BCAS asks airline, airport operators to step up security

NEW DELHI: The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) today issued an advisory to all airline and airport operators to step up security measures following fresh threat assessments.

The BCAS advisory was issued following intelligence reports and inputs it received, including from the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA), highly-placed official sources said here.

The sources told PTI that heightened security measures were being put in place at all Indian airports with the BCAS asking operators to take urgent steps to revamp security at airports, aircraft and other aviation infrastructure.

A similar directive was issued in January by BCAS, which is responsible for aviation security, following threat perceptions after the December last year's terror attack at Moscow's Domodedovo airport.

The latest aviation security order instructs airport authorities to keep a tab on all movements, including the parking lots and the airside.

Further restrictions on visitors inside airport terminals or carrying of baggage in the arrival and departure areas by non-passengers were also being put in place, the sources said, adding that the number of CISF personnel at entry and exit points as well as parking lots was being enhanced.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/bcas-asks-airline-airport-operators-to-step-up-security/articleshow/13038163.cms

BCAS asks airline, airport operators to step up security

New Delhi, May 7: The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) today issued an advisory to all airline and airport operators to step up security measures following fresh threat assessments.
The BCAS advisory was issued following intelligence reports and inputs it received, including from the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA), highly-placed official sources said here.
The sources told PTI that heightened security measures were being put in place at all Indian airports with the BCAS asking operators to take urgent steps to revamp security at airports, aircraft and other aviation infrastructure.
A similar directive was issued in January by BCAS, which is responsible for aviation security, following threat perceptions after the December last year's terror attack at Moscow's Domodedovo airport.
The latest aviation security order instructs airport authorities to keep a tab on all movements, including the parking lots and the airside.
Further restrictions on visitors inside airport terminals or carrying of baggage in the arrival and departure areas by non-passengers were also being put in place, the sources said, adding that the number of CISF personnel at entry and exit points as well as parking lots was being enhanced.

http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2012/May/8/bcas-asks-airline-airport-operators-to-step-up-security-62.asp

Kingfisher plans to pay January salaries from May 9

Mumbai: Worried over the possibility of its employees dragging the airline management to the Labour Court over non-payment of salaries, Kingfisher Airline Chairman Vijya Mallya has "assured" the staff of paying their January salaries from Wednesday onwards, airline sources said on Monday.

"Mallya said in his May 5 communication to the employees that the airline will start remitting January salaries from May 9 onwards," sources told PTI quoting from the email message.

In his email message Mallya also said that a "significant" portion of the February salaries would be paid by the month-end, they said.

Mallya's communication to employees comes following its pilots serving a deadline of May 8 to the management for paying January salaries or face strike.

Besides, they had demanded that the management should also clear the remaining salary in a phased manner by June 30.

A section of the staff including pilots and engineers had last week said that they were contemplating moving to the Labour Court to seek its intervention and expedite settlement of their dues.

Meanwhile, Mallya has also expressed hope that the airline would return to the global distribution network of IATA shortly, sources said.

Beleaguered Kingfisher Airlines was suspended for non-payment of dues by the IATA in March from participating in a system which enables airlines to settle their interline billings globally.

Airlines and airline-associated companies join the IATA Clearing House to settle accounts for services provided by them to other airlines or firms.

Kingfisher Airlines has been facing financial troubles for almost a year now. The airline, which never made a profit since its inception in May 2005, reported a net loss of Rs 444.26 crore in the December quarter. It suffered a loss of Rs 1,027 crore in 2010-11 and has a debt of Rs 7,057.08 crore.

Due to the paucity of funds, it now operates only 110 flights a day with a fleet of 20 aircraft against 400 flights per day last year with 66 planes.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/kingfisher-plans-to-pay-jan-salaries-from-may-9/255610-7.html

DGCA suspends Global Vectra's flying permit

New Delhi, May 7:

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has suspended the licence of Global Vectra Helicorp. This came after the Home Ministry withdrew security clearance to the company's promoter.

What this means is that the company will not be able to fly its fleet of 23 helicopters. Global Vectra provides services to various oil exploration companies such as ONGC to ferry its personnel to and from offshore oil rigs. It also provides services to the pilgrim town of Vaishno Devi.

This company is a part of the Vectra Group, which is promoted by Mr Ravinder Kumar Rishi, also known as Ravi Rishi. Mr Rishi and the Vectra Group are embroiled in a controversy over an alleged scam in the purchase of Tatra trucks, manufactured by the Group, for the Army.

Last week, the Home Ministry withdrew its security clearance without giving any specific reasons. A formal communication was sent to the Civil Aviation Ministry which forwarded it to the DGCA. DGCA is the nodal authority for issuing or suspending an operator's permit.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/logistics/article3394230.ece?homepage=true&ref=wl_home