Interviews

Having spent over two decades in Business Aviation, worked into multiple verticals and taking up various roles, the journey has been good enough for Mr. Abhishek Kumar. He happily accepts that he feel blessed in life to get all good opportunities which shaped his career. Within the time span, he has played a very key role in all his assignments which has achieved him an accolade from the industry peers. In this candid interview, Mr. Abhishek Kumar, Business Leader talks with Vishal Kashyap, Managing Editor, Aviation World about his Aviation journey and shares his perspective on the evolving sector. Excerpts… Q: Tell us about your journey into Aviation? How you started and about your professional associations? A: I started my career in 2004. My first assignment was with a company involved in trading of aircraft parts and consumables. I was there on a short term contract to prepare a software for that company to minimise the wastage of consumables. I made a software using FIFO (First In First Out) method and it worked well and saved a lot for that company. Started working with OEMs like Honeywell, Recaro Seats for their projects in India (As their authorised service center). This helped me to setup Spare Parts Business Unit in one of the leading MROs in India from scratch and converting the same into profitable entity. I learnt the nuances of maintenance which further helped me to shape up my career in another MRO in New Delhi. Having learnt trading and maintenance the next step was to see what happens on the other side. So I joined one of the leading charter management company who just took over a NSOP. Worked tirelessly to add 11 aircrafts on the AOP during the COVID period. Q: You have played an instrumental role at senior management level. How has been the experience in terms of opportunities and responsibilities? A: If you ask me, I have been lucky enough to get the opportunities which shaped my career. I always believed in upgrading my skills. I would have been a software developer till date working on the coding side if I would not have taken the opportunity offered to me to join the sales and operations. I take the current opportunity and start working on my next level skill development. Starting from day one, I was responsible for complete P & L which helped me to take the risk and it really boosted my career. If you have to reach at top, you must have the appetite to take the risks. Being responsible for complete P & L gives the leverage to interact with various stake holders within the organization and it gives you overall BIGGER picture which normally one doesn’t see working in silo. Secondly I am a firm believer of two things which really helped me to get these opportunities. FIRST : It is important for you to know WHAT NOT TO DO even if you don’t know What to do next ? – It simply means I am very clear what all things I don’t have to do come what may. I have been a learner and keep learning new things and hence don’t know what will come next and what to do. But based on my learning and experiences, I have a list of what not to do and it really helps me. SECOND : Focus on your own growth. There is a proverb in Hindi “ Tumhara kiya tumhare saath and mera kiya Mere saath). Again I am a firm believer of this and it has helped me a lot during my last 20+ years journey.   ” It’s important for one to know WHAT NOT TO DO. Several people will tell you what to do but no one tells you what’s not to do and actual success lies in knowing this fact.”   Q: There has been complete transition in Business Aviation in terms of number of aircrafts, business volume, type of pax, etc. How do you see the evolution and what next is projected? A: The recent transformation in Business Aviation, marked by significant changes in aircraft numbers, business volume and passenger profiles – reflects broader shifts in the global economic landscape and evolving client preferences. More aircrafts are entering the market which are driven by rising demand from HNIs & corporates. From large cabins jets to light jets, fleets are now catering to a wider range of needs, including short haul and regional. The pandemic initially suppressed business travel but has since rebounded strongly, with a shift towards more flexible, on-demand and private travel solutions. Increasing emphasis on greener, more efficient aircraft like those equipped with advanced engines affects operational volume and costs. Business Aviation used to be dominated by corporates and HNIs but the client base now includes entrepreneurs, top executives and even government officials. High speed internet on board for remote work capabilities has become a new standard now. New airports and FBOs are being developed to cater to increased traffic. WHAT NEXT : Adoption of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), development of zero-emission aircraft and increased emphasis on carbon offsetting. Industry is looking forward to more flexible ownership models like fractional ownership, memberships and pay per use schemes. Client demands are increasing now to have highly personalized travel experience including bespoke interiors, tailored amenities and seamless digital interfaces. The future of Business Aviation is poised for a combination of technological innovation, sustainability abd personalized service. While the core value of offering private, efficient and flexible travel remains unchanged, the ways in which this is achieved will continue to evolve and that’s going to bring new changes and dimension in this industry. Companies that embrace digital transformation, prioritize environmental responsibility and adapt to changing client expectations will be best positioned to achive bigger in this dynamic landscape. Q: What’s your observation of Fractional ownership of Business jets in India? A: Fractional ownership in aviation in India is a burgeoning concept and it still have to evolve.

Aerospace industry leaders from global OEMs joined together recently to assess the capabilities of BMT Aerospace in India and understand how next-gen manufacturing capabilities align with this evolving landscape. With the Indian government’s push for self-reliance and the rapid expansion of the aviation sector, India presents a significant growth opportunity. To understand more on the plans of expanding its footprints in India, Benoit Reynders, CEO, BMT Aerospace in an exclusive interview with Vishal Kashyap, Managing Editor, Aviation World discuss in details about the present capability, its sister concern IGW in India, future plans of investments and expansion and many more topics.. Here are the excerpts of the interview: What does BMT Aerospace manufactures and what presence does it has into India? Let me start off with a quote, “I would say every two seconds in the world there is an aircraft taking off with parts of the BMT Aerospace.” We are a company which is specialised actually in making geared parts and we have presence into three locations, Belgium, the United States and Romania. We are the single source, first tier to Airbus for making the rack and the pinion, which goes into the slat system. So the full slat on an Airbus is made by a Belgian consortium, where BMT Aerospace makes the rack and the pinion which are having teeth and are actually the most important part to move the slat in and out, which generate more lift when it’s operating at lower speed. That’s the first very important part we are making. Secondly, we are active almost on all important jet engines in the world. In the jet engine, there are gears on three locations. You have the inlet gearbox, which is part of the central axis so that driving power, you need to take that. It goes through via the inlet gearbox, through the transfer shaft or the drive shaft to the AGB. The gears which are provided on the AGB, so the inlet gearbox and the AGB auxiliary gearbox which are very important for the aircraft because they generate all kinds of electricity or power to the aircraft. The gears which are sitting in there, BMT Aerospace provides them for most of the well-known engines in the world. We talk about the LEAP engine through Safran; Pratt & Whitney engines, the GTF; the Rolls-Royce engines. We provide both for commercial as well for military platforms as the F-35, F-16, and so on, where we provide these gears. And then as a last platform, we manufacture gears for helicopter systems. What’s the expansion plan of business presence in the future in India? First of all, it’s not BMT Aerospace, which is active for the moment in India. Its sister company which is part of the same holding called IGW( Industrial Gears Watteeuw) , a global manufacturer of gears and gearboxes and which is making today already around 30,000 gears a year out of India. These are industrial gears that are used in agriculture but not yet aerospace gears. As a company, BMT Aerospace believes that the Indian market will be one of the prime aerospace markets in the future. And it’s going to be very important to be able to support OEMs like Safran and other players there locally. A couple of weeks ago, the big players like Safran, Honeywell and others joined us to look at our industrial facility and to see what we have there and to see the potential we have as a company. We would like to start these aerospace activities as soon as possible, or starting as a greenfield by our own, close to our sister company or with a partner. We’re still investigating what is the best option for us, the best way. We are talking to some partners as well as we speak, but it’s not a secret that BMT Aerospace will start aerospace activities in India. Of course, it will take a bit of time because the quality and the technology used is not that simple. We will start with simple gears, try to have some volume there to get the people know and acquainted with the process and then start growing and do more complex gears for complex gearboxes. In which part of India you are looking forward to expand or make your presence? Are you also in touch with state aerospace department? We are looking at two locations in India, first at Pune and second at Bengaluru. We visited our own site with our customers in Pune, where they have a special economic zone for aerospace activities. We are not in contact with the government, but if we would do big investments ultimately we will be in contact with the government. And then we are looking as well, last week we were in Bangalore, where we have been visiting some possible partners that we could join with. Would it be a part of Make in India initiative? IGW is already part of Make in India initiative and I believe that it fits right away in there as well. We want to produce in India because we believe that India is an emerging market, the country has very smart engineers. What kind of investment that you are looking at in India and second, how about employing the Indians? First of all, to put a full aerospace integrated plant we need to look at an investment around 50 million, 50 million Euros. That’s a full plant but of course, you don’t do it at once. We will be gradually build up that plant in due course within 5 to 10 years of time line. We will start to build up capacity starting with simple gears and then moving up the chain more difficult gears. On the employment side, for the kind of investment of around 40-50 million Euros, we would approximately require around 200 people blue collars workers in such a plant. That’s a bit the numbers we have, the factors we have in Europe. What are

At the 55th edition of International Paris Airshow, German aircraft manufacturer, Deutsche showcased its revolutionary D328eco® aircraft mock-up, with the enhanced customer experience centre. The 40-seater turboprop has already garnered a lot of interest from the regional aviation sector due to its various new initiatives like low-emission propulsion system, advanced avionics and ergonomic seating with intend to elevate passenger comfort. In an exclusive interview, Nils Heuer, Sales Director, Deutsche Aircraft speaks with Vishal Kashyap, Managing Editor, Aviation World on the various aspects of the aircraft. Excerpts… Tell us about Deutsche Aircraft and the new D328eco? Deutsche Aircraft is a German aircraft manufacturer based in Oberpfaffenhofen near Munich in Germany. We build on the heritage of aircraft pioneers and Dornier’s reputation for design, quality and innovative aircraft solutions. Dornier was one of the founders of the German aviation industry that had its headquarters in Oberpfaffenhofen and that developed the original Dornier 228 aircraft. We are now bringing it back to the market as the improved and stretched Dornier, i.e., D328eco. What’s the USP of D328eco aircraft? The D328eco is the first new regional turboprop aircraft in the 21st century. If you look at other aircraft in this size category in the market, they are mainly based the technologies from 30 years ago. For the first time in the 21st century, we are really developing a new regional turboprop aircraft that comes with the Garmin G5000 Prime flight deck which is unique in this kind of aircraft category and the very modern and efficient and reliable Pratt & Whitney PW127XT-S engines. What are the seat configurations and key features of D328 Eco aircraft? It’s a 40-seater regional aircraft that brings comfort to the regional aviation world for the passengers. At the same time for the airline operators it delivers the right economics. It’s a very efficient aircraft where lot of focus is on reducing the operating cost in general and maintenance cost of this aircraft in particular. With a new engine, the advanced aerodynamic design of the wing and the fuselage, it achieves a very low fuel burn for this aircraft. At the end, it helps to achieve the right operating economics which are important for regional airlines that operate such an aircraft on low demand routes. What is the production schedule and what are the delivery timelines? This aircraft will be certified in Q4 2027 and delivery will start thereafter. We are developing this aircraft in our headquarters in Oberpfaffenhofen near Munich and the production will take place at our new final assembly line in Leipzig which is currently under construction. Our maximum production capacity will be 48 aircraft per year. Which markets you are looking as your priority market? We are looking at three types of markets. On one side, what we call the replacement market. These are established regional aviation markets like North America, Europe, Australia where we have an existing regional aviation industry. But thee airlines are flying today 25+ year old aircraft that are not in production anymore and inefficient and expensive to maintain. So, we are targeting the replacement of these aircraft. Then, we are targeting growth markets like India which is one of our key markets. We see a lot of potential and thanks to the development and the support from the government with the UDAN scheme that helps now establishing better regional connectivity for the Indian people. There is a big potential to serve the Indian communities, especially in the areas where you have challenging operating environment like in the north and in the Himalayan regions as well also in regions where tourism plays a role for example the Lakshadweep islands. D328eco could be an ideal aircraft to link these islands. The third segment we are targeting with the D328eco is what we call the multi-role segment. So, applications in the field of air ambulance, firefighter, cargo transport also maritime patrol or ISR applications. The original D228 used to be very successful already and we are also convinced that the new D328eco will be successful in this field. What are the key modifications made on this aircraft? In general, this aircraft brings the right performance for regional aviation which mostly operates in challenging environment. One such issue always faced is the shorter runways because their might be constraints due to various reasons. Our focus is that D328eco has good so-called short take-off and landing (STOL) performance and it requires only 800 metres short runways and you can achieve 70 per cent load factor and still have a range of 250 nautical miles. We have a dedicated cargo area at the back that has plenty of room to store bags from the passengers. There is also a completely new redesigned cabin now with large overhead bins so that passengers can also take their carry-on bags, trolley bags and put them in the overhead bins. With two to three years of delivery timeline how do you look forward to capitalize market like India? The 328eco has some special performance characteristics that make it really unique for India. It allows Indian regional airlines to fly to places where other aircraft can’t go. As I mentioned above, it can operate in the Himalayan regions because it has a 30,000 feet ceiling, that’s the highest ceiling in its class. It has the highest climb rate in its class, and also the highest single engine ceiling, its outstanding performance characteristics allows airlines to develop markets where they’ve never been able to go before. And then on the other side, if you look at especially touristic regions that the Indian government wants to develop and promote. For ex, Lakshadweep Islands, where D328eco could be used to serve these small islands as bigger aircraft can’t operate due to runway constraint and insufficient demand. What would be crew requirements and seat configuration? It’s a 40-seater aircraft and the global practice is to keep a single cabin crew also inside. The seat configuration is in a 2+1 format where we have two seats

IndiGo, India’s largest low cost carrier recently hosted the 81st IATA AGM in Delhi. The opportune moment was also used by the airlines to share its ambitious expansion plan to the global media. At the pre-event media briefing, Mr. Peter Elbers, CEO, IndiGo in an open house interaction answered various questions which explained the vision and long terms plans for its future operations. Vishal Kashyap, Managing Editor, Aviation World also was part of the media briefings and he compiled the key interactive points for the reader’s. Excerpts… Media: Recently, IndiGo has recently stepped into setting up MRO facility in Bengaluru. Also, it has committed to replace 10% of ATF by SAF by 2030. So could you highlight a bit more on these developments? Peter Elbers: If you look to the aviation ecosystem in India, compared to where Indian aviation is going, a lot of that work on the MRO side is being done basically outside India. I think the opportunity is in India itself, with the young & highly skilled population and limited facilities really when it comes to the MRO. The opportunity really is out there and one need to start building it and in the model which IndiGo had years ago, six year leases and then planes were returned, is also changing. We keep planes longer as we get quite a lot of aircraft coming in. The opportunity here to start really building our own MRO infrastructure is a fantastic opportunity and we take some help from people with experience who did that in the past. In Bangalore, we have taken 30 acres of land for the same purpose but it will take time to be developed. It’s really an important part of the journey we’re doing and aligns with Indian government vision to build up our own capabilities and our own resources here in India itself. When it comes to fuel and stuff, I think it’s complicated a there is still the lack of availability. I think here the opportunity actually for IndiGo is the investment we make in keeping young fleet. Our airline in row has the lowest emissions and the youngest feet among all the operators. The reality in terms of what are exact numbers and percentages, I think that will further evolve over time. Media: As you expand overseas, what would be your value proposition as you enter these new markets? Peter Elbers: If you look at the product proposition IndiGo is having domestically and in the region, in fact, it’s an extremely valuable product proposition. Let me take an example of Singapore. Three years back, IndiGo was operating from three different cities in India into Singapore but today, we fly to nine or ten cities in India into Singapore and attracting a lot of Singaporean travelers as well. I think the opportunity here for us really is making sure that our network is a fantastic USP. The proposition we have from Dubai to travel pretty much anywhere into India, either direct or with a one-stop solution is in itself a wonderful product proposition. Then we are adjusting our product and creating a product for some market segments, the aspirational traveler, which has a premium segment as well, our business class and Indigo strategy.As we expand further, towards Manchester and Amsterdam, the fleet will include hot meals as we are adjusting our product to the routes and the regions we operate. Media: How do you rationalize the cost along with extended services to the newer routes? Peter Elbers: The journey we’re on is tailor-made our product to the markets we operate, keeping the basics and the foundations of IndiGo there, and with that, keeping ordering affordable fares. I think we have not, even for our European expansion, this hasn’t come like, let’s get some planes to start flying to these destinations and we’ve been prepared for this.The code shares, which we have been doing in preparations, we have been doing code shares from others with a lot of European airlines.. Media: Any routes you have decided to start from Noida Int. Airport and Navi Mumbai? Also, any plans to start cargo operations from there? Peter Elbers: The number of precise destinations will be announced in due time as we’ve made a path where we have committed with New Delhi to international flights and building up a significant domestic network. So, allow us time to disclose what exact routes we will be operating from there. And clearly, the cargo opportunity is there both at the domestic and international routes. We have three of these narrow-body freighters in operation as of now and when the 350s are coming, we will have a lot of cargo capacity. Building up a cargo proposition from having a domestic network into flying cargo is a very different proposition. I think our product and our proposition will help us to participate in that market itself. Media: How much confident you are in terms of timely delivery of newly ordered aircraft and its type? How do you see connecting the newly announced international routes? Peter Elbers: From India, Manchester and Amsterdam is a good choice for IndiGo. But London clearly is part of that huge network. We are not going to disclose exact city now. On aircraft delivery, when we started with 350s and we made the order, the announcement was significant enough to make an record into our international and long-range flight and prudent enough to keep focusing also on the very core of the company., I’m not sure how I can visualize that, but there’s a foundation of having like 400 narrow bodies aircraft. We serve every three days, one million customers and that’s why we are in hurry as India’s domestic market is growing and growing and growing. We also have confirmed order of 30 wide bodies, which we placed last year, which starts to allow us to go into those markets. Are we confident on Airbus? We should be confident on Airbus and when it comes to

In-flight internet connectivity is one of the most important services offered to the premium customers while onboard these days by the operators. It’s also important to know how this system works and who all provides such services. Mr. Claudio D’Amico, Vice President of Strategic Market Engagement, Business Aviation at Viasat, one of the global leader’s in providing in-flight connectivity for the business aviation industry in an online interview with Mr. Vishal Kashyap, Managing Editor, Aviation World explained his company’s latest developments from tech innovations to partnerships and what to expect from the rest of 2025 and beyond. Excerpts… Q: What services does Viasat provide to its customers? Also, what types of products are available to support these services? A: Viasat is a leading in-flight connectivity provider for the business aviation industry. Our reliable, consistent and high-performance solutions are onboard over 5,000 private jets worldwide, keeping our customers connected wherever and whenever they fly, from the busiest airport to the most remote locations. We recently launched JetXP, which delivers our best ever in-flight broadband experience to business aviation customers. It unleashes the full power of Viasat’s global Ka-band network and harmonises our service offering following our acquisition of Inmarsat. It truly offers the best of both worlds, marrying a range of combined strengths: from our powerful capacity and reliable global coverage to our advanced network management techniques, trusted expertise and world-class innovation. Importantly, it also brings our legacy Jet ConneX and Viasat Ka services together under one unified brand. Hundreds of customers have activated JetXP since it launched in October 2024, showing a strong market uptake. These early adopters are reporting an even higher quality of experience and snappier internet, with speeds that exceed 100Mbps over Europe and other regions, without compromising on our trademark consistency, reliability and seamless global connectivity, complemented by the white-glove customer service and 24/7 support of Viasat distribution partners – Collins Aerospace, Gogo and Honeywell. JetXP service plans are available using the Honeywell JetWave, Gogo Plane Simple Ka-band and Viasat Global Aero Terminal (GAT) 5510 terminals. These will be joined by Honeywell JetWave X later this year. Additionally, we provide our Swift Broadband (SBB) service over L-band, offering reliable in-flight voice and data connectivity with global coverage that is always available to meet the core needs of users. It is a proven, dependable way to stay connected, regardless of which aircraft type is being operated or which route is being flown across the world. Our new SwiftJet connectivity service over L-band will enter commercial service this year, delivering up to six times the performance of SBB. It ensures passengers can stay connected with the ability to communicate over email, text, instant messaging and video calls, browse the internet and social media, and even enjoy single device streaming. Q: How does it work, like OEMS get the product installed or it’s the aircraft owners who looks for such add on services? A: Our business aviation in-flight connectivity services are certified on a range of different private jets and available as line-fit and retro-fit options. Honeywell’s JetWave terminal, for example, is certified on all large cabin jets and has established itself as a trusted solution to access Viasat connectivity over the past decade. Honeywell also has strategic line-fit and retrofit agreements with leading OEMs such as Bombardier and Dassault for its JetWave X terminal, with more expected later this year and beyond. Gogo’s Plane Simple Ka-band terminal has received Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) for aircraft including Gulfstream’s G650ER, G650, G550, GV and G280, with other key airframes expected in the coming months. Viasat’s GAT 5510 terminal is available as a linefit option on the Gulfstream G280, Bombardier C3500 and Embraer Praetors, it is also a retrofit option through Viasat’s network of authorized dealers, with Supplemental Type Certificate (STCs) on several popular airframes. Q: Do you have any customers or business presence in India as well? A: Yes, Viasat has many Indian business aviation customers, although we cannot disclose their details for obvious reasons. They are served by our trusted local partner BSNL, who is the only operator authorized by the Indian government to provision and support Viasat Ka-band services for the India domestic market. Q: What are the various types of plans offered for usage? Also the role of your distribution partners in this process? A: We offer flexible service plans to cater to varying levels of demand, with an emphasis on providing an overall quality of experience, rather than just focusing on speed. Our distribution partners, including Collins Aerospace, Honeywell, and Gogo, play a crucial role in delivering these services. They provide white-glove customer service, 24/7 support, and ensure a reliable and robust connectivity experience for business aviation principals, no matter where or when they fly. Q: Your thoughts on tech innovations and how does Viasat adapt to such practices in terms of to enhance the business jet connectivity experience? A: We recognize the importance of technological innovation and actively adapt to emerging trends to enhance the business jet connectivity experience. The development of JetXP is a prime example of Viasat’s responsiveness to customer feedback and evolving data usage patterns. It was developed following extensive consultation with customers, partners and research agencies, in addition to detailed analysis of usage trends over recent years. The results indicated that expectations around business aviation connectivity have evolved considerably. Traditional speed-based plans are now outdated, especially those that advertise a top-speed without details around when, where and how frequently it will be achieved. Instead, the business aviation industry has broadened its focus to the overall experience and that’s where JetXP really excels.Feedback from early adoptions of JetXP has been very positive. They can use multiple devices across flight routes for activities such as seamless high-definition video calls, content streaming, and even bulk file transfers without experiencing frustrating interruptions or slowdowns. And this is only the start. Watch this space, as we’re excited to share details of other exciting developments in the pipeline, such as our multi-orbit strategy, which aims to

The famous saying, “follow your passion, the rest will attend to itself”, fully aligns with the journey of Rajiv Srivastava, who is a top aviation and landscape photographer having a record of capturing India’s 87 airports in his lens and being appreciated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi himself. Aviation World Magazine appreciates him for his remarkable feat and publishes this candid interview to present his thoughts among the global reader’s. Excerpts… Q: Share with Aviation World reader’s about yourself and your passion? A: My journey is a bit unconventional – I started out as a professional cricketer before transitioning to photography. With over two decades of experience behind the lens, I’ve had the privilege of exploring various genres. My photography journey began with street photography and landscapes, which eventually led me to assist Mr. Tarun Vishwa, a renowned fashion photographer. As his first assistant, I worked on several fashion projects, but my true passion soon shifted towards landscapes and aviation. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to cover a wide range of subjects, including Hotels, Noida Metro, Wildlife, Fashion, Motor Racing (Formula 1), Cricket, Golf, Paragliding and even the Paramotoring Championship in Thailand. I’ve also ventured into filmmaking, creating documentaries on Aviation, Health, the National Security Guard (NSG), and tourism projects. Additionally, I’ve worked on artwork projects for prominent organizations such as NATGRID and NSG, as well as for the Noida International Airports office, Adani Airport Lucknow Lounge, Vijayawada Airport, AAI Headquarter. Aviation photography, in particular, has become a significant part of my work. I find the intersection of technology, architecture, and nature fascinating, and I enjoy capturing the stories that airports and aircraft tell. Through my lens, I aim to showcase the beauty and complexity of the aviation world, and I’m constantly inspired by the ever-changing skies and lighting conditions. Q: When did you realised that Aviation photography could be the career that really motivates you? A: For me, it all started with a life-changing experience – my first helicopter ride in Pasighat during Grade 7. I had never seen a helicopter so closely, let alone from inside, and the experience was exhilarating. Accompanying my father, the then Deputy Director of Education, on a school monitoring visit, I witnessed breathtaking natural landscapes from a unique perspective. But what really blew my mind was seeing the runway during landing – it was an incredible sight. As we touched down, the thrill and beauty of flight left a lasting impression. That moment sparked a fascination with aviation, which eventually grew into a passion for aviation photography. My elder brother gifted me my first camera and lens, further fueling my interest. My mother’s unwavering support has been instrumental in nurturing this interest, and over time, it’s evolved into a motivating career for me.” Q: You have captured almost all major airports of India in your lens? Share a bit more about the journey? A: As a photographer, I have always been drawn to capturing architectural landscapes, and airports offer a unique blend of functionality and design. My journey documenting India’s major airports has been truly incredible. I’ve had the privilege of traveling extensively across the country, visiting numerous airports, and immersing myself in their distinct atmospheres. Capturing airports isn’t just about taking pictures of planes; it’s also about appreciating the architecture, the design, and the story each airport tells. I’ve learned to love the intricacies of airport design, from the sleek modernity of some terminals to the cultural nuances incorporated into others. Each airport presents a new set of challenges and opportunities. The diverse architectural styles, varying lighting conditions, and ever-changing environments keep my work exciting and dynamic. Whether it’s the stunning glass façades, the intricate patterns, or the way light interacts with the structure, every airport offers something unique to capture. Lighting plays a big role when it comes to shooting airports, whether it’s inside or outside. The way natural light pours in through the glass ceilings, or the artificial lighting that illuminates the terminals at night, each scenario demands a different approach. Sometimes, I get only a day to shoot, and it becomes even more challenging to plan the perfect angle. But based on my experience, I always try to deliver the best possible shot, even when time is limited. What I’ve enjoyed most is documenting the growth and development of India’s aviation infrastructure. It’s fascinating to see how airports are not just transportation hubs but also reflections of local culture and identity. Through my lens, I aim to showcase not just the airports themselves but the stories they tell about India’s progress and diversity. As someone who has also been passionate about landscape photography, I’ve found that combining aviation with landscapes creates breath-taking compositions. The airport buildings set against the backdrop of nature’s beauty – be it rolling hills, majestic mountains, or serene coastlines – offer a visual treat that’s hard to beat. Capturing these moments is truly special, and I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to do so. In fact, my experience in landscape photography has been showcased through 20 exhibitions across India, where I’ve been able to share my vision and perspective with a wider audience. These exhibitions have been a wonderful way to connect with fellow photography enthusiasts and share the stories behind my images. This journey has allowed me to combine my passion for photography with my interest in architecture, travel, and landscapes, creating a body of work that I’m proud of. Every airport, big or small, has a story to tell, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to capture a part of that story. Q: The CTB “100 Airports of New India” and “Kala Sankalan” had the best of your clicked images. How has been the experience contributing in such respectable book? A: Contributing to the coffee table book “100 Airports of New India” and “Kala Sankalan” was a dream come true. For both shoots, I carefully curated my best images to showcase India’s diverse

Sri Lankan Airlines major market is India and it has introduced many initiatives to attract cater to the travellers. The pax numbers are increasing alongwith the flights and this really motivates the airlines to focus here in 2025. Mr. Fawzan Faried, Regional Manager-India, Bangladesh and Nepal, Sri Lankan Airlines in an interview with Vishal Kashyap, Managing Editor,Aviation World speaks about the business from India, and the plans ahead to meet the ongoing travellers. Excerpts… Kindly focus on the presence of Sri Lankan Airlines into India and how much flights do you operate from here? Sri Lankan Airlines use to operating 124 flights into India pre-covid and we were the first foreign carrier to operate more than 100 flights to India. But subsequent to Covid, we had to downsize our operations. We are gradually back, getting back to where we were pre-Covid. Currently, we are operating 89 flights a week into India and we want to grow more. By the end of the year probably we will be having 94 service to India and we are trying to cross 100 flights as soon as possible. Which all cities of India and number of flights Sri Lankan Airlines operate as of now? We are operating 14 flights to Delhi, 16 flights to Mumbai, 21 flights to Chennai for a week, 10 flights a week to Bangalore, 4 flights to Hyderabad, daily service to Cochin, 4 flights to Thiruvananthapuram, 8 service to Tiruchirappalli and 6 flights to Madurai. That’s the current setup, but moving forward we want to increase the number of flights to Mumbai up to 19 flights by the end of the year.   Recently Sri Lankan Airlines started a new marketing initiative for the Ramayana Trial. So how is the response till now? The Ramayana Trail is a game changer for us especially there’s been a lot of efforts putting in to develop that package, marketing strategies. The marketing team went an extra mile to find out the exact locations. The whole purpose is what we really wanted to do is to showcase the real Ramayana to the Indian community. We want the people to go and visit the exact locations, give proper explanation how it happened and why those locations and things like that. It’s creating momentum. Last week we had 190 passenger group traveling from Chennai purely on Ramayana Trail. So definitely this is going to be a game changer for us in 2025 and we anticipate the numbers to double, triple by April, May, June during that period. So, that’s going to be a real boost for us as well. Apart from India, you also look after other regions as well. So how is the response in that region? Yes, Bangladesh and Nepal come under my territory. Ramayana is especially not secluded to India alone because the community lives across this part of the world. There is some momentum from Nepal, from Bangladesh and in general, from all three countries within my territory, the tourism in general is growing and growing fast to Sri Lanka. So Sri Lankan Airlines being one of the main carriers which connects India and Sri Lanka. Any particular number of passengers that you look forward to? If you look at 2023, we had about 302,000 tourists from India for the entire year, which grew up to about 412,000 in 2024. And we had a good start for January 2025, we had about nearly about 44,000 Indians travelling. The highest number of Indians travelled during the past is the month of December 2024, that’s about 52,000. So 44,000 is a good and it’s above average number. So we see there’s a momentum, there’s a positive growth. So we want to capitalise on that growth. And then we contribute about 55 to 60% of the total arrivals from India. There are a lot of airlines operating as well, which is also a good sign. There are more airlines coming into Sri Lanka, more the market will grow, and then we will get our fair share. That’s, that’s my objective as well. What are your priorities in terms of which kind of travellers that exactly you look forward to, or who are the number one, you can say, which category? Actually, predominantly, our segment is diversified. We have honeymoon couples travelling, we have families travelling. But one segment which we had throughout is the silver segment, which the retired people and so the Ramayana trial package is also correctly fitting into the historical movement of the segment. We want to capitalise on that and then something new, which we are looking at is the destination weddings. We also want to break into the niche market like golfers ravelling and there are celebrities now, mostly into golf. We want to engage those people to boost this kind of travellers. Sri Lanka has ideal weather, we have about four, four or five world-class golf courses, like 18 holes in Colombo, in Kandy, in Orelia, in Sigiriya.This is something new that we are trying to market in India. That has a huge potential and it’s a niche market as well. Which type of aircraft you operate right now from India? It differs from city to city. We have from Delhi Airbus 330 operating to Chennai. Also Mumbai, we have a couple of white bodies coming in. The biggest advantage what we have is, India is more or less a shorter sector for us, three hour flight. So even to cater a larger group, we can deploy a wide body aircraft for the entire group to travel at once and then coming back at once. So this is something, which only Sri Lankan airlines can do operating into India. What is the seat configuration in Airbus 330? Airbus 330 version is 28 business class and 269 economy class, flatbed. Of course, we have another version 330-200, which has 18 business class and 251 and also in the 320 range, we have up to about 176 capacity on a

Training & hiring is one of the core component of any sector and when it comes to Aviation, its importance becomes more focused and full of responsibility as it has to meet the global parameters. One such strong personality who is a true example of women in Aviation having multifaceted talent is Golda Liza Nengnong, who has played remarkable role in Promoting Aviation in North East India. Aviation World Magazine is pleased to feature her interview on the occasion of International Women’s day and share her journey with our global reader’s. Excerpts: Q: Share about journey in Aviation. Also, about your current role? A: I began my journey in the aviation industry in July 2016 as the promoter for Crewlink Aviation and Hospitality , based in Shillong, Meghalaya, where we have trained and placed many youths in different airlines . Currently, I serve as a partner and Business Head for East and North-East India at Onboard HR Services, overseeing recruitment for the aviation and hospitality sectors. By God’s grace, I played a pivotal role in initiating the non-stop Shillong-Delhi-Shillong flight service in March 2019, in collaboration with the Government of Meghalaya. This service, which commenced on December 21, 2020, is still operational today. Q: What are the main USPs that Airline looks into before hiring a cabin crew? A: Having witnessed the immense potential of the youth in North-East India, I am deeply committed to addressing the unemployment challenges they face. My passion lies in creating awareness and helping them secure better career opportunities by motivating, guiding, and counseling them to pursue careers in aviation as Cabin Crew or Customer Service Executives. I believe their strong communication skills and impeccable etiquette make them well-suited for these roles. Q: What message you would like to give to the youths who want to join Aviation Sector? A: The aviation sector, both domestically and internationally, is growing rapidly. My message to the youth is simple: aim high, aspire to achieve, and let your dreams take flight.

A young & dynamic personality having expertise into recruitments, Shraddha Tiwari, Director, ONBOARD HRSERVICES in an interview with Aviation World shares her insight on the various aspects of the sector. Excerpts… Q: Welcome Shraddha! For our readers, could you tell us a little about yourself, your company, and the work you do? A: I am Shraddha Tiwari, the founder of Onboard HRServices, which I established in 2015 with a vision to redefine talent acquisition in specialized industries. As a woman entrepreneur, I take immense pride in leading a women-centric organisation where our team consists of talented, driven women passionate about empowering others. Our mission goes beyond recruitment—we are committed to creating opportunities that uplift and support women in the workforce. Onboard HRServices specialises in aviation hiring and has become a trusted partner for hospitality, and customer service recruitment. Over the years, we have expanded our reach beyond India, and our goal is to go global, providing mass hiring solutions to companies across multiple countries. With Onboard HRServices – your recruitment channel, we help organizations build high-performing teams while ensuring professionals find meaningful career opportunities. Whether it’s talent acquisition, workforce planning, or strategic HR solutions, we are dedicated to making recruitment seamless, efficient, and impactful globally. Q: You provide manpower to various sectors—can you share which ones and at what levels? A: We specialise in aviation recruitment, but over the years, we have expanded our expertise to other industries as well. Today, Onboard HRServices caters to sectors such as Aviation & Hospitality, Banking & Non-Banking Financial Services, Media & Entertainment, Retail & E-Commerce, Travel & Tourism, Facility Management, Logistics, and Legal, Healthcare & Pharma, Quick commerce. We recruit for a wide range of roles, from freshers taking their first step into the professional world to experienced professionals stepping into leadership positions. Whether it’s hiring cabin crew, ground staff, managers, or specialists across industries, our focus is always on finding individuals who have not just the right skills but also the right mindset and work ethic to thrive in their roles. Q: Aviation is a highly specialised industry where hiring depends on demand and specific skill sets. How do you find the right talent and meet client requirements? A: Aviation Recruitment is unique because airlines need people with both technical skills and exceptional customer service abilities. To ensure we’re providing the best candidates, we stay closely connected with industry trends, airline requirements, and training institutes. We don’t just look at resumes – we assess candidates for their confidence, communication skills, adaptability, and ability to handle real-world challenges. By doing this, we help airlines build strong, reliable teams while also guiding candidates toward careers they can thrive. Q: With the rise in aircraft numbers, the demand for operational teams—especially cabin crew and ground staff—has also grown. What do you look for when selecting candidates? A: Beyond qualifications, airlines want people who can handle high-pressure situations with professionalism and grace. We look for individuals with strong communication skills, a customer-first mindset, and the ability to work as part of a team. Personality, grooming, and emotional intelligence also play a huge role in determining whether someone is suited for the job. Our goal is to find candidates who not only meet the technical requirements but also bring the right energy and attitude to their roles. Q: Airlines are shifting from mass walk-in hiring to campus recruitment and HR consultants for entry-level roles. How do you view this change, and how does it make hiring easier? A: This shift is a welcome one because it makes hiring more structured and targeted. Instead of airlines managing large-scale walk-ins with mixed results, they now get access to pre-screened, well-prepared candidates through campus programs and HR firms like ours. At Onboard HRServices, we make the process smoother by ensuring companies get candidates who are ready to step into their roles with confidence. This approach saves time, improves hiring quality, and ultimately leads to better retention rates. As a woman leading an HR firm, I’ve always believed that recruitment isn’t just about numbers – it’s about people, careers, and long-term success. My journey has been about building a platform where companies find the right talent and professionals find the right opportunities. It’s incredibly rewarding to play a role in shaping the future of aviation and other industries, and I look forward to continuing this journey with passion and purpose. Our ultimate goal is to revolutionise the hiring process to make it simple and hassle-free for both candidates and our clients.

One of India’s key player in Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS),ideaForge recently unveiled its the most ambitious product ‘NETRA 5’. At a time when globally borders are having several challenges,this product is designed for defence and security operations in challenging environments where missions face constant threats. In an exclusive interview, Mr. Rahul Singh, Co-founder and VP Engineering, ideaForge explains Vishal Kashyap, Managing Editor, Aviation World about technical capabilities of Netra5 and ideaForge vision towards indigenisation. Excerpts: Kindly brief about ideaForge, its works and plans ahead? ideaForge represents one of the most pioneering efforts in driving cutting edge, autonomous, Indian drone products. We are present for more than a decade now. The company was founded in 2007 and has focused on creating the best in class unmanned aerial systems of India particularly for the domestic needs and for the global as well. Our latest product NETRA 5, which was officially launched at the Aero India 2025 represents the culmination of advanced technologies that we have brought to this class of products so far. What is NETRA 5 and its USP for the Indian market? NETRA 5 builds on the long legacy of the NETRA range of products which have been used by our domestic customers for more than a decade. The latest version of NETRA not just inherits but builds on the strengths of what the previous products were. The three pillars of our product philosophy are performance, reliability and autonomy. So this NETRA 5 version extends the performance to deliver a class leading performance of more than 75 minutes with a built-in multi-sensor dual payload. It has the ability to attach a variety of secondary payloads while still inheriting the capability of the primary payload on the platform. On terms of the reliability, the product extends the reliable operation and autonomous operation with a host of new technologies. It builds in all direction obstacle avoidance which increases the availability and reliability of the operation that the product is doing. The product also comes built in with advanced vision based navigation systems which enable it to survive GPS jamming and GPS denial kind of challenging environments and increasing the availability of the system in the most contested environments. What are the technical capabilities of NETRA 5 ? In terms of its communication capability, NETRA 5 comes with a built-in frequency hopping kind of a scenario where it’s able to have a higher resistance to communication jamming attempts as well. It further provides an insight to what is happening and what the aircraft is seeing even in the most jammed and contested environments. This whole product still remains back packable and a single man can carry it on the field and deploy it in a matter of minutes and be able to achieve a variety of applications. This particular product will be available for all sorts of applications from military to enterprise and civilian applications, domestic as well as international positioning. “NETRA 5 is a one man portable system capable of delivering more than 75 minutes of endurance with a dual payload. It is capable of doing operations up to 5000 meter plus take-off altitude serving very high altitude applications. It has the capability of carrying an additional 2 kg payload for a variety of applications. It could be carrying a radar or a multispectral camera or any of the search and rescue related other payloads which may be required. These payloads can also be attached by third party value added partners who may have specialised payloads for various applications and the aircraft provides compatibility to all those third party payloads.” Can you elaborate on the third party payload supplier? What are threats attached to it? A third party payload supplier could be someone specialising in for example a radar sensor, someone specialising in an agri-specific multi-spectral sensor, or an inspection related sensor, etc. For a variety of applications there are third party service providers who are specialists in various applications who can mount their sensors onto this platform and inherit all the high performance specifications and make that sensor data available with the combination of these high performance specifications. While doing this we have also focused a lot on indigenisation which use to be our core theme. We have been the loudest voice for many years focusing on at least technologies of critical nature coming from geographies of concern. The whole technology stack in a graded risk manner and the most critical part are the critical components which handle data or control the communication of the aircraft which would include the core autopilot or the communication related systems, or even any data recording or payload related systems. All of these coming from any country of concern is a strategic risk for any critical application which will use it. All the products that we supply today are free of any critical component coming from any country of concern. On top of that we are taking this whole effort further while we provide a 100% assurance of no critical component coming from any country of concern. What are the other invisible challenges of the sector and steps to overcome them? The second layer of concern lies with the supply chain deniability. For example, if there is a specialised technology and the country denies to export the same. IdeaForge is in process to indigenise a lot of critical technologies like motors, composite manufacturing to happen in India. We are working with a handful of various smaller companies in the country who are specialised in these components and we are providing full support for these companies to come up and be a strong local ecosystem which will support all these critical technologies. So as a combination of zero critical subsistence coming from areas of countries of concern and all the other specialised technologies being made by the local ecosystem. I think this area is something that we are in a very good place to assure our customers that there is no concern in terms of