25 Years Back

IAF Renews Quest For Jet Trainers

It is learnt from authoritative sources in New Delhi that the Indian Air Force’s senior air staff have once again urged the Centre for an early approval of their long pending demand for an Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT). The IAF’s anxiety was made known to Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda during a highlevel briefing in July 1996. The proposal to acquire AJTs has been awaiting acceptance and implementation since 1984 with the successive governments in power vacillating on the issue despite continuous warnings by the Air Force about the serious problems in training fighter pilots sans a lead-in fighter trainer.

OK On Tata-SIA Airline Imminent?

Civil aviation sources have indicated that there is a thaw in the government’s policy and the present Civil Aviation Minister, Mr CM Ibrahim, is inclined to favourably review the proposal to establish Tata-Singapore Airlines (TSA). Already subjected to a long deferment, the proposal is likely to be cleared by October 1996. The proposal is to set up a viable airline company with 60 per cent Indian and 40 per cent foreign participation in the equity “as per the prescribed norms”. This development is in consonance with the reported Civil Aviation Ministry proposal to formulate a new policy on civil aviation “which may result in the review of the earlier policy”.

Defence allocation in budget 1996-97

The marginal hike in defence allocation has surprised the Indian defence establishment which was hoping for a significant increase in its outlays. The hope for a major defence hike in defence expenditure was raised as the Defence Minister had been speaking of getting more resource for acquisition of weapon systems and equipment, which has not taken place during the last five years.

Defence Outlay ‘Peanuts’ – BJP

According to reports, the United Front government’s refusal to hike the allocation for defence has evoked strong criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party while leaving the defence and security analysts concerned. While the independent analysts appeared perplexed over what they describe as the failure of the Deve Gowda government to break from the by-now familiar pattern of neglect of the defence sector despite a rapidly deteriorating security atmosphere, the BJP has described the defence outlay as ‘peanuts’.

New Civil Aviation Policy on Anvil

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has expressed its intention to decide the future of foreign airlines operating on domestic routes and overhaul the local aviation industry. Civil aviation and tourism minister CM Ibrahim wants to give a verdict soon on the previous administration’s liberalisation policies in the aviation sector. Mr Ibrahim has stated that the government would try to inject new life into state run Air India and Indian Airlines and turn them into profit-making carriers.

Indian Airlines to Train Chinese Pilots

According to IA sources at Hyderabad, the Central Training Establishment (CTE) of Indian Airlines plans to train pilots from China’s regional airlines on its modern flight simulators at Hyderabad. Pilots from Singapore, Oman, Vietnam and Sri Lanka are already being trained at this Hyderabadbased establishment. At present, CTE has four simulators for the Airbus A300 the Boeing 737 and the Airbus A320 and has a plan to install another simulator for the Boeing 737-300, 400 and 500 series.

Acquisition of MCLR Aircraft

If Air India has to expand its market position and profitability in the face of growing competition, it must acquire medium-capacity long-range aircraft without delay. According to Adam Brown, Vice President of Airbus Industrie, Air India ought to opt for direct non-stop flights between New Delhi and Los Angeles as well as Mumbai and Los Angeles, to be able to increase its international market share and operating margins. Airbus Industrie of India President Kiran Rao has hopes that the French aviation major’s fierce competition with Boeing for making sales to Air India would not come in the way of introducing direct regular flights between India and the USA.

Pawan Hans Helicopters for Customs

Pawan Hans Helicopters Ltd has inducted two new helicopters dedicated to the Department of Revenue for anti-smuggling surveillance operations. The two Bell 206L4 helicopters, acquired at a cost of Rs 9.5 crore are fitted with requisite equipment such as infra-red cameras, video recorders, powerful search lights and loud-speakers. The induction for the helicopters is the result of proposal floated three years ago. Mr MR Shivaraman, former Secretary, Department of Revenue, who received the aircraft at Bombay was of the view that the helicopters will greatly empower the customs earlier dependent upon sea vessels to tackle smuggling activities in the coastal region.

Controversy Over Pak Mirage 2000s

Pakistan’s President Farooq Leghari may ask for a review of the intentions of the government to purchase 32 Mirage 2000- 5 fighter aircraft at a cost of $ 4 billion. However, a review, which is strongly backed by the Army, is also being strongly resisted by several key players in the government, including members of the Prime Minister’s office, the Defence Secretary and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. A decision on this controversial issue, which continues to divide the military and the political establishment will have to await the next meeting of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet next month.