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Drones

Dassault Systèmes India organises Virtual “Drone-a-thon: Propelling Sustainability

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Team Terneagle from Punjab Engineering College emerged as the winner of Dassault Systèmes’ first-ever virtual hackathon in India on drones and UAVs- Drone-a-thon: Propelling Sustainability. Team Terneagle will recieve a cash prize, access to Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform and brand applications, and mentorship from the 3DEXPERIENCE Lab.   The winner was chosen from the top five identified teams based on their idea pitch presentations on themes like agriculture, city, healthcare and defense to the honorable jury. These teams are Terneagle, Kisan Mitra, Agro-Raptor, Las-Innovation & Pegasus. The jury panel was comprised of Piyush Srivastav- Chief, Natural Resource Divison, Tata Steel ; Steven Woolley, CTO, EXICOM ; Abhishek Burman, CEO, General Aeronautics ; A.K. Ghosh, Professor, IIT Kanpur ; S. Sridhar, Addl. General Manager HAL India ; and Frederic Vacher, Director, 3DEXPERIENCE Lab, Dassault Systèmes. Along with Team Terneagle the other top teams AgroRaptor and Pegasus also got an opportunity to present at the 3DEXPERIENCE Conference 2020 India.   Team Terneagle addressed the challenge of delivering parcels by e-commerce companies from the delivery center to customers using drones to reduce delivery time and safety aspects of delivery. The drones designed by Team Terneagle can be used in consumer goods delivery, postal deliveries, food deliveries, healthcare-medical deliveries and even in disaster management. The major aspect of their design is the ability to transform between quadcopter mode and glider mode. Quadcopter mode will take the drone to the desired height while the glider mode will help the drone to travel at high altitudes at high speed. The drone features vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capabilities, large cargo space, GPS return to home, anti-collison light ID plate, LED plates, RFID and SIM/No Permission No Takeoff (NPNT) safety features. With capabilities to function in full autonomous mode, VTOL capabilities, quick flight speed and large range, it can be easily used for multiple applications when it meets regulatory standards. This design and Team Terneagle will be mentored by the 3DEXPERIENCE Lab network worldwide. The nationwide ‘Drone-a-thon: Propelling Sustainability’ hackathon received over 440 entries; of which the 21 best ideas were selected for screening. Further to the screening, the top 10 teams got a chance to design, model and simulate their drones and UAVs concepts in real time with access to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform along with training and guidance from 3DEXPERIENCE Edu and 3DEXPERIENCE Lab mentors. Further, the designs were validated on parameters like sizing, aerodynamic, aeroelastic, structual form, propulsion, stability, control, electronics and fabrication analysis. The juries considered criteria like innovation in design and working model of the drones, practicality, digital designs, systems engineering, aesthetics and futuristic design and manufacturability in the Indian context with available local raw materials and components. Drone-a-thon: Propelling Sustainability provided a platform to inspire young minds to ideate, create futuristic drones and UAVs in India that can be manufactured locally to help farming and agriculture, city planning and surveillance, provide healthcare facilities and medical supplies in remote areas and help defence establishments in the country.

Cargo

Blue Dart launches the ‘My Blue Dart App’ to mark its 37th Anniversary

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India’s express logistics service provider and part of the Deutsche Post DHL Group (DPDHL), Blue Dart has launched its first ever consumer app, the ‘My Blue Dart App’. The app has been designed to provide tailored solutions and act as a one stop shop for customers ‘on-the-go’.T he ‘My Blue Dart App’ is currently available on Google Play and Apple Store. The launch of the app will bring in digital innovation in business dealings. Commenting on the app launch, Mr. Manoj Madhavan, CIO, Blue Dart, said “The ‘My Blue Dart App’ re-emphasizes our commitment and strengthens our value proposition. Our user-friendly, secure and reliable mobile application will now allow customers to track their shipment, locate the nearest Blue Dart store or find out the best pricing anywhere and at any time all at the click of a button, through the app. With comprehensive features and ease of use, the app will be an ideal platform for our customers to fulfill all their logistics requirements.” Ketan Kulkarni, CMO & Head – Business Development, Blue Dart, commented,“ the ‘My Blue Dart App’ is a step forward in leveraging the use of technology to enhance customer experience. We are positive that the app will be welcomed by our customers and they will appreciate the unparalleled experience.” The application gives customers the flexibility to manage all their logistics requirements with 5 simple yet effective options: TrackDart – Enables the customer to track their shipment anywhere, anytime. Users can use the camera to scan the barcode instead of keying in the AWB bill manually Location Finder – Benefits the customer by helping them find the nearest Blue Dart store across our 14000+ locations using GPS finder Transit Time & Price Finder – Provides the customer with a user-friendly method to find out the best rate while sending/receiving a shipment Schedule a Pickup – A specialized post login feature for our registered credit customers Contact Us- To help customers connect with our reliable, responsive, and resilient Blue Darters, eager to provide solutions to any queries

Defence

Lockheed Martin Names Israel Aerospace Industries as “Elite Supplier”

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Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) was named “Elite Supplier” by Lockheed Martin for the third consecutive year. Lockheed Martin’s recognition of IAI excellence dates back to 2002 when IAI developed a unique solution in response to a challenge posed by Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky division: 20% weight reduction and lowering the price of the horizontal folding stabilizers of the Black Hawk helicopter in UH/HH-60M configuration. IAI remains the sole supplier of this product to Lockheed Martin. The horizontal folding stabilizer is a proprietary IAI development made of composite materials. It controls the ascending and descent of the helicopter. To date, IAI has manufactured over 4,000 stabilizers which are mounted in all the helicopters of the US military. The composite materials consist of graphite fibers that have been saturated with resin to enable molding an assembly that maintains the same physical properties and strength of the product. From a maintenance perspective, this is a highly durable product that withstands corrosion and erosion while being as strong as metal. Moti Elmalech, General Manager IAI/ELTA Beer Shevasite, commented, “Being recognized with the award out of many vendors with a global reputation, especially during these challenging times, makes us even more gratified and proud. The ability to maintain perfect performance over time increases our motivation to keep up the good work for this strategic customer. We thank Lockheed Martin for its decision and for trusting us as their partners for so many years.” IAI was recognized for its impressive compliance with the high standards Lockheed Martin demands of its suppliers, including quality, timeliness, response to special requirements, and attractive pricing. IAI/ELTA Beer Sheva, specializes in re-designing metal aircraft parts, antennas, and radar domes and their manufacturing from composites to drive down the costs and achieve significant weight reductions is part if the new innovative division which is being established in the site.

Civil Aviation

Qatar Airways Helps Bring Tens of Thousands of Seafarers Home

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23 November 2020 Qatar Airways is playing an important part in the repatriation of seafarers stranded due to the pandemic, working closely with governments and the maritime industry to operate hundreds of chartered and scheduled flights to help bring home over 150,000 workers. Understanding the difficulties and challenges many of these vital workers have faced in returning home or completing crew changes, Qatar Airways has recently established a dedicated Mariner Lounge at Hamad International Airport. Seafarers and offshore worker passengers can relax and enjoy refreshments in the exclusive Mariner Lounge while they wait for their onward flight. In addition to an international selection of food and beverages, facilities include unlimited high-speed wi-fi, shower facilities, a television area, reading materials and a Business Centre. The combination of an extensive global network with more than 100 destinations, a selection of fuel-efficient aircraft to operate charters and the Best Airport in the Middle East has enabled the airline to quickly and seamlessly support the maritime industry to repatriate their workers and facilitate crew changes. The airline’s commitment to take people home has seen it operate charters for maritime workers to many destinations not previously served by Qatar Airways, including Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Bridgetown, Barbados; Lomé, Togo; Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago; and Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.  In addition, Qatar Airways sustained operations throughout the pandemic to many important locations for seafarers, such as Amsterdam, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Oslo, Sao Paulo, Seoul and Singapore.  With the support of the maritime industry, Qatar Airways was also able to establish scheduled services to Cebu and Clark in the Philippines. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “Qatar Airways recognises the vital role shipping plays and how seafarers are essential to keeping the global economy open and operating. As a gesture of our thanks and to show our support to the industry, we have established a dedicated Mariner Lounge at Hamad International Airport that is complimentary for all seafarers and offshore workers travelling with Qatar Airways. While waiting for their connecting flight they can relax in comfort and enjoy the wide variety of refreshments on offer. “Throughout the pandemic, we have worked closely with governments and the maritime industry to operate as many flights as possible to facilitate crew changes and to reunite seafarers with their families and loved ones. While other airlines stopped flying, Qatar Airways pledges to remain open for business to facilitate essential business travel. With plans to further expand our network to more than 125 destinations, we will continue to work closely with all stakeholders to continue to be the airline of choice to keep seafarers and the global economy moving.” Qatar Airways’ strategic investment in a variety of fuel-efficient, twin-engine aircraft, including the largest fleet of Airbus A350 aircraft, has enabled it to continue flying throughout this crisis and perfectly positions it to lead the sustainable recovery of international travel. The airline recently took delivery of three new state-of-the-art Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, increasing its total A350 fleet to 52 with an average age of just 2.6 years. Due to COVID-19’s impact on travel demand, the airline has grounded its fleet of Airbus A380s as it is not environmentally justifiable to operate such a large, four-engine aircraft in the current market. Qatar Airways has also recently launched a new programme that enables passengers to voluntarily offset the carbon emissions associated with their journey at the point of booking. Qatar Airways currently operates more than 700 weekly flights to over 100 destinations across the globe. By the end of the IATA Winter Season, Qatar Airways plans to rebuild its network to 126 destinations including 20 in Africa, 11 in the Americas, 42 in Asia-Pacific, 38 in Europe and 15 in the Middle East. Many cities will be served with a strong schedule with daily or more frequencies. A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was named ‘World’s Best Airline’ by the 2019 World Airline Awards, managed by Skytrax. It was also named ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’, ‘World’s Best Business Class’, and ‘Best Business Class Seat’, in recognition of its ground-breaking Business Class experience, Qsuite. The Qsuite seat layout is a 1-2-1 configuration, providing passengers with the most spacious, fully private, comfortable and socially distanced Business Class product in the sky. It is the only airline to have been awarded the coveted ‘Skytrax Airline of the Year’ title, which is recognised as the pinnacle of excellence in the airline industry, five times.

Civil Aviation

Gulf Air Appoints New Bahraini Country Manager in Muscat

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Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain :22 November 2020Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, announces the appointment of Mrs. Shams Al Doseri as Country Manager for its Muscat station after relocating from Ethiopia back into the Middle East. Mrs. Al Doseri will represent Gulf Air in the Sultanate of Oman after gaining a wide experience in sales and outstation roles; a country that has been served by Gulf Air since 1957 and it is one of Gulf Air’s key routes in the GCC. Mrs. Al Doseri, the first Bahraini female to run a Gulf Air outstation, will take on the challenge of further strengthening Gulf Air’s growth in Oman by utilizing the experience gained whilst spending nearly 10 years in the airline’s Sales department in Bahrain in various roles and abroad. Gulf Air is committed to invest in its Bahraini workforce and their career development and as such, it continues to provide opportunities for Bahraini nationals to take over senior positions in the company. Gulf Air is proud that it remains a leader in the Bahrainisation programme in the Kingdom as it provides the opportunity for local talents and experienced personnel to work in its various areas of the airline’s business.

RCS

Hyderabad – Nashik SpiceJet Flight Flagged off under UDAN

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Taking the next stride in boosting regional aerial connectivity in India under RCS-UDAN (Regional Connectivity Scheme – UdeDeshKaAamNagrik) of the Government of India, the second direct flight commenced operations today from Hyderabad, Telangana to Nashik, Maharashtra. Shri ChhaganBhujbal, Guardian Minister, Nashik, Shri Hemant Godse, Member of Parliament, Nashik, Shri Surah Mandhare, District Collector, Nashik, Shri Sunil Patil, Superintendent of Police Nashik Rural along with Shri Manish Rawal, Chairman Infrastructure Committee NIMA Nashik & Shri Seshagiri Rao, CEO, HAL Airport Nashik flagged off the flight operations at the Nashik Airport. The officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and the Airport Authority of India (AAI) were also present at the launch. So far, 297 routes and 53 airports have been operationalized under the UDAN scheme. Post the successful launch of flight operations by Alliance Air on the Hyderabad – Nashik route, SpiceJet has become the second airline to commence direct flight operations on this route. SpiceJet was awarded the Hyderabad – Nashik route under the RCS-UDAN-2 bidding process. The airline is being provided Viability Gap Funding (VGF) under the UDAN scheme to keep the fares affordable & accessible for the common people. The airline will be operating four weekly flights and will deploy its 78-seater Q400 aircraft. Nashik is the 14th destination to be connected under UDAN by SpiceJet. The Hyderabad – Nashik route received a massive demand from the passengers owing to the trade & tourism opportunities possessed by the Nashik city. Nashik is also called the city of pilgrimage. It is one of the 4 pilgrimage sites that organises KumbhMela which is held once every 12 years. The gateway city for the Shirdi Sai Temple &Trimbakeshwar Temple, Nashik in itself is a pilgrim tourist destination due to the presence of holy temples. Moreover, it is also known as the Grape and Wine capital of India.Furthermore, the city is home to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Aircraft Division Nashik that manufactures MiG& Su aircrafts along with K-13 missiles. In addition to these, Nashik has also been a cluster for many big manufacturers like Mahindra & Mahindra, Bosch, ABB, Crompton Greaves, ThyssenKrupp, CEAT, etc.

Tourism

IHG launches its biggest Cyber Sale Offer ever

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IHG has taken the biggest shopping event of the year to new heights with the launch of its Cyber Sale: a guaranteed 50% off participating hotels and resorts across India in key cities and popular leisure destinations such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Jaipur, Agra, Kochi,  Mahabalipuram and more; as well as in Middle East, Africa, Australasia, South Pacific and Asia, for IHG Rewards Club members when booking a two night minimum stay. Non-members will receive a guaranteed 45% off when booking a two-night minimum stay. With Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales around the corner, savvy shoppers can treat themselves, friends and family to something that can’t be wrapped this holiday season. IHG Rewards Club members will also receive a two-day pre-sale window to book: Sale dates: IHG Rewards Club members: 24 Nov to 2 Dec. Public sale begins 26 Nov to 2 Dec Stay dates: IHG Rewards Club Members: 25 Nov to 30 June 2021. Public: 27 Nov 2020 to 30 June 2021 Plus, these offers are backed with the safety and assurance guests need, including flexibility to modify the reservation without penalty at least one day prior to arrival, and the IHG Clean Promise – meaning guests can travel with confidence without sacrificing on the fun!

Airports

AAI observes Aviation Safety Awareness Week 2020

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23rd November 2020 Country’s largest Airport operator and sole Air Navigation Service Provider Airports Authority of India (AAI) commenced Aviation Safety Awareness Week 2020 (23rd November to 27th November 2020). The week-long celebration is being observed at all airports and ANS locations managed by AAI across India. The Safety Awareness Week began with the address of Shri Arvind Singh, Chairman, AAI. He requested all Regional Executive Directors & Airport Directors to be proactive and devote time personally for monitoring safety performance of their respective region/station. Shri Singh further stressed that during Covid-19 situation in spite of reduced flight movements, it has been observed that wildlife/bird menace has increased at airports. Safety preventive measures should continue unabated irrespective of traffic volume. To raise awareness on Aviation Safety, AAI will undertake various employee engagement programs at the airports and ANS stations like reviewing of documents and facilities, Mock exercises, preventive maintenance etc. Various social campaigns too will be rolled out to raise awareness on the issue. Banners and posters are being displayed across AAI offices and operational centres to educate both external and internal stakeholders on the significance of the Safety Awareness Week. Shri Maneesh Kumar DDG, DGCA has emphasized to achieve long term objective of Zero fatality by the year 2030 as envisaged by ICAO in its Global Aviation Safety Plan (GASP-2020-22) through better managed safety systems of stakeholders. In order to make people of surrounding community aware about their role in ensuring safety of aircraft operation in local airport, Airport Directors will be organizing awareness programme in school/collages on role of local residents in aviation safety. As a safety-driven and value governed organization, it has always been AAI’s endeavour to achieve excellence with ethics. Through the Safety Awareness Week, AAI will further reiterate its commitment towards aviation safety in coherence with Global and Regional Safety Plans. In this process, AAI is committed to remain safe, transparent and accountable for its actions to stakeholders and the society at large. AAI’s Directorate of Aviation Safety has strived in undertaking sincere efforts in aligning its function of advising the accountable executives regarding safety compliance in line with aviation regulator and ICAO. Aviation safety has taken the front seat in all processes of the AAI.

Tourism

2,500 participants from 59 countries participated at Gulf Travel Show 2020

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Dubai, November 24, 2020: The first-ever virtual event in the region, the Gulf Travel Show 2020 ended its final day with 40 plus exhibitors, 3,000 one-on-one meetings, 2,500 visitors which included travel agents, tour operators, tourism boards, airlines, hotels, travel management companies, international agencies and media. San Jeet, Director, DDP group reiterated in his address, “Advancing connections in a changing world has never been more important. We want you to make the most of this platform and help us shape the future. Our goal is to offer a virtual show that is as dynamic and as rewarding as a physical one. As we embark on this new endeavour, we intend to build connections, grow businesses and establish long-term mutually beneficial relationships.” Kai Miethig, a travel buyer from Bahrain said, “As a participant and attendee of the first-ever virtual Gulf Travel Show, I was very impressed by the presentation, the platform and the show. Theuser-friendly design, the entrance, the overview hall, pre-scheduled meetings, the quality of exhibitors and information was absolutely great. Overall, it was a splendid experience.” Beverly Au Yong, Area Director, Singapore Tourism Board, Middle East said, “Singapore Tourism Board is delighted to have participated in the Gulf Travel Show organised by TravTalk. The event gave us an opportunity to reconnect with our valued partners from the region and engage in many meaningful conversations with them. We also witnessed and participated in some outstanding panel discussions led by stalwarts of the travel industry, which were insightful and topical. This show has brought together industry experts, world-class speakers and attendees from across the region under one roof, allowing them to engage, connect and better their relationship.” Local and international industry leaders attracted viewers with their insightful and engaging panel discussions. For the first time, the first female Emirati General Manager interviewed the first female Saudi General Manager in a very engaging conversation that shared many aspects of promoting more youth to the hospitality industry in the region. Sharihan Al Mashary, Hotelier, General Manager, Asia Society United Nations SDSN Youth interviewed Maram Kokandi, General Manager of the Park Inn by Radisson Jeddah. Re-connecting with the region: what to expect now? Nasir Jamal Khan, CEO of Al Naboodah Travel, raised this question with Khaled S. Al-Idrissi, Regional Director of Sales, Middle East and Africa – Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts; Siobhan Naughton, Trade Executive, Tourism Ireland; and Nina Gupte, Head of Administration, Al Tamimi Co. Jamal Abdulnazar, CEO, Cozmo Travel highlighted how to deal with the new normal in conversation with Arijit Munshi, General Manager, Tune Protect; Sanjay D’souza, General Manager, Sayara Rent a Car; and Binoy Ouseph, Commercial Director,ibytab2btravel. Trends defined by technology companies were explained during insightful discussions with Travelport and Amadeus. Gulf Travel Show’s exclusive buyer programme gained the most traction during the show. Buyers appreciated the personalised services and enjoyed the competitive Leader Board. A lot of exciting giveaways kept the agents working till late evening.

Top Stories

WORK TOWARDS MAKING UDAN SCHEME SUSTAINABLE: PRADEEP SINGH KHAROLA

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Launched in 2016, the flagship program of MoCA, RCS-UDAN completes 4 years on on 21st October 2020.  A virtual celebration was held that observed participation of various stakeholders from the State Governments, Airport Authority of India, Airlines, and other officials from the ministry.     Shri Pradeep Singh Kharola, Secretary, MoCA has stated that the stakeholders should work towards making the UDAN scheme sustainable on its own and improve its efficiency.  During a video conference to commemorate the UDAN day on 21st October, he said that UDAN scheme has established the importance of travelling by air for common man specially to far flung areas. Shri Kharola congratulated the stakeholders and UDAN team for making the scheme successful with untiring efforts.  He urged the airlines to undertake marketing initiatives so that more and more people can take benefit of the UDAN scheme. Senior officials from AAI, DGCA, MoCA and airlines also joined the video conference. Shri Kharola said that one of the most important features of the scheme is that different agencies collaborated and synchronised their efforts towards the success of the scheme. He added that UDAN has created a virtuous circle wherein the UDAN routes feed the national network and the national routes further create new opportunities for the people across the country who then generate demand for more regional routes. Shri Arvind Singh, Chairman, AAI said that AAI is committed to build the infrastructure required for the UDAN scheme across the country. Smt. Usha Padhee, JS, MoCA thanked the stakeholders for their combined efforts and continuous support in making the UDAN scheme a success. She added that Government of India has acknowledged the contribution of UDAN initiative and identified 21st October 2020 (the day on which the UDAN Scheme document was first released) as UDAN Day. RCS-UDAN, “Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik” is a Government of India’s flagship program which aims to provide affordable, economically viable and profitable air travel on regional routes. This Regional Connectivity Scheme offers unique opportunity to a common man to fly at an affordable price. UDAN has played a major role in adding new airports and routes to the aviation landscape of the country. 50 unserved and underserved airports (including 5 heliports) with 285 routes have been added under UDAN across the length and breadth of India. As the implementing agency, AAI has an ambitious plan to develop at least 100 airports/waterdromes/heliports by 2024 under the Scheme.

FOREWORD

Dear Reader’s,

 

The current edition of Aviation World has covered many areas of Aerospace & Defence based on the latest development in the sector. The front cover highlights three different images, first for the Union Civil Aviation Minister ….. who is leading from the front to steer Indian Civil Aviation sector to witness one of the most interesting phases. He is also facing most tumultuous timing due to the ongoing financial stress in the Aviation sector due to ATF rising cost and long airspace restrictions resulting in mounting losses for Indian carriers. Despite of all the ground level challenges,the minister is addressing new things on regular basis which keeps the sector motivated. We have featured many such developmental works in this edition done under his guidance which will be interesting to read.

Our lead story on “ The West War” is another important feature which covers the ground level reality of the challenges faced by the Aviation sector. Its though time ahead and we believe it will pass soon .

There are features on Regional connectivity and MoCA revised rules on the UDAN 2.0 and how its going to transform the flying experience within India.

In this edition, we have covered topics on MRO,Various Policy changes,Sea Plane Operations by SkyHop Aviation, TATA-Airbus joint project on C295 military aircraft under Make In India which is expected to roll out soon and many other interesting contents which will be good to read.

We are covering Farnborough International Airshow 2026 from 20-24July 2026 in London and our next edition will be based on the same event.For features, you may contact our team on priority basis.

 

Happy Reading!

USEFUL LINK

NEWSLETTER

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We have started 2026 on a very positive note and we look forward to increase our footprints to more locations and induct many more new companies in our campaign.. Do write to us at : editor@aviationworld.in

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