Major boost for Pak Air Force as China delivers first overhauled JF-17 jet

Current Affairs

In a major boost for the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), China has delivered the first overhauled multi-role JF-17 fighter jet to Islamabad as part of a project undertaken by the two countries over a decade ago for the development and manufacture of the aircraft.

China and Pakistan had begun joint development and manufacture of the single-engine light JF-17 jets over a decade ago. Beijing delivered the first batch in 2007 and a number of them were later commissioned by the PAF, state-run Global Times reported on Wednesday.

After a decade of use, it was time for the first JF-17s to undergo overhauls, the report quoted military analysts as saying, adding that the first overhaul started in November 2017 after a contract was signed between the two sides in 2016.

Changsha 5712 Aircraft Industry Co Ltd under the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) reassembled the jet and delivered it to its Pakistani client in March, the daily quoted a report by China Aviation News.

This is also the first time AVIC has overhauled a made-for-export third generation fighter, or fourth generation according to another widely used standard, the report said.

"The first [JF-17] overhaul marks an important milestone [in the JF-17 project]," Fu Qianshao, a Chinese air defence expert, said.

It represents the trial-and-error phase of the project and provided experience in establishing standards for other JF-17 overhauls in future, Qianshao said.


 The overhaul of the fighter jet includes major maintenance, featuring repairs and replacement of old components, including the airframe and engine.

Jet lenders plan to sell 75% stake, bidder's net worth should be Rs 1000 cr

Company News

Jet Airways India Ltd.’s lenders invited initial bids to buy as much as 75 percent of the debt-laden carrier, starting a process that will determine the future of India’s oldest surviving private airline.
Potential buyers must submit their interest by April 10, State Bank of India Ltd., the lead creditor, said in a document Monday. A strategic bidder should have a net worth of at least Rs 1,000 crore ($144 million) in the preceding financial year, or at least three years of experience in the airline business.

The airline is credited with successfully breaking the monopoly of state-run Air India Ltd. and was once India’s second-biggest carrier, but its fleet has dwindled to 26 planes from 124 as recently as January. Accumulated losses in nine of the past 11 years have caused Jet Airways to delay payments to banks, lessors and employees, while its founder Naresh Goyal was forced to cede control of the carrier.

Jet Airways, part-owned by Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways PJSC, needs Rs 8500 crore to get back on its feet after a fare war by budget airlines wiped out profits and it racked up debt of more than $1 billion.

The fate of Jet Airways is crucial to the legacy of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he faces an election that begins April 11 after holding power for the last five years. While he remains the favorite in the polls, his party has faced setbacks of late and he has been criticized for not living up to a key election promise to create 10 million new jobs a year. A collapse of Jet Airways, with 23,000 employees, could further dent his credentials.

Consortiums submitting bids should have no more than three members, with each holding a share of no less than 15 percent, according to Monday’s document.

 After qualified bidders are selected, they will be provided access to the company’s data and the bid document...Read More

Jet Airways fate hangs in balance over funding delays, depleting sales

Companies News

Jet Airways' fate hangs in balance with fast depleting sales and non-committal stance by Etihad Airways on fresh infusion of funds.

On Monday, the airline's founder chairman Naresh Goyal wrote to staff seeking more time to finalise a resolution plan given its complexities. Goyal's email said he is still in talks with lenders and Etihad, but aviation sources indicated that he is looking for a new investor to keep the company afloat.

On Tuesday morning, civil aviation minister Suresh Prabhu directed the department secretary to hold an emergency meeting on grounding of Jet's flights and asked for a status report.

The delay in fund infusion is leading to massive cancellations and employees are increasingly losing confidence in management commitments. Travel agents too are becoming apprehensive about the future of the airline and a few corporate houses have asked their employees to follow discretion while booking Jet tickets.Jet insiders say its truncated schedule of 200 flights each day is not sustainable to meet expenses.

Amit Kelkar, vice president of Jet Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Welfare Association, wrote to the civil aviation ministry on Tuesday, stating that with repeated payment defaults, members had lost confidence in the management. The letter also warned of safety risks, as engineers were not getting paid.

The National Aviators Guild which represents pilots is meeting this afternoon to decide its future course of action. Earlier this month, the union had written to labour minister Santosh Gangwar about pay delays.


 A section of employees however is still hopeful of a positive outcome over the course of the next few days...Read More

Jet shares rise on report that airline has secured $293-mn loan from PNB

Companies News

Shares of Jet Airways Ltd rose as much as 4.8 per cent to Rs 255, the highest in over a month, after a report said the debt-laden carrier has secured a loan of Rs 20.50 billion ($293.07 million) from the Punjab National Bank (PNB).

The airline has raised foreign currency term loans worth Rs 11 billion and a non-fund based credit facility of Rs 9.50 billion from PNB, according to copies of loan documents reviewed by Indian daily Mint.

Jet and PNB did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The loan documents mention that Jet will use the credit facility for its working capital needs, but the money would be mainly used to pay rental dues to aircraft lessors and salary arrears, Mint reported, citing a source familiar with the matter.

Jet said last week another three aircraft had been grounded due to its failure to make payments, taking the total number to 28, but it has not specified the lessors involved.


 The airline has an option to sell down as much as Rs 2.50 billion of the term loan to other investors, Mint added...

IAF hit the target in Balakot; we don't count kills: Air Chief BS Dhanoa

Current Affairs

Speaking on air strikes carried out by Indian Air Force (IAF) across the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan, Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa on Monday said that the IAF had hit the target in Balakot, otherwise why would Pakistan Prime Minister have responded.

"If we dropped bombs in the jungles, then why would he respond?", said Dhanoa.

He further added saying, "Death toll depends on the number of people present in the target, IAF doesn't count the number of dead", said the IAF chief.

"IAF is not in a position to clarify the number of casualties. The government will clarify that. We don't count human casualties, we count what targets we have hit or not", clarified Dhanoa.

Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa said that MiG21 used in shooting down Pakistan F-16 is an upgraded aircraft with advanced weapons system and the casualty figure in air strike on Balakot camp will be given by the government.

When asked when IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman will be back his fighter jet cockpit, IAF chief Dhanoa said, "Whether he (Wing Commander Abhinandan) flies or not depends on his medical fitness.

That's why post-ejection, he has undergone a medical check. Whatever treatment required, will be given. Once we get his medical fitness, he will get into fighter cockpit," he said.All required treatment will be given to Wing Commander Abhinandan, Dhanoa said.


 The Air Force, Dhanoa said, has to get its act together and find out what caused the mid-air clash ahead of the opening of the Bengaluru air show on February 19 and helicopter crash in Kashmir last week.

Indigo crisis: India facing pilot shortage; 2,000 more needed this year

Economy & Policy:

The cancellation of over 30 flights by IndiGo has bought the growing shortage of pilots to the fore, especially when airlines are expanding their fleet.
According to industry estimates, more than 100 new planes will be added in the next 12 months, a bulk of which will come from IndiGo alone, currently adding nine planes every month. As a result, around 1,500-2,000 additional pilots will be required in 2018-19 to fly new aircraft and tide over the existing crisis in the cockpit.

Despite more flights in operation, the number of additional commanders being recruited is slowing down. Aviation industry estimates the number of additional commanders recruited by carriers fell by around 10 per cent in 2017-18 over 2016-17. This was despite domestic carriers scrambling for more expatriates to make up for the dwindling pool of qualified home-grown commanders.

According to CAPA Research, the country has over 7,963 pilots and will require an additional 17,000 pilots in the next 10 years, of which 9,000 first officers will be upgraded to commanders.
IndiGo currently has 3,100 pilots on its payroll. The carrier constitutes for 38 per cent of pilots recruited by domestic airlines. It also has a domestic market share of 41 per cent and is planning an aggressive overseas flightpath. It has over 1,250 captains, which effectively constitutes for over 31 per cent of the 4,000 commanders in service.


According to an airline executive, the ballpark figure of five to six commanders and an equal number of co-pilots, or a total of 12 per aircraft, is needed. “It also takes four to five years for a pilot to become a commander,” he said.

GoAir bird strike case: Pilots shut down wrong engine, says DGCA probe

Current Affairs:

While engine number 2 of the flight was affected due to bird strike, the pilots on GoAir's Delhi-Mumbai flight decided to shut down engine number 1, stated a report of Indian aviation watchdog DGCA on the incident that occurred on June 21, 2017.

Once the aircraft stopped climbing at an altitude of 3,330 feet, the pilots "realised their mistake", and consequently started engine 1 and brought back the plane to Delhi airport, stated the Directorate General of Civil Aviation report dated November 5, 2018.

"(The) incident was caused by incorrect identification of engine affected with high vibration followed by non-adherence to recommended procedures, lack of situational awareness, poor cockpit resource management and poor handling of aircraft during emergency subsequent to bird strike," it said.

The probe report has recommended that "suitable corrective action" should be taken for both the pilots "as deemed by the DGCA headquarters in view of the above findings".


The incident happened on an A320 aircraft, which had a total 156 passengers, at 5.58 am on June 21, 2017...Read More

Vistara to raise frequency on existing domestic routes, says Leslie Thng

Companies News:

Vistara, joint venture of Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, is to raise its frequency on existing domestic routes, besides adding one or two destinations, Chief Executive Leslie Thng said.

It began flying in January 2015 and operates 130 daily flights, with 22 aircraft. Thng said they were aiming at double-digit capacity growth and would add six to 10 of Airbus’ A320neo planes in 2019. Deliveries will begin from the second half of the year. There is no plan to take more aircraft on lease.

The airline has 56 planes on order — 50 of Airbus (A320s and A321neos) and six of the Boeing 787-9s. It will induct the Boeing planes from the first quarter of 2020 and has begun training its pilots for this.

ALSO READ: Govt committee to decide if Vistara should get foreign flying permit


 “We are still waiting for final approval for international operations,” said the chief executive. The airline was originally aiming to ply abroad from the end of 2018. Government rules require an airline to have a minimum of 20 planes before this could be allowed. Vistara became eligible last year and had applied the civil aviation ministry in June, with a plan for flights to Bangkok, Phuket, Colombo and Male by the winter schedule of 2018...Read More