Jet test flight: ‘9W’ call sign back in air

Over three years after ceasing operations, Jet Airways, now under new ownership, conducted a test flight to and from the Hyderabad airport on its 29th anniversary on Thursday — a vital step towards obtaining its air operator certificate (AOC). The test flight was conducted with a Boeing 737 aircraft bearing the registration code VT-SXE. In a series of tweets, CEO Sanjiv Kapoor wrote, “Our baby’s come home! #9W101 @jetairways… Our CFO Vipula and I celebrating the return of the @jetairways call-sign and aircraft to the skies today, a re-birth on Jet’s birthday.” Jet Airways is currently in the process of relaunching operations under new promoters, the Jalan-kalrock Consortium. After the test flight, an airline has to conduct proving flights, after which the aviation regulator will grant it an AOC.