RNI NUMBER: DELENG/2008/24199 `100.00 (-based buyer only) WHY Aviation see p sp’S introp ectS onthemegadeal in a5-p INDIA NEEDS MMRCA? NEWS WITHVIEWS DEFENCE PROS &CNSF“FDI”IN FORUM NA ADEQUA DPP 2013-OESITHAVE SP’s www.spsaviation.net Sharp Content for Sharp Audience TIONAL SECURIY? age 28& more int he next4iss ues TE FOCUSN

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SHOW REPORT EBACE 2013: BUSINESS AVIATION THE CORE OF AVIATION GROWTH STORY SHOW PREVIEW : A WHY PLATFORM TO EXHIBIT, INDIA NEEDS MMRCA? SP’S INTROSPECTS ON THE MEGA DEAL IN A 5-PART SERIES SELL & BUY NEWER

RNI NUMBER: DELENG/2008/24199 SEE PAGE 28 & MORE IN THE NEXT 4 ISSUES SOLUTIONS

SP's Aviation Cover 06-13_Final.indd 1 11/06/13 4:09 PM Cover Photo: The omni-role Rafale addresses the emerging needs of the armed forces in a changing geopolitical context, multi-role fighter aircraft: and it remains at the forefront of On January 31, 2012, Rafale was declared technical innovation. the winner of the MMRCA competition, but the deal is yet to be inked Photograph by: Dassault Aviation

SP’s Exclusives Show report 23 EBACE 2013 – New DRDO Chief pushes 10 Industry Rallies Together page 28 emergency button on Project Tejas Preview Lead Story

– RFP out for major Avro 32 PARIS AIR SHOW Curtain Raiser replacement programme

– Priority re-think on Project AMCA WHY MMRCA? regular By 2003, the IAF was to be supplied with – Turbomeca to power HAL’s Departments the LCA Tejas, to replace the ageing fleet light copter 3 A Word from Editor-in-Chief of MiG-21 FL. As there was no certainty 4 NewsWithViews – IAF for six more C-130Js, of the Tejas being available in the – New DPP 2013 comes into force type crosses million flight – RAF’s Grob-115E Tutor aircraft committed time frame, the gap needed to hours globally grounded be bridged till the Tejas would be made 7 In Focus available with FOC to retain the strength The Only Way Forward Civil of the combat aircraft fleet and obviate 8 Forum erosion of operational capability. 14 Business Aviation Raising FDI Cap Hope Amidst Despair 35 Hall of Fame Evelyn Bryan Johnson (1909-2012) 17 Regional Aviation 36 Focus India Options Aplenty 37 NewsDigest NEXT ISSUE 20 Helicopters 40 LastWord Future Technologies in Aviation Growing Appetite Engaging Private Players

www.spsaviation.net ISSUE 6 • 2013 1 table of contents

14 Hope Amidst Despair Publisher And Editor-in-Chief DIRECTOR SALES & MARKETING Jayant Baranwal Neetu Dhulia

senior Editor SALES & MARKETING Air Marshal (Retd) B.K. Pandey General Manager Sales: Rajeev Chugh

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2 ISSUE 6 • 2013 www.spsaviation.net A word from editor-in-chief The defence procurement process appears to remain mired in controversy leading to excruciating delays and often cancellation of tenders sometimes even in the last minute. This not only accentuates the despair in the armed forces but is also extremely frustrating for the global aerospace and defence industry majors.

An issue that is almost always in the forefront of news in is jointly hosted each year by the European Business Aviation the military domain in India is that of procurement of weap- Association, the leading association for business aviation in ons systems and associated equipment from foreign sources as Europe and the National Business Aviation Association, the required by the armed forces of the nation. It is only under- leading voice for the business aviation industry in the US. In standable that this must be so as the Indian armed forces are a curtain raiser for the other big event, the Paris Air Show in embarked on a massive expansion and modernisation drive mid-June, Sucheta Das Mohapatra evaluates the mood in the towards which the nation is expected to invest over $100 bil- industry and focuses on what to expect at the event. lion (`5,50,000 crore) over the next five years. Over 70 per cent In the civil aviation regime, Group Captain (Retd) A.K. of these funds would fall in the share of foreign vendors. Unfor- Sachdev reviews the state of business aviation in India, its poten- tunately, more often than not, the defence procurement process tial and impediments. The author is of the view that a change in appears to remain mired in controversy leading to excruciating perception of business aviation is not only overdue, but also a delays and often cancellation of tenders sometimes even in the necessity in the challenging times the Indian economy is pass- last minute. This not only accentuates the despair in the armed ing through. Writing from Goa, Group Captain (Retd) Joseph forces but is also extremely frustrating for the global aero- Noronha looks at the regional aviation scene in the country, the space and defence industry majors who expended enormous wide range of regional jets emerging on the scene for entrepre- resources, time and effort while negotiating the tedious process neurs to choose from and the steps the government is taking of bidding for contracts, evaluation and final selection, and ulti- to spur its growth. R. Chandrakanth evaluates the expanding mately find themselves up against a wall or at a dead-end. global helicopter market as rotary-wing platforms find their Apparently, somewhat concerned with the increasing fre- way into new segments of the business world. quency of instances of impropriety in the procurement process, the All these apart from the regular features in this issue. Ministry of Defence (MoD) has resorted to yet another revision of Welcome aboard and happy landings! the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP). Dubbed as DPP 2013, theA new version of the document attempts to provide a level playing field for the indigenous industry. As per A.K. Antony, the Minister of Defence, the panacea for the ills plaguing the process of pro- curement of defence equipment is indigenisation. In this issue of SP’s Aviation, different authors delve into the various aspects of the procurement process, DPP 2013 and the issue of indigenisation. Air Marshal (Retd) Anil Chopra also examines the issue of foreign direct investment in defence and concludes that this is only way forward. While the Indian Air Force (IAF) awaits with bated breath for the news on award of the contract for 126 Rafale medium multi- role combat aircraft (MMRCA), the MoD has floated a tender for 56 aircraft to replace the ageing fleet, the HS-748 Avro, in service with the IAF since the 1960s. Beginning with this issue, the case for MMRCA for the IAF will be reviewed in detail in a five-part series. This is also the season for international air shows. R. Chan- drakanth reviews the largest educational event in the aviation Jayant Baranwal industry in Europe, EBACE, held in May this year at the mag- Publisher & Editor-in-Chief nificent Palexpo and Geneva International Airport. The event

www.spsaviation.net ISSUE 6 • 2013 3 05-15-13 • LEO BURNETT (SP AVIATION, Page Ad) • 13-944-01-B-PRATTWHITNEY-C17-SPA-UTCIP222 BLEED: 277mm H X 220mm W • TRIM: 267mm H X 210mm W • ISSUE DATE: 06-01-13

News C-17 Globemaster III with Pratt & Whitney F117 engines with views NEWS: New DPP 2013 comes into force

“The Defence Procurement Proce- playing field for the Indian industry. In dure (DPP) 2013 aims to balance the the foreword of the new policy docu- competing requirements of speedy ment, Defence Minister A.K. Antony procurement, developing indigenous expressed hope that “the defence defence industry and conforming to industry and the procurement agen- the highest standards of transpar- cies will find the DPP 2013 to be a ency, probity and public account- ‘progressive step’ aimed at giving ability,” the Defence Ministry said in impetus to indigenisation, creating a release. To promote indigenisation, level playing field and expediting the the new policy aims to create a level procurement process as a whole”.

VIEWS:

While laying the foundation stone of the newly established project under the system followed in those days was the procure- Indian National Defence University (INDU) in Gurgaon, Prime Min- ment of the Su-30MKI, the latest fourth-generation combat air- ister Manmohan Singh stated that India was “well positioned to craft available with Russia. Delivery of the first batch of the aircraft become a net provider of security in the South Asian region and began within a year of signing of the contract. Compare this with beyond”. He went on to say that India now had “unprecedented the project initiated by the IAF in 2001 under the newly intro- access to high technology, capital and partnerships”, and that the duced open-tender system to acquire the urgently needed medium nation needs to assume the responsibility for stability in the Indian multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) for which the French Rafale Ocean region. He further stated that the government was con- has been selected. Twelve years have gone by since projection of scious of the fact that adequate defence preparedness was criti- the requirement by the IAF but the contract is yet to be concluded. cally dependent on sound defence acquisition policies. The govern- Meanwhile, with the phasing out of obsolete aircraft, the combat ment, therefore, has continually reformed those policies to ensure potential of the IAF continues to be eroded further. What is rather that the armed forces have the best equipment. disconcerting is that there appears to be no time frame stipulated Despite assertion to the contrary from the top echelons of for the finalisation of the MMRCA contract, so vital to national national leadership, the fact that India’s defence preparedness security. This issue needs to be addressed to strengthen the DPP. Delivering help where it’s needed most. today is not what it should be is no longer a closely guarded Undoubtedly, a number of refinements have been introduced secret. Also, the Prime Minister’s statement leaves none in doubt in DPP 2013 in pursuit of the twin-objective of making the pro- that the critical linkage between “Defence Preparedness of the curement system more efficient as also to strengthen the indig- Nation” and “Defence Acquisition Policy” is appreciated by those enous defence industry. The thrust of the latest revision is clearly One Powerful Idea. responsible to ensure that the nation is secure. Yet judging from on indigenisatione. The armed forces have been advised to first the state of equipment held on the inventory of the armed forces explore indigenous sources for their requirements of military today, one cannot but conclude that all is not well with the system hardware. The new edition of the DPP has also been deeply influ- Exceptional payload. The ability to land in tight quarters. of procurement of military hardware, 70 per cent of which comes enced by scams that appear to have become a part of the defence from foreign sources. Despite the oft repeated lofty pronounce- procurement process, invariably resulting in delay in finalisation Extended range with in-fl ight refueling capacity. The C-17 Globemaster III with ments on the government’s intent to ensure that the Indian or cancellation of tenders. The most recent of these has been the armed forces have the best of equipment, the DPP has fallen well contract with AgustaWestland for 12 AW101 for VVIP Pratt & Whitney F117 engines has the airlift capacity to meet any mission. short of expectations since its formalisation nearly a decade ago. travel, which mired in controversy, is on hold. This scam has not On account of geopolitical compulsions during the Cold War only demolished the reputation of a former senior functionary of era, India was tethered to a single source, the Soviet Union and the service but more importantly, has rattled the government. At later Russia, for sourcing military hardware. All transactions for the INDU function, the Prime Minister echoed these sentiments the procurement of defence equipment were conducted between thus: “We have also been guided by the objective of making our the two governments and the armed forces were privileged to defence acquisition transparent, smooth, efficient and less vulner- receive the latest technologies available with the USSR on favour- able to unethical practices. We will continue to seek the highest able rupee-rouble equation. While the technology available with standards of probity in defence acquisition.” the USSR, and later with Russia, might not have matched the best In the final analysis, the most striking deficiency that con- in the world, the armed forces were reasonably well-equipped as tinues to persist in the DPP is the notable absence of adequate the required equipment was available without delay. The large focus on the imperatives of national security. This must neces- contracts also included manufacture in India under licence albeit sarily be the overriding consideration. SP United Technologies is committed to building a better India – today and tomorrow.

Photogra p h: PIB without transfer of technology (ToT). An eminently successful —By Air Marshal (Retd) B.K. Pandey

4 ISSUE 6 • 2013 www.spsaviation.net 05-15-13 • LEO BURNETT (SP AVIATION, Page Ad) • 13-944-01-B-PRATTWHITNEY-C17-SPA-UTCIP222 BLEED: 277mm H X 220mm W • TRIM: 267mm H X 210mm W • ISSUE DATE: 06-01-13

C-17 Globemaster III with Pratt & Whitney F117 engines

Delivering help where it’s needed most. One Powerful Idea.

Exceptional payload. The ability to land in tight quarters. Extended range with in-fl ight refueling capacity. The C-17 Globemaster III with Pratt & Whitney F117 engines has the airlift capacity to meet any mission.

United Technologies is committed to building a better India – today and tomorrow. News with views NEWS: RAF’s Grob-115E Tutor aircraft grounded

The (RAF) has had ­January 9, 2013, following an incident to ground the entire fleet of training at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire when aircraft following two incidents when a plane’s propeller broke off in flight propellers came off in mid-flight, forcing an emergency landing. There meaning they have been unable to was a similar incident on August 23, teach new pilots for almost five months 2012, also near Cranwell, which had now. Defence sources have described been put down to lightning strike. And the grounding of the Grob-115E in 2004, a propeller on one of the Grob Tutor aircraft as a ‘complete fiasco’. aircraft broke up as it performed an The aircraft have not flown since aerobatic manoeuvre.

VIEWS:

With the grounding of the entire fleet of the 90-strong combination or that there is deficiency in maintenance. Just Grob-115E Tutor piston engine elementary flying training air- as in the case of the HPT-32, the problem of repeated engine craft following few instances of serious technical malfunction in failure did not lie with the engine, here too, the technical flight over nearly a decade, the RAF today is in a predicament failure appears to be attributable to the oil system that leads that is somewhat similar to what the Indian Air Force (IAF) was to propeller failure. Attempts to resolve the problem using a in at the end of July 2009. newly designed propeller had not been successful so far. Bab- On July 29 that year, the IAF took the difficult but neces- cock is the contractor that owns the fleet of Grob-115E Tutor sary decision to ground its fleet of 100-odd single-piston engine aircraft and provides performance based logistic support to basic trainer aircraft, the HPT-32, built and maintained by the the RAF with the trainer fleet. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). This fleet had been in The RAF procured the Grob-115E Tutor aircraft in prefer- service with the IAF since the early 1990s. This decision was lit- ence over the Slingsby Firefly designed, developed and man- erally forced upon the IAF after a series of accidents on account ufactured by the indigenous industry of the UK. Incidentally, of serious technical malfunction in flight that resulted in fatali- the turboprop version, the Grob-120TP, was one of the six ties. As a result, the IAF was suddenly left high and dry without contenders to bid for the contract for 75 basic trainer aircraft a basic trainer fleet and had no option but to switch over to for the IAF. The Grob-120TP appeared to be a strong con- basic flying training on the already ageing HAL-built jet trainer tender for the contract as it claimed to be the world’s light- fleet of the HJT-16 Kiran aircraft. The rather sudden grounding est trainer, is equipped with ejection seats for both pilots and of the HPT-32 fleet was not the best option, but the IAF per- has the lowest cost of acquisition, operation and maintenance haps had no alternative as the Indian aerospace major had no amongst the contenders in the race. The Grob-120TP did not immediate or ready solution to offer to solve the problem. The make to the shortlist of three as the IAF was keen on tandem grounding of the fleet had a cascading effect on the basic flying seating as against the side by side seating in the Grob trainer. training of pilots for the Indian Army and the Indian Navy as Eventually, the IAF opted for the Pilatus PC-7 MkII, induc- well. The IAF initiated a case on fast-track for the procurement tion of which has already begun. Possibly, the track record of 75 basic trainer aircraft from foreign sources. of technical failures also went against Grob. It is understood Today, the RAF is also in a similar state as it does not that Botswana also has decided in favour of the Pilatus PC-7 appear to have a viable alternative or quick solution in MkII over the Grob. sight. In this case too, pilot training for the other two ser- As per the Swiss manufacturer, “The Pilatus PC-7 MkII vices i.e. the and the British Army have also offers a reliable and economic training platform. The docile been adversely affected. And just as there was a difference behaviour of the PC-7 MkII in the hands of a beginner delivers of opinion between AVCO Lycoming, the manufacturer of the a confidence-building environment for inexperienced cadets. engine fitted on the HPT-32 and HAL about the root cause of With its highly cost-efficient Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-25C frequent technical failures and remedial action, so also there engine, it provides the lowest engine operating costs of all tur- is a dichotomy of views between the maintenance contrac- boprop trainer aircraft.” Till date, the Swiss manufacturer has tor Babcock and the German manufacturer of Grob aircraft, sold over 500 aircraft during the past three decades to 21 air about the agency responsible for the technical failures which forces worldwide. not only included in-flight separation of the propeller but in In retrospect, it appears that the IAF seems to have made one case the canopy as well. The dispute is over whether the right decision by opting for the Pilatus PC-7 MkII. SP

Photogra p h: M o d UK there is an inherent design flaw in the engine and propeller —By Air Marshal (Retd) B.K. Pandey

6 ISSUE 6 • 2013 www.spsaviation.net FDI THE ONLY WAY FORWARD The Indian industry does not have the wherewithal and the foreign companies know that the largest inFocus importer of arms hardly has the required technological or manufacturing base. Both have thus come together to pressurise for increase in FDI.

Opening up of the defence industry to the Indian private sec- tors closely all defence firms irrespective of domestic or foreign tor in 2001 with 100 per cent equity and 26 per cent foreign direct equity and restricts FDI if it threatens national interest. investment (FDI) has not achieved any results of significance even after a decade. India’s defence industry in the private sector is still Arguments for FDI at a nascent stage. It requires heavy investments and infusion of Defence technologies developed after years of investment in high technologies to produce relatively small numbers. Despite research and development (R&D) are the preserve of the few repeated industry-friendly improvements to the Defence Procure- and not to be parted with easily. Foreign investors welcome ment Procedure (DPP) and Production Policies, the momentum is the thrust on higher indigenous content. As it is cheaper to lacking. Foreign defence industry majors intending to make invest- manufacture in India and also as Asia offers huge market ments have been seeking increase in FDI to 74 per cent to gain potential, India could actually be developed as an export control. Currently, the government is considering revision of FDI hub. Maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) is another limit only to 49 per cent. The potential in the defence industry is area attractive for investment. India needs investments and significant as India is likely to spend over $100 billion (`5,50,000 the West requires markets, a win-win situation for both. crore) in the next five years on acquisition of military hardware. The Indian industry does not have the wherewithal and the Arguments against FDI beyond 49 per cent foreign companies know that the largest importer of arms hardly High levels of FDI could have implications for national secu- has the required technological or manufacturing base. Both have rity. Foreign control could throttle defence supplies, retard Othus come together to pressurise for increase in FDI. ‘Reliable’ for- local development through infusion of only low-end technolo- eign companies may soon invest in Mahindra Aerospace, Larsen gies or restrict technologies of critical components. There may and Toubro (L&T), Tatas and Reliance. The Prime Minister him- be uncertainty about assured supplies during operations. The self has raised hopes in the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) recent UN Arms Trade Treaty could also put restrictions on national conference. The Commerce and Industry Minister Anand foreign companies to transfer certain technologies to devel- Sharma also supports the proposal. Finance Minister P. Chidam- oping countries. Experience shows that that high percentage baram backs increase in FDI as a means to finance the yawn- of offset obligations is a better route to secure joint manufac- ing current account deficit. CII President S. Gopalakrishnan has turing and co-development than FDI. sought a long-term FDI policy for the defence sector to encourage multinational firms to set up shop here. Way Forward Notwithstanding the apprehensions, it is not easy for a foreign International Practices investor to antagonise the local government which can easily Nations permitting FDI in defence put export restrictions and cancel have always retained the ‘ultimate’ local orders. The important consid- veto share. BAE has a restriction of eration is that the indigenous in- 15 per cent FDI stipulated by the dustry must have a better than level British Government. The French playing field. Unlike foreign institu- Government is opposed to foreign tional investments, FDI cannot be investment above 10 per cent in pulled out. The Indian Government Thales. The Italian Government must retain oversight rights even if is required to clear foreign invest- it means a golden ‘veto’ share, mon- ment above three per cent in its de- itoring equity transfers closely and fence industry. Finland,­ specifying restrictions. The govern- and prohibit FDI from ment must have its representatives outside the NATO or the European as members on the board and can Union. In , and Swe- veto critical appointments. As the den, foreign investment requires subject is complex, a firm-footed government approval on case-by- approach is the need of the hour. case basis. In UK and , for- For the way ahead, read Forum. SP eign acquisitions in defence-related industries require government ap- —By Air Marshal (Retd)

i on: A noop Kamath Illustrat proval. The US Government moni- Anil Chopra

ISSUE 6 • 2013 7 FDI Raising FDI Cap The record high current account deficit, which is expected to touch around five per cent of GDP in the current financial year, has accentuated the need for the steady inflow of capital.

Forum But will the government be able to push through FDI in a sensitive sector such as defence, in the pre-election year?

As per a KPMG study, while six of the world’s top ten defence Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Kelkar Committee spenders are reducing budgets, India is among the few doing to corporatise ordnance factories need action. Only 29 per cent otherwise with 70 per cent of defence equipment being of DRDO products have entered service in the past 17 years. imported. India will spend over $300 billion (`16,50,000 crore) The US Deputy Secretary of State, William J. Burns, while till 2020 on defence equipment. It is time to get the act right to intercating with the media on May 10, 2013, said, “After our reduce the massive outflow of foreign exchange. historic Civil Nuclear Agreement in 2008, our bilateral trade is A likely to exceed $100 billion in 2013. The US defence sales to Is FDI the way forward? India already total some $8 billion. There’s a strong commit- Neelu Khatri, Head of Defence Advisory Services at KPMG, said, ment to taking defence cooperation to the next level and that “India is a lucrative low-cost manufacturing and engineering means moving ahead in co-production and co-development. service base. The market presents significant opportunities to Certainly, we think it’s very much in India’s own self-interest to both domestic and international players. Till domestic supply look at ways to raise FDI cap to allow for greater investment.” chain, infrastructure and technology support are developed, we Defence analyst and former Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Air will continue to be dependent on the global integrators.” She Marshal Vinod Patney said in a recent seminar, “The so-called hoped though that the new Defence Procurement Procedure ‘tried and tested’ course has not allowed us to progress in the (DPP) does not turn out to be a licence raj all over again. past and is unlikely to be successful in the future. We have a Ashok Saxena, Director UK Advanced Engineering, says vast pool of engineers and a genius for adaptability. Our man- that the recent changes to DPP have brought the private sector ufacturing costs are low. Many Fortune 500 companies and nearly on par with defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs), major aerospace players have set up shop in India using Indian but they need the money to compete. “If the private sector does IT and engineering services. To my mind, we have no option but not come forward, offset obligations will be difficult to imple- to increase FDI limits and enter into more joint ventures (JVs).” ment. This is a chance of a lifetime and India cannot afford to miss it,” he adds. R. Sundaram, former Member, Ordnance FDI Contenders Factories Board, stated in a leading Indian newspaper, “We Little-known companies in Bengaluru and Hyderabad are pro- started off well in the initial years setting up massive DPSUs ducing technologies that are used by foreign armed forces. Tonbo that made aircraft, frigates and tanks; but somewhere on the Imaging, founded by Arvind Lakhsmi Kumar, shifted to Singa- way our spirit of ‘we can do’ ebbed. Seed for conflict is that the pore, as Kumar felt inhibited to enter the world market from here. military wants the best and the civilian establishment wants it Other than Tonbo Imaging for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), to accept what can be produced. It is debatable if the new DPP some Indian companies that are engaged in cutting-edge work in will reverse the ratio of imports to local manufacture, which defence include: Data Patterns for BrahMos, Captronic Systems is static since 1998 at 70/30. Recommendations of the Rama for space programme, Maini group making components for Euro- Rao Committee to privatise sections of Defence Research and fighter and and Dynamatics Technologies manufacturing

‘To my mind, we have no ‘Certainly, we think it’s ‘Raising FDI cap would ‘Whether it is 49 or ‘Till domestic supply option but to increase very much in India’s own lead to foreign control 74 per cent, we believe chain, infrastructure Foreign direct investment self-interest to look over indigenous that there would not and technology support (FDI) limits and enter into at ways to raise FDI cap capability’ be full transfer of are developed, we will more joint ventures’ to allow for greater technology’ continue to be dependent investment’ — Dr V.K. Saraswat, on global integrators’ — Air Marshal (retd) Former DRDO ChieF — R.K. Mathur Defence Vinod Patney, former — William J. Burns, and scientific adviser Secretary, when he — Neelu Khatri, Head Vice Chief of the Air US Deputy Secretary to the defence was Secretary Defence of Defence Advisory Staff of State minister Production Services at KPMG

8 ISSUE 6 • 2013 www.spsaviation.net FDI

Forum ‘why India cannot ‘The best of our minds ‘If India increases FDI ‘China imports hardware ‘‘Increase of FDI limit to 49 allow 100 per cent are utilised by other ceiling, it would increase while it continues to per cent will give foreign Foreign direct countries for their commercial incentives build local industry. investors the confidence investment (FDI) in progress’ for global firms Privatisation of HAL should to manage business risks defence sector?’ planning to invest’ be India’s top priority’ and set up industry in India’ — A. Sivathanu Pillai, — D.S. Rawat, scientist and chief — Ashton Carter, — Edward Luttwak, — Robert Metzger, Secretary General, executive officer, US Deputy Defense American Defence expert on Indo-US ASSOCHAM BrahMos Aerospace Secretary Strategist defence ties

aircraft parts for Airbus. All could be great partners for foreign ated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSO- investors. “The best of our minds are utilised by other countries CHAM), finds no reason why India cannot allow 100 per cent for their progress,” says A. Sivathanu Pillai, a scientist and CEO, FDI in defence sector. Other industry chambers, the Confed- BrahMos Aerospace. eration of Indian Industry (CII) and the Federation of Indian Robert Metzger, an expert on Indo-US defence ties, says that Chambers and of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), have sup- the current 26 per cent cap is hardly a lure for foreign firms to ported a smaller hike up to 49 per cent in order to safeguard set up shop and transfer high-end technologies. Protection of Indian interests. The Naresh Chandra Committee report on the their Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) is another area of con- ‘National Security Apparatus’, had also recommended increase cern. Increase of FDI limit to 49 per cent will give foreign inves- in FDI to attract better technologies. Recently, the US Deputy tors the confidence to manage business risks and set up indus- Defense Secretary, Ashton Carter, had also suggested that if try in India to achieve the ‘Buy Indian’ goal in the long run. The India increases FDI ceiling, it would increase commercial incen- Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion has suggested tives for global firms planning to invest. The record high current the FDI limit to be raised to 74 per cent and the proposal is account deficit, which is expected to touch around five per cent under consideration by the government. of GDP in the current financial year, has accentuated the need American Defence Strategist Edward Luttwak says, “China for the steady inflow of capital. In a letter to Defence Minister more freely imports military hardware while it continues to build A.K. Antony, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma local industry. Privatisation of the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. requested reconsideration of the proposal by the Department of (HAL) should be India’s top priority.” A senior defence company Industrial Policy and Promotion to raise the FDI cap in defence official is reported to have said that in negotiating the bottlenecks sector to at least 49 per cent. With reports in the Indian media in India, several companies have developed ‘India fatigue’. that the country plans to liberalise FDI norms, Russian business However, in anticipation, some companies have already houses are looking at new windows of opportunity. This could formed JVs: Mahindra Defence Systems with BAE Systems and be a big boost for companies like Sistema in expanding coop- Seabird Aviation; L&T with EADS, Raytheon, Boeing, RAC MiG, eration in the defence sector. Saab Gripen; Tata Advanced Systems with Sikorsky Aircraft India’s first special economic zone (SEZ) for aerospace in Corporation, Boeing, Israel Aerospace Industries; HCL with Belgaum, , was inaugurated in November 2009. The Boeing and Circor Aerospace. government is considering the establishment of dedicated SEZs on similar lines, catering specifically to the defence sector, pro- Government Choices viding a suitable tax-friendly environment and also aid in pro- According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), around 75 private moting export of products and services. companies have till date received 135 industrial licences for pro- On May 17, at the Defence Expo, Suraksha 2013, in , duction of a variety of defence systems and subsystems. These the then DRDO Chief V.K. Saraswat gave a strong dissent and said pertain to some high technology items, including armoured and that raising FDI cap would lead to foreign control over indigenous combat vehicles, radars, electronic warfare equipment, war- capability. This was well countered and a question was raised, ships, submarine, avionics, military aircraft, safety and bal- “Where is the indigenous capability?” The Wall Street Journal listic products, armaments and ammunition among others. As mentioned about the report submitted by R.K. Mathur, the then per the “Ten Year Plan for Self-Reliance in Defence Systems”, Secretary Defence Production, to the Parliament on April 29, that which was formulated in the early 1990s, the import content of stated, “The stand of the Defence Ministry has always been that defence procurement were to be brought down to 30 per cent beyond 26 per cent FDI at this stage, would be a compromise on by 2005. As per the Defence Standing Committee Report to the the security of the country. Whether it is 49 or 74 per cent, we Parliament, the self-reliance index is still hovering around 30 believe that there would not be full transfer of technology (ToT).” per cent. Indian Ministry of Science and Technology figures peg Mathur is right that implementation of ToT has been poor. India’s overall research and development (R&D) expenditure Will the government be able to push through FDI in a sensi- at 0.88 per cent of the GDP. This is rather low compared with tive sector such as defence in the pre-election year? We need to more than two per cent of GDP in most developed countries. wait and watch. SP FDI caps are pegged broadly at five levels—26, 49, 51, 74 and 100 per cent. D.S. Rawat, Secretary General, the Associ- —By Air Marshal (Retd) Anil Chopra

ISSUE 6 • 2013 9 SP'S EXCLUSIVEs Tejas, Avro, AMCA New DRDO Chief pushes emergency button on Project Tejas

The DRDO’s new Director General, Dr Avinash Chander, new DRDO Chief, who is now understood to have put together has activated Code Red on Project Tejas, and has called for an a team of eight persons, including two of his own appointees, to immediate emergency plan to get the lumbering programme oversee on literally a day-to-day basis functional progress on the back on track. Top sources at DRDO and the Aeronautical De- Tejas programme, including all aspects of certification and com- velopment Agency informed SP’s Aviation that Dr Chander, over pliance. Dr Chander, sources say, will receive an official update ei- the last three days, has held video-conference discussions with ther verbally or in report form every alternate day to keep himself all top scientists and visited Bangalore for one-on-one meetings abreast of what he considers to be the most crucial and pressing with the team leading the second phase programme in the DRDO pipeline. of the initial operational clearance (IOC- A top official of Dr Chander’s newly 2) mission. Things have been distinctly formed team informed SP’s Aviation, difficult for the programme over the last “The other programmes are progress- two years. Following IOC-1 in January ing satisfactorily. The LCA requires spe- 2011, it has been slow-moving. cial attention. It is for this reason that On May 29, two days before Dr Chan- Dr Chander felt the need to allocate ad- der took over as his Scientific Advisor, ditional resources to supervise this final Defence Minister A.K. Antony declared stretch of the prestigious project. We will that the Tejas would, at all costs, be de- be giving it our all to deliver a fine fighter livered to the IAF by the end of next year, to the customer.” Dr Chander’s team will fully certified and cleared by all agencies similarly continue and oversee the Tejas concerned. That one announcement has Mk.2 programme once the Mk.2 final op- put a huge amount of pressure on the erational clearance is in the bag. SP

RFP out for Priority re-think major Avro on Project AMCA replacement Extending the reach Major and ongoing de- programme lays in the light combat air- craft programme have finally After an abortive attempt reached a point where the to make it an indigenously-led Defence Ministry has put a modernisation effort that could dam on the AMCA fifth-gen- set an example for future procure- eration fighter effort, calling ments, the Indian Ministry of De- upon the DRDO labs involved fence (MoD) has finally released to direct every last bit of en- More than a manufacturer - A partner. its request for proposal (RFP) for ergy into ensuring that there Supporting demanding offshore operations, AgustaWestland delivers 56 medium-lift transport aircraft are no further slippages in that will replace the Indian Air the Tejas programme. With unrivalled cost-effective solutions in partnership with the Oil and Gas Force’s (IAF) fleet of HS-748 Avro the eight limited series air- industry. turboprop transports. craft taking to the skies recently, confidence is finally back in The request for proposal de- the drifting programme, but budget sanctions and manpower LEADING THE FUTURE mands that 16 aircraft be sup- projections of the AMCA forced the MoD to bite the bullet and plied in flyaway condition by the selected global vendor, and the take a hard decision. agustawestland.com remaining 40 built in India under a partnership with an Indian For the Tejas to complete all clearances by the end of next company. The RFP stipulates that the modalities of this partner- year and enter squadron service the year after that, a thought ship need to be hammered out and set down in bids within the process within the Defence Ministry is to pre-empt any further next five months. In transport aircraft terms, this could be one of damage to a programme that has already seen massive time India’s largest, running into close to over `25,000 crore. and cost overruns. In this matter, the DRDO Chief has been un- As earlier reported by SP’s Aviation, likely contenders for officially overruled, given that the AMCA is being pushed as a the deal include the EADS CASA C-295 or the Alenia C-27J flagship aeronautical effort, in many ways to divert attention Spartan. Other companies that have received the RFP include from the deep problems of the Tejas. For now, funding and Ilyushin, Antonov, Lockheed Martin and Boeing. The company manpower will be temporarily eased off pending completion of conspicuous by its absence in this entire effort is, of course, all parameters and delivery of the Tejas. SP the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., which is building a multi-role Available Now! SP Kamath, E A D S anoo p Kamath, Photogra p hs: S P C, transport aircraft in partnership with UAC and Ilyushin.  By SP’s Special Correspondent AgustaWestland mobile App for Paris Air Show 2013 Keep up to date with the latest news View multimedia content 10 ISSUE 6 • 2013 www.spsaviation.net Get the latest product information

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SP's magazine AW189 Offshore App 1 31/05/13 16:05 SP'S EXCLUSIVEs LUH, C-130j Turbomeca to power HAL’s light copter After a protracted effort to identify a suitable engine for the in-development light utility helicopter (LUH), the Hindu- stan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) has finally chosen the Turbomeca 1U Ariden, a close variant of the 1H1 Shakti that powers the ALH Dhruv and light combat helicopter. The Shakti beats out the Hon- eywell-Rolls-Royce LHTEC CTS-800 that was also in contention. It may be remembered that the Shakti, which had been nearly the default choice initially, was set aside and a competi- tive process taken up following disagreements over licensing for the LUH. HAL choice appears to suggest that any problems with Turbomeca have since been sorted out. A first ground test vehicle is likely to be tested by the middle of 2014, with a first flight in 2015. HAL is developing the platform to meet a 187 he- licopter requirement for the Army and IAF. With the 197 recon- naissance and surveillance helicopter (RSH) hanging fire with no guidance or decision, the pressure on HAL to speed up the programme and deliver is even higher. The LUH will have a full glass cockpit and be developed in three different variants to meet requirements. The platform will move straight from pro- totype to series production, with no intervening limited series production phase, reveal sources. SP

IAF for Six more C-130Js, type crosses million flight hours globally

The IAF cannot wait to get its next six Lockheed Mar- its pilots and operators. The type has been fielded in every ma- tin C-130J Super Hercules medium transport aircraft, a deal jor exercise since its induction, and continues to be the first that is in its final stages of confirmation. Coming as a boost response aircraft now for humanitarian relief missions. to ­C-130J customers worldwide, the type soared past the one Elsewhere, according to Lockheed Martin’s statement, “C- million flight hours mark this month. “Thirteen countries oper- 130Js currently are deployed in two combat theatres and are ating C-130Js and members of Lockheed Martin’s Flight Opera- operating at a very high tempo efficiently and reliably. In non- tions and the US Government’s Defense Contract Management combat—but equally harsh environments—C-130Js are often Agency (DCMA) teams contributed to this achievement. Hours the first to support humanitarian missions such as search were tracked beginning with the C-130J’s first flight on April 5, and rescue, aerial firefighting in the US, and delivering relief 1996, through the end of April 2013,” said Lockheed Martin in a supplies after earthquakes, hurricanes, typhoons and tsuna- statement. George Shultz, Vice President and General Manager mis around the world. Countries with C-130Js contributing of C-130 programmes at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Com- to these flight hours include (in order of delivery) the United pany, said, “Not only is this milestone a testament to the capa- Kingdom, United States, , Italy, Denmark, , bility of the C-130J Super Hercules, Canada, India, Qatar, Oman, Iraq, it’s also a reflection of the dedication Tunisia and Israel (now in flight displayed by crews and maintain- test for a summer 2013 delivery). ers each day they fly a C-130J. Once In the US, C-130Js are flown by the again, the Super Hercules family Air Force, Air Force Reserve Com- continues to prove why the C-130J’s mand, Air National Guard, Marine flexibility and versatility remains Corps, and Coast Guard units. Fif- without equal.” teen countries have chosen the C- The C-130J has come in for 130J as an airlifter of choice—in- high praise in Indian service, with cluding Kuwait and the Republic of the fleet deployed across theatres, Korea, which will join the fleet with missions, and in all-weather condi- C-130J deliveries in 2014.” SP tions. The fleet’s availability has also

C, DP R D e f n ce Photogra p hs: S P C, proved to be a great reassurance to  By SP’s Special Correspondent

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Hope amidst Despair

A change in perception about business aviation is not only overdue, but also a necessity in the challenging times the Indian economy is passing through

By Group Captain (Retd) A.K. Sachdev

Resplendent blue ribbons to celebrate the arrival of taken from submission of application for import to the first a business aircraft into the Indian skies are invariably pre- touchdown on Indian soil was usually about nine months. ceded by strangulating red tape. At the beginning of this year, The cumbersome, bureaucratic and restrictive policies in- 40-odd applications for import of new aircraft into India were volve clearances from up to ten different agencies which include pending with the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA). Going by the MoCA, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Directorate General of past statistics, about a fourth of these would have been for Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Airports Authority of India. One of business aircraft. The policy then was that the Minister him- the requirements is individual police verification and security self approved the final import after the Aircraft Acquisition clearance of all the directors of the parent company applying Committee (AAC) had carried out due diligence. Owing to de- for the import. In short, the documentation and processing time Photogra p h: S guide ubn s Rlay in clearance by the AAC as also all along the line, the time is oppressive and discouraging. Much has been written about 14 ISSUE 6 • 2013 www.spsaviation.net Civil Business Aviation

Going great: (Opposite page) Bombardier Challenger 300; (Above) Interiors of a religare’s Business Jet; and (right) A Religare BizJet parked

the sad state of bureaucratic and regulatory concertina wire that must be confronted and wiggled through for importing and operating a business aircraft in India.

Business Aircraft Operators’ Association The Business Aircraft Operators’ Association (BAOA) formed ness purposes which the DGCA regards as “for private use”. two years ago through the amalgamation of Business Aviation The import duty on aircraft is three per cent and is applicable Association of India (BAAI) and Indraprastha Aircraft Aviation for all aircraft imported into India for non-scheduled or busi- Association (IAAA), has been rendering yeoman service to the ness purposes. However, business aircraft are penalised by business aviation sector. One of its significant drives has been an additional four per cent as special additional duty and 16 towards convincing the establishment that a business aircraft per cent as countervailing duty, thus bringing the total to 23 is not just a status symbol but a substantial contributor to per cent, almost a fourth of the cost of the aircraft. This ad- national economy. BAOA has indeed made some progress to- ditional burden is imposed under Customs Tariff Act, 1975. wards softening the official posture towards business avia- Para 3A of Chapter 88 of the Act permits special additional tion. However, there is no ray of hope as yet for what has been duty to be collected at the rate of eight per cent unless a lower often referred to as the ‘stepchild’ of Indian civil aviation. rate is prescribed by the government. The figure is horrify- ing from the point of view of the buyer. The distinction is not High Tax Burden impermeable though as some business houses have sought The main rationale for this sobriquet is the inordinately high and obtained non-scheduled operator permits and used them

Photogra p h s : religare duty imposed on the import of an aircraft into India for busi- to import aircraft meant essentially for business purposes.

ISSUE 6 • 2013 15 Civil Business Aviation

­However, the government remains doggedly and single-mind- (IATA) has been critical of the approach of the Indian Gov- edly determined about not lowering the duty. Incidentally, this ernment towards aviation and has hinted at the need for a inordinately high rate of duty on business aircraft was in- ‘national’ stance recognising the benefits of aviation to the troduced in 2007. It may be mentioned that the period from nation. As the travails of civil aviation are affected by the poli- 2003 to 2006 witnessed growing interest in business aviation cies of several Central Ministries in addition to state govern- as part of the second wave of liberalisation of civil aviation ment policies, a comprehensive set of policies focused at giv- in India. The imposition of this extortionate rate of duty has ing business aviation its rightful dues and privileges, has not proved to be a major factor in the stunted growth of business been possible so far. One of the reasons is that the tangible and aviation in India since 2007. intangible benefits of business aviation to national growth are not understood. There is the need for an erudite and informed Infrastructure Issues study to elicit and present to the establishment the contribu- The travails for business aviation do not end with import. tion that business aviation makes to the national economy. Documentation necessary to get the aircraft off the ground Oxford Economics, a key advisor to corporate, financial and essentially a repeat of the certificates already held by that government decision-makers, has carried out a study entitled aircraft under another regime such as the Federal Aviation ‘The Role of Business Aviation in European Economy’ last year Administration (FFA) or European Aviation Safety Agency and expounded on the usefulness of business aviation by way (EASA), could take a few weeks. Once operations commence, of being part of European transport network, a distinct sec- new tribulations await the operator. Infrastructure for civil tor, a complement of the scheduled network, a benefactor of aviation is woefully oblivious of business aviation needs. There local economies, a key corporate tool, a driver of employment are no general aviation airports such as growth, an investor in local infrastruc- La Guardia near New York, Stansted, ture and a crucial contributor to Euro- Biggin Hill near London and Seletar in pean economic recovery. This kind of Singapore. There are no dedicated ter- exercise has been done elsewhere in the minals with hangars and parking space Business aviation is world too. India is different from other for business aviation aircraft especially devoted to the needs parts of the world; a study addressing at the metros. Parking slots for busi- of commerce and is the Indian context could help in altering ness aircraft are restricted and come at perceptions towards business aviation. a premium. In the absence of heliports, predominantly used by The business aviation community rotary-wing aircraft are compelled to business leaders, owners has been clamouring for a simplification operate alongside fixed-wing aircraft. of the import procedures, possibly into Fixed base operators (FBOs) are and executives for whom a single-window clearance system. The almost non-existent and business ter- air mobility is essential Minister announced recently that the minals rare. Where they do exist, the to efficient functioning process had been liberalised and that the charges, usually ‘per use’ fees, are ex- AAC was being disbanded. While there orbitant and unreasonable. Busy metros of their business was a general sigh of relief at the an- are notoriously inhospitable to business ventures. Leisure travel nouncement, it is yet to be seen whether aircraft; some of them would like to the time taken from the proffering of an shoo away business aircraft as soon as by business aircraft is application for import of an aircraft to they have brought in a passenger load, incidental to business the actual approval will get shortened. only to let them come back when the travel and is a small There is also perhaps a need for a dedi- passengers are ready for a quick de- cated desk both at the MoCA and the parture. Overnight stays are frowned proportion of the latter. DGCA to look after the peculiar needs of upon, not easy to manage and come at business aviation specifically. According a price. The BAOA has had to resort to to Kapil Kaul, CEO, India and the Mid- legal action in order to alleviate the bur- dle East, Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation den of penal charges levied by the Mumbai International Air- (CAPA), “It is essential that a senior official in the MoCA be port Limited (MIAL) on non-Mumbai-based business aircraft. made the point guard for general and business aviation. The An appeal is pending with the Airports Economic Regulatory DGCA requires an organisational structure to oversee the in- Authority (AERA). The maintenance, repair and overhaul terests of non-scheduled operators. The AAI and BAOA should (MRO) support for business aircraft is also inadequate and also be involved in major decisions being taken on policy.” expensive. One of the reasons is the small number of business aircraft and the other is the taxation regime which renders Silver Lining unattractive any MRO venture by original equipment manu- Business aviation is devoted to the needs of commerce and is facturers (OEMs) and aircraft manufacturers. Apart from predominantly used by business leaders, owners and execu- sales tax/value-added tax, service tax and customs duty, MRO tives for whom air mobility is essential to efficient functioning business ventures have to pay hefty royalty to the airports of their business ventures. Leisure travel by business aircraft they are based at. Last year, the Airports Authority of India is incidental to business travel and is a small proportion of the (AAI) decided to raise the royalty charged from MROs to bring latter. A change in perception about business aviation is not them on par with those of ground handling services at air- only overdue, but also a necessity in the challenging times the ports. This has delivered another blow to the MRO business, Indian economy is passing through. The recent endeavours of discouraging new and potential entrants. the BAOA, so far rewarded by some accomplishments though modest, yet adequate for the non-airline civil aviation sectors Need for Policy Changes to sit up and take notice, represent a silver lining in the oth- Significantly, even the International Air Transport Association erwise bleak business aviation skies. SP

16 ISSUE 6 • 2013 www.spsaviation.net Civil Regional Aviation

Quite & Comfortable: ATR 72-600 IN FLIGHT

Options Aplenty The Indian Government plans to encourage regional flights to about 80 Tier-III and Tier-IV destinations by auctioning these unenticing routes to the airlines. It is also likely to formulate fresh incentives for smaller aircraft to cater to the growing number of passengers from non-metro cities. And there are plenty of regional aircraft to choose from.

By Group Captain (Retd) Joseph Noronha

The global commercial aircraft market is dominated 737. The regional market, however, needs much smaller planes, by two fierce rivals, the European giant Airbus and the US cor- since a majority of airports have short runways and their de- poration Boeing. Their competition is especially intense in the mand is insufficient to fill even a standard narrow-body airliner. narrow-body jet segment where the next 20 years should see Private carriers like SpiceJet and are eager to sales of over 20,000 aircraft like the Airbus 320 and the Boe- tap the regional market because that is where the next wave ing 737. But when it comes to regional jets, it is Bombardier of of growth is expected. SpiceJet has acquired a fleet of 15 Bom- Canada and Embraer of that have carved up the market bardier Q400 NextGen aircraft to connect Tier-II and Tier-III cit- between them, while Bombardier and Europe’s ATR fight it out ies across the country. The airline has options for another 15 of to rule the regional turboprop space. And working feverishly these versatile turboprops. Jet Airways operates 16 ATR 72-500 to challenge the Bombardier-Embraer duo are other original turboprop aircraft and is inducting five ATR 72-600s so as to equipment manufacturers (OEMs) who would like to see their touch a number of smaller airports that are unviable with jets. forthcoming regional jets corner a significant share of sales. The Indian Government plans to encourage regional flights to Bombardier’s 20-year commercial aircraft market forecast about 80 Tier-III and Tier-IV destinations by auctioning these released last June predicts deliveries of 12,800 jets and turbo- unenticing routes to the airlines. It is also likely to formulate Tprops in the 20-149 seats segment from 2012-31. This year’s fresh incentives for smaller aircraft to cater to the growing num- forecast is unlikely to vary much. India is projected to need only ber of passengers from non-metro cities. And there are plenty of about 640 planes in the 60-149 seats category. That is because regional aircraft to choose from. the country’s major airports are located in the traffic-intensive metros and large cities, making it essential for airlines to de- Bombardier’s Brainwave

P h o t graph : ATR ploy aircraft with 180 plus seats like the Airbus 320 and Boeing Bombardier Aerospace, the world’s third-largest aircraft manu-

ISSUE 6 • 2013 17 Civil Regional Aviation

Cost Effective: Bombardier CRJ900 in service with Lufthansa

facturer, can justifiably claim to have sparked the modern re- Boeing and Airbus. The E-175 with 78-88 seats and the E-195 gional jet party in 1992. When it hit upon the idea of transform- with 106-122 seats gave Embraer an immediate advantage ing the unsuccessful Challenger business jet into the 50-seat over Bombardier, which in turn responded with the stretched Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ), the experts were not impressed. CRJ700 series. As of March 31, 2013, Embraer has delivered But the CRJ100/CRJ200 sold well and encouraged Bombardier 925 E-Jets and has a firm order backlog of 211 and 624 options. to think even bigger. Over the years, the larger CRJ700 (66 to Reacting to Bombardier’s CSeries, Embraer has opted for an 78 seats), CRJ900 (75 to 90 seats), and CRJ1000 (86 to 104 updated version of the E-Jets instead of a new design. Expected seats) have succeeded in lowering seat-mile costs significantly to enter service by 2018, these “second generation” E-Jets will and have come to epitomize regional jets. As of March 31, 2013, have composite-based wings, longer fuselage, and taller land- Bombardier has delivered 1,680 jets of the CRJ family and has ing gear to accommodate fuel-efficient GTF engines, Pratt & an order backlog of 102 aircraft. Whitney’s PW1700G for the E-170 series and PW1900G for the Then there is Bombardier’s eagerly awaited CSeries regional E-190 series. jet, the biggest and most complex aircraft it has yet built. The CS100 with 108-125 seats and the CS300 designed for 130-145 Sukhoi’s Slow Success passengers will both have the impressive new Pratt & Whitney In April 2011, the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) Sukhoi Su- geared turbofan (GTF) engine, the PW1524G. According to Bom- perjet SSJ100-95 (86 to 103 seats) entered commercial service. bardier, the CSeries should have a 15 per cent lower operating This Russian regional jet was designed to compete internation- cost, 20 per cent fuel burn advantage and impressive environ- ally. However, an unfortunate accident during a demonstration mental credentials compared to Embraer E-Jets. flight in Indonesia in May 2012 in which 45 perished, revealed The CS100 is expected to record its first flight in June and several technical flaws denting its popularity. The official back- its entry into service (EIS) may be in mid-2014. The CS300’s EIS log of the SSJ100 stands at 179 aircraft. Sukhoi has also begun is expected in 2015. What may give Airbus and Boeing sleepless flight-testing a long-range version, the SSJ100LR. nights is a proposed 160-seat CS300 variant that would blur the divide between regional and narrow-body jets. Bombardier cur- Increasing Competiton rently has firm orders for 145 CSeries planes and options on 193. The long-delayed Comac ARJ21 Xiangfeng (“Soaring Phoenix”) will be the first passenger jet to be indigenously developed and Embraer Emerges produced in China. To enhance demand for regional jets, China Embraer’s first regional jet, the 50-seat is working zealously to open new air- ERJ-145 entered service in December ports in small cities. The ARJ21 is fitted 1996 just when the US carriers were with specially developed General Electric yearning for short-range jets to replace CF34-10A engines that give it powerful their unpopular turboprops on regional Private carriers like take-off and climb performance, per- routes. Embraer soon began to challenge SpiceJet and Jet Airways mitting the use of airports with short Bombardier in the regional jet market. are eager to tap the runways. While the ARJ21-700 base- And not complacent with the success of line model will have a capacity of 78-90 the ERJs, it introduced the larger and regional market because seats, the ARJ21-900 stretched version roomier E-Jets in 2004. These too were that is where the next will take 98-105 passengers. Comac now highly successful, giving regional airlines aims to deliver the first ARJ21-700 in an option midway between small re- wave of growth is 2014 and claims to have secured 309 or-

P h o t graph : Bom bar d i e r gional jets and the narrow-bodies from expected ders till date, with 20 options.

18 ISSUE 6 • 2013 www.spsaviation.net Civil Regional Aviation

Second-gen E-Jet: The updated version of E--190 will have PW1900G engines

Then there is the keenly awaited Mitsubishi Regional Jet posed 100-seat MRJ100X, a variant in which European airlines (MRJ), designed by ’s Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation. have shown great interest. The MRJ too will have Pratt & Whitney’s fuel-efficient PW1217G India is the only BRICS country without indigenous passen- GTF engines. The MRJ90 (86 to 96 seats) is likely to complete its ger aircraft manufacturing capability. It has set up a National first flight during the fourth quarter of this year and enter ser- Civilian Aircraft Design Bureau which is working on the pre- vice by early 2016. Development of the MRJ70 (70 to 80 seats) liminary design of the project expected to be a 70 to 90-seat is expected to lag perhaps a year. Mitsubishi has 167 firm or- jet with a range of 2,500 km. Such a plane would have strong ders from customers convinced that the MRJ will live up to the regional utility within the country. Russia’s UAC, which manu- Japanese reputation for technological excellence. The company factures the SSJ100, has reportedly offered to set up joint de- claims that the MRJ90 will achieve 20 per cent better fuel burn velopment and manufacturing facilities in India for the purpose. than rival Embraer E-190. But it is still guarded about the pro- Turboprops Triumph For some years, regional jets threatened to completely margin- alise the slow and noisy turboprops. However, the inexorable A Variety of Regional Aircraft rise in fuel prices over the last ten years has helped fuel-effi- Type Manufacturer Entry Seating Max Cruise Engines cient turboprops stage a spectacular comeback. into Capacity Range Speed The Bombardier Q-Series turboprops were introduced in Service (nm) (knots) 1984. According to Bombardier, the 70 to 78-seat Q400 (EIS CRJ100 Bombardier 1992 50 2,003 437 2 x turbojet 2000) burns 30-40 per cent less fuel on routes where it has re- placed older regional jets. It is also quieter and more comfortable CRJ700 Bombardier 2001 66-78 2,003 447 2 x turbojet than older turboprops. As of March 31, 2013, Bombardier has CRJ1000 Bombardier 2010 86-104 1,535 447 2 x turbojet delivered 1104 Q-series aircraft and has an order backlog of 34. CS100 Bombardier 2014 108-125 2,950 447 2 x turbojet The French-Italian aircraft manufacturer, ATR, with head- quarters in Toulouse, France, builds the 42 to 50-seat ATR 42 CS300 Bombardier 2015 130-160 2,950 447 2 x turbojet and 68 to 74-seat ATR 72, both introduced in the 1980s. With E-145 Embraer 1996 50 2,000 470 2 x turbojet the series-600 programme, launched in 2007, ATR further strove E-175 Embraer 2004 78-88 2,102 481 2 x turbojet to improve the performance and efficiency of these aircraft with- E-195 Embraer 2005 106-122 2,201 481 2 x turbojet out making significant changes. The new aircraft look much the same externally but are very different inside. Their new engines SSJ100-95 UAC 2011 68-83 1,645 469 2 x turbojet provide five per cent additional power at take-off, improving ARJ21-700 Comac 2014 78-90 2,000 516 2 x turbojet performance from short runways and “hot and high” conditions. ARJ21-900 Comac 2015? 98-105 1,800 516 2 x turbojet The avionics suite has also been transformed. While the ATR 72 MRJ70 Mitsubishi 2017 70-80 820 447 2 x turbojet competes with the Bombardier Q400, any airline needing a new 50-seat turboprop can only buy the ATR 42. By December 31, MRJ90 Mitsubishi 2016 86-96 900 489 2 x turbojet 2012, ATR had delivered 1,033 aircraft (422 ATR 42 and 611 Q400 Bombardier 2000 70-78 1,361 360 2 x turboprop ATR 72) and its backlog stood at 221, the largest backlog for any ATR 42 ATR 1985 42-50 842 300 2 x turboprop regional aircraft of up to 90 seats. ATR 72 ATR 1989 68-74 715 276 2 x turboprop In about five years, the regional aircraft market is expected to see several OEMs jostling for space. Will turboprops eclipse jets? Source: Respective OEM’s website and Wikipedia. All figures are approximate. SP P h o t graph : E m bra e r The price of oil holds the key.

ISSUE 6 • 2013 19 Civil Helicopters

GROWING APPETITE The civil helicopter is increasingly finding its way into corporate aviation, tourism, medical evacuation, VIP travel, election campaigning, policing, aerial filming, advertising and photography, all of which are driving demand. Honeywell has forecast 4,900 to 5,600 aircraft deliveries by 2017.

By R. Chandrakanth

After a depressing 2012, the civil helicopter industry is top by Eurocopter’s Super Puma, has long been something of a looking up once again. Honeywell has forecast 4,900 to 5,600 hole in manufacturer product lines and that manufacturers are deliveries between now and 2017, and the demand is spread racing to fill the gap. across all continents. Helicopter manufacturers are coming up Besides offshore oil operator needs, other sectors are also with new designs which will factor in speed, range, passenger finding enormous benefits in employing helicopters and the comfort, safety and all-weather capability, driven by a growing original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are strategising ac- appetite from various verticals. The civil helicopter is increas- cordingly. The five global primes in the civil helicopter segment ingly finding its way into corporate aviation, tourism, medical are AgustaWestland, Bell Helicopter, Eurocopter; Russian He-

e stland gustaW evacuation, VIP travel, election campaigning, policing, aerial licopters and Sikorsky. In Tier-II (regional players with global filming, advertising and photography, all of which are driving aspirations) are the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), KAI demand. According to Richard Aboulafia, Vice President of Teal and Changhe Aircraft Industries. The local players and ultralight Group Corporation, the offshore oil operator is one of the key helicopter manufacturers are Denel, Robinson Helicopter Com- drivers of demand in the civil market. He analyses that it is the pany, Enstrom Helicopter Corporation, , IAR Brasov and upper midsize twin-segment which is the most promising part PZL Swidnik among others. of the civil helicopter market in terms of new product develop- The OEMs are eyeing a strategic mix of military and civil ment, new technology and growth potential. This zone, brack- helicopters globally. This is reflected in the statement of Viktor

r, A p t e r, Photogra p hs: Euroco eted at the bottom end by AgustaWestland’s AW139 and at the Egorov, Director, Market Analysis, Russian Helicopters, who re- A20 ISSUE 6 • 2013 www.spsaviation.net Civil Helicopters

in flight: (Opposite page) eurocopter EC175; AW169 AC3; (above) Bell 429 and cently stated that ‘‘the compa- a final assembly line for the new generation AW169 helicopter Sikorsky S92 ny is facing a great challenge will be established at its AgustaWestland Philadelphia facility in trying to increase its share in the US. The first Philadelphia built AW169 helicopter will be of the global market. We will inducted into final assembly in May 2014 and will be delivered have to increase the scope of to the first customer in early 2015. The new production line will our work in the following areas: increasing the competitiveness ramp up to produce around 20 aircraft per year by 2017. and quality of work with the customers and development of The new AW169 production line will be scalable to ac- new civil helicopters.” The share of Russian helicopters in the commodate production escalations based on market demand. civil segment, according to him, is nine per cent and it has set AgustaWestland’s facilities in Vergiate (Italy) and Yeovil (UK) its eyes on key markets, CIS region, India, Middle East, Africa will also play major roles in the manufacturing activities for the and Latin America. New helicopters and new markets are going AW169 programme. to be key for OEMs. More than 80 AW169 helicopters have now been ordered for a wide range of missions including corporate transport, air Eurocopter Leads the Market ambulance, law enforcement, utility and offshore transport. With In 2012, Eurocopter confirmed its position as the world’s No.1 all four prototypes already flying, the AW169 is on schedule to helicopter manufacturer with a turnover of 6.3 billion Euros achieve civil certification in 2014. (`4,540 crore), orders for 469 new helicopters and a 38 per A versatile, new generation twin-engine light intermediate cent market share in the civil and para-public sectors. The category helicopter, the 10,000 lbs (4.5-tonne) AW169 has been company’s civil helicopter range extends from the EC120 light designed in response to the growing market demand for an air- helicopter to the EC225 Super Puma. Eurocopter’s strong inter- craft that delivers high performance, meets all the latest safety national presence is ensured by its subsidiaries and participa- standards and has multi-role capabilities and state-of-the-art tion in 21 countries. Eurocopter’s civil range include EC120B, Super Puma (AS332 and EC225), EC175, Dauphin (AS365 and EC155), EC145, EC135 and Ecureuil (AS350; EC130 and AS355). At the recently concluded European Business Aviation Con- Market forecast vention and Exhibition (EBACE) at Geneva, Eurocopter set new standards in business and private aviation by unveiling the next-  4,900 to 5,600 new civilian helicopter deliveries expected in generation EC175 helicopter in its executive and VIP versions, the period 2013-17. which combine unparalleled elements of style and comfort with  the five-year share of demand from the US and Canada is 27 the largest cabin of any medium-sized twin-engine helicopter. per cent and combined the Western Hemisphere represents The EC175 Executive and VIP versions integrate a superior 47 per cent of total global demand. level of interior cabin creativity from Peder Eidsgaard of Pega-  sus Design whose worldwide reputation results from his work on Europe’s share of five-year demand closely matches that of business jets and super yachts. These aircraft will be Eurocopter’s North America with 28 per cent. top-of-the-range products in their segments.  demand in Asia/Oceania accounts for 19 per cent Africa/ Middle East share a little over six per cent. AgustaWestland’s New Generation Rotorcraft Source: Honeywell r, S ikorsky Photogra p hs: Be ll He lico t e r, AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, has announced that

ISSUE 6 • 2013 21 Civil Helicopters

technology. The large first deliveries of the spacious cabin can seat S-76D, the latest version up to ten passengers. of Sikorsky’s popular The AW169 is part of the 12-passenger helicop- AgustaWestland family ter. Though delayed by of new generation he- several years, Sikor- licopters that includes sky’s new S76D model the AW139 and AW189 looks set to continue the models, which possess S76 series’ strong posi- the same high perfor- tion in corporate and mance flight charac- other segments. teristics and safety fea- Sikorsky has long tures as well as share a held a strong position common cockpit layout, in two segments within design philosophy and the market with its S76 maintenance concept. and S92. Remarkably, for four years in the past de- Bell 429, New Model cade, Sikorsky succeeded From Bell Advanced project: in displacing Bell for the Bell’s civil helicopter Russian Helicopters’ number three civil mar- market share averaged Mi-171A2 ket position. around 30 per cent in The S-76D helicop- 1992-98, but this has fallen to an average of 16 per cent over the ter is truly the next step in helicopter technology, setting a past ten years. Teal Group forecasts the company’s civil market new standard of excellence that S-76 helicopter operators presence to an average of 13.6 per cent over the next decade. have come to expect. Power and performance are enhanced Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company, is pushing aggres- by all composite main rotor blades and optimised Pratt & sively its corporate configured Bell 429 which has a state-of- Whitney Canada PW210S engines with dual FADEC controls.­ the-art glass cockpit with the Bell Helicopter BasiX-Proâ In- It’s quiet allows for reduced external acoustic tegrated Avionics System. The 429 will continue to grow its ­signature and gain acceptance with the communities where presence in Europe across all segments. Bell’s first all-new it operates. civil model in decades, the 429, is challenging Eurocopter’s strong EC 135. Russian Helicopters Expanding Global Presence The Bell 429 is one of the most advanced light twin heli- Russian Helicopters is the sole Russian rotorcraft designer and copters ever developed. It delivers exceptional speed, range manufacturer and one of the few companies worldwide with and hover performance, and offers operators a state-of-the-art the capability to design, manufacture, service and test modern single and dual pilot IFR helicopter with top user-rated in-ser- civilian and military helicopters. Headquartered in Moscow, it vice support. A fully-integrated glass cockpit with two or three has design bureaus, helicopter assembly plants, components multi-function displays, dual digital autopilot and an integrated production, maintenance and repair enterprises and helicop- electronic data recorder, help increase situational awareness ter service company providing after-sales support in Russia and safety margins. Other safety features include a collective- and abroad. mounted throttle, damage-tolerant hub and rotor system, and The company’s advanced projects for the commercial mar- energy attenuating seats. ket include the new Ka-226T, Ansat, Mi-171A2, Ka-62 and Mi- The 429’s spacious cabin accommodates one pilot and 38. The light multi-purpose helicopter Ka-226T powered by seven passengers with a quick change interior that can be Arrius 2G2 engine by Turbomeca, may be operated in urban converted from passenger to cargo service. The powerful and conditions for high-rise construction works, patrolling as well as reliable Bell 429 serves the full spectrum of segments includ- for police operations. ing air medical, law enforcement, oil and gas, utility and corporate aviation. The HAL’s Global Aspirations Bell 429 has been pitched in all the four After decades of effort, India has pro- mission categories, corporate, helicopter duced the only new market entrant of emergency medical service (HEMS), oil The EC175 Executive and note in the world, the Dhruv advanced and gas, and para-public. light helicopter. The civilian variant of VIP versions integrate the Dhruv is used for transport, rescue, Sikorsky Ramping Up Production a superior level of policing, offshore operations and air- With Sikorsky setting up a separate civil ambulance role among others. India is helicopter unit, Sikorsky Global Helicop- interior cabin creativity seeking the Federal Aviation Adminis- ters, the company is ramping up pro- from Peder Eidsgaard tration (FAA) certification for the Dhruv duction to meet the growing demand of Pegasus Design whose helicopter. for commercial choppers. The division The helicopter industry is competi- revenues are likely to grow by 30 per worldwide reputation tive and healthy. The established OEMs cent, driven by demand for the 19-pas- results from his work are working on designs to remain ahead senger S-92 in the offshore oil and gas in the race. The new models, the AW169 as well as search-and-rescue (SAR) mar- on business jets and and 189, EC 175, S76D and Bell 429, are SP Photogra p h: russian He lico t e rs kets. Civil sales will also be boosted by super yachts expected to stimulate market demand.

22 ISSUE 6 • 2013 www.spsaviation.net Show Report EBACE 2013

Super Versatile Jet: Pilatus Aircraft unveiled jet-engined PC-24 at ebace

Industry Rallies Together The three-day event featured static display of 52 aircraft, education sessions as also maintenance and operations sessions. Though there were only 460 exhibitors as against last year’s 491, the enthusiasm of the industry never dampened.

By R. Chandrakanth

Notwithstanding the economic gloom in Europe, that business aviation remains essential in Europe.” Endorsing the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition the sentiment were several primes who brought to the show the (EBACE) 2013 held at Palexpo and Geneva International Airport latest of products and solutions, as Europe, after the US, is a from May 21 to 23, made an emphatic statement that business trendsetter of sorts in the business aviation industry. aviation would continue to remain at the core of the growth of Jointly hosted by EBAA and the National Business Avia- the aviation industry in the region. The CEO of European Busi- tion Association (NBAA) of the US, the three-day event featured ness Aviation Association (EBAA), Fabio Gamba reflected this static display of 52 aircraft, education sessions as also main- sentiment when he said “What I saw at EBACE 2013 was an tenance and operations sessions. European Business Aviation industry that is not only addressing the economic situation in Association reported an attendance of over 12,300 delegates, e m nt manag e show Photogra p h: Ebac Nthis region, but one that is taking the necessary steps to ensure a figure on par with those in recent years. Though there were ISSUE 6 • 2013 23 Show Report EBACE 2013

only 460 exhibitors as against last year’s 491, the enthusiasm of the industry never dampened. It is the third highest number of exhibitors in the event’s 13-year history. NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen agreed, stating, “Just like last year, EBACE has proven to be of great value to the business aviation com- munity. It has been a place where the industry has rallied together, made new announcements and set a positive tone, all of which has the business aviation community looking forward to the future.” EBAA President Brian Humphries said, “One thing remains clear: EBACE continues to be the single-most important European event on the industry’s calendar and the best opportu- nity for buyers and sellers to connect in Europe.”

Bombardier Launches Challenger 350 At a special event during EBACE, Bombardier Aerospace launched the Challenger 350 jet along with worldwide leader in private aviation NetJets. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2014. “The Challenger 350 jet will take our existing Chal- lenger family to new heights,” said Steve Ridolfi, President, Bombardier Business Aircraft. The Canadian aerospace major also showcased the first production Learjet 75 jet. The new jet features the pioneering Bombardier Vision Flight Deck with an interior influenced from its bigger stable-mate, the Learjet 85. Alongside the debutante were the three additional class-leading jets—Challenger 300, Challenger 605 and Global 6000. Actor and pilot John Travolta was the cynosure of all eyes at EBACE. Ambassador of Bombardier, Travolta, called the Chal- lenger “a really pilot-friendly airplane”, and added, “I want one.”

BBJ-3 Talks About Range Boeing put on the show for the first time the BBJ-3, an air- plane based on the 737-900 ER, and outfitted with its custom VIP interiors at Jet Aviation in Basel, Switzerland. The range of the BBJ-3 exceeds that of other business jets in its class. It can fly 4,900 nautical miles, over 1,500 nautical miles farther than its direct competitor. The BBJ-3 carries 38 passengers and eight crew. It has a large cargo area that holds 230 pieces of baggage.

Pilatus presents PC-24 ‘Super Versatile Jet’ Pilatus Aircraft Ltd unveiled the PC-24, the world’s first “Super Versatile Jet”. The entirely new PC-24 sees traditional Pilatus val- ues of versatility, efficiency and Swiss precision brought together in a business jet for the very first time. This innovative develop- ment by the Swiss aircraft manufacturer marks the creation of a new segment in the business aviation market. The PC-24 is the first business jet worldwide with the ability to use very short run- e m nt manag e show Ebac viation, ways, paved or unpaved, and a cargo door as standard. Oscar J. Schwenk, Chairman, Board of Directors at Pilatus, remembers: “Over ten years ago, we started asking our PC-12 assault A assault customers what they would like to see in the next Pilatus aircraft. The answers were always the same, further and faster whilst retaining the much appreciated strengths of the PC-12 such as short-field operations capability. It was a huge challenge for our development team! We are all the more proud to be able to unveil an aircraft with exactly those qualities today, the PC-24.” “Work on the prototype in Stans is in full swing. The roll- out is scheduled for the third quarter of 2014. The PC-24 will takeoff on its maiden flight end 2014. Certification by the Euro- market with the same credentials and qualities as our new jet. pean (EASA) and American (FAA) authorities is planned for The list price is approximately $8.9 million. First orders will be early 2017 and the first aircraft will be delivered immediately taken at EBACE 2014.” thereafter.” Schwenk has no doubt that the PC-24 will be just as successful as the PC-12, of which over 1,200 have been sold till Beechcraft Bounces Back date. “The PC-24 is a completely new development—not a ‘me Beechcraft Corporation made a strong presence at EBACE, thus

chcraft, D Bee chcraft, Photogra p hs clock wis e : B ombardi r, too product’. Specifically, there is no other business jet in the signalling that it had left its troubled financial past behind. At

24 ISSUE 6 • 2013 www.spsaviation.net Show Report EBACE 2013

Geneva, Beechcraft delivered a new Beechcraft Baron G58 twin- engine piston to SaxonAir of Norwich, . Beech- craft Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Shawn Vick said, “We are now a well-capitalised company with a definitive plan for all our platforms. We are confident that there will be new product announcements from 2014 until the end of the decade.” Beechcraft’s static display included the King Air 250, C90GTx, 350i, 350ER special mission demonstrator, currently on a global demonstration tour, the G58 and G36.

Embraer’s Legacy 500 Legacy 500 from Embraer Executive Jets made its debut here besides premiering a cinematic-style film starring the Legacy 500, illustrating how the company is bringing tomorrow’s air- craft to the market today. “Embraer Executive Jets has already created a lot of comments about the Legacy 500 and now people can take a look at this remarkable aircraft for themselves,” said Ernest Edwards, President, Embraer Executive Jets.

Impressive Falcon Dassault Falcon presented a full line-up of long-range large- cabin executive jets, including the recently certificated Fal- con 2000S, entry-level jet along with the Falcon 900LX long- range aircraft and the top-of-the-line Falcon 7X. Dassault also highlighted the EASy II advanced avionics suite, FalconCabin HD+ entertainment system and FalconBroadcast airborne health monitoring service, which in the first half of 2013 were expanded to all new Falcon models.

Gulfstream Remains Bullish Gulfstream President Larry Flynn was optimistic at EBACE that despite “headwinds” in the industry, the company remained bullish about market prospects. While stating that “uncertainty” in financial markets, political instability in the Middle East and elsewhere, and austerity programmes in Europe have all con- tributed to a more challenging market for some of Gulfstream’s products, he was pleased with the performance of the com- pany’s two newest products, the super-midsize G280 and the ultra-long-range G650.

Nextant Appoints Aviators in India Nextant Aerospace, maker of the Nextant 400XTi, the world’s only remanufactured business jet, announced the appointment of Aviators as the exclusive sales agent for India. The company will place an initial order for three 400XTi dedicated air ambu- lances valued at $15 million (`82.5 crore). Aviators has vast history and deep experience with the Indian business aviation market and will play a key role in defining Nextant’s sales, mar- keting and customer service strategy in the region. Established in 1994, Aviators markets and operates air- craft and helicopters in India. The company’s latest proposal is India’s first dedicated air ambulance service to facilitate quick assistance during emergency medical situations and for mis- sions of critical transport. The addition of the three Nextant 400XTi air ambulances will complement their fleet of helicopter air ambulances, planned to start operations next year. strong presence: (opposite page, top to bottom) Bombardier Launched Challenger 350 Jet on May 20, Honeywell Range of Solutions 2013; Boeing Showcased BBJ-3 for the First Time at EBACE; Beechcraft’s static display at ebace 2013; Honeywell highlighted its retrofit, modification and upgrade (top to bottom) Beechcraft delivered a new Beechcraft (RMU) solutions that offer cost-effective technologies that Baron G58 twin-engine piston to SaxonAir of Norwich bring improved efficiency, connectivity and safety to opera- of UK; dassault falcon presented 900lx long-range tors. Honeywell is currently fitting the system on TAG Aviation’s aircraft along with a full line-up of large cabin executive jets; Embraer showcased its wide range new Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft in partnership with Jet including the largest and the smallest at EBACE. ­Aviation St. Louis. EBACE participants got the opportunity to

ISSUE 6 • 2013 25 Show Report EBACE 2013

experience a fully functioning mock up of the FAA and EASA- certified Ovation Select system. In addition to the cabin retrofits and upgrades, Honeywell also showcased several avionics upgrades. The company intro- duced a new range of SMART upgrades with discount pricing for the Cessna Citation X to improve navigation, pilot situational awareness, connectivity and safety. It also announced EASA certification for flight management system (FMS) 6.1 on the Global Express to add WAAS LPV capability, as well as FAA and EASA certification of Honeywell’s Primus Epic-based EASy II flight deck for Dassault Falcon F2000 and F7X aircraft. Honeywell announced Eclipse as a satellite communications distributor in the EMEA region. Satcom Direct, provider of satel- lite voice, fax, data link and Internet communications solutions, signed an agreement with Honeywell to be a business aviation distribution partner for Inmarsat GX Aviation Ka-band services and will be a distributor of GX avionics equipment. Through this agreement, customers will be able to purchase GX Aviation services through Satcom Direct, and package it with existing services for a complete aircraft communications solution. Jetex and Honeywell signed a partnership agreement to boost their respective flight planning, aircraft data link, flight following and international trip support offerings to make it easier for business jet operators to plan and manage flights around the world.

Piper and its European Dealers Piper Aircraft Inc., its European dealers and sales agents dis- played a 2013 single-engine turboprop M-Class Meridian at the show. “This venue is truly Europe’s premier event focused on business aviation, and Piper’s M-Class aircraft offer European companies an alternative to higher cost twin-engine business aircraft,” said Piper Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Drew McEwen.

VIP and executive versions of EC175 Eurocopter set a new standard in business and private aviation by unveiling the next-generation EC175 helicopter in its Execu- tive and VIP versions, which combine unparalleled elements of style and comfort with the largest cabin of any medium-sized for its Piaggio P. 180 Avanti/II aircraft. In its ongoing quest twin-engine helicopter. The EC175 Executive and VIP versions, to make the already fuel-efficient aircraft even more cost- integrates a superior level of interior cabin creativity. These effective to operate, Piaggio Aero announced that it has now aircraft will be Eurocopter’s top-of-the-range products in their approved a revised maintenance programme with extended segments. The EC175 VIP is offered in three different styles, inspection intervals for its fuel-efficient twin turboprop. In all accommodating from six to eight passengers. The first style early 2013, the 10-year time between overhauls of the Piag- is “avant-garde,” inspired by modern sport cars; the second gio Aero P. 180 Avanti/II aircraft landing gear was extended brings the French flair—contemporary and highly sophisti- from 10 to 12 years. cated—inspired by modern penthouse interiors; while the third is more classical, inspired by the grand villas of Europe. RUAG & Dassault celebrated 25 years of success Year 2013 marks the 25th anniversary of the highly successful HondaJet achieving milestones partnership between Dassault Aviation and its authorised ser- Honda Aircraft Company highlighted the milestones achieved in vice centre, RUAG Aviation. In recognition of the long-standing the development of the HondaJet, the world’s most advanced light partnership between the two companies, a ceremony was held jet. “The HondaJet programme is steadily approaching the final at EBACE in which Dassault Aviation presented RUAG Aviation phase of flight testing and manufacturing has transitioned to pro- with an official token of appreciation. duction of customer aircraft,” said Michimasa Fujino, President and CEO of Honda Aircraft Company. “I’m committed to bringing CAE’s many announcements new value to aviation by introducing the HondaJet. At the same On the eve of EBACE 2013, CAE launched the CAE RealCase time, Honda Aircraft Company continues to build the infrastruc- Troubleshooting for maintenance training. The innovative ture and talent to design, manufacture and service this revolution- methodology is now available for the Dassault Falcon 7X, Fal- ary aircraft.” con 900EX EASy and Falcon 2000EX EASy models. CAE Real- Case Troubleshooting for maintenance training was developed Piaggio Aero’s maintenance plan for P. 180 Avanti/II using the same principles behind CAE RealCase for recurrent

e m nt manag e show Photogra p hs: e bac Piaggio Aero announced a reduced maintenance programme pilot training incorporating recent real life event scenarios

26 ISSUE 6 • 2013 www.spsaviation.net Show Report EBACE 2013

VistaJet’s historic deal VistaJet International and Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI) declared the enrolment of 50 Bombardier Global 5000 and Global 6000 aircraft onto JSSI’s Platinum Engine and APU hourly cost maintenance programmes. The long-term agree- ment is valued at over $205 million (`1,128 crore) based on JSSI 2013 list prices. The aircraft are part of VistaJet’s largest order in aviation history placed in November 2012.

Cessna confident on European economic upswing Speaking at the EBACE in Geneva, Switzerland, Kriya Shortt, Senior Vice President of Sales, said: “While the euro zone as a whole remains in recession, there are bright spots that give grounds for optimism. Many economists expect Germany, a major business aviation market, to benefit from rising exports and domestic consumption in coming months.” The company officials said that Cessna is well prepared for the future with a long line of new product developments all running as per sched- ule. The first production flight for the new Citation Sovereign took place in April this year. The company is also making prog- ress on two key line up additions for their family of Citation business jets. The Citation Latitude and Citation Longitude pro- grammes are both bringing new performance and innovation to two different categories of business aviation.

Cobham’s SwiftBroadband Communication Solution Cobham SATCOM announced on the second day of EBACE that its versatile SwiftBroadband communication solution, Aviator 300, has received a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for installation on Bombardier’s Challenger 300. The announce- ment followed a confirmation that the Aviator 300 has received a European Aviation Safety Agency STC for its use aboard the Cessna 550, 550 Bravo and S550.

AgustaWestland at EBACE AgustaWestland’s static display featured a GrandNew light twin helicopter in a special ‘James Bond 007’ style livery, a full global leaders: (opposite page, top to bottom) scale mock up of the dedicated VIP interior for the new genera- the ultra-long-range G650 from gulfstream has tion AW169 light-intermediate twin, 4.5-tonne class helicopter made a global presence; An interesting concept developed by MAG and a scaled model of the exclusive VIP inte- (fire brigade training aircraft) on display at Ebace; (top to bottom) ACJ 318 Airbus Tyrolean Jet Services rior for the best selling AW139 intermediate twin by the popu- cabin and honeywell’s EASy FlightDeck prototype lar and leading fashion design house Karl Lagerfeld. A sophisti- cated luxury interior developed through the collaboration with Karl Lagerfeld for the AW139 was also showcased, featuring a four-seat and two-cabinet configuration. Also, a MAG VIP cabin into training. CAE and Aviation Performance Solutions (APS) mock up designed for the all new AW169 was exhibited showing announced an extension of their partnership to provide upset some of the possible high quality solutions which can be offered prevention and recovery training (UPRT) for business aircraft by AgustaWestland through its large range of tailored solutions pilots in Europe. The programme uses proven e-Learning web- to satisfy any request on a customer demand basis. based academics, in-aircraft practical skill development and full flight simulator exercises and scenarios. Emphasis on Safety Emirates-CAE Flight Training (ECFT) and the Middle East The 2013 show kicked off with the opening session that fea- Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) announced a new tured top aviation authorities discussing the state of the indus- service package entitled MEBAA Total Training Service to be try in Europe. Siim Kallas, European Commissioner for Trans- offered exclusively to MEBAA members. port, reported on implementation of the Single European Sky, while Patrick Ky, Managing Director of the Joint Undertaking for Airbus ACJ 318 Cabin view the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) programme, Airbus showcased an ACJ 318 corporate jet, giving potential addressed the ongoing development of this next-generation customers the chance to see how much wider and taller its overhaul of European airspace operations. cabin is in comparison with other large business jets. The Air- On May 20, the one-day EBACE Safety Workshop provided bus ACJ 318 which was on display is operated by Tyrolean Jet critical safety information to operators, with a particular focus Services of Austria for a private customer, as well as on VVIP on human performance factors, while an EBACE Cabin Crew charters. The aircraft features lounge areas, a private room that Symposium addressed safety, security, service and training SP irbus, H on e yw ll Photogra p hs: A irbus, doubles as an office and a bedroom plus beautiful bathrooms. issues relevant to business aviation cabin crew operations.

ISSUE 6 • 2013 27 Military Fighters WHY MMRCA?

By Air Marshal (Retd) B.K. Pandey

By 2003, the IAF was to be supplied with the LCA Tejas, to replace the ageing fleet of MiG- 21 FL. As there was no certainty of the Tejas being available in the committed time frame, the gap needed to be bridged till the Tejas would be made available with FOC to retain the strength of the combat aircraft fleet and obviate erosion of operational capability.

The requirement of the Indian Air Force (IAF) in the early 1960s after the Sino-Indian conflict. In for a medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) fact, the first lot of the aircraft had participated in the as it is known today, was first mooted at the level of war with Pakistan in 1965. Directorate of Air Defence at Air Headquarters (Vayu As there was no certainty of the Tejas being available in Bhavan), New Delhi, in the year 1999. As per plans, the committed time frame, the IAF rightly began to explore by 2003, the IAF was to be supplied with the indige- options from sources abroad to find a replacement for the Type 77 fleet that was nearing the end of its total technical life and viation nous light weight air defence aircraft, the light combat would have to be soon retired from service. The gap needed aircraft (LCA) Tejas, designed, developed and built by to be bridged till the Tejas would be made available with full the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to replace operational clearance (FOC) to retain the strength of the combat the ageing fleet of MiG-21 FL, also known as Type 77. aircraft fleet at the authorised level of 39.5 squadrons and obvi- ate erosion of operational capability. The latter is essentially an aircraft designed for the air It took the IAF almost two years to finalise the proposal and

h: Dassault A Photogra p h: Dassault defence role and its induction into the IAF had begun the initial projection to the Ministry of Defence in the year 2001

T28 ISSUE 6 • 2013 www.spsaviation.net Military Fighters

Alouette helicopters continue in service today in the IAF. The French engine manufacturer Snecma has also been involved in waiting: rafale by dassault/ france the development of an engine for the ALH in partnership with has been selected as the HAL. With the Airbus and ATR family of airliners, the French final contender for india’s aerospace industry has a domineering presence in the Indian mmrca requirements civil aviation sector as well. The French are notably indepen- dent in the pursuit of their foreign policy and hence their deci- sions are expected to be immune to external pressures from within the EU or the USA. Defence sales by France are based purely on commercial considerations.

Defence Procurement Procedure The experience of the IAF with the Mirage 2000 fleet in the brief conflict with Pakistan in Kargil, had served to reinforce the belief that the Mirage 2000-5 would indeed be the right choice. How- ever, on account of the need to set up new production lines for the manufacture of the latest from their stables, the Dassault Rafale, and lack of orders of older platforms, the Mirage 2000 produc- tion lines were to be closed down. Dassault was prepared to keep production lines open for the Mirage 2000-5 Mk II, provided the IAF placed firm orders. But the government had other ideas as with the formulation of the newly conceived Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP), the Ministry of Defence was focused on the “open tender” system involving multiple vendors as against a single ven- dor system involving direct transaction with the OEM ostensibly to get the best value for money and to provide the IAF with a wider range of equipment to choose from.

The Tendering Process As a first step, in 2004, request for information (RFI) was issued to four vendors, namely Dassault Aviation (Mirage 2000-5 Mk II), Lockheed Martin (F16 C&D Block 52+ also referred to as the F 16IN), Saab (JAS 39 Gripen) and Mikoyan (MiG-29 OVT). All the four aircraft are under 20-tonne MTOW and other than the MiG-29, all three are single engine combat aircraft. But soon thereafter, based on re-evaluation of the changing strategic envi- ronment in the context of India emerging as a regional power and the expanded zone of economic and security interests, it was felt that the IAF ought to be equipped with a heavier aircraft, preferably with two engines, long-range capability and two-man was for 126 platforms, equivalent to six squadrons with an option crew. Besides, apart from the MiG-21, other fleets of strike air- for another 74. The specifications spelt out were for primarily an craft such as the Jaguar inducted in the late 1970s and the MiG- air defence aircraft with a 20-tonne maximum take-off weight 27, joining the IAF in the 1980s, were also nearing the end of limit (MTOW) with some ground attack capability. This case was their total technical life. The MiG-23 fleet was already in the pro- designated as the multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA) project. cess of being phased out. What was also of concern was that the At the point in time that the case for MRCA was initiated, in potential adversaries of India i.e. both China and Pakistan were the perception of the IAF, the gap in air defence capability owing embarked on an aggressive modernisation plan of their respec- to phasing out of the MiG-21 fleet, would be adequately met with tive air forces. In the evolving security scenario, the IAF badly the purchase of 126 Mirage 2000-5, an improved version of the needed to preserve its operational edge through the induction of Mirage 2000 from the French aerospace major Dassault Avia- a modern fourth-generation multi-role combat fleet with state-of- tion. The Mirage 2000 aircraft has been in service with the IAF the-art avionics and weapon systems. since the mid-1980s and the IAF has been quite happy with the The specifications for the MRCA were therefore reviewed and performance of the fleet as also with the efficient product sup- revised. The upper limit of weight which was pegged at 20 tonnes port provided by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). was removed and a request for proposal (RFP) was issued enabling heavier twin-engine aircraft such as the F/A 18IN Super Hornet The French Aerospace Industry from Boeing and from European Aeronautic, The association of the French aerospace industry with the IAF Defence and Space (EADS) to enter the race. Russia replaced the is around five decades old. During this period, the French aero- MiG-29 OVT by the MiG-35 which was yet under development. space industry has consolidated its position in India though the Dassault then opted to replace the offer of the Mirage 2000-5 Mk supply in the 1960s of the Ourgaon, renamed Toofani by the IAF, II by the twin engine Rafale. Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin offered and the Mystere. The Mirage 2000H fleet was inducted in the a customised version of the F16, the F16IN Super Viper which is mid-1980s. Apart from combat aircraft, French Alouette heli- regarded as equivalent to Block 60, to meet the requirements of copters were produced in India under licence by HAL in large numbers for the three services. The Mirage 2000H fleet and Continued on page 34

ISSUE 6 • 2013 29

1964 - 2014 50 Years Preview Paris Air Show

Curtain Raiser The 2013 Paris Air Show will once again act as a catalyst for international partnerships, serve as a networking platform for industry decision-makers and an ideal place to exhibit, sell and buy latest products and solutions

By Sucheta Das Mohapatra

Newer technological breakthroughs, raining or- aircraft was organised at the Grand-Palais by André Granet and ders, trade pacts and much more—the Le Bourget airport in north Robert Esnault-Pelterie in 1909. In 1924, the show for the first Paris witnessed major aircraft sales and showcases of innovative time had foreign exhibitors and since then was held every two prototypes during the International Paris Air Show 2011. While years except a break during World War II. Airbus made a record breaking $72.2 billion (about `4,00,000 crore) business with a total of 730 aircraft orders, including or- The 2011 Show ders from Indian low-cost airline IndiGo and the Malaysian low- The 49th Paris Air Show was inaugurated by the then French cost pioneer AirAsia. Visitors to the show had the delight to see President Nicolas Sarkozy and was attended by Prime Minister the solar power airplane ‘Solar Impulse’ throughout the week. François Fillon and eleven French Ministers and Secretaries of The world’s leading tourism destination and once famous as State. There were at least 290 official delegations from 82 coun- Nthe centre of education, La Ville-Lumière, the city of light, Paris, tries among which were 64 institutional delegations, 97 from has once again geared up to play host to several aviation profes- embassies and 64 from the DGAC (Civil Aviation General Direc- sionals, experts, technocrats, defence personnel, political lead- torate). Over 2,100 exhibiting companies and about 1,51,000 ers, and decision-makers from across the world for the 50th professional visitors from around the globe were involved. Paris Air Show 2013 to be held from June 17 to 23. While during the show in 2011, India was awaiting the se- Since its inception in 1908 as an aircraft exhibition held as lection of the lowest bidder in the medium multi-role combat part of the 2nd Paris Automobile Show, organised at the Grand- aircraft (MMRCA) tender, in 2013, the country is still waiting for Palais near the Champs-Élysées, the show has over the years the contract to be inked with Dassault Aviation. continued to grow as the world’s leading civil and military avia- tion event. With the US companies playing a low key this time, 2013 Logbook this year’s show does not appear to be as grand as the 2011 show More than 40 aircraft will be participating in the daily flying especially with regard to major announcements to be made. displays scheduled from 1230 to 1630 hours and which will be However, despite the economic slowdown, the show this time will projected onto giant screens. The Su-35 will be making its in- once again act as a catalyst for international partnerships, serve ternational debut during the show, along with Yak-130 trainer as a networking platform for industry decision-makers and an and Antonov AN-70 from the Ukraine. The military helicopters ideal place to exhibit, sell and buy latest products and solutions. likely to participate in the air show are the Eurocopter EC665 “With a full complement of exhibitors, the 50th Paris Air Tigre ALAT, NH Industries NH90, Bell 407GT, AgustaWestland Show promises to be a resounding success. This is a reflection AW149/159 models and the Russian KA-52 ‘Alligator’ gunship. of the booming aerospace industry and confirms our position Two Boeing 787 Dreamliners are also likely to be on flying display. as the world’s leading air show,” says Emeric d’Arcimoles, Com- After the French pavilion, which will occupy the largest space missaire Général of the International Paris Air Show. According at the show, will be the US pavilion spread over 4,100 square to the organisers, about €50 million have been invested in in- metres. But there are reports that Israeli companies are reduc- frastructure at the Le Bourget Exhibition Centre and €4 million ing the size of their delegations, sales representatives and execu- in renovating the 350 business chalets. The show will bring to- tives to the show. Northrop Grumman this year will once again gether 2,215 exhibitors, 3,51,000 trade and public visitors and be absent from the show. The much expected Lockheed Martin 290 international delegations. F-35 might also not be seen this year and so could Boeing’s F-15, F/A-18E/F and the C-17. On the other hand, there will be Looking Back newcomers like Lacroix­ Electronics which will be exhibiting for After the debut in 1908, the first exhibition devoted entirely to the first time its know-how as a provider of electronics manu-

32 ISSUE 6 • 2013 www.spsaviation.net Preview Paris Air Show

a bird’s-eye view of the display at the paris air show 2011

facturing services and its assets on the aerospace and defence all-new CS100 and CS300 commercial aircraft. On the sidelines market. A total of seven regional airliner manufacturers will be of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) annual gen- seen, including newcomers such as China’s Comac (with its de- eral assembly in Cape Town, South Africa, Bombardier’s Senior layed ARJ21 development), Russia’s Irkut (MS-21) and Mitsubi- Vice President Sales and Marketing Chet Fuller said, “Bombar- shi. Dassault, Gulfstream, Bombardier and Embraer will be the dier is guardedly optimistic. about being able to announce new stars of the business aviation­ sector at the show. sales for its CSeries narrow body family at the Paris Air Show.” Embraer Commercial Aviation will show the ERJ 135 region- MBDA’s air launched weapons will be the prominent feature al jet and the Embraer 190 jet from Kazakhstan flag carrier Air and many of the products on display will be of direct interest to Astana, and for the first time, Embraer Defense & Security will India and in particular to the Indian Air Force (IAF), especially showcase the Super Tucano from the Mauritanian Air Force. with the planned upgrades of the Mirage and Jaguar fleets and An A400M to be delivered to the French Air Force and an weapons for the MMRCA. The company’s stand will show the full A380 to be delivered to the British Airways will be seen both on complement of weapon systems capable of optimising the IAF’s static and flying displays. Various commercial aircraft from Air- operational capabilities across their multitude of missions. Both IR bus will be delivered to customers during the show, including and RF versions of the MICA ordered for the IAF’s Mirage upgrade Sharklet equipped A320s, an A330 and the 100th will be on the stand to highlight the advantages offered by this C295. An Airbus ACJ318 which has the widest and tallest cabin weapon. The weapon features two interoperable seekers which of any business jet will also be on static display. A full life-size will enable the IAF’s Mirages to cover the full air combat spectrum A350 XWB cockpit and cabin section can be walked through at from short range combat to beyond visual range intercept. the EADS pavilion. The latest developments in new energies can Also on display will be the Meteor, the visual range air-to- be viewed at the dedicated “Alternative Fuels” pavilion. Commer- air missile; Brimstone, long range cruise missile Storm Shadow/ cial announcements are also likely to be made during the week. SCALP and Taurus KEPD 350 etc. Displayed for the first time will Bombadier will showcase the Global 6000, Q400 NextGen be MBDA’s SPEAR missile. Also will be the latest version of Mi- turboprop and the CRJ1000 NextGen jet. Visitors will also be lan anti-armour weapon, MBDA’s PARS 3 LR weapon which was able to see the mock-up of the recently launched Challenger 350 shown at Aero India. Promoted in India for the Rudra (ALH Dhruv

P hotographs: E rnoult business jet and the CSeries pavilion, dedicated to Bombardier’s WSI), PARS 3 LR is already in service in Germany on its Tiger

ISSUE 6 • 2013 33 Preview Paris Air Show

­helicopters. In the ground and naval based air defence category will be the Maitri or a view of the static display during the 2011 edition SR-SAM which is being offered to the Indian of paris air show Army to meet its VSHORAD requirement.

Russian Delights Russian fighter jets will make a comeback at the Paris Air Show this year. Daily flight demonstrations of the Sukhoi Su-35 pre- sented by the United Aircraft Corporation and Irkut Corporation’s Yak-130 military training aircraft will be a delight for the visitors at the show. SuperJet Internation- al’s 100-seat commercial airliner, the Su- perJet 100 will also be on the static display.

Raining Jobs The Concorde Hall will feature a job and training area which will be a 3,000-sq- metre aircraft mock-up called the “Career Plane,” where those looking for a career change will be able to For Visitors’ Convenience interact with engineers, pilots and other aviation professionals. The show hours at the 50th Paris Air Show have been extended About 100 companies and 50 different aviation jobs will be rep- so that exhibitors can enter the Le Bourget site from 6:30 a.m. resented, thus helping the young seeking placement in aerospace. and trade visitors can enter from 8:30 a.m. which is an hour While Airbus will be showcasing its latest commercial and earlier than in the previous shows. The show is going green with military product range and there would be latest innovations the organisers adopting new ISO 20121 standard, requiring the from the EADS Group on display, EADS human resource ex- use of sustainable construction materials for exhibition stands. perts will hold a series of career workshops and events for stu- Finding your way out at this year’s show will be far easier dents and attendees. EADS and its four divisions—Airbus, As- as the organisers have introduced an application for iPhones trium, Cassidian and Eurocopter—would organise interactive and Android devices. The geo-location function will enable visi- workshops to discuss the latest innovations and to guide job tors to easily navigate the 70 hectares of the show, helping you seekers on the challenging career perspectives. Professionals, find your way to specific exhibits and show locations. And if you graduates and students will have the opportunity to meet EADS have time, do visit the Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace (Air & Space managers, engineers and HR representatives during the show. Museum) at the Le Bourget Airport to have a closer view of more In 2013, Airbus is recruiting 3,000 globally to add to the 10,000 than 400 aircraft, from the very first aeroplanes to the Breguet already hired since 2011. 19 “Point d’Interrogation”, the Spitfire and the Concorde. SP

Why MMRCA... Continued from page 29 the IAF. The project was recategorised from MRCA to medium began at Bengaluru in August 2009. The Rafale completed flight multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA). While the thrust of the evaluation by end September 2009. At the end of the flight evalu- RFP was towards a heavy twin-engine combat aircraft, for ation phase, only two of the six contenders remained in the race, some reason, not easy to fathom, the single engine light weight the Dassault Rafale and the Eurofighter Typhoon from EADS. category of aircraft were not automatically excluded. As a re- When the commercial bids were opened, the Rafale turned out to sult, there was a mix of light-weight single engine and heavy be the lowest bidder (L-1). Contract negotiations have been going two-seat combat aircraft amongst the six contenders now in on for over a year having taken longer than expected. However, the race. For the evaluators in the IAF, it was akin to comparing the process is believed to be in the final stages. apples with oranges. The RFP for 126 aircraft was finally issued on August 28, The IAF in Difficulty 2007, six years after the case was projected by the IAF. The first It is noteworthy that over a decade has gone by since the MRCA 18 aircraft equivalent to one squadron, would be procured from project was initiated but neither the Tejas nor its alternative is the OEM in a ‘flyaway’ condition and the remaining 108 would available with the IAF. The Tejas is yet to receive even the initial be manufactured in India with full transfer of technology (ToT). operational clearance (IOC) and the time frame for FOC cannot The value of the contract was initially estimated at $10.4 bil- be predicted with any degree of certainty. While the Minister of lion or `57,200 crore, at today’s exchange rate. The bidders were Defence A.K. Antony has directed the HAL to deliver the Tejas to permitted six months time from the release of the RFP to sub- the IAF by 2015, the IAF cannot afford to be complacent. mit their formal proposals and the cut off date was specified as The July issue of SP’s Aviation will deliberate on the devel- March 3, 2008. However, in response to request by some of the opments in the neighbourhood, the deteriorating security sce- bidders primarily on account of the complexity of the RFP, the nario in the region and the imperative need for the IAF to be deadline was extended to April 28, 2008. prepared to face the challenges in the future. SP After completion of technical evaluation by end May 2009, the Beginning with this issue, the case for MMRCA for the IAF will IAF carried out comprehensive technical evaluation of all the six be reviewed in detail in a five-part series. To be continued in contenders. This was followed by rigorous flight evaluation which the following issues.

34 ISSUE 6 • 2013 www.spsaviation.net hall of fame

Keeping a meticulous record progress, earning her private pilot’s ued flying well into her nineties. For of flying hours is second nature to certificate in June 1945 and a com- many years she was the oldest flight any pilot because these figures, tabu- mercial pilot’s licence in 1946. She instructor in the world. She finally lated according to the types of air- became a flight instructor in 1947. stopped flying in 2005 at the age of 96 craft flown, gives a fairly good idea It was the start of a lifetime voca- when her leg had to be amputated af- of the experience level and capability tion teaching others to fly, over 5,000 ter a car accident. of the pilot. Many private aviators fail student pilots in all. She was desig- Her students who held her in high to complete even a thousand hours nated examiner in 1952 by the Fed- esteem ranged from those flying for over a lifetime. Even pilots who regu- eral Aviation Administration (FAA) sheer fun to professional aspirants larly fly intercontinental airliners are reaching the pinnacle of her career who went on to captain large jetliners. happy if they can reach around 15,000 in 1979 when she was chosen Flight She taught them that concentration, or 20,000 hours. And then there was Instructor of the Year. Along the way study, effort and dedication are the at- Evelyn Bryan “Mama Bird” John- she also qualified to pilot seaplanes tributes of a good pilot. A US Senator son who totalled 57,635.4 flight who learned flying from her once hours, quite enough to see her commented, “She’s the sweetest, name listed in the Guinness Book kindest lady you would ever want Kof World Records as the woman to meet except when she’s doing with the highest flight time ever. a check ride. Then she’s a pure It amounts to an astounding six- devil.” He should know, because and-a-half years spent in the air, he failed on his first check ride. or over a tenth of her 60-year- On another occasion when she long flying career. In fact, there asked him to execute a stall and was just one man, Ed Long from recovery on a Beech Debonair, Alabama, USA, who accumulated he demurred, saying the plane more than her, about 64,000 wasn’t designed for stalling. She hours. But most of his flight time declared that if they didn’t do the was spent routinely surveying stalls, he couldn’t get his private power lines in a Piper Cub. By pilot’s licence. He raised no fur- contrast, almost all of Evelyn ther objection. Johnson’s hours were hands- Indeed, check rides were a on dual instructional flying and passion with Evelyn. In all, she “check rides”, the equivalent of gave over 9,000 check rides, a final flying exam. She prob- more than any other examiner. A ably trained more pilots and con- diligent examiner who took her ducted more flying tests than any job seriously, Evelyn was critical other instructor, male or female. Evelyn Bryan Johnson of some younger instructors say- Her nickname referred to her ing, “A lot of them are just doing caring nature and abiding inter- (1909-2012) it to build time.” She also felt that est in the students she trained. some of them did not teach their Evelyn was born in Corbin, Check rides were a passion for students basic map reading and Kentucky, USA, on November 4, her. In all, she gave over 9,000 radio navigation. Others were 1909. A few days after the Japa- reluctant to train their pupils on nese attack on Pearl Harbour check rides, more than any other stalling a plane and practising on December 7, 1941, her hus- examiner. Despite the colossal good rudder control. band joined the Army Air Corps, flying experience, she never Evelyn Bryan Johnson died leaving Evelyn in sole charge of wrecked an aircraft. She did on May 10, 2012, at the age of their laundry business. Search- 102. Despite the colossal flying ing for something to distract her- experience two engine failures, experience, she never wrecked an self from the tedium of almost fire in the air and other problems, aircraft. She did experience two 18 hours a day of laundry work, but handled every emergency engine failures, fire in the air and her eye happily fell on an ad for other problems, but handled ev- flight classes. The prospect held with great aplomb. ery emergency with great aplomb. instant appeal. Among numerous honours and Her first flight lesson was awards, she was inducted into the in October 1944 in a Piper J3 “Women in Aviation Pioneers Hall Cub. On November 8, 1944, she of Fame”, the Tennessee and Ken- completed the minimum eight hours and as instructor on helicopters. She tucky aviation halls of fame and others. required before qualifying to go solo. participated in several air races. For She was also awarded a bronze Carne- Then her instructor alighted from the 19 years she worked with flying just gie Medal for rescuing a helicopter pilot Cub, asking her to get airborne alone. about everything Cessna produced. after he crashed. SP Later she said she was glad nothing Many aviation pioneers began fly- untoward happened because she re- ing young and died early. In contrast, —Group Captain (Retd) ally didn’t know much about flying Evelyn set the tone for the more ma- Joseph Noronha, at the time. However, she made quick ture flyer. Beginning at 35, she contin- Goa

www.spsaviation.net ISSUE 6 • 2013 35 focus india / SP’S SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

First C-17 to arrive in India shortly They also revealed that a crucial second the indigenous LCA Tejas and MMRCA, test could take place by November this that’s expected to see a concluded year, if all goes well. The March 12 debut contract this calendar year. The type test was a partial disappointment since may mark five years, but it is also true the Nirbhay test was already delayed by that the platform has seen continuous at least two years. The Nirbhay will be upgrades and improvements in Indian tested till 2017, following which it will service, making it more of an Indian be inducted into the armed forces. An aircraft than Russian. air-launched and ship-launched version will also be developed and tested. IAF for new assault rifle The IAF is looking for a modern assault HAL and BrahMos to forge partnership rifle for its special units (Garud) that On June 17, the Hindon Air Force Sta- should be compact, foldable, easy to tion will receive its first Boeing Defense carry, handle, operate, simple to maintain C-17 Globemaster III heavy-lift transport and with high range. The requirement aircraft. The aircraft will be followed joins a raft of tenders already active for by two more by August at which time a other weapons including assault rifles for formal commissioning ceremony will be the Army, sniper rifles for special units held for the squadron. Hindon, notably, (including the MARCOS), 9mm small also houses the 77 Veiled Vipers squad- arms for the Army, etc. The Army is also ron that houses US-built Lockheed Mar- in the process of replacing the INSAS rifle tin C-130J Super Hercules tactical trans- in service. The Garud Commando Force ports. All 10 C-17s will be delivered to of the IAF currently operates with the the Indian Air Force (IAF) at Hindon by With synergies simply waiting to be INSAS and AK-47, and the new tender the end of 2014. The IAF will also take exploited between the two aerospace ma- appears to be a move towards replacing a call on a follow-on order of 10 more jors, and with the hypersonic BrahMos-2 those arms with new generation weapons aircraft by December this year. With speeding up on the drawing board, the in line with the other two special units of Boeing’s Long Beach C-17 facility wind- Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) the other two services. ing down production by next year, the and BrahMos have forged a partner- Indian Government will need to confirm ship for long-term support towards all IAF for shoulder-fired weapon simulator its final order quickly, or be satisfied variants of BrahMos programmes. Under with a fleet of 10 aircraft. An internal the new understanding, HAL will install assessment suggests that the IAF would and augment required facilities under the like to operate 20-25 C-17 aircraft. India technical support of the Defence Research and the US concluded a $4.1-billion deal and Development Organisation (DRDO) for 10 C-17s in June 2011. laboratory Research Centre Imarat (RCI) to meet the current and the future pro- Second Nirbhay missile test likely gramme expectations. The two sides also agreed to partner and enhance indige- nous content of the BrahMos programme.

MiG-21: 50-year journey The IAF is scouting for an indigenously developed and built shoulder-fired weap- on simulator for the in-service 9K38 IGLA for training purposes. The system needs to include a hardware/software system as well as the combat equipment simulator itself. The simulator is to be designed for (a) training of IGLA gunners Following the partial success of the Nirb- in combat operating skills and (b) prac- hay subsonic cruise missile on its March tice aimed at maintaining and improving 12 debut test, the development team has acquired skills. The IAF has stipulated managed to identify the glitch in the in- that the system should be capable of ertial navigation system (INS) that forced The venerable Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG- imitating the firing environment cover- them to push the kill button 17 minutes 21 continues to be the backbone of the ing the entire gamut of the IGLA’s launch into the flight, following a perfect launch IAF’s air defence force, since its arrival envelope till the target is destroyed. The sequence. Defence Minister A.K. Antony in 1963. Sprinkled across squadrons vendor will have to provide the source confirmed in the Parliament that the mostly in the West and South West, the code for all the software developed in problem had been identified and was in MiG-21 is expected to receive a two-year connection for this project. The IPR for the process of being fixed. DRDO sources extension that will see over 100 MiG-21 the developed software will rest jointly reveal that fixing the problem was a Bisons see service till 2017. This has with the vendor and the IAF. learning process, given that the Nirbhay been necessitated by steadily depleting is almost entirely Indian, with all major squadron numbers as well as delays in For complete versions log on to: www. systems and electronics fully indigenous. asset addition programmes, including spsaviation.net & www.spsmai.com

36 ISSUE 6 • 2013 www.spsaviation.net News Digest

MILITARY Command, in particular. He said various sensitive, strategic, industrial, aerospace ASIA PACIFIC and economic assets are coming up in the QuickRoundUp Southern Peninsula and the station will foundation stone of Indian National play a vital role in providing protection to Defence University laid those assets. The Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh laid the foundation stone for the Indian Impossible to set time frame for Airbus National Defence University (INDU) at Bi- MMRCA deal: Antony Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, nola, Gurgaon, on May 23. The event was Union Defence Minister A.K. Antony has placed an order for three A330-300s, growing its attended among others by the Governor has said that it was not possible to set a A330 Family fleet to a total of ten Airbus aircraft. The of Haryana, Defence Minister and other time frame for signing the much-await- aircraft will be operated on long haul routes and can luminaries including the three service ed deal for MMRCA with French com- comfortably seat about 300 passengers. chiefs. The proposed Indian National De- pany Dassault Aviation. The contract is fence University spread over 80 hectares still at the negotiation stage, a year-and- Airbus Military of land will be fully functional in 2018 a-half after the French firm emerged as The second production Airbus Military A400M has and will be set up as a fully autonomous the lowest bidder in the tender which successfully completed its first engine runs as it institution to be constituted under an was floated in August 2007. “Given the begins final preparation for its maiden flight later Act of Parliament. The President of India complexity of the proposal, no definite this month. The aircraft, known as MSN8, is now would act as the Visitor, the Defence Min- time frame can be fixed at this stage undergoing taxying trials. Airbus Military expects ister will be its Chancellor. (for signing the deal),” Antony said in a to complete four A400M aircraft in 2013 and will written reply in Parliament. deliver MSN8 to the French Air Force in the third IAF Station dedicated to the nation quarter of the year. Defence Minister A.K. Antony dedicated tender for 56 transport planes to the nation the new Air Force Station at The Indian Air Force has issued a global Alenia Aermacchi Thanjavur at a brief function held on May tender to purchase 56 tactical transport Alenia Aermacchi, in collaboration with BAE Systems 27. Speaking to reporters, Antony said aircraft and the likely companies in the and Cassidian, has delivered the first upgraded the operationalisation of the Air Force run are Alenia Aermacchi which is part Tornado electronic combat/reconnaissance (ECR) Station, Thanjavur would strengthen of aeronautics division of Finmeccanica, to the Italian Air Force. The Tornado ECR MLU is the the air defence capabilities of the Indian Ilyushin (Russia), Lockheed Martin (USA), upgrade of the ECR version and its main function is Air Force in general and the Southern Embraer (Brazil) and EADS CASA, which to localise and suppress hostile air defence radar emitter sources by anti-radar missiles. It features an integrated IN-GPS navigation system supported by a multi-mode receiver system for approaches and ILS blind landings. IAF inducts Pilatus PC-7 MkII he IAF’s premier Academy lo- Australia cated at Dundigal, Hyderabad, Minister for Defence Materiel Dr Mike Kelly has an- Ton May 31, witnessed the un- nounced that Australia’s Department of Defence has veiling of Pilatus PC-7 MkII, by the signed two multimillion-dollar contracts with L-3 Ocea- Minister of State for Defence Jitendra nia for the supply and support of satellite terminals to Singh. Three PC-7 MkII aircraft got the . airborne in a vic formation led by Group Captain R.S. Nandedkar to put Beechcraft up a brief display for the audience. Beechcraft Defense Company has announced that This marked the first formal flight it has signed a contract with the US Air Force for the of the basic trainer aircraft over the production of 35 T-6 training aircraft, with an option for skies at the Air Force Academy in Hy- two additional aircraft. The new contract is valued at derabad. This was followed by handing over of technical documents of the aircraft by $210 million and will comprise 33 T-6 aircraft for the Air Commodore Nagesh Kapoor, Chief Instructor (Flying) to Minister Singh. US Navy and two for the US Army with the final delivery The Minister said, “The induction of PC-7 MkII as basic trainer aircraft in IAF is a scheduled for February of 2015. very important landmark in our nation’s quest to modernise its armed forces. Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne said, “This event is a sig- nificant milestone in IAF’s transformation into a modern multi-spectrum strategic Bell Helicopter force. It is my responsibility to ensure that our pilots and technicians operate the best Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., has been awarded a cost- trainer in the world, the nation can afford. Pilatus will prove to be the ideal platform plus-fixed-fee, FMS contract with a maximum value of that will train the ab initio trainees about the nuances of basic flying and expose them $8,54,00,000 for engineering and technical support to modern avionics and navigation aids. This trainer will provide a solid foundation services in support of Iraq and Taiwan. and facilitate a seamless transition from ab initio stage through intermediate and advanced stages into full-fledged operational flying for all streams.” Boeing The PC-7 MkII aircraft would be used for basic training of all pilots of the IAF, Boeing and Turkish Airlines have finalised a firm in addition to the pilots of the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard. Also present on order for 40 737 MAX 8s, 10 737 MAX 9s and 20 the occasion were Ambassador of Switzerland Linus Van Castelmur and Air Officer Next-Generation 737-800 jets, valued at $6.9 billion Commanding-in-Chief, Training Command Air Marshal Rajinder Singh. at list prices. The order, originally announced as a commitment last month, also includes options for an

www.spsaviation.net ISSUE 6 • 2013 37 News Digest

is a part of Airbus (Europe). The value of separated from the carriage extraction the tender is about $2.2 billion. The RFP system. The prototype is a replica of QuickRoundUp stipulates that 16 aircraft will be import- the missile target, without propulsion, ed and the remaining 40 will be made in that is being used to test and validate India which may open the doors for the the air-launch equipment and carriage private sector, for which additional two extraction system in preparation for the months have been given to the OEM to tie maiden flight of the eMRBM missile tar- additional 25 737 MAX 8s and is the largest Boeing up with Indian industry. get planned for later this year. Lockheed order in Turkish Airlines’ history. Martin is developing the eMRBM target AMERICAS for the MDA for testing of the ballistic CAE missile defence system. Emirates and CAE inaugurated their ultra-modern Lockheed Martin & MDA test new air- pilot training facility at the world-class commercial launched missile target prototype CIVIL AVIATION park Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) which is the second Lockheed Martin and the US Missile training centre owned and operated by Emirates-CAE Defence Agency (MDA) have successfully ASIA-PACIFIC Flight Training. tested a prototype air-launched extended medium-range ballistic missile (eMRBM). IndiGo permitted to import 28 A320s EADS In the test, a full-scale prototype of the The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) The Chinese carrier, Air China and its subsidiary eMRBM target was released from the has given permission to IndiGo to import Shenzhen Airlines said in a regulatory filing with the cargo bay of a US Air Force C-17 aircraft 28 A320 aircraft in 2013 and 2014. The Hong Kong Stock Exchange that they have agreed to at 25,000 feet. The system’s parachutes additional aircraft will enable IndiGo to purchase 100 Airbus 320-series aircraft from Paris- deployed, and the prototype successfully take its low fare and hassle-free service based Airbus for $8.85 billion.

Embraer appointments SkyWest Inc. has announced that it has entered into an agreement with Embraer for the purchase of 100 new E175 dual-class regional jet aircraft. Ministry of Defence Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Senior IAS officer Radha Krishna Support for CS and Thierry Tosi has EUROCOPTER Mathur has been appointed Defence been appointed Vice President and Eurocopter’s EC135 will perform medical airlift duties Secretary to succeed Shashikant Shar- General Manager, Service Solutions throughout with a fleet of 17 helicopters to be ma who has taken over as Comptroller business unit in I&SS. flown by the Turkish Aeronautical Association’s THK and Auditor General (CAG) of India. Gökçen Aviation commercial arm, marking the latest major contract win for the twin-engine rotorcraft in the Lockheed Martin international emergency medical services marketplace. DRDO Lockheed Martin has appointed Dr Avinash Chander has been ap- Gordon Johndroe as Vice President Eurofighter pointed as the new Scientific Advi- of Media Relations and International Following Eurofighter’s promise to assemble 53 sor to Defence Minister, Secretary Communications. Eurofighters in South Korea if the aircraft is selected Department of Defence Research and as Korea’s next-generation fighter, global aerospace Development and Director General of EADS company EADS said that it will “invest $2 billion in the Defence Research and Develop- Sébastien Remy has been appointed its technology in the KF-X to help Korea to become a ment Organisation (DRDO). Head of Innovation Works. He will lead fighter jet producer”. the Group’s network of research centres. Piper Indian MoD Piper Aircraft Inc. has appointed gen- Airbus Defence Minister A.K. Antony expressed optimism that eral aviation industry veteran, Drew Christopher “Kit” Johnson has joined the country’s indigenously developed fighter aircraft, McEwen, as Vice President of Sales Airbus Americas as its new Customs LCA Tejas, will get final operational clearance of the and Marketing. Manager for the company’s A320 Fam- IAF by the end of next year. Speaking at the annual ily assembly line in Mobile, Alabama. awards functions of DRDO on May 29, he said, all stakeholders including the DRDO, IAF and HAL must Beechcraft put their energy together in a focused manner to Beechcraft Corporation has appointed DRS achieve this objective. Kingsley Okoli as Regional Sales DRS Technologies has appointed Director for Beechcraft products in Steven J. Cortese as Executive Vice L-3 Communications Sub-Saharan Africa. President of Washington Operations. L-3 Communications has announced that it has been awarded a $38.5 million contract from Australia Rockwell Collins IATA to supply 51 Hawkeye III Lite 1.2-metre very small Rockwell Collins has announced The International Air Transport As- aperture terminals as well as training and long-term several leadership changes within sociation (IATA) has announced that sustainment services which is one of a number of Commercial Systems (CS) and Inter- Richard H. Anderson, CEO of Delta coordinated projects that will enable the Australian national & Service Solutions (I&SS). Air Lines, is now the Chairman of the Defence Force to deploy an integrated wideband Scott Gunnufson has been appointed IATA Board of Governors. Satcom capability.

38 ISSUE 6 • 2013 www.spsaviation.net News Digest

on the T-50, a supersonic advanced Show Calendar trainer in order to replace the military’s obsolete fighters like the F-5E/Fs and QuickRoundUp 12 June A-37s. The FA-50 combat aircraft is able Rotary Operations to carry up to 4.5 tonnes of weapons in- Conference cluding the basic weapons like air-to-air/ London Heliport, UK air-to-surface missiles and machine guns www.miuevents.com/roc13 as well as precision-guidance bombers Lockheed Martin such as joint direct attack munitions Lockheed Martin’s joint air-to-surface stand-off missile 13 June and multi-purpose precision-guidance (extended range) has successfully completed the US MIDDLE EAST CORPORATE cluster bomb units. Air Force initial operational test and evaluation flight AVIATION SUMMIT testing, scoring 20 successes in 21 flights, a success Sofitel Dubai Jumeirah Beach, AMERICAS rate of 95 per cent. Dubai, UAE www.aeropodium.com/cp/mecas.html Rolls-Royce wins order from CIT Northrop Grumman Rolls-Royce has won an order from the Northrop Grumman has been awarded a maximum 17-23 June US leasing company CIT Aerospace for ceiling $55,56,00,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite- Paris Air Show Trent XWB engines to power ten Airbus quantity contract for Global Hawk modernisation. Work Le Bourget Airport, Paris, France A350 XWB aircraft and Trent 700 en- will be completed by May 14, 2015. www.paris-air-show.com gines to power 13 aircraft. The Trent XWB engines will power ten Rolls-Royce 11 July CIT A350 aircraft that were announced in Rolls-Royce has won an order from the US leasing Business Aviation Regional January 2013 which were in addition to company CIT Aerospace for Trent XWB engines to power Forums five A350 XWB aircraft already on order. ten XWB aircraft and Trent 700 engines to TAC Air, Centennial Airport, Denver, The Trent XWB, specifically designed power 13 Airbus A330 aircraft. CO, USA for the Airbus A350, is the fastest selling www.nbaa.org/events/forums/20130711 Trent engine ever, with more than 1,200 Saab already sold. The Trent 700 is the only Saab has verified a number of key capabilities of its 29-31 July engine specifically designed for the Air- Skeldar V-200 vertical lift UAS through flight campaigns Military Helicopter Brazil bus A330 and more than 1,400 Trent 700 at different sites in the US and Sweden, demonstrating São Paulo, Brazil engines are either in service or on order. the system’s performance for both land- and sea-based www.militaryhelicopterbrazil.com operations. A number of successful customer demon- SPACE stration flights have also been conducted. 13-15 August Integrated Air and Missile ASIA-PACIFIC Selex ES Defence, Brazil Selex ES has completed deliveries of the Praetorian Carlton Hotel Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil ISRO Navigation Centre inaugurated electronic warfare self-protection system for Tranche www.airmissiledefencebrazil.com The ISRO Navigation Centre (INC), 2 Eurofighter Typhoons. All 236 Tranche 2 Typhoons established at the Indian Deep Space operated by the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain will Network (IDSN) complex at Byalalu, be equipped with electronic support measures, near Bengaluru, was inaugurated on electronic countermeasures and missile approach to more customers and enable stronger May 28, 2013, by V. Narayanasamy, warning elements. connectivity within India and abroad. Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Personnel, Public Sikorsky INDUSTRY Grievances and Pensions. INC is an im- Sikorsky has been awarded a $13,58,22,257 modifica- portant element of the Indian Regional tion to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price FMS ASIA PACIFIC Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), an contract for the procurement of Navy MH-60R green independent navigation satellite system aircraft in support of Denmark. The cumulative total KAI contract for mass being developed by India. face value of this contract is $4,95,53,10,889. producing FA-50 Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) AMERICAS Sukhoi has announced that the company has The first aircraft of the batch of Su-34 production concluded the contract for mass produc- Boeing selected to build ViaSat-2 frontline bombers to be delivered in 2013 to the ing the FA-50, amounting to approxi- Boeing has a new satellite customer Russian Air Force under the State Defense Order for mately 1.1 trillion won (about $1 billion) under a contract to design and deliver the year was delivered by the Sukhoi Company. Several with the Defense Acquisition Program one Boeing 702HP high-power space- more Su-34 bombers will be delivered to the Russian Administration. In accordance with the craft to ViaSat Inc. in 2016. The satellite, Air Force shortly. contract, subsequent to the first mass ViaSat-2, will provide high-speed satellite production contract which was signed broadband services to subscribers of the United Aircraft on 2011, KAI plans to deploy the aircraft ViaSat Exede Internet service, as well as Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) has said that (first production portion) beginning in address its growing mobile broadband the Russian Defense Ministry has signed a contract August and seek its entire force integra- businesses. The companies will also with the Beriev Aircraft Company for the purchase of tion by 2016. The FA-50 is a light com- cooperatively offer the system to other six Beriev Be-200 amphibious planes worth 8.4 billion bat aircraft which was developed based satellite providers. • rubles ($268 million).

www.spsaviation.net ISSUE 6 • 2013 39 Last word Engaging Private Players

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has issued a tender worth private sector is to mitigate the crippling dependency on HAL. over `12,000 crore to replace the ageing fleet of 56 HS-748 Avro The Indian aerospace major is already burdened with projects aircraft in service with the Indian Air Force (IAF). The tender related to a variety of platforms that are in different stages of has been issued to eight foreign vendors including some of the design, development and production such as the Su-30MKI, the global aerospace majors such as Lockheed Martin, Saab, Roso- advanced jet trainer (AJT) Hawk, light combat aircraft (LCA) boronexport, Airbus Military, Alenia and Embraer. The selected Tejas, intermediate jet trainer (IJT), basic trainer HTT 40, foreign vendor will provide 16 aircraft in a fly-away condition advanced light helicopter (ALH) Dhruv, its weaponised version and assemble 40 in collaboration with a private company in Rudra, LCA, LUH, fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) and India. Indian companies such as Tatas, Mahindra Defence Sys- multi-role transport aircraft. HAL is clearly overloaded with tems, Reliance Industries and Larsen & Toubro are expected to programmes some of which have been suffering cost and time partner with the foreign vendor for the programme. overruns apart from quality issues. It may not, therefore, be The fleet of Avro twin-turboprop transport aircraft was pro- appropriate to assign it another project especially when alter- cured from the UK for the IAF in the 1960s and was also built natives are available. under licence by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for As per the tender, the foreign vendors participating will the IAF and the then domestic carrier . Although have to respond with their “techno-commercial proposals” not originally designed as a military transport aircraft, the IAF within five months. Criteria for the selection of an Indian adapted the platform for transportation as well as aerial deliv- partner by the foreign vendor winning the contract has been ery of cargo and personnel through modification of side doors. spelt out in the request for proposal (RFP). Of the total of 56 The aircraft was also used extensively for VIP travel. aircraft required, the first 16 would be procured off-the-shelf. The Avro fleet that has rendered yeomen service in the Of the remaining 40 to be produced in India at the facilities cre- IAF for over five decades has been overtaken by obsolescence ated by the Indian partner, the indigenous content of the first and ought to have been replaced at least a decade ago. But the 16 aircraft will be 30 per cent, increasing to 60 per cent in the delay in its replacement is understandable as the IAF has been remaining 24 planes. somewhat preoccupied with other priorities such as revamping But the project may have imponderables to contend with. its strategic and tactical airlift capability as also its capability Creation of an aircraft assembling facility is a complex affair and for Special Operations. The IAF has also expended consider- requires colossal investments. For such a venture to be viable as able energy trying to induct a business model, there must combat aircraft and light util- be an assured market for ity helicopters, both badly around 200 platforms at the needed by the service. Unfor- avro - potential very least. A demand for just tunately, efforts in this regard opportunity 40 aircraft is much too small are yet to fructify. to generate any level of inspi- Normally, HAL would be ration in the private sector. assigned the task to produce Private entrepreneurs aim for aircraft required by the IAF. low investment, quick returns However, in this case, Air and sustained demand. Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne, Besides, despite the indigeni- Chief of the Air Staff, has sation mantra the MoD has been of the firm view that the been chanting for some time project be given to the Indian now, the systemic reforms to aerospace industry in the pri- facilitate entry of the private vate sector. He rightly believes sector into defence produc- that it is about time that tion continue to remain a dis- efforts are made to provide tant dream. the private sector the oppor- Unless these issues are tunity to enter defence pro- addressed quickly and effec- duction in collaboration with If most of the global aerospace majors are in tively by the government, it foreign partners to enable it private hands, why is it not so in India? But may be difficult for a foreign to grow and compete with the vendor to find a willing part- public sector. If most of the despite the indigenisation mantra the MoD has ner in the private sector in global aerospace majors are been chanting for some time now, the systemic India to take on the project in private hands, why is it not reforms to facilitate entry of the private sector for the replacement of the so in India? Avro fleet. SP The other reason why into defence production continue to remain a —By Air Marshal (Retd)

P hotograph: Sp guide pubn s the IAF is in favour of the distant dream. B.K. Pandey

40 ISSUE 6 • 2013 www.spsaviation.net

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