Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

pgbhat · Post by **pgbhat** » 10 Mar 2011 07:45

Airlines fly '100% female-operated' flights for Women's Day

Air India and Air France are among the airlines flying "100% female-operated" flights today, efforts mean to commemorate International Women's Day.

Air India says it's flying 11 such flights, including on one of its ultra-long haul routes between New Delhi and Toronto.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Mar 2011 10:08

too much hu ha about supporting well educated and well off women these days in karporate world as opposed to bettering the condition of really needy women.

its being used as a ladder of political correctness to push up certain mascots.

in the manufacturing sector , women are given only 12 weeks of maternity leave. if they want more, have to leave job. if people are really interested, this could be increased to 20 or 24 weeks of paid leave and some things like childcare and feeding rooms made mandatory in establishments above a certain minimum size or which employ more than a certain % of women.

instead the spotlight is on 'women achievers' and CxOs who used the same underhanded tactics used by men to climb up the pole.

saip · Post by **saip** » 15 Mar 2011 04:30

Air India sets up committee to probe fake pilot issue

http://www.samachar.com/Air-India-sets- ... fefhi.html

Scary. Or then again may be it is only the written that they failed and probably had a lot of flying training before they attempted to get the fake license.

Gaurav_S · Post by **Gaurav_S** » 15 Mar 2011 13:13

Fake ghee, fake degrees, fake currency were not enough. Now we have fake pilots. Truly incredible India.

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 15 Mar 2011 13:58

^^^

The surprising thing is that these fake piolets have not caused and major accidents.

That to me is Incredible India

Gaurav_S · Post by **Gaurav_S** » 15 Mar 2011 15:11

DGCA confirms AM report on Cessna cover-up

Initially, the aviation academy claimed that trainee pilot Gayatri Sardeshpande and instructor Naresh Devjani (pic 2) ‘kept their cool’ in face of an engine failure and landed Cessna on a barren field near Gota (pic 1). Later, Mirror carried a photo clicked by a villager (pic 3), showing two women beside the plane

Responds to an RTI query, says there was no instructor on board Cessna 152 that crash-landed on May 14. AAA had claimed an instructor was present when in fact there were two women trainee pilots in the aircraft.

Akshay Kaushal

Posted On Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 02:16:23 AM

On May 14 last year, Cessna 152 — a training aircraft of Ahmedabad Aviation and Aeronautics Limited (AAA) — had crash-landed near Chainpur village. The academy had then said there were two people on board, an instructor and a trainee pilot. But an RTI reply from Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirms what Mirror has been saying all along: There were two women trainee pilots in the aircraft. The instructor was absent. The AAA had violated DGCA rules.

Initially, the aviation academy claimed that trainee pilot Gayatri Sardeshpande and instructor Naresh Devjani (pic 2) ‘kept their cool’ in face of an engine failure and landed Cessna on a barren field near Gota (pic 1). Later, Mirror carried a photo clicked by a villager (pic 3), showing two women beside the plane

On January 31, Mirror had filed an RTI application with the DGCA that was investigating the incident. After the emergency landing, AAA tried to cover up the issue by planting an instructor at the site.

It also asked one of the two trainee pilots to leave the spot.

The AAA, in its statements to the media, maintained that trainee Gayatri Sardeshpande was on a training sortie with her instructor captain Naresh Devjani.

However, a picture clicked by a villager minutes after the incident clearly showed two women in pilots’ uniform beside the partly mangled plane. One of them was Sardeshpande and the other Anita Nakra. The RTI reply states that Devjani came to the spot after the incident and replaced Nakra.

TRUTH LAID BARE

The RTI reply says that the investigating officer (IO) came to know that the pilot instructor in-charge (PII) Naresh Devjani was not present in the aircraft while another trainee pilot Ankita Nakra was on board as a passenger.

Trainee pilot Sardeshpande was summoned by the IO to his office on May 17 for clarification. She admitted that she was doing a solo cross-country flight from Ahmedabad to Mehsana airfield, overflying Surendranagar.

Nakra, who was supposed to go to Mehsana airfield that day, requested Sardeshpande to take her along. After seeking permission from assistant pilot instructor (API) Captain Niral Shah, Sardeshpande agreed to take Nakra along as a passenger.

However, during the start-up, the air traffic control (ATC) reported the visibility as 3,500 metres. With this visibility Sardeshpande could not be cleared for the flight as 5,000 metres is the requirement for trainee students. In order to get an ATC clearance, Sardeshpande informed the air traffic controller that she had an instructor on board. The ATC cleared the aircraft for flight.

FALSE INFORMATION

After the aircraft made an emergency landing, both trainee students evacuated the aircraft and ran to a safe distance. Sardeshpande immediately informed Devjani about the the incident and also told him that she had intimated ATC that there was an instructor aboard the aircraft.

Devjani immediately reached the sight and also called up ATC from his cellphone, intimating that he had made an emergency landing and that his student Sardeshpande was also on board.

The aircraft was 10-15 nautical miles from Ahmedabad when it began giving trouble. Sardeshpande sought permission to make emergency landing before Cessna 152 entered a populated area. She then crash-landed the plane into a barren field

AAA ADMITS TO LAPSE

However, during investigation, Devjani stated that he had done this in favour of the organisation and under management pressure since a passenger was not authorised to travel in a training aircraft. Even Sardeshpande said that she was asked by the management to give a statement that the instructor was on board the aircraft. Both, the accountable manager and the director of AAA, had agreed it was a lapse on their part.

RECOMMENDATIONS

After completing the probe, the investigating officer had made the following recommendations:

1) The office proposes action may be taken against the instructor and the trainee student for giving false information and misguiding this office (DGCA).

2) DGCA headquarters may take up the issue with AAA management for pressurising the instructor and the student in misguiding and giving false information to the office.

HAS ACTION BEEN TAKEN?

When asked what action has been taken against Sardeshpande and Devjani, AAA General Manager Colonel V K Nagar said: “Whatever action had to be taken has already been taken. We cannot hang them. Now, things are moving as they are supposed to be. Please contact DGCA for any information.” He refused to comment on whether action was taken against Devjani.

WHERE ARE THE CULPRITS?

Sardeshpande now holds a valid commercial pilot licence and is looking for a job in the aviation industry. According to sources, Devjani has left AAA and is now working in the hotel industry.

RTI reply vindicates Mirror report:

Mirror: A witness Hitesh Patel said, “I heard a loud whir in the air. I immediately realised a plane was coming down. It landed and skidded for some time before coming to a halt. I was surprised to see two uniformed girls, aged around 22, emerge from the plane.” Seven villagers claim they spoke to two female pilots and that there was no male on board the Cessna.

RTI reply:
After the Cessna made an emergency landing in the agriculture fields, both the trainee students evacuated the aircraft and ran to a safe distance. They were also assisted by the local villagers.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2) Mirror:

Devjani did not communicate with Air Traffic Control (ATC) when the Cessna 152’s engine failed in mid-air. During the entire crisis — from the detection of the engine failure to the emergency landing — Gayatri was the pilot-in-command. He called ATC from his cellphone only after the plane crash-landed.

RTI reply:
Gayatri Sardeshpande immediately informed the pilot instructor in-charge (PII) Captain Naresh Devjani about the incident. She also told him she had intimated the ATC that an instructor was on board the aircraft. Devjani reached the site after the aircraft had crash landed. He then informed the ATC that he and Sardeshpande had made an emergency landing.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3) Mirror:

According to the flight plan submitted by AAA on May 14, Sardeshpande was the pilot-in-command of the Cessna 152. Witnesses identified Ankita Nakra, a student of AAA’s flying school, as the second girl on board Cessna 152. Sardeshpande possesses a student pilot licence (SPL). She is not authorised to fly a plane with a passenger, who in this case turns out to be Nakra.

RTI reply:
Pilot-in command : Trainee student Capt Gayatri Sardeshpande Passengers on board : Trainee student Capt Ankita Nakra Instructor on board : Nil

This shows into even training norms are flouted often.

Gaurav_S · Post by **Gaurav_S** » 22 Mar 2011 02:39

More skeletons coming out...

Two SpiceJet pilots arrested in Jaipur

Link

JAIPUR: Two pilots of budget carrier SpiceJet were arrested here on Monday for allegedly obtaining commercial pilot licence on the basis of forged flying certificates, officials said.

"Anoop Choudhary and Amit Moondra were arrested for obtaining commercial pilot licence by submitting forged flying certificates. Both the pilots are employed with SpiceJet at New Delhi," IG Rajasthan Anti-Corruption Bureau, Umesh Mishra, said here.

He said their arrest was connected with a case registered with the bureau in which nine persons, including chief instructor of Rajasthan Flying School Captain Mohindar Kumar and assistant general manager- ATC Sanganer Airport Manoj Jain, have been arrested so far.

They had issued forged cross-country certificates to the students of Rajathan State Flying School for wrongful gain, he said.

Kumar was suspended in June last year after several irregularities came to light when a student of 2006 batch Nidhi Vashistha of Haryana alleged that he had taken Rs 11 lakh in cash from her while promising her a pilot's job in a private airline, the official added.

Sumeet · Post by **Sumeet** » 23 Mar 2011 09:20

All these guys must be charged for mass murder.

neerajb · Post by **neerajb** » 24 Mar 2011 22:49

NOVA - Crash of Air France flight 447 accident investigation

Cheers....

Gaurav_S · Post by **Gaurav_S** » 25 Mar 2011 14:54

Fake pilots: SpiceJet suspends woman pilot

Link

NEW DELHI: SpiceJet suspended a woman pilot in connection with the fake flying license scam after she came under DGCA scanner in the wake of an evaluation report that she had trouble during flight training in the US.

24-year-old Garima Passi, who was grounded by the budget air carrier for acquiring pilot licence using fake documents, resigned from her job today, a SpiceJet statement said.

"Passi had been suspended from flying while we awaited the full investigations to be concluded. This morning she has resigned from her job," the statement said. Passi was suspended from her job from March 16 this year.

SpiceJet early this week sacked two pilots--Captain Anuj Kumar and First Officer Amit Mundra--after they were arrested by Rajasthan police for using illegal means to procure flying licenses.

Passi was removed from her flight training from a US-based flying school after an evaluation report brought to light her making hard landing and causing damage to an aircraft and apparent fear of flying, sources said.

After returning from US, she joined Uttarakhand-based aviation school and she got her Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) within five days of submitting her application to the DGCA in May 2008. Sources said that Passi allegedly procured a CPL through fraudulent means.

After receiving the licence, she joined SpiceJet and started flying as a co-pilot of Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

Sources said she did not disclose her hard landing incident to the DGCA which makes it mandatory for a student applying for a CPL disclose whether the aspirant was involved in an aircraft accident or incident in the preceeding five years with a detailed disciplinary action taken against them.

The rot seems to be within regional training schools in various states. DGCA needs to track which flying instructors are involved in fraudlent activities like filling more hours in log book. Such incidents can be compared with regional transport offices (RTO's) in various states where giving learners license by fake means is old story.

Neela · Post by **Neela** » 29 Mar 2011 18:19

New ground handling policy kicking in in April

As per the new policy, which was to earlier kick in from January 1, 2011, only three ground handlers will be allowed to perform this function at the six metro airports across the country. These would be a private firm selected through bidding, subsidiaries of Air India and the airport operator

This is going to be disastrous. Airlines like Indigo have made such a huge difference with their ground handling efficiency. Now they will have to rely on AI and AAI for baggage handling etc. This will affect their schedules.

New airport ground-handling policy from Friday

State-owned Air India (AI) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) would be major beneficiaries of the new policy. Being the national carrier, AI has the right to do ground-handling at all Indian airports while AAI will get additional revenue of at least Rs350 crore each year as authorised ground-handling agencies nominated by it would start work at important airports like Chennai and Kolkata from April 1.

Clearly, a strike by them can cripple all traffic.

If there is one place where evolution fails, it is at the Civil Aviation ministry

chackojoseph · Post by **chackojoseph** » 01 Apr 2011 07:41

136 private jets registered in India

Klaus · Post by **Klaus** » 04 Apr 2011 09:06

French investigators currently in the Atlantic hope to locate and reclaim the black box components of the Rio-Paris jet that crashed in 2009.

Link to article.

kmkraoind · Post by **kmkraoind** » 05 Apr 2011 11:16

Private airlines contest govt's rule to cede ground handling

But the SC had something nasty to tell the Centre. "What prompted you to take the decision and apply it only to select four cities? Have you travelled by budget airlines and compared their services with Indian Airlines? Try travelling Indigo, it is always on time. Are you trying to pull down their services to the level of a carrier whose services has worst reputation?"

It added, "Is this efficiency? The taste of the pudding is in the eating. You are trying to bring in efficiency. We know which airline waits for VIPs and which do not. In India, the government is the lord and master in policy matters."

Neela · Post by **Neela** » 05 Apr 2011 12:30

kmkraoind wrote:Private airlines contest govt's rule to cede ground handling

But the SC had something nasty to tell the Centre. "What prompted you to take the decision and apply it only to select four cities? Have you travelled by budget airlines and compared their services with Indian Airlines? Try travelling Indigo, it is always on time. Are you trying to pull down their services to the level of a carrier whose services has worst reputation?"

It added, "Is this efficiency? The taste of the pudding is in the eating. You are trying to bring in efficiency. We know which airline waits for VIPs and which do not. In India, the government is the lord and master in policy matters."

Kmkrao,
Just as I suspected. If AAI pulls this one off, then expect massive delays immediately after this comes into practice.

Vasu · Post by **Vasu** » 05 Apr 2011 19:20

Could be the governmint's one of many hair-brained ideas to increase cash flows of some state companies or even front companies of netas. In Congress Raj, no option to make money is too blatant or shameless.

Of course, being the governmint, they can always raise the bogey of national security and a lawyer of the level of Gopal Subramaniam can argue it till doomsday.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 06 Apr 2011 11:12

The rickety Chennai airport in news once again.

A lady travels from Dubai and brings her pet dog which escapes while being unloaded. The distraught pregnant woman stays put at the airport for two days trying to locate her dog. There is a happy ending as the dog was retrieved two days later. But, the story throws up the creaking ricketiness of the neglected Chennai airport. This airport is a prime terrorist target. I hope that terrorist organizations like Lashkar or Indian Mujahideen or even the Pakistani Army do not read the ToI report or even this post because it could give them ideas.

Ricky darted through Gate-9 which has no gate at all !

When Ricky, the dog, went missing from a conveyor belt at the Chennai airport, a concern was that she could sneak out of the airport through Gate No 9, which has been in a bad shape. A visit to Gate No 9 on Tuesday presented a bigger surprise: there was no gate at all!

The gaping 10-foot opening makes the airport security more than just porous. A vehicle can easily speed through the barricade-less area to enter the tarmac or the runway, though CISF personnel are posted there. That nobody or camera caught the dog escaping speaks for the security measures in place.

"The dog is understood to have escaped through the Gate 9, which is close to the aircraft parking bays. The security cameras are supposed to capture all movements in the tarmac area. The authorities are least bothered about security at major points around the airport," said a CISF official. {See who is saying this, a CISF official. He is responsible for security. What other authority is he talking about except his own ? Has he objected to the lack of gate, in writing, to his own boss and the AAI ?}

An airline official told TOI that most of the security cameras inside Chennai airport are defunct. "Some of the cameras have been repaired. Some are kept at wrong angles, making it difficult for duty officers to monitor movements inside the terminal and runway areas," he said.

CISF sources said security was not up to the mark at Gate No 6 either. "There is lack of manpower and communication equipment," said an official. This gate sees frequent VIP movements.

The security personnel have their own tales of woes. The airport has only two old buses to transport more than 800 CISF cadets between different gates and barracks. "The operational responsibility of bomb squad has been handed over to us, but we don't have a vehicle since a week in case of an emergency. The hired vehicle was withdrawn as the authorities have not paid the dues to the private vehicle contractor," he said.

Lack of transportation facilities delays the reporting of CISF cadets between the duty shifts and most of the security outposts that monitor the outer areas of airport, runways and the compound wall. The wireless communication system connecting these areas with the control room are in a bad shape.

Airport officials said security was the domain of CISF. {Typical blame game} When contacted, a senior CISF commandant officer said Gate No 9 will soon be restored. "The contract has been given for the work," he said. {So, obviously, the gate is the responsibility of CISF. Then, why is one of the CISF officials blaming 'authorities' as though he were not part of the system responsible for such callousness ?}

Gaurav_S · Post by **Gaurav_S** » 06 Apr 2011 16:04

3 held from Ahmedabad in fake pilot scam

link

The fake pilot scam has its tentacles spread in the city. The scam that raised its head last month raising questions about the safety of people flying by air is now linked to the city.

The Delhi police have arrested three people for having links to the scam from the city. The arrests are part of a crackdown launched by the aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

While two were arrested in Ahmedabad on Monday night, another had been arrested in Gurgaon on April 1 but it was disclosed by the police on Tuesday. Of the two arrested on Monday, one is a fake pilot and the other is a man who had helped him get the licence on the basis of fake mark-sheet.
The two who were arrested by the Delhi police crime branch on Monday have been identified as Hiren Naggar (27) and Eknath Patil (46).

The one who was arrested in Gurgaon was identified as Abhishek Kaushik. Both Naggar and Kaushik took Patil’s help in getting pilot
licences.

According to police, Nagar obtained his Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) on the basis of forged documents provided by Patil. Nagar knew Patil from his days as a student of Ahmedabad Aviation Academy (AAA).

“Nagar was kicked out from AAA as he couldn’t meet the standards. Then he moved to a Vadodara-based flying school and from there he went to Ujjain. Still, Nagar could not clear his papers other than the one on ‘Air Regulation’,” sources said.

The sources said that Patil, a resident of Bapunagar, had been sacked twice by AAA after he was found guilty of taking bribe from students to move files. Between June and July 2008, Patil told Nagar that he could get a CPL if he paid him Rs7 lakh. Nagar paid Patil Rs5.5 lakh, after which Patil prepared a forged mark-sheet and submitted it to DGCA in February 2009. In March 2009, Nagar was issued the licence.

Kaushik, who was arrested in Gurgaon, too got his CPL through Patil. Kaushik had undergone flying training in Ujjain in 2009 but couldn’t clear five papers — Air Navigation, Aviation Metrology, Air Regulation, General and Specific. Then he contacted Patil.
With the help of Patil who reportedly has good connections with some DGCA officials, Kaushik got his licence in November 2009 on the basis of forged mark-sheet. Kaushik paid Rs6 lakh to Patil. According to police, Kaushik did his training in Ahmedabad and Ujjain. He knew Nagar.

This scam will leave a big dent in minds of people. Personally I used to think no career can be as rewarding and respectful as being a pilot. But atleast domestic pilots in Indian now have lost my respect. Hard to believe yet true.

arun · Post by **arun** » 07 Apr 2011 21:32

Bangalore International Airport (BIAL) terminal expansion to start in May. Will expand to a total area of 134,000 sq meters from 71,000 sq meters now:

BIA T1 expansion from May

Vasu · Post by **Vasu** » 08 Apr 2011 14:05

Gaurav_S wrote:3 held from Ahmedabad in fake pilot scam

link

This scam will leave a big dent in minds of people. Personally I used to think no career can be as rewarding and respectful as being a pilot. But atleast domestic pilots in Indian now have lost my respect. Hard to believe yet true.

Don't take it so personally Gaurav. A few bad apples lead us all to start generalizing to no end. So a few army officers get caught in some canteen scam, so I am assuming you will lose all respect for the armed forces as well?

Whats important is that the government realize that the reason so many cases are coming up is because there is a huge demand-supply gap in the number of pilots flying and the number of pilots available. Coming down hard on erring aviation schools is one thing, but ensuring that the ones following the rules continue to scale up and add more pilots to Indian aviation quickly is even more important. I do hope the DGCA does not go on a witchhunt now and slow the process even further by spooking even the legit schools.

neerajb · Post by **neerajb** » 08 Apr 2011 18:02

Air France plane wreckage 'found'

Wreckage from an Air France plane that crashed over the Atlantic almost two years ago, killing all 228 people on board, has been found, according to French investigators.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... found.html

Slideshow of Images : http://www.reuters.com/article/slidesho ... 110404#a=1

Cheers....

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 08 Apr 2011 22:51

Mangalore air crash case goes to The Hague

Nearly a year after the Dubai-Mangalore Air India Express IX 812 crash in Bajpe that killed 159 passengers, the families of victims have decided to approach the international court for getting ‘the right compensation’ from Air India.

The families of the victims have jointly hired a Swedish advocate Stephen Ericson, a well-known authority in aviation accident compensation issues.

The president of the Air India Crash Victims’ Families Association Mohammad Beary said the compensation arbitrated by Mulla and Mulla company of Mumbai was not more than Rs50 lakh whereas the international norms recommends it closer to Rs1 crore. The compensation has to be paid in accordance with the Montreal Convention to which India was a signatory.

Every person who died in an air crash on an international flight was entitled to get a final compensation of $1,76,000 in the currency of the country where the air craft had crashed and at the prevailing exchange rate at the time of the disbursement of the compensation.

The vice-president of the association Narayanan said a few families have already approached the Kerala high court, making the Air India fully responsible, as a court of enquiry has already cited that pilot error has caused the crash at Bajpe.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 08 Apr 2011 22:55

Civil Aviation Authority in the offing

The process of setting up an autonomous Civil Aviation Authority to regulate all aviation safety issues in India is in the final stages with a cabinet note on it likely to be finalised soon, reports PTI.
The proposed CAA, which would have administrative and financial autonomy, is also likely to keep a tab on the entire range of activities —from proper provision of air traffic services and licensing to financial fitness of airlines.
"A cabinet note is being prepared. We have sent all the facts. The (Civil Aviation) Ministry will have to forward it to the government," Director General of Civil Aviation E K Bharat Bhushan told PTI here.
Government plans to bring in a legislation to establish the CAA. Bhushan said the CAA would have a "lot of financial, administrative and procedural independence. We will be able to recruit (professionals) directly" instead of routing it through the Union Public Service Commission.
A feasibility study to set up the Authority was commissioned in October 2009 in technical cooperation with the UN body International Civil Aviation Organisation to improve financial and administrative autonomy for discharge of safety oversight functions more effectively.
The ICAO feasibility study was reviewed by the DGCA and the Civil Aviation Ministry last year. The proposal was also endorsed by the US Federal Aviation Administration which said the proposed body would be in line with ICAO policy.
Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi recently said that the process to set up the CAA was currently on.
The CAA structure of an aviation regulatory body exists in several countries including the UK and Singapore, giving it powers to regulate all safety issues, advising the government on all civil aviation matters, managing national airspace so as to meet the needs of all users, keeping in mind national security, economic and environmental factors.

niran · Post by **niran** » 09 Apr 2011 09:47

Klaus wrote:French investigators currently in the Atlantic hope to locate and reclaim the black box components of the Rio-Paris jet that crashed in 2009.

Link to article.

the parts retrieved have unblemished paint, is it possible to be under sea water for 2 years and remain unblemished without any mud?

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 12 Apr 2011 07:35

Runway light fittings found damaged at Chennai airport

Three threshold light fittings, two end light fittings and an approach light fitting were found damaged on Sunday at the Chennai airport. . . . on inspection found aircraft tyre markings in pre-threshold area, which was about 450 metres before the touchdown zone.

A senior AAI officer said preliminary investigations indicated that probably a cargo airliner could have caused the damage. The captain of the aircraft who damaged the lights went off without even informing the authorities concerned.

A senior AAI officer said it was a major violation, the kind of which has not been reported in the recent past. The pilot of the cargo airline should have informed the authorities that he landed the aircraft well before the threshold area.

A former AAI officer said a similar incident was reported more than two decades ago, when an Air India pilot of an Airbus 310 aircraft landed the aircraft well before the threshold area in which the tyres of the aircraft totally burst.

The Director General of Civil Aviation authorities has ordered an inquiry into the Sunday incident.

Klaus · Post by **Klaus** » 12 Apr 2011 12:12

niran wrote: the parts retrieved have unblemished paint, is it possible to be under sea water for 2 years and remain unblemished without any mud?

The landing gear has some serious corrosion, parts which would have normally had a coat of lubricant would've corroded beyond repair. The question is, how much of the wreckage does Air France/Airbus want to recover? The emphasis seemed to be only on the black boxes, although there could be an outcry if the bodies are left behind.

Blemishes due to seafloor mud abrasion typically would not show up on hardened sub-assemblies such as landing gear, you could expect that on fuselage and airframe.

Gaurav_S · Post by **Gaurav_S** » 12 Apr 2011 14:00

DGCA sets up 3 teams to go into fake licence issue

NEW DELHI: With reports of pilot schools fudging flying hours in their log books to help candidates get licences, civil aviation regulator DGCA has set up three teams to carry out full-fledged audits of 40 such institutions across the country from next week.

The teams of officials and independent experts would begin inspection from April 18 and submit their reports within three months, official sources said today.

...

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 Apr 2011 16:15

expect more arrests - imho.

harbans · Post by **harbans** » 12 Apr 2011 23:11

Three threshold light fittings, two end light fittings and an approach light fitting were found damaged on Sunday at the Chennai airport. . . . on inspection found aircraft tyre markings in pre-threshold area, which was about 450 metres before the touchdown zone.

Chennai airport i doubt the overrun area is 450 meters pre threshold. It's not really uncommon to see tyre markings on the displaced threshold at almost all Airports, but IMHO this is some sort of exaggerated DDM reporting. However it's best Airports keep a video record of all landings atleast a weeks records would suffice. Sometimes many folks don't realize a hard landing could be the result of ATC instructions. Very tight descents and loops give little time to coordinate particularly for Pilots unfamiliar with the pattern or Airport. The approach time is particularly tight as this is the time one has to control or bleed speed, maintain tight specified altitudes while all the time maneouvring to get in line with the runway, pitch up nose to the correct degree and well just try and land off past the threshold as comfortably as possible. I doubt however the figures given in the article are correct though.

harbans · Post by **harbans** » 13 Apr 2011 05:27

Airbus 380 clipping the tail of a Bombardier CRJ 700.

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2011/0412/ ... raft-video

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 13 Apr 2011 06:24

DGCA to take action against 4 airlines

The Directorate-General of Civil Aviation is sending notices to four airlines for violating its directive not to operate flights to Goa during certain hours when the ground navigational aids at the airport are not operational.

But, what about the ATC at Goa. Why did they allow that to happen and why is there no action against them ? Is the ATC under Navy's control ?

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 17 Apr 2011 07:37

Hmmmm.

Interesting turn of events!!!

Tyres generally produce a puff of smoke during touch down.

A certain behnji is strongly rumored to have invested four figure crores in a private airline, benami.

Birds flying the coop or coming home to roost?

Vengeful kangress at it's best. You slight the yuvraj at your peril!!

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/hasan-ali-ca ... 388-3.html

Hasan Ali case: UP govt removes Principal Secy
Sumon K Chakrabarti CNN-IBN
Updated Apr 16, 2011 at 08:01pm IST

New Delhi: The Mayawati government on Saturday removed Vijay Shankar Pandey from the position of the Principal Secretary after the Enforcement Directorate's move to question Pandey in connection with the Hasan Ali black money case.
The UP state government denied any links with top tax evader Hasan Ali and said that if there is any proof, then it is in Pandey's personal capacity.
The Enforcement Directorate will question Puducherry Lt Governor Iqbal Singh and Uttar Pradesh Principal Secretary Vijay Shankar Pandey in connection with the passport procured by stud farm owner Hasan Ali Khan and some investments done by him abroad.

Sources said summons have been already issued to Iqbal while the same to Pandey will be issued next week following questioning of a Bihar politician Amalendu Pandey by the Directorate in Mumbai.

They said the two will be questioned with regard to procurement of passport by Ali and some investments that he did at foreign shores.

The ED is mulling to question Ali's aide Kashinath Tapuria, presently in the agency's custody, after similar leads emerged in the case following the questioning of the politician.

Gaurav_S · Post by **Gaurav_S** » 19 Apr 2011 13:48

Scam-tainted DGCA clips wings of top air safety officer

Heads have started rolling in the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) — the aviation industry regulator at the centre of a scandal involving pilots with fake marksheets obtaining licences to fly. RS Passi, the second senior-most officer at the Directorate of Air Safety, has been removed from his position. He has not been given any other assignment.

The disciplinary action was taken after SpiceJet wrote to DGCA chief EK Bharat Bhushan that Passi's daughter, Garima Passi, got a job as a pilot with the airline under “extraordinary circumstances”.

Bhushan, who is cracking down on irregularities in the organisation, had asked SpiceJet for a report on Garima, who quit the airline last month.

Aviation experts have lauded the move. “It sends out a clear message that however powerful one might be, if you're guilty, you'll have to pay the price,” said Captain Mohan Ranganathan, a member of the government-appointed committee on aviation safety.

Garima was expelled from Sabena Flight Academy in Arizona, US, in 2008 and her evaluation report stated that she displayed a "fear of aircraft". She returned to India and joined Amber Aviation (India) Pvt Ltd, a flying school in Uttarakhand, from where she got a pilot's licence.

Show-cause notices have been issued to more than half-a-dozen senior DGCA officials whose children are employed with airlines. HT had first reported on March 17 about Bhushan's directive to officials to furnish information on the “employment of their children”.

Heads have started to roll. Strict actions are needed. Domestic airlines business has grown several times in last 5 years without any control. More and more people are lured to work as pilots and this hard stance will keep dodgy ones out of business.

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VinodTK · Post by **VinodTK** » 27 Apr 2011 01:57

India developing first civilian aircraft

"We are looking at creating a Regional Transport Aircraft (RTA) which would be 70 or a 90-seater. The feasibility study is being carried out now," M R Nayak, advisor and chief scientist at the state-owned National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) said here.

Vivek K · Post by **Vivek K** » 27 Apr 2011 02:17

Really need some innovation in aerospace. Pvt Cos should be supported by GOI or we will remain conducting feasibility studies for corny aircraft like the RTA/MTA/AMCA/MCA/MRCA/MMRCA ....

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 28 Apr 2011 14:21

In the mean while.. it is back to business at Air India
Air India Pilots go on strike - flights cancelled

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 29 Apr 2011 20:53

This is the chance for shutting down Air Parasite. Declare Lock-out. Sell the airline lock, stock and with the excess baggage to a private player.If this is not done, its going to be only a short time before the airline asks for another 5,000 Cr bailout package.

VinodTK · Post by **VinodTK** » 30 Apr 2011 23:52

India Sees 100 Seaplanes In Next 10 Years

India has a long coastline and there is a need for strong efforts to promote seaplane operations, he says, as such services are significant to improving the economy of the Anadaman and Nicobar islands and Lakshadweep. India’s Civil Aviation Ministry has created a separate department to oversee seaplane-related infrastructure, safety, security and regulatory issues, he adds.

Nihat · Post by **Nihat** » 02 May 2011 00:15

I wonder why anyone would like to fly AI anymore. For cheaper fares there is always Spicejet, Indigo, Go Air , Paramount and better service is available with Jet and Kingfisher. AI is in the middle of nowhere as far as market positioning goes, what exactly is it's USP to flyers.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 02 May 2011 22:56

An amazing video and over skilled ,lucky pilot

Flight Global:Tu-154 struggles against in-flight oscillation

Photos of the event link