Interviews

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

At the 4th edition of the International Conference on Artificial Intelligence – The AI India Show 2025 in Delhi, CII-Protiviti Report titled, “AI Trends and Future Impact: Industry Adoption & Insights”, was launched. At the occasion, Mr. Dhrubabrata Ghosh Dastidar, Managing Director, Protiviti Member Firm for India in an interview with Vishal kashyap, Managing Editor, Aviation World discussed on the various aspects of Artificial Intelligence and how is playing a pivotal role in transforming the aviation & aerospace sector at large. Excerpts: What are the sectors that Protiviti caters to ? We at Protiviti are predominantly into the services side. We would use all the products which are there in the market which brings in technological interventions to deliver our services. We are also into providing professional services and implementation for our clients into various sectors and aviation & aerospace is one of our key work areas. What exactly Protiviti does into this particular segment? In aviation sector, our major area of work is airport and the airport related services along with commercial and charter flights. Globally, we offer them solutions to their business problems in regard to technology, digital perspective etc. AI is transforming the scenario of aviation sector on full scale basis. How do you see Protiviti as one of the valued contributor from a larger perspective? Let’s look at what is driving and what are the major AI interventions that these organizations will look for in Aviation or aerospace at large. The sector is customer driven and for better experience role of AI is very significant. In recent times, at many Indian airports, Digi Yatra has transformed the airport experience where the system recognises a passenger through its face and helps through a faster check-in process. The same facial recognition can be used across the entire airport, through the entire sector and it can help and personalise and tell what is it that something that you would need through your journey. The second comes, let’s say again if you are in an airport and there are large numbers of cameras which are capturing and trying to do a footfall analysis. The concept is to identify how many people are there in different parts of the airport and how they can leverage the ground forces which are there to provide better experience again back to them for convenience. The other aspect where AI plays a huge role is into Predictive Maintenance. In Aviation, it can help in demand planning, forecasting and pricing for the airline. It works as an interface between the customers who tries to book tickets through online platforms and make the journey interactive. Then, we have Generative AI which also plays a huge role in public interaction. Today, these Large Language Models (LLMs), chat bots tries to answer the queries and engage while doing any bookings. So, these are the segments where Protiviti can contribute in a bigger way. Is there any plan to venture into the UAV segment as well? UAV as a sector or as an industry needs a little bit more penetration from our side. If you look into the used cases, definitely it’s moving from just UAVs to AUAVs. In UAVs, till date there are people manning those UAVs from their booths or from any particular places but the AUAVs will be more autonomous in nature. They will try to take the decisions as they go on. The future will be more of edge AI, Agentic AI that would be coming into the whole picture and for further it will be not just UAVs but the UGVs as well. From defence perspective, it’s not just the air vehicles, even the ground vehicles is something that one would be focusing upon as well. So that’s another area which is gaining traction and we are hoping to do more in that segment. How are you empowering your team with so advancement of technology? If you look at AI, there are three aspects to it. The first is the different kind of used cases which needs to be built for any particular sector. That’s predominantly a more business-focused AI drive that needs to be there which requires a different skill set. The second one is as there are multitudes of products into AI where some focuses upon visual analytics, or on image analytics, likewise. There are AIs which are working back with the products which exist in the market and it requires a different set of people who understands that business and its problem. The third set is for creating these models which requires people who have a very specific data engineering background. These talents can help kind of crunch that data and create those models. So, we are also focusing on getting such people and train them to create those models in-house. But again, just creating these models is one part of it. To work back with the product companies requires a separate skill set, separate set of people and thinking of these used cases which we have mentioned in our report where 74 per cent of the people use AI to increase operational efficiency. How much is the accuracy quotient of AI in its operations? At present there are four broad classifications of AI; Predictive AI, Generative AI, Agentic AI and the Edge AI. Among all of these, Edge AI is very accurate as it works on the last mile. So, this AI needs to be 100 per cent accurate or even 99.99 per cent accurate to ensure that there is nothing which is going wrong. The predictive AI is often utilises stochastic model which is going to give 100 per cent accurate results. However, the acceptable accuracy for them is in the tune of 90 to 95 per cent and even at times 87 to 90 per cent accuracy level is also considered correct. In case of Generative AIs, if you remember the GPT-3s, or even the previous generations of these generative AI responses, there were a lot of hallucinations.

SAMTEL Avionics, a key player in India’s defence technology sector has actively contributed towards Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative while simultaneously placing the nation on the global map of high-tech design and manufacturing through strategic collaborations with international aerospace, defence and railway companies. At the recently held Aero India 2025, SAMTEL had a significant presence where it signed an MoU with Germany based global defence leader HENSOLDT Avionics to explore possibilities of establishing a co-production facility in India through an Industrial partnership for the HENSOLDT’s Products. In an exclusive Interview, Mr. Puneet Kaura, MD and CEO, SAMTEL Avionics speaks with Vishal Kashyap, Managing Editor Aviation World more about the MoU and overall business presence and vision towards contributing in the Make in India initiative.Excerpts… What are the major takeaways at Aero India 2025? SAMTEL Avionics had a very prominent presence at Aero India 2025 where we had dynamic discussions, meaningful interactions and a shared commitment to take India’s aerospace and defence capabilities to the next level. One of the major developments was the signing of MoU between SAMTEL and HENSOLDT Avionics, which we aim to be the beginning of a new relationship. Under this agreement, we will manufacture high technology airborne products for Indian and global customers in India. What will be that product and how you see its demand? It’s basically HENSOLDT’s product – LCR 100 CaviSight and Cavi Connect for which we will set up co-production facility in India through an industrial partnership. SAMTEL will manufacture this product in India and if required for any subsequent products related to the same, that will also be co-developed. This will also cater to the global requirements as part of the future collaboration. There are quite few Indian customers, who would require this product but we believe, globally the demand will be big. What’s your vision towards this initiative? We are looking at starting a relationship with HENSOLDT which is first of its kind in India. HENSOLDT is one of the major aerospace and defence leaders out of Germany and are making some very fine products. So, this product line is beginning of their commitment to partner with Indian players for developing high technology products which would be required in the country. This will also fulfill the need of having various TPP requirements of the local products and at the same time making products for the world. This also meets the vision of our Prime Minister which he has put forward for the defence and aerospace sector. We have found a good partner as HENSOLDT which is very open to adapting and working with Indian companies locally to cater to the local requirements. What are the core domains of Samtel Avionics into which it works in India? SAMTEL is an avionics and electronics company as far as defence is concerned. We make electronic products for aviation which caters to the need of both military as well as civilian applications. Apart from defence, we also make electronic products for armoured vehicles and tanks for specially for our nation’s military needs. These are basically high technology avionics and electronic products and some subsystems which are required by armed forces. As diversified business, we also work with Indian railways for their electronic products need. How is Samtel Avionics contributing towards Make In India initiative? As part our JV with HAL, we manufacture cockpit displays for various defence aircrafts in India. We supply high technology cockpit displays for all types of fixed wing and rotary wing helicopter platforms. Samtel has designed, developed and manufactured state-of-the-art multifunction displays for platforms like the Su-30 MKI fighter Jet, the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH)/Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH)/Utility Helicopter Maritime, and Standby Displays for HTT-40 trainer aircraft. We are now working on the Utility Helicopters-Maritime (UHM) helicopter and the list goes on just to name a few. This basically makes, SAMTEL a very significant part of the ecosystem both from Indian Air Force and Army Aviation perspective. For future, we are also in discussions with Naval Aviation for some of the applications. All the service being provided by us fulfills the “Make In India” initiative of our government. What’s the future plan towards enhancing the capabilities and services of Samtel Avionics? The future plan of action is aligned with the kind of road map which Indian MoD has put forward for the Indian industry. We are going to align with that plan, which means that we would keep on enhancing our capabilities either by ourselves or with partners like our latest partnership with HENSOLDT. The plan is to bring state of the art high technology products to our armed forces and deliver them with absolute precision quality and at the same time continuously look at global market space. We are already working with multiple global air forces and some of the global OEMs based out of west and Europe and US for various projects. In future, we want to continue doing that and aligning with what our country’s vision to make India a global player in the global Aerospace & Defence market.

ExecuJet MRO Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Dassault Aviation, has world-class MRO facilities in Africa, Asia, Australia, Asia, Europe and the Middle East where major repair and refurbishment activities are conducted. Specialising in airframe, avionics and engine maintenance; aircraft engineers are trained and certified on a wide range of aircraft, including: Dassault, Bombardier, Embraer, Gulfstream, Hawker and various others. In an Exclusive interview, Nick Weber, Regional VP, Middle East, ExecuJet MRO Services speaks with Vishal Kashyap, Managing Editor, Aviation World on the various MRO capabilities of the ME facility, their customers and USP of being in Dubai. Excerpts… What are the services provided at the ExecuJet MRO Services Middle East? A: We provide comprehensive services across several OEM products and after being acquired by Dassault, over the last five years, we support the whole Dassault product line as well. That’s from the Falcon 8X, the 7X, the 6X now, that’s just been going into service, and the Falcon 900s and the 2000s. We also support all the Bombardier Business Aircraft right now for the 7500 through all the Global series, down to the Challenger series, the 650, 605, 604, Challenger 350, Challenger 300, and the Legacy 45 and 60. We also still support, although the numbers are dwindling within region, the 789 series Hawker aircraft. In addition, as an Embraer authorized service center, we support the Legacy, the Phenom series, Praetor series. In fact, all the Embraer business aircraft line. Additionally, up and above, we obviously are Honeywell, the Rockwell Collins, GE, and a Rolls-Royce service center and we support those engine platforms. More to do with line maintenance and engine removal refits on those product lines which enhances our offering to the general aviation community. When they bring the aircraft in, we can do the engine work, the airframe work. Over and above, we look at expanding more into avionics modifications and that’s a growing business for us. We also have the back shops, which is the battery line; wheel shop, where we do wheel overhauls and then we have the NDT line ( Non Destructive Testing), which is also a growing business for us. What are the MRO capabilities in terms of fleet maintenance & approvals of this facility? A: ExecuJet MRO Services Middle East is capable of base maintenance up to and inclusive of C-checks. So, those are the real heavy inspections. Right down through the minor inspections and obviously line and base capability on all those 4-set aircraft that I had mentioned above. We also support 18 different NAA approvals (Civil Aviation Regulators) the major ones being the local GCAA, the FAA and the Indian DGCA and in terms of capability, they’re much aligned ,so, we’re capable of C-checks across all those 18 approvals that we hold. Dubai being one of the hubs of aviation, the demand must be huge in terms of maintenance. How are you equipped and how do you manage the service for your clients? A: Well, firstly, you’ve got the installed base in the Middle East, and a large quantity or a large amount of those aircraft are actually based in Dubai. So, we’re supporting all those regional customers. But around 45% of our work is supporting visiting aircraft, aircraft transiting through Dubai and it could be even Indian operators, and they might be on their way to Europe, or we see a lot of European aircraft coming into the Middle East, and they might be on their way to Asia. So, we support a large amount of those aircraft as well. AOG is a crucial issue and how do you tackle these issues to minimise the clients timelines? A: Internally, we’ve got the teams that cover base maintenance activity, and we also have a line team that specifically focus on doing line maintenance activities. And they work 12 hours a day on site. However, they are on call 24×7. They are widely licensed, so a lot of the engineers or most of the engineers can be dispatched quite promptly to wherever the aircraft is. And we support AOG activities across, obviously across the region, but we’ll go right down to Southern Africa, Zambia, Seychelles, Maldives, Kazakhstan. So, we’re supporting a lot of aircraft throughout the region. Often, sometimes aircraft that are on ground are hindered through the registry that they might hold. So, even though OEMs might come to us, and we’ve had it in the past with the local GCA, where we’ve had to go to Reykjavik to support an aircraft. So, we’ve got extensive reach on AOG. It’s such a crucial phase of airside operations that any operators would not like to face and need a quick solution to that big issue, actually. Have you found that sometimes if you help an operator out with an AOG, that maybe because of the goodwill that’s been developed, because you help them in that difficult situation, that it’s then helped you maybe later on to get some of the heavy check work done? A: Most definitely. I think just recently there was an operator with a Falcon that was based out of Europe. They had never visited our facility. We assisted them. Subsequently, they visited us for some mining work. They are looking seriously at bringing in C-checkers later in 2025. So, that’s a good example. It’s a window for us to go out there. That’s why we see a lot of importance in obviously supporting AOG activities. We have got a dedicated team to do line maintenance, but they also support the AOG. If we haven’t got the depth within that team, then we pull personnel from the hangar floor to support their activities. Q: Do you find that being in Dubai might be a strategic advantage for you because is so well connected to different points in the world that you can get there? A: Exactly! Geographically, we’re very centrally located and, yes, we have got all the airliners as you said, supporting multiple destinations. So, it’s

Air India Engineering Services Ltd (AIESL) is India’s biggest DGCA approved MRO having Pan-India presence. The MRO caters to majority of the needs of Indian carriers as well as few foreign carriers. In an exclusive interview, Sharad Agarwal, CEO, AIESL speaks with Vishal Kashyap, Managing Editor, Aviation World about the projects they handle, future plans looking into the growth potential, taxation and insights on building a robust MRO ecosystem in India. Sharing the excerpts… What is the current status of AIESL and type of projects you cater to and what are the plans ahead? A: AIESL is the only MRO in India which is in all four MRO segments. At present, we have been supporting Air India and other airlines for aircraft right from ATR-72, the A320s, Boeing 737, 777 and 787 and also 747. In last, as the country is getting MAX aircraft in a big way, we have enhanced our capability and today we are capable of even doing 12-year check on MAX aircraft. In future, first of all, we are concentrating on engines. We intend to doing some job on the biggest engine which is coming into India. There is an supply chain issue with engines worldwide and the pressure is much on the MRO side as well. So, how you are managing this situation? A: First of all, we cannot do any engine job without an OEM giving us a support. So OEM has to support us with the manuals, the spares, and if it is the first time we are doing a job, the training of some of the people. We are in touch and we have identified some problem areas which are a pain point for the both engine manufacturer and also the airlines. We are concentrating on supporting the OEMs to give airlines a quick turnaround time and we are very sure that we will be succeeding in that. At present, can you name some of the airlines that is under your umbrella for which maintenance AIESL does? A: In fact, within India every single major airlines, we have done some work or other. Besides that, last year there was a big news about Kuwait Airlines. We did a number of base checks on those aircraft. We are in touch with different airlines all over India, all over the world and we are keen to do it. Till about two years back, the biggest bottleneck we were having was that we were only having DGCA approval. So in the last couple of years, I have ensured that at least we get FAA approval for almost all aircraft at different locations so as to provide airlines a confidence that we stand to an international level and we have succeeded in that. So, this order book is growing. Indian Aviation is growing with so many aircraft orders are under the line. How you are prepared and further enhancing your capability to look into those upcoming works? A: First of all, see what was our pain points? Our hangars were over-booked and were over-flowing. Why? Because a lot of checks which can be done on tarmac, we had qualified them as base maintenance check. The first target was to enhance the line maintenance capability so that the jobs can be carried out on the tarmac. Once, we have achieved it, for almost every single aircraft, we have enhanced the line maintenance capabilities. Now, hangars will be there only for big checks, which are typically 6,000 hour check or higher. So none of the aircraft needs to visit the hangar before two years. This creates hangar space for us or the existing hangar space is being effectively utilized. Next, till may be three years back, we were using hangars only eight hours a day, five days a week. Atleast now, all our major hangars are working 16 hours a day, for seven days. Whenever we have a forecasted drop for the night, we are just staggering the shifts in such a way that someone is available for the night so that aircraft remains in the hangar overnight and flies away. So with this, the same hangars, the utilization has increased. With these two initiatives, I am very sure that Indian industry can handle even those 1,000 more aircraft which are coming in, in next five to ten years, with the existing hangars. Any plan for opening of new hangar in recent, down the line? A: You know that some greenfield airports are coming in and definitely we will target them. Recently the government has in fact supported the industry by waiving off the taxes. So how this is going to be helpful in the development of the sector? A: Not waiving off but rationalizing and it was a long demand from the industry. See, now what’s happening was, earlier in case we are buying the spares for an airline and we end up paying let us say 18% or 28% duty. We cannot bill the airlines for it because airlines is expecting us to take the Input credit in GST. Which, once we have paid 28% is 5% rate and for any component, see for line, for base maintenance maybe the spares was just about 10%. But when it comes to engine or component maintenance, the ratio is opposite. At least 90% is the material cost and just 10% is the labor cost. Now in case of 90% I end up paying 28% custom duty. That’s our GST. I cannot and there is no way to absorb that. This was making the entire business unbiased. This 5% on the aircraft, its components and its sub-components at least we are paying the labor. Are there any particular issues that you think that government need to address as of now? A: See one of the pain points which all MROs are facing is, especially for base maintenance.Each airlines will like it to be at an airport which is a major base for that airlines. Now there comes the

This growth phase is an indication of India becoming a hub for world-class aviation training… As the aviation industry undergoes significant transformation, the demand for skilled pilots is increasing reports indicates that India wil soon surpass the UK, becoming the third largest air passenger market globally. In this line, Vishal Kashyap, Managing Editor, Aviation World, interacted with Marijus Ravoitis, CEO, BAA Training, to discuss the company’s recent investments in expanding their infrastructure across Europe and their strategic plans for the Indian market. Excerpts… As mentioned, India is your primary sector with 50 % slots reserved for them. Till now, how many pilots have enrolled with you, and under which program? A: We have introduced an India-focused cadet training program, the Indian Cadet Program, which is specially designed to assist aspiring Indian pilots in achieving their dreams of becoming commercial pilots. This is the program that we are promoting in India because it responds to specific their home market needs. Currently, we have two batches of students enrolled in the program, which is a good indicator for the initial year. BAA Training provides both pilot cadet programs as well as type ratings. One involves individual choice while the other involves airlines’ decisions. How does your team in India maintain the sync between both segments? A: Our teams in India and Europe are interconnected and work collaboratively to ensure a smooth and efficient management process. This close cooperation allows us to tailor training experiences for individual cadets while aligning with the specific requirements of airlines for type ratings. For cadet programs, we offer training that equips students with the skills and certifications they need to meet industry standards. We guide them in making informed career choices, ensuring they are well-prepared for the diverse opportunities in aviation. For type rating courses, we partner with airlines to provide training tailored to their specific aircraft and operational needs. Our teams maintain strong communication with airline partners to ensure pilots are thoroughly trained to meet the highest standards. Additionally, with training centers across Europe, we bring the expertise and resources of our global network to India, ensuring a consistent and world-class training experience. Our integrated approach allows us to seamlessly manage cadet and type rating training, meeting the needs of both individual pilots and the airlines they serve. Two major airlines in India have their own training facilities now. Is it going to create the training sector more competitive? The presence of multiple players, including established and new entrants, is beneficial for the industry as it fosters competition, encourages innovation, and ensures access to modern technology. This growth phase is an indication of India becoming a hub for world-class aviation training, which not only meets domestic demand but also serves the international market. Tell us about the details of the BAA Training Facility in terms of its presence, number & type of aircraft for pilot training, and Type of simulators. A: Our main facilities are set up across Europe, covering the full scope of pilot training. We have both Ground School and Simulator Center in Vilnius, Lithuania, which currently houses two Airbus A320ceo, one A320ceo-neo, one Boeing 737 NG, and one B737 CL full flight simulators, as well as other flight training devices. Our Flight School, along with our second Ground School, is based at the Lleida-Alguaire International Airport, which creates an excellent setup for very realistic flight conditions because of the airport’s location. The airport is also close to other, larger ones, making it an ideal place to hone skills. We are also expanding our infrastructure there. We have bought additional 48 Cessna 172 Skyhawk aircraft, planned to be delivered by 2026, expanding our current 10 C172S’ fleet for initial flight training. We have also invested in our on-site, modern student accommodation, which is already under construction and expected to be completed in Q3 2025. Spain is also home to our Simulator Center in Barcelona. It has two A320ceo/neo and one B737 MAX full flight simulators as well as other flight training devices, and we already have infrastructure expansion plans in sight there. Next is our Paris Simulator Center in France, which has just recently expanded with a second A320neo full flight simulator, bringing the location’s simulator number to 5, along with two B737 NG and one B737-400 full flight simulators.Outside of Europe, our training center is in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, catering to the Asia-Pacific region. It currently houses an A320ceo, one A320neo, and B737 NG full flight simulators. Few globally renowned sim operators are doing big setup in India. And already three big ones have been operating for a long time. How do you see the sudden boom in this sector, which requires huge investment? A: This sudden boom in India reflects the growing demand for advanced training solutions and the increasing emphasis on safety, efficiency, and skill development in aviation. India’s aviation sector is expanding rapidly, with rising passenger traffic and a greater need for trained pilots, which, naturally, has created demand for high-quality simulation facilities. For globally-renowned simulator operators, India presents a strategic opportunity due to its developing aviation market, relatively lower operational costs, and the availability of a skilled workforce. While the sector does require significant investment, it also offers strong potential returns because of the long-term contracts and partnerships with airlines and aviation academies. As mentioned previously, the competition, at this stage of aviation industry in India, brings more benefits that challenges by encouraging innovation, and ensuring access to modern technology. Does BAA Training provide training for helicopter pilots as well as Business Aviation pilots? A: Currently, our focus is set on commercial aviation, and we mainly provide pilot training for those, who aspire to become airline pilots.

IAI’s NeuSPHERE Innovation Acceleration Program focuses on the Indian technology startup community, in particular inventive deep-tech startups focusing on big data, signal and image processing, advanced navigation systems, AI and autonomy, XR-maintenance and training, green energy, advanced production, quantum, edge computing, Human Machine Interfaces and wearable technology. It will provide the participating Indian startups access to advanced resources and technologies, including global mentorship and guidance, networking and funding, to accelerate their market-ready solutions. Dr. Avital Schrift, VP Core Tech at IAI, speaks with Vishal Kashyap, Managing Editor, Aviation World on this big announcements and explains on all points that makes this product important. I would like to know more about the product and how it is going to be part of the Indian market? A: IAI has launched its Innovation Acceleration Program in India called as ‘NuSphere’ aiming to enhance IAI’s collaboration with the Indian local technological community. Specifically aiming at technological startups, innovative deep tech technological startups and trying together with them to scale up their capability and bring them to the next level of products. How soon this product will be into the Indian market? What’s the timeline that you have set? A: The program is already launched and the applications are open for all the Indian startups to apply. By February we are going to close the applications. We are going to have a selection committee that will select out of all the applications the three first startups to participate in our program. And those startups together with us will develop their proof of concept and later on be able to develop it and demonstrate it. So like you said, it is going to do for the startups. Who are your customers, the startups into the drone or the defense? Or, can you please focus upon the sectors that you are targeting? A: We are focusing on 10 specific technological areas. The main of which are image processing, AI, big data, autonomous navigation. There are 10 quantum computing, edge computing. Those are two important areas. Essentially, we are looking on those really deep tech technologies that can make an impact on our products. So we want to take the technology that was born in India and integrate it into our products to be sold again to India and across the globe. IAI is a very good partner for the Ministry of Defense and there are many avenues that both the countries are exploring in India. Is this program or software is also a part of making India concept or something like that? A: This is another step in the making India concept taking it to the next level because making India can be interpreted as just taking our own design and doing it in India. Here we are looking for an Indian invention. Something that was already created from the first in India, taking the Indian knowledge and capabilities and integrating it into our products. As far as the incubation center is concerned, where is it located? A: It’s a virtual concept. So right now we have Greenhouse Ventures company that will help us in running the program. They are located here in Delhi. The meetings when we need to will be made either virtually or in Delhi. The demo day, the pitch events, all the events will be in Delhi but the program as a whole will be run virtually.So the startups can remain where they are. They don’t need to come to Delhi. India is very big and we are reaching everywhere in India.So we didn’t want to force the startups to come to Delhi. They can remain wherever they are. So it is also going to add some employment opportunity into India with this program? A: Once those startups will create their concept together with us and be selected to move to the next step of doing a POC, yes, of course, we want to translate their idea into a product that will be sold worldwide. So, of course, those startups will be able to grow. In fact, during the presentation, you are going to hear our first example of an Indian startup named BosonQ dealing with quantum computing that we have already started to work with. And for the time being, we were able to secure to this startup almost five million US dollars of investments, foreign investments.So it’s a big deal and they can sort of testify to the benefits that they had from cooperating with IAI. In the long term, how is it going to synergize the IAI presence into the Indian market with this product? A: That’s an amazing idea. We are going to take Indian-made technology and translate it into IAI products that will be sold worldwide. So we are going to take the ideas, scale them up, and take them to the next level of being able to translate an idea to a product and to a system. This is what IAI does. We specialize in systems of systems. So we are going to take this very small idea and help it grow, develop, and essentially it’s going to remain an Indian idea. Any specific point that you want to highlight as a USP of this particular product? A: We believe very much in working with the Indian startup community.We chose specifically India to be the second country to which we will go globally. The first was USA, India is the second because we believe in the Indian technological community.We want to contribute to it, and we are going to benefit from it as well.