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SP's Aviation - ISSUE No 11-2024

Issue Features

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  SPACE | ISRO
  India’s GSAT-20 Satellite Launched
  By Ayushee Chaudhary

  Symbolising growing technology, growth & collaboration, this mission highlights India’s dedication to leveraging space technology for societal progress, expanding its role in commercial space ventures while underscoring the potential for India’s heavy-lift launch vehicles to capture future opportunities

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  SPACE | MILITARY
  Antariksha Abhyas-2024
  By Air Vice Marshal Sanjay Bhatnagar (Retd)

  The first ever tri-services Defence Space Exercise was a significant building block towards holistic capability in global space operations

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  BI-LATERAL | INDO-US
  Trump’s Victory: What will it Unfold for India
  By Manish Kumar Jha

  For India, one of the most significant aspects of Trump’s return will be his approach to China. There is a possibility that Trump will continue to view India through a transactional lens, prioritising trade deficits and economic returns. The role which the US plays as the global tech powerhouse is the model for future growth which cuts across economy to security. In all potential, there are mostly positive signs, rather another defining era for Indo-US relations could unfold if indicators are right. The convergence of mutual interest for both democracies is too obvious.

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  BUSINESS AVIATION | FINANCING
  Flight Plan for Navigating Business Aircraft Financing
  By Ayushee Chaudhary

  The business aircraft financing market has witnessed significant growth post-pandemic, driven by increased demand for private and chartered flights

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  BUSINESS AVIATION | FALCON
  A Legacy of Precision, Power, and Poise in the Skies
  By Ayushee Chaudhary

  With a vision for comfort, excellence and sustainable aviation, Dassault’s Falcon family embodies the peak of technological and environmental advancements

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  REGIONAL AVIATION | SEAPLANE
  Tapping the Uncharted Waters
  By Swaati Ketkar

  Seaplane services are expected to transform regional connectivity in India, boost tourism, create jobs, and foster economic development, particularly in hard-to-reach coastal and inland regions

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  REGIONAL AVIATION | OPERATIONS
  SpiceJet’s $90 Million Deal with Canadian Q400 Planes
  By Swaati Ketkar

  SpiceJet has successfully resolved a significant dispute with Bombardier over a fleet of Q400 turboprop planes in the form of a $90 million settlement, marking the end of a prolonged legal battle that also has broader implications for the Indian aviation sector

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  A Word from Editor-in-Chief
  By Jayant Baranwal, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

  India continues to make remarkable strides in technology, defence, aviation, and diplomacy, reinforcing its position as a key player on the global stage. Recent developments highlight the nation’s drive to innovate and collaborate across diverse domains.

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  HALL OF FAME
  KLM: The World’s Oldest Airline Still Going Strong!
  By Joseph Noronha

  In 1930, KLM began scheduled passenger service between Amsterdam and Jakarta. The Fokker F.XII plane took 10 days to reach, including 81 hours of flying time. It was the world’s longest scheduled flight before the Second World War.

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  NEWS DIGEST: MILITARY
  Defence Minister Addresses Air Force Commanders’ Conference
  

  Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, addressed the Air Force Commanders’ Conference (AFCC) at Air Headquarters in New Delhi.

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  NEWS DIGEST: MILITARY
  Milestone in Air Interoperability with India
  

  Australia and India have signed an arrangement to enable the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and the Indian Armed Forces to conduct air-to-air refuelling.

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  NEWS DIGEST: MILITARY
  DRDO Hands Over P-7 Parachute System to DGQA
  

  The Authority Holding Sealed Particulars (AHSP) of P-7 Parachute System has been handed over to the Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA) by the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), Agra, a DRDO laboratory.

• NEWS DIGEST: MILITARY
  Romania Becomes the 20th Member of the F-35 Global Alliance
  

  The Government of Romania confirmed its intent to procure 32 Lockheed Martin 5th Generation F-35 Lightning II aircraft by signing a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) through a US government Foreign Military Sale.

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  NEWS DIGEST: MILITARY
  First Global 6500 for the US Army’s HADES Programme
  

  Bombardier Defense delivered the first Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft to the United States Army in support of the High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) programme.

• NEWS DIGEST: MILITARY
  15 Additional KC-46A Tankers for USAF
  

  Boeing will build 15 additional KC-46A Pegasus tankers under a Lot 11 contract award from the US Air Force valued at $2.38 billion.

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  NEWS DIGEST: MILITARY
  Royal Canadian Air Force to Use PC-21 Next Generation Trainers
  

  Pilatus announced the successful conclusion of a major contract with KF Aerospace as part of its collaboration with SkyAlyne for the Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) “Future Aircrew Training” (FAcT) programme.

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  NEWS DIGEST: MILITARY
  GA-ASI Completes Final Qualification Test for HFE 2.0 Engine
  

  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), has completed its final qualification test for its new 200-horsepower heavy fuel engine at its El Mirage, California, flight facility.

• NEWS DIGEST: MILITARY
  GE Aerospace Demonstrates Hybrid Electric Propulsion System
  

  AutoFlight, a leading innovator in electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) technology, has marked a significant milestone with its first successful flight in Japan.

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  NEWS DIGEST: MILITARY
  Electra Showcases Hybrid Electric Aircraft
  

  Electra has completed another military flight demonstration of its hybrid-electric prototype aircraft.

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  NEWS DIGEST: CIVIL
  Pilatus PC-12 Was Last Year’s Most Flown Business Aircraft in the USA
  

  The Swiss-Made PC-12 was last year’s most frequently flown business aircraft in the USA. Specifically, 3,16,328 takeoffs by the “World’s Greatest Single” were recorded between August 2023 and July 2024, representing 8.8 percent of all departures.

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  NEWS DIGEST: CIVIL
  Sustainable Materials for the Pilatus PC-24 Cabin Interior
  

  Pilatus is committed to sustainability – as demonstrated by the use of environmentally friendly materials in the cabin interior of the PC-24, including natural oils instead of synthetic varnishes.

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  NEWS DIGEST: CIVIL
  Pilatus Receives Prestigious Living Legends of Aviation Award
  

  Together with other members of the management representing the Pilatus Team, Markus Bucher, CEO of Pilatus, accepted an award for notable achievement in aviation at the “Living Legends of Aviation Europe Awards”.

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  NEWS DIGEST: CIVIL
  Embraer Launches ONEChain Programme
  

  Embraer has finalised the implementation of the ONEChain Program, an initiative to support the Company growth’s strategy that leverages digital transformation to help improve the management of its supply chain.

• NEWS DIGEST: CIVIL
  Embraer and Indonesia’s PTDI Sign MoU
  

  Embraer and PT Dirgantara Indonesia, Indonesia’s leading aerospace company, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at growing collaboration in commercial aviation.

• NEWS DIGEST: CIVIL
  Air Cargo Traffic to Double by 2043
  

  With a strong air cargo market exceeding pre-pandemic levels, Boeing forecasts continued long-term growth, saying air cargo traffic will increase by an average of four per cent per year through 2043.

• NEWS DIGEST: CIVIL
  Saudia Enhances Indian Operations
  

  With over five decades of service in India, Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, is set to enhance its connectivity and cater to the evolving needs of Indian guests as part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 initiative.

• NEWS DIGEST
  Appointments
  

  Bombardier announced the appointment of Caroline Maso as Chief Human Resources Officer; ST Engineering Antycip (Antycip) announced the appointment of Benoit Rolland as its new CEO, effective March 1, 2025.