Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

[saip]

It is Al Hind Air. Is this Arab owned? It is based in Kerala.

[rajkumar]

It is Al Hind Air. Is this Arab owned? It is based in Kerala.

Al Hind Air
Al Hind Air is an initiative of the Kerala-based Al Hind Group. The group is going to start the airline as a regional commuter airline.

According to the company’s website, the airline will start its operations later this year. The company aims to have ATR 72-600 aircraft models, with a focus on providing hassle-free and smooth domestic air travel to passengers.

The company promises that it will maintain the benchmarks of the aviation sector and will soon establish itself as a trusted name.

Al Hind is based in Cochin and is collaborating with Kochi International Airport Limited. As per the website, the airline has secured a no-objection certificate and is working with regulatory authorities to obtain an Air Operator Certificate (AOC).

https://www.google.com/amp/s/news24onli ... 694546/amp

[tandav]

When is official AI 171 / Boeing 787 Crash investigation report likely to be released?

[Tanaji]

So on the Indigo affair:

IndiGo was asked to reply by 1800 hours - they didn’t and claimed that DGCA rules give them a period of 15 days for RCA, so that’s when they will file the response.

Meanwhile MoCA has cut IndiGo routes by 10%. No sign of fines so far.

So affair IndiGo has quietly died down. There are no reports of any penalties applied to IndiGo except for some loss of slots. The CEO is still around and they have the rollback of rules they wanted. A net win for them.

Seriously disappointed with no action taken

[rajkumar]

New Plane in Russia with HAL Logo

SJ100 with HAL Logo

[Sachin]

It is Al Hind Air. Is this Arab owned? It is based in Kerala.

Hope this is not Takkiyuddin Wahid (East West Airlines) v2.0. East West Airlines was supposed to be fully funded using black money with active connections with the then Mumbai underworld. This craze for the "Al-" tag for an Indian domestic airline does not seem to do any good.

[S_Madhukar]

Could have just called Hindustan Air etc… Al Hind air hostesses will be all hijabans and halaal food only served ? Namaz before takeoff and landing ? Beef on menu ? Indirect flights to Porkistan? All possible for pissfools

[Dilbu]

Al Hind group is a well established tours and travel operator in Kerala and has a few decades of experience. May be they are trying to retain the same name but if they are business savvy they will realise that it might be better to shed the Al tag.

[saip]

I bought an Air India economy one way ticket to HYD for about $500. The business class was listed at 5500 and first class at 9500. But just now I got an email for upgrade = 1900 for Business and 2000 for first (very reasonable). If I were the passenger I would have taken it. So, I guess that is how you game the system and save lots of money.

[Vayutuvan]

How is it "gaming the system"? That phrase is usually used in a negative sense.

[SRajesh]

there seems to be mulitple Civilian aircraft tie ups
1. First new of HAL and Russian SJ-100 regional Jet
2. Adani Embrear Regional jet with upto 140 seats
3. Rumoured TATA Airbus deal
Any other tie ups in line
Do we have the need and the capacity to absorb all these??
Yes there is going to be an exponential growth in air travel in India but do we need so many of them??

[Rakesh]

^^^

https://x.com/prasannavishy/status/2009 ... 97915?s=20 ---> Adani Group ties up with Embraer to set up India’s first final assembly line (FAL) for commercial fixed-wing aircraft, targeting the underserved 70–146 seat regional jet segment. With Airbus & Boeing single-aisle slots sold out till the mid-2030s, the Centre is now mulling incentives for airlines to order from the India-based Embraer line, using demand to anchor a domestic ecosystem. A commercial aircraft FAL is a good leap because it moves India from buyer to builder, anchors an aerospace ecosystem, and plugs into a global aircraft shortage.

[Rakesh]

India Set To Enter Global Aircraft Manufacturing Club As Adani–Embraer Plan Regional Jet Production: Report
https://swarajyamag.com/business/india- ... ion-report
08 Jan 2026

[ritesh]

there seems to be mulitple Civilian aircraft tie ups
1. First new of HAL and Russian SJ-100 regional Jet
2. Adani Embrear Regional jet with upto 140 seats
3. Rumoured TATA Airbus deal
Any other tie ups in line
Do we have the need and the capacity to absorb all these??
Yes there is going to be an exponential growth in air travel in India but do we need so many of them??

We also need to concentrate on 20-50 seater turboprops for cost effective 300-500 km distance air travel. This would be a good alternative to laying down HSR network in tier 3 and 4 towns.

[Tanaji]

Finally some real action taken against IndiGo

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indigo- ... r-10771158

22 crore fine and 50 crore bank guarantee.

Let’s hope the ministry does not back down or SC strikes it down on some technicality or concern for IndiGo

[Mukhi]

I bought an Air India economy one way ticket to HYD for about $500. The business class was listed at 5500 and first class at 9500. But just now I got an email for upgrade = 1900 for Business and 2000 for first (very reasonable). If I were the passenger I would have taken it. So, I guess that is how you game the system and save lots of money.

Only catch is, you dont get the Maharaja points for upgrade. BUT, 9 out of 10 times, upgrade option is much cheaper.

[saip]

Yea, that is not the only down side. If you buy an economy ticket there is no guarantee you will get the offer to upgrade and if you try on line to upgrade it is way more expensive.

[Rakesh]

VIDEO: https://x.com/AjayshreeSamby3/status/20 ... 61502?s=20 ---> United Aircraft Corporation signed a preliminary agreement with Flamingo Aerospace for the supply of six Il-114-300 turboprop aircraft as part of the first stage. As, part of the agreement, UAC will provide Flamingo Aerospace with a roadmap for developing aviation competencies. This will allow it to gradually expand its aircraft assembly, modification, maintenance, and repair capabilities, as well as infrastructure development.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/DefenceDecode/status/2016 ... 19660?s=20 ---> UAC Russia and HAL have signed a JV agreement for SJ-100 production in India. HAL will support certification, manufacture, and sales, while UAC will assist in production setup, facility upgrades, and technical support.

[Rakesh]

Embraer and Adani Defence & Aerospace announce strategic partnership to establish regional transport aircraft ecosystem in India
https://www.embraer.com/media-center/en ... m-in-India
27 Jan 2026

[ritesh]

VIDEO: https://x.com/AjayshreeSamby3/status/20 ... 61502?s=20 ---> United Aircraft Corporation signed a preliminary agreement with Flamingo Aerospace for the supply of six Il-114-300 turboprop aircraft as part of the first stage. As, part of the agreement, UAC will provide Flamingo Aerospace with a roadmap for developing aviation competencies. This will allow it to gradually expand its aircraft assembly, modification, maintenance, and repair capabilities, as well as infrastructure development.

Another promising development... Airplanes like these will drive regional connectivity and bring affordable flying experience to masses.

[uddu]

Diversification of the Civil aviation market is good.
How Russia Replacing US in Indian Aviation Deals
How Russia Replacing US in Indian Aviation Deals
The recent partnership between India and Russia marks a significant shift in their aviation collaboration, moving beyond defense into the civil sector. At the Wings India 2026 exhibition, Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation formalized a preliminary agreement with Indian firm Flamingo Aerospace to supply six Ilyushin Il-114-300 aircraft. This deal is not merely a purchase but a strategic step toward localization under the Make in India initiative.

The agreement outlines a clear roadmap for transferring technology, with plans to establish local competencies for assembly, maintenance, and repair. This development specifically targets India’s UDAN scheme, which demands rugged aircraft capable of operating from short runways in remote areas. By introducing the Il-114-300, Russia aims to fill a critical gap in India’s regional connectivity market while bypassing Western sanctions through direct bilateral cooperation. This venture could eventually lead to full-scale domestic production, strengthening India’s aerospace self-reliance.

[chetak]

The authorities have recovered the black boxes from the crashed learjet at baramati


https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ind ... 760184.cms

[chetak]

Some heroes are not seen on stages.

They sit quietly behind cockpit doors.

Capt. Sumit Kapoor was one of them.

While passengers looked out of the window at clouds and sunlight, he looked at instruments, weather patterns, fuel readings, and responsibilities. For him, every flight was not a routine — it was a promise. A promise that everyone sitting behind him would reach home safely.

A pilot’s life is strange.
They carry hundreds of lives in their hands, yet very few people ever know their name.

But on that tragic day, the world came to know who he was.

Not just a pilot.
A man who stayed at his controls till the very last moment.
A professional who chose duty over fear.
A captain who did what he was trained to do — protect others first.

We often remember the passengers.
Today, we remember the man in the cockpit.

Capt. Sumit Kapoor didn’t just fly aircraft.
He carried responsibility, discipline, and courage at 30,000 feet.

Om Shanti.
And may we never forget the silent bravery of the people who bring us safely through the skies every day.

[bala]

HAL, Russia Sign Landmark Deal To Manufacture Superjet 100 In India

India’s ambition to become a global aerospace manufacturing hub takes off as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signs a historic agreement with Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation to manufacture the Superjet 100 commercial aircraft in India. Signed during the Wings India Aviation Expo in Hyderabad, the deal aligns with the Make in India initiative and reduces dependence on imported regional aircraft. HAL plans to roll out semi knock-down aircraft within three years, with 10 aircraft expected in the next 12–18 months even before local production begins. The agreement also covers certification, maintenance, component supply, and long-term industrial cooperation, marking a new era in India–Russia aviation collaboration.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIgLKeWo2tw

[chetak]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkSRuOnXk_U


Insider's Account On The Ajit Pawar Plane Crash | Whistleblower Reveals Shocking Details

Was the plane crash in Baramati, Maharashtra that killed Ajit Pawar and four others, including the two pilots, an accident just waiting to happen? Barkha Dutt scoops a damning indictment from a Whistleblowers account of the truth. The Whistleblower whose identity we have agreed to keep anonymous, makes a serious charge of corruption and financial irregularity involving VSR Ventures - the charter company from whom Ajit Pawar rented the plane - and DGCA, India's Aviation Regulator. "Payments were made to certain personnel inside DGCA- the whistleblower tells Barkha detailing how CVRs ( Cockpit Voice Recorders) were deliberately kept off, documents on actual flying hours of pilots were falsified and financial influence with DGCA was used instead of corrective action. This story will be updated if there is an official response from DGCA.

Barkha Duttt speaks to

Suhel Seth, Founder, Counselage
Capt Sam Thomas, ALPA
Capt Randhawa, Federation of Pilots
Capt Amit Singh, Safety Matters Foundation

[chetak]

Fuel Switch Moves From 'Run to Cutoff' on Air India Boeing 787-8 London Heathrow-Bengaluru Flight, Plane Grounded


Reported by: Shafali NigamEdited by: Shashwat Bhandari

Feb 2, 2026, 19:04 IST

Air India has grounded one of its Boeing 787-8 aircraft following a pilot's report concerning a potential issue with the fuel control switch. The airline is prioritizing the investigation and has involved the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to address the pilot's concerns.

https://www.timesnownews.com/india/air- ... -153548947


https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/air-ind ... Bengaluru.


https://www.republicworld.com/india/fue ... regulators

Republic@republic

#BreakingNews | Similarities in AI171 crash and AI1321 incident, Safety Matters Foundation writes to regulators; calls for probe over fuel system.

watch video

https://x.com/i/status/2018302658759852326

[bala]

Air India opens first flagship Maharaja Lounge at Delhi airport's Terminal 3






Air India has opened its first flagship lounge, The Maharaja Lounge, at Terminal 3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. The lounge marks a key step in the airline's effort to improve premium travel services and will be available to Business and First Class passengers, Gold and Platinum Maharaja Club members, and eligible Star Alliance members from February 16, 2026. Our strategic expansion plans include substantial investments to build more such platforms across countries that we fly to that will redefine luxury and comfort for our guests.

[sanjaykumar]

Very nicely done. Hope they have showers as well.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/TheMinuend/status/2021067 ... 37276?s=20 ---> Safran already hired about 60 technicians ahead of commissioning Hyderabad MRO for LEAP engines. Inaugurated November 2025, unit set to become operational this year with capacity for 300 engine shop visits annually & workforce scaling to 1,000. Facility will also train 100 technicians/year, strengthening domestic overhaul capability. MRO is focused on A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX.