airline are in a monumental mess and to- interest burden the airline was in no financial position to bear. day the carrier has an unmanageable debt of Rs No convincing justification by the MoCA for this bizarre deci- 43,000 crore accompanied by a monthly interest burden of sion unknown even to the Parliamentary Committee set up to ORs 220 crore. The carrier has repeatedly defaulted on inter- examine the aircraft deal has been forthcoming. Suggestions est payment and each time has been able to clear dues only by observers, both inside and outside the airline, on the size of through dole from the government. The airline has not been the order range from mere juvenile indiscretion to intent bor- able to pay even the basic salaries on time to its 31,000 dering criminal conspiracy that warrants a high level probe. strong workforce leave alone the various allowances that Another queer decision by the MoCA was to merge Air constitute the major portion of their emoluments. Given an India and Indian into one entity called the National Aviation option, the financiers would declare the airline as an non- Company of India Limited, to be renamed subsequently as performing asset. Efforts by the government over the last Air India. For a variety of reasons too numerous to dilate on, two years for revival of the airline through a comprehensive the merger has been a complete disaster. From a combined restructuring plan do not seem to have had any appreciable cumulative loss of `680 crore in 2007 prior to the merger, effect so far. The size of funds required for the airline to by 2010, the figure rose to `16,000 crore. While the decision go through a revival plan escalates each time it is revised. in retrospect is being seen merely as ill-conceived by many, The latest revival plan suggested by the SBI Capital Markets insiders do not buy the argument that the merger was un- Limited calls for an equity infusion of `43,255 crore over the dertaken to enable the combined entity to join Star Alliance. next decade. The airline would require 20 per cent of this They once again point to intent behind this decision as be- figure immediately to clear outstanding dues of the ing devious, meant to benefit rivals in the private sector. Lat- Airports Authority of India—oil companies; est reports indicate that in fact Air India is not joining Star refund of loan for acquisition of aircraft; Alliance. This perhaps is another subject for investigation. and emoluments of employees. If there was any chance for Air India to have withstood The beginning of the downslide for these onslaughts, what has ultimately pushed the airline Air India can be traced back to the mid- to the brink of collapse was the systematic withdrawal 1980s. It was during the days of the Con- from profit making routes under the guise of “route gress government when anyone in the rationalisation”. In 2009, the airline handed over political and bureaucratic establishments a large number of routes to the Mid- with the remotest connection with the airline dle East and South East Asia began the era of subversion and reckless ex- where the recorded load fac- ploitation of the carrier. A golden opportunity to tors were high and the air- save Air India was lost when a move to privatise the line had a good chance of carrier in the late 1990s by Tata in collaboration with making profit. Once again Singapore Airlines was successfully thwarted by some these steps are being seen powerful lobbies and vested interest groups. The situa- as designed to benefit Air tion for Air India took a noticeable turn for the worse in India’s competitors in the 2004, a point in time that marked the resurgence of airlines private sector as also some in the private sector pushing the intensity of competition foreign carriers. to a new level. But it was the slew of strategic decisions In the final analysis, it is by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) since 2004 abundantly clear that Air India’s

noop Kamath that proved to be far more debilitating than the chances of survival as a state- A fiercely competitive environment of the last owned airline is practically non-ex- on: i decade. Orders were placed by the MoCA istent. The key to its survival undoubt- for as many as 111 aircraft valued at over edly lies in privatisation. SP

Illustrat `50,000 crore. The inordinately large or- — Air Marshal (Retd) B.K. Pandey

48 SP’S AVIATION Issue 8 • 2011 www.spsaviation.net Treasure House

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