Aircraft acquisition rules relaxed

Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh has abolished the Aircraft Acquisition Committee, doing away with government control over acquisition of aircraft by scheduled and non-scheduled operators, private operators and flying training institutes.
In a statement issued here, the Ministry spokesman said that permission for actual induction of aircraft would no longer be required from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA). Henceforth, only an initial no objection certificate (NOC) for operating scheduled and non-scheduled air transport services, including regional air transport services, and an in-principle approval for acquisition of aircraft by scheduled operators would be required , as this is necessary under Rules 134 and 134A of the Aircraft Rules and the RBI guidelines.
At present, the Aviation Ministry’s approval is required for issuing an initial NOC in cases of scheduled airlines, non-scheduled airlines, flying institutes and private operators. Besides this, the Ministry’s approval is also required for acquisition of aircraft by scheduled and non-scheduled operators, flying training institutes, and private use. It is also required for replacement of aircraft.
After implementation of this decision, no approval from the Ministry will be required by anybody for actual import/replacement of aircraft, and all such cases will be dealt by the Director General of Civil Aviation for completion of necessary formalities. This is another step towards liberalisation of the civil aviation sector. This decision will reduce delays in seeking approval, and will help airlines to plan better for future induction of aircraft.
http://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/aircraft-acquisition-rules-relaxed/article4534602.ece
 

Abu Dhabi based Etihad Airways inks wet lease pact with Jet Airways

MUMBAI: Jet Airways, India's second largest airline by market share, has leased a wide body aircraft along with 60 of its cabin crew to Abu Dhabi based Etihad Airways, a move that indicates a burgeoning partnership, even before the two airlines ink an equity stake sale.
In aviation parlance, a wet lease of an aircraft is an arrangement whereby the lessor, in this instance Jet, provides crew, maintenance and aircraft for a consideration. In turn the lessor takes on the responsibility for supplying and operating the aircraft.
The cabin crew will be trained by Etihad in Mumbai over the next three months. This is the second such collaborative agreement between the two carriers who are engaged in protracted discussions for over three months for an equity partnership and a strategic alliance. Jet had earlier announced a sale and lease back of Jet's Heathrow-London slots for $70 million in February to Etihad. Confirming this, Jet CEO Nikos Kardassis said the crew was surplus with Jet as it has withdrawn flights to its European hub in Brussels originating from Chennai.
"We enter into a wet lease agreement with Etihad for one A330-200. Since we stopped the Chennai-Brussels flight, we have excess qualified A330 cabin crew based in Chennai. We will use this crew for the wet lease operation with Etihad," Kardassis texted in response to ET's query over the issue.
Jet has a fleet of over 100 aircraft, including the 11 Airbus A330-200 type that it deploys on long haul international flights. Jet took delivery of a different series of this aircraft, the A330-300 in December last year and said it will induct another three soon to expand its Airbus wide body aircraft fleet. Jet deployed the 300 series aircraft on the Mumbai-Brussels route. The A330-300 will also replace two leased A330-200 type, the airline had said.
Aviation analysts see this move by Jet to wet lease aircraft to Etihad as the beginning of many more of such initiatives to be announced by the Naresh Goyal-promoted carrier as the deal between the two is seen as a more comprehensive strategic and collaborative alliance and not just an equity deal.
The airline has sought additional seats to Abu Dhabi for its summer schedule (some reports suggest 10,000 more seats) and according to the civil aviation minster Ajit Singh, the ministry is also considering a more comprehensive code-share request by Jet with Etihad. Some aviation analysts see the manpower supply from India to Middle Eastern countries as a crucial part of the tie-up between the Indian carrier and the fast expanding Etihad.
"The HR is critical part of this deal and we expect Etihad will increasingly depend on Jet to supply trained manpower for their expansion.
The wet leasing of the crew is the just the beginning. India provides low cost and trained manpower with ability to deliver higher productivity to the Middle East (ME) carriers and is vital component of their business model. Given the size of their (ME carriers) expansion, sourcing manpower from India/south Asia will increase significantly in the near term," said Kapil Kaul, CEO, South Asia, Centre for Asia-Pacific Aviation. He added that Jet has always very successfully managed to sub-lease their wide body aircraft as and when required. "Etihad will continue to provide strategic support to Jet," said Kaul.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/abu-dhabi-based-etihad-airways-inks-wet-lease-pact-with-jet-airways/articleshow/19208116.cms

 

Work on aviation university may begin by June

The foundation stone for the National Aviation University (NAU) slated to come up at Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Udayan Academy in Rae Bareli, Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s constituency, is likely to be laid by June and it is likely to start offering courses by July next year.
This emerged at a meeting held here on Monday, which was chaired by Minister for State for Civil Aviation K.C. Venugopal and attended by Member of Parliament Rahul Gandhi.
Steps are also on for finding some foreign universities with which the NAU can have tie-up, senior officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation said.
The detailed project report for setting up the project is with the Planning Commission, officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation said, and added that the Ministry was also hopeful of moving a Bill in the forthcoming session of Parliament for setting up of the University.
This university is expected to meet the growing needs for professionally trained manpower in the aviation sector.
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/logistics/work-on-aviation-university-may-begin-by-june/article4547977.ece

Thai Airways looking for Kochi connection

KOCHI: Thai Airways International, the national flag carrier of Thailand, is looking into the possibility of connecting Kochi directly with Thailand, said PisanManawapat, Thai ambassador to India, on Monday. He will discuss this matter during his meeting with chief minister OommenChandy on Tuesday.
"I want to know whether it will be sustainable for Thai Airways to connect Kochi with Bangkok. Thai Airways' office in Bangalore had made some enquiries but they haven't received enough information from the state government - perhaps the private sector can convince the airline that a direct flight will be sustainable," Manawapat said during an interactive session of delegates from the Association of South East Asian Nations ( Asean), organized by the Confederation of the Indian Industry (CII).
 On the other hand, when Manawapat met Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in last May, the first question from Modi was whether Thai Airways could operate direct flights from Thailand to Ahmedabad. "All possible incentives within the power of the state were offered - even he offered a subsidy on the fuel costs for the first three years of operation," Manawapat said. However, he doesn't expect the Kerala government to offer a subsidy for fuels.
 "We want to know whether the Kerala government welcomes additional direct flights or not. Secondly, if they welcome it, what kind of support the government will give. I also want the state government to hold a road show to support Kerala Tourism in Thailand, because when you operate a direct flight, you need local Thai people to come to Kochi. At the moment, the public in Thailand doesn't know enough about Kochi or Kerala," Manawapat said.
 He will also be scouting for opportunities for Thai companies in the processed food sector. CP, a Thai multi-national with presence in Punjab, Karnataka and Maharashtra, is interested in the state market.
 Also, Thailand will explore the opportunities in infrastructure and tourism in Kerala. "I want to find out what is the plan for the state government on infrastructure. Are they building affordable houses for the poor, or are they building more airports, highways and metros? I want to find out how much support the government will offer to the Thai companies and this is going to be my learning mission," Manawapat said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Thai-Airways-looking-for-Kochi-connection/articleshow/19200382.cms