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Safran Expands Presence and Industrial Footprint in India

India, July 7, 2022 – Safran inaugurated three new production sites in India and announced the construction of a major new facility in 2025, bolstering its strategic partnership with the country. Safran has operated in India for 65 years and now counts 10 facilities and 750 employees in the country. These announcements, which represent more than $200 million of investment between 2018 and 2025, clearly reflect the Group’s commitment to long-term development in the country. “With these new sites, we’re opening a new chapter in Safran’s long history with the Indian aerospace and defense industries, and we are reaffirming our commitment to the government’s ‘Make in India’ policy and sovereignty strategy,” said Olivier Andriès, Chief Executive Officer of Safran. “To support the country’s dynamic aviation market, with passenger traffic set to more than double in the next twenty years, we are accelerating our investments and industrial development in India. Through the creation of our largest maintenance and repair center for commercial engines we are also paving the way to expand our MRO activities in India to military engines. With our three new production facilities and our major in-house IT center we will triple the number of employees in India over the next four years, building on the excellent local talent base. ” Two new neighboring plants are being inaugurated on July 7 in Hyderabad, for Safran Aircraft Engines and Safran Electrical & Power. The Safran Aircraft Engines plant, spanning 15,000 square meters (162,000 sq ft), will make rotating parts for the LEAP engine from CFM International. It will provide the additional capacity needed to meet the requirements of a production ramp-up for the best-selling commercial airplane engine of its generation. Eventually employing 275 people, this plant applies Safran’s highest standards in terms of industrial processes, machinery and equipment and sustainability, with one-third of electrical power to be provided by solar panels. During the inauguration, Jean-Paul Alary, Chief Executive Officer of Safran Aircraft Engines, announced the creation of a new maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility for CFM LEAP engines, to be built at the industrial Park of GMR. The largest MRO center in the network, it will start operations in 2025 and will eventually offer annual capacity of 250 to 300 engine shop visits. The LEAP and its predecessor, the CFM56, now power over 330 Airbus A320/A320neo and Boeing 737/737 MAX airplanes deployed by airlines in the Indian sub-continent. More than 1,500 LEAP engines are currently on order in the region. “Our new MRO 4.0 center in Hyderabad will strengthen our global network and enable us to meet the needs of our CFM customers against a backdrop of booming air traffic in India and the region,” noted Jean-Paul Alary. “We benefit from the fast growing aviation ecosystem and outstanding competences in the State of Telengana.” Safran Electrical & Power’s plant, located in the same airport zone as the Safran Aircraft Engines plant and sharing all support functions, makes wiring for LEAP engines and the Rafale fighter. Opened in November 2018, the plant has 150 employees today, growing to 200 when it reaches full capacity. The third plant is being inaugurated on July 8, 2022 in Bangalore, for Safran HAL Aircraft Engines, a 50/50 joint venture between Safran Aircraft Engines and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. This new site replaces the initial plant that dates from 2005, more than doubling the surface area and featuring state- of-the-art installations. It’s located in a Special Economic Zone near the Bangalore airport. Spanning 11,000 square meters (118,800 sq ft), the plant makes complex piping, mostly for the LEAP engine, and has about 150 employees. During his visit to India, Olivier Andriès announced the creation of Digit, an in-house entity tasked with development of digital systems for Safran. The entity’s two main facilities, in Hyderabad and Mumbai, start operations in the summer of 2022. Digit plans to recruit 1,000 people over the next five years by calling on India’s vast talent pool for the development of digital applications and systems, as well as cybersecurity.

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MoCA releases the second provisional list of 23 beneficiaries under the PLI Scheme for drones and drone components

New Delhi, 7th July 2022: The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has released the second provisional list of 23 beneficiaries under the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for drone and drone components. These include 12 drone manufacturers and 11 drone component manufacturers. The Ministry invited applications from eligible manufacturers on 4th May 2022 and the last date for submission was 20th May 2022.The provisional list of PLI beneficiaries has been prepared on the basis of the unaudited financial results for 2021-22 and other information. The shortlisted beneficiaries have crossed the eligibility criteria related to sales revenue and value addition in FY 2021-22. Click here for MoCA’s public notice: https://www.civilaviation.gov.in/sites/default/files/Second%20provisional%20list%20of%20beneficiaries%20under%20PLI%20Scheme%20for%20drones%20and%20drone%20components.pdf The list of shortlisted drone manufacturers is as follows: Aarav Unmanned Systems, Bengaluru, Karnataka Asteria Aerospace, Bengaluru, Karnataka Dhaksha Unmanned Systems, Chennai, Tamil Nadu EndureAir Systems, Noida, Uttar Pradesh Garuda Aerospace, Chennai, Tamil Nadu Ideaforge Technology, Mumbai, Maharashtra vii. IoTechWorld Avigation, Gurugram, Haryana Omnipresent Robot Technologies, Gurugram, Haryana Raphe Mphibr, Noida, Uttar Pradesh Roter Precision Instruments, Roorkee, Uttarakhand Sagar Defence Engineering, Pune, Maharashtra xii. Throttle Aerospace Systems, Bengaluru, Karnataka The list of shortlisted drone component manufacturers is as follows: Absolute Composites, Bengaluru, Karnataka Adani-Elbit Advanced Systems India, Hyderabad, Telangana Adroitec Information Systems, New Delhi Alpha Design Technologies, Bengaluru, Karnataka Dynamake Engineering, Hyderabad, Telangana Imaginarium Rapid, Mumbai, Maharashtra SASMOS HET Technologies, Bengaluru, Karnataka Servocontrols Aerospace India, Belagavi, Karnataka Valdel Advanced Technologies, Bengaluru, Karnataka ZMotion Autonomous Systems, Bengaluru, Karnataka Zuppa Geo Navigation Technologies, Chennai, Tamil Nadu The combined annual sales turnover of the afore-mentioned companies has increased from INR 88 crore in FY 2020-21 to INR 319 crore (unaudited) in FY 2021-22. The eligibility criteria for the PLI scheme for drones and drone components includes an annual sales turnover of INR 2 crore for drone companies and INR 50 lacs for drone components manufacturers; and value addition of over 40% of sales turnover. The PLI scheme for drones and drone components was notified on 30th September 2021. Under the scheme, a total incentive of INR 120 crore is spread over three financial year which is nearly double the combined turnover of all domestic drone manufacturers in FY 2020-21. The PLI rate is 20% of the value addition which is one of the highest among other PLI scheme. A unique feature of drone PLI scheme is that the manufacturers who fail to meet the value addition threshold in 2021-22 will be allowed to claim the lost incentive in the subsequent year if they make up the shortfall in 2022-23. Click here for the PLI scheme for drones and drone components: https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2021/230076.pdf Apart from the PLI Scheme, Government of India has carried series of reforms to make India a global drone hub by 2030. These include notification of the liberalised Drone Rules, 2021; publishing of Drone Airspace Map 2021 which opens nearly 90% of Indian airspace as a green zone upto 400 feet, UAS Traffic Management (UTM) policy framework 2021; Drone Certification Scheme 2022 which makes it easier for drone manufacturers to obtain a type certificate; Drone Import Policy, 2022 which bans import of foreign-made drones; and the Drone (Amendment) Rules, 2022 which abolishes the requirement of a drone pilot licence for drone operations.

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MoCA and FICCI organized Stakeholder Evaluation Workshop on Krishi UDAN 2.0

New Delhi, 6th July 2022: Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India in collaboration with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry(FICCI) organised a stakeholder workshop for evaluation of Krishi UDAN 2.0. The conference brought together experts from Air Cargo Sector for highlighting the benefits of Krishi UDAN and how domestic air cargo players can work in convergence and creating a seamless transaction across the value chain. The workshop was chaired by Rajiv Bansal, Secretary,MoCA, and was moderated by Usha Padhee, Joint Secretary-MoCA. The Workshop was attended by Piyush Srivastava, Senior Economic Advisor, MoCA, Shri Saurabh Endley, Joint Secretary- MoD North-eastern Region,Ashutosh Dey, Joint Secretary, DONER, Ajay Kumar, CEO, AAICLAS, senior dignitaries from MoCA, AAICLAS, FICCI, MoA&FW, Department of Fisheries, 26 Airport Directors (APDs) across the country and various other stakeholders of Indian Air Cargo Sector. Highlighting the importance of workshop on Krishi UDAN, Shri Rajiv Bansal, Secretary, MoCA said, “Such workshop helps in having a meaningful discussion and act a brainstorming session for new ideas. During the 2 years of Covid-19 Pandemic, there was a great realisation that the cargo can play a major role in sustainable options of Airlines. Our country is a vast country which has diversified agriculture produce, and it is in the interest of the airline and the airport to facilitate the transportation of agricultural products which will lead in creating a sufficient demand for local producers in domestic as well as international market. We (MoCA) are willing to work on some pilot projects with the help of agricultural department and state governments regarding a transport subsidy scheme which will help in faster transportation.” Usha Padhee, Joint Secretary, MoCA, made a presentation on “Krishi UDAN 2.0 Evaluation”, highlighting the achievements, scope, impact on Agriculture industry and future of Krishi UDAN. Performance of the scheme with respect to various airports was also deliberated. It was also informed that 5 new airports namely Belagavi, Jharsuguda, Jabalpur, Darbhanga and Bhopal are to add to the list of existing 53 list of Krishi UDAN airports. With this, 58 airports would be actively participating in Krishi UDAN. Another presentation on domestic and international cargo in India was made by Ajay Kumar, CEO-AAICLAS, which highlighted the growth and impact of AAICLAS on the Agricultural industry and how AAICLAS is helping in Krishi UDAN. A Q&A session was also held after the presentations where various industry players give their suggestions on how to make transportation of agricultural and perishable products better and timely. Krishi UDAN Scheme 1.0 was launched in August 2020, on international and national routes to assist farmers in transporting agricultural products so that it improves their value realization. Improving the scheme further, Krishi UDAN 2.0 which was announced on 27 September 2021 will focus on transporting perishable food products from the hilly areas, north-eastern states, and tribal areas. Source: PIB

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UP to boost aviation infrastructure; signs pacts with AAI

New Delhi, 01st July 2022: Airports Authority of India (AAI) signed an Operation & Management agreement for operationalization of five airports owned by the Government of Uttar Pradesh for a period of 30 years.These five airports are Aligarh, Azamgarh, Chitrakoot, Muirpur & Shravasti. The agreement was signed by N V Subbarayudu, ED (SIU) on behalf of AAI and Kumar Harsh, Special Secretary, Civil Aviation Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh on behalf of the State Government in presence of Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister, Government of Uttar Pradesh. The MoU was exchanged by Sanjeev Kumar, Chairman AAI and SP Goyal Additional Chief Secretary, Uttar Pradesh. DS Mishra, Chief Secretary of UP, AK Pathak, Member Planning (AAI) were also present. As per the agreement, AAI will operate and manage the airport and provide all necessary services. Communication Navigation Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM)services will also be provided by AAI, for which State Government will enter into a separate agreement. Further, Reserved Services will be provided by respective GoI for which GoUP shall enter separate Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), GoI. AAI will also be responsible for obtaining and maintaining of aerodrome license for these five airports. As per the agreement, Government of UP will complete the initial capital works for making airports ready for commercial operation and hand over all moveable and immovable assets along with relevant approvals, document to AAI for operation & management.Government of Uttar Pradesh will provide dedicated infrastructure for utilities like water, electricity and drainage connection etc. at the airport (to & within). This is the first time AAI is entering into an O&M Agreement with the State Government for Operationalization of State Government owned airports. AAI being the largest airport operator and sole air navigation service provider is committed towards providing air connectivity across the country.

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India & Saudi Arabia to enhance bilateral defence cooperation

New Delhi; 30th June 2022; Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Defence for Strategic Affairs Ahmed A Aseeri during his visit to India met Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar in New Delhi and discussed ways to enhance defence cooperation between the two countries. The Deputy Minister briefed the Defence Secretary about the 5th meeting of India – Saudi Arabia Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation (JCDC) that was held on June 29, 2022. The JCDC meeting was co-chaired by Joint Secretary (Armed Forces)  Dinesh Kumar and Mr Ahmed A Aseeri. During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the progress made in military-to-military engagements, including joint exercises, expert exchanges and industry cooperation. It was decided to identify new avenues and examine areas of mutual interest for Joint Venture in order to enhance defence industry cooperation. Enhancing the scope and complexities of the existing joint naval exercises and expanding bilateral exercises in other domains were also discussed. It was agreed to hold the next meeting of JCDC in Saudi Arabia on mutually convenient dates in 2023. The JCDC is the apex body between the Defence Ministries of India and Saudi Arabia to comprehensively review & guide all aspects of bilateral defence cooperation. The Deputy Minister also interacted with the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC). A Defence Industry interaction was also organised for the delegation in which a number of Indian defence industries participated. Image: PIB

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Mumbai Airport introduces ‘Integrated Security Check Point’ for domestic and international passengers

Mumbai, June 27th, 2022: Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport has introduced ‘Integrated Security Check Point’ at Terminal 2 (T2)for domestic and international passengers. For the first time across any of the Indian airports, this unique Integrated security check point would witness all international and domestic passengers departing through T2, undergo common security clearance at Level 04 and move towards the designated e-gates. All the departing passengers then proceed to their respective ‘Security Holding Area’ (SHA). CSMIA has been consistently working towards the adoption of solution-driven processes across the various operations throughout the airport to bring in ease of travel. The Integrated security check point is a testament to CSMIA’s future-ready approach to airport operations and setting a precedent within the Indian aviation space. The unique challenges witnessed at the airport daily require solutions that not just address the task at hand but also seamlessly integrate an enhanced transit experience for the passengers. In this regard, CSMIA identified the opportunity to further streamline the security check-in process for both international and domestic passengers wherein for the first time, both international and domestic passengers come together for security checks at a common security checkpoint. Earlier, security check of both domestic & international passenger was carried out at Level 3 & Level 4 of Terminal 2 respectively. Post integration, both domestic & international passengers will now move through any one set of e-gates installed at 05 different locations at the pre-security check area & will be separated via validation at another set of e-gates installed post-security check. The introduction of the Integrated security check-in point is an opportunity for CSMIA to showcase the operational efficiency that could be brought in across airports through the adoption of transformative initiatives leading to smoother passenger flow and movements. Focusing on bringing in newer technology to further enhance the passenger throughputs, CSMIA has also deployed and installed the Automatic Tray Retrieval System (ATRS) at the new Integrated Security Check Point. CSMIA has deployed 13 ATRS – roller & sensor-based machines that are programmed to return luggage trays to the starting point after passengers collect their belongings. The retrieval systems can circulate an average of 350 sanitized trays per hour, which will not only boost the processing time of passenger luggage check but also eliminate any manual intervention of the passenger or the staff. Adding to the overall efficiency of the process of Integrated security, the installation of ATRS will also put an end to passengers’ hassle of waiting & looking around for trays since it will allow continuous circulation of the available trays. Additionally, this technology helps with security clearance of an average of 280 passengers per hour, witnessing a twofold increase from the previous average of 130 pax per hour in the conventional system. ATRS is also being deployed and installed at Terminal 1 for the convenience of passengers departing from the terminal. Due to faster throughput, the passenger will now experience a more relaxed transit through T2 and be able to enjoy more time inside the Security Hold Area (SHA) before they finally board the aircraft.

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Malaysia and Japan Airlines Deepen Joint Business Partnership with Expanded Codeshare Routes

New Delhi, 23 June 2022: Malaysia Airlines and Japan Airlines (JAL)have expanded their codeshare operations following Malaysia Airlines’ recent announcement to launch new direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Tokyo, Haneda beginning on 14 August 2022. This significant move reaffirmed the strategic Joint Business partnership entered into by both one world Alliance members in July 2020, to better serve the customers and facilitate trade between Malaysia and Japan. Starting 14 August 2022, the codeshare will be expanded to Kuala Lumpur – Haneda route with the introduction of JAL codeshare on the flights operated by Malaysia Airlines. Customers from Malaysia, ASEAN, Australasia, and South Asia flying with Malaysia Airlines to Haneda will be able to book and connect to a greater scope of Japanese domestic destinations, including Osaka, Fukuoka, Nagoya, Sapporo, Okinawa and connect further to international destinations within North America. Malaysia Airlines will operate flights between Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) and Haneda Airport (HND) via MH36 (JL7097) departing KUL at 2:45 pm local time, and MH37 (JL7096) departing HND at 12:25 am local time. The twice-weekly service will be operated by A330-300 aircraft, equipped with 290 seats, comprising 27 seats in Business Class, 16 Economy with extra legroom, and 247 seats in Economy Class. Group Chief Executive Officer of Malaysia Airlines, Captain Izham Ismail, said, “As a national carrier, this expansion signifies a strong relationship and cooperation between the oneworld alliance partners, catalytic to further economy growth, supporting business and trade between the two countries and facilitating the capacity recovery to pre-pandemic levels. This new critical step in our Joint Business partnership with Japan Airlines will allow us to provide seamless connections to our customers, enhanced products and offerings while establishing KUL as a prominent hub in Southeast Asia region for travel into Malaysia and beyond.” We welcome the timely announcement by Japan’s government to open their borders to international tourists starting June on restricted conditions and looking forward to progressive travel restriction relaxation from time to time.” The expanded codeshare will further enhance the customer experience on flights, offering more convenient and flexible itineraries. Customers departing from Haneda to Kuala Lumpur can drop off their baggage five (5) hours before departure at the dedicated ‘Early Check-In’ counter in Haneda Airport after performing kiosk check-in or Web Check-In on JAL or Malaysia Airlines’ website. Additionally, customers departing from Kuala Lumpur to Haneda can continue to enjoy the existing service of early check-in via web or at kiosk and drop off their baggage five (5) hours before departure. These services offered at both airports will allow customers to enjoy last-minute shopping or other activities while they explore the airport prior to departure from both countries. Yuji Akasaka, President of Japan Airlines, said, “We are pleased to strengthen our Joint Business partnership with Malaysia Airlines through this new codeshare operation. As one of the busiest airports in Asia, Haneda is not only conveniently located in the heart of Tokyo but is also a gateway to numerous domestic destinations in Japan and countries around the world. As we head towards a recovery in travel demand, we look forward to working closely with Malaysia Airlines to welcome our passengers with our highest standards in hospitality.” Through shared common best practices and responsibilities, MH and JAL will enhance and complement one another to offer the best travel experience via JAL’s recognised precision in service and offerings, as well as MH’s signature Malaysian Hospitality. MH and JAL are also committed to upholding the best standards in aircraft safety and hygiene protocols to protect their passengers and personnel, in line with the significant shift in consumer expectations on air travel in the new COVID-19 era.

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Wizz Air to launch new routes to the KSA from Europe and UAE

22 June 2022, Budapest, Hungary: The European airline Wizz Air is launching new routes from Dammam, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to Rome, Vienna and Abu Dhabi. The Abu Dhabi route will be operated by Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, Wizz Air’s joint venture airline with ADQ. Launching in September 2022, the new destinations are the first step towards a growing presence in KSA which will provide point to point travel for tourists and residents in the Kingdom, Europe and the UAE, strengthening global connectivity.The new routes by Wizz Air introduce a new era of travel to the Residents of KSA by unlocking affordable travel opportunities and giving them access to WIZZ’s incredibly low fares. Tickets for all routes are already on sale on wizzair.com and the airline’s mobile app, with fares starting from 24.99€.* Last month Wizz Air signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Investment for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia supported by the Saudi National Air Connectivity Programme (a Ministry of Tourism initiative) to support the development of the Saudi Tourism Sector. The MoU reflects a shared vision between the parties on the potential Wizz Air could bring to the Kingdom to stimulate tourist demand, thereby making a significant contribution to Saudi Arabia’s planned growth. The new destinations support the growing Saudi Arabian tourism sector, aligning with the Vision 2030 programme, a strategic and ambitious vision to triple passenger traffic in the Kingdom by 2030. The ultra-low-cost routes will boost the burgeoning tourism industry and significantly increase connectivity for residents in Europe and the region, with key strategic government partners collaborating to add to the Saudi aviation ecosystem. Robert Carey, President of Wizz Air, said: “Wizz Air is committed to increasing global connectivity to marvellous destinations with real opportunities for growth and expansion. Saudi Arabia is a very exciting market and our expansion will bring ultra-low cost travel to the Kingdom. Our regular flights to Dammam will provide year-round sun for tourists, and provide a mix of destinations for residents of the Kingdom. We want to thank our partners for their support during the expansion, especially the Air Travel Connectivity Programme, the Ministry of Investment, GACA, the Dammam airport, and the government of Saudi Arabia. The recently signed MoU demonstrates our commitment to supporting travelers to and from Saudi by bringing in a new era of air travel with our ultra-low fares, point-to-point network, and high quality onboard service. Unlocking travel opportunities for everyone is the core of our brand and we will keep delivering on that by granting access to travelers to and from Saudi to our incredibly low fares. The WIZZ team is looking forward to welcoming passengers of all ages onboard our modern, young, and green aircraft soon, and to supporting the 2030 vision.” Khalil Lamrabet, CEO of The Air Connectivity Program, said, “We are delighted to have been able to work with both Wizz Air and Dammam Airport to grow traffic, in particular inbound tourism, from key European markets into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We look forward to the success of these routes and working with both our partners to grow the Wizz Air network into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.” Fahd bin Sulaiman Al-Harbi, CEO of Dammam Airports Company, said, “We are very happy to welcome Wizz Air flights at King Fahd International Airport. Strengthening the global connectivity of the Kingdom is very important and Dammam Airport Company (DACO) continues to develop new destinations to serve the citizens and residents of the Eastern province. We are ready to welcome tourists and impress them with the beauty of Dammam. ”

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Vietjet opens four new routes to Vietnam from India

Mumbai, June 22, 2022: Vietjet has officially launched four more services linking top destinations of India and Vietnam including Mumbai – Ho Chi Minh City/Hanoi routes and New Delhi/Mumbai-Phu Quoc services. The new routes were announced during the visit of Ho Chi Minh City’s leaders in Mumbai as India and Vietnam mark their 50thAnniversary of diplomatic relations. The ceremony witnessed the presence of Phan Thi Thang, Vice Chairwoman of People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, representatives of Consulate General of Vietnam in Mumbai along with Vietjet’s leaders. The Mumbai – Phu Quoc route will operate four weekly flights on every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, starting September 9, 2022. The services between New Delhi and Phu Quoc will also commence on September 9, 2022 with three weekly flights on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The Ho Chi Minh City/Hanoi – Mumbai routes started operation in early June, 2022. The two countries’ two first direct services connecting New Delhi with Ho Chi Minh City/Hanoi resumed operation earlier this year in April with the frequency of three to four flights per week for each route. Passengers can book these routes’ air tickets now with fares starting as low as US$18 for oneway. (*) Nguyen Thanh Son, Vietjet’s Vice President said, “Vietjet’s Vietnam-India’s flight network expansion will boost and strengthen travel connectivity and trade ties between the two countries. We have been the first carrier operating direct services between Vietnam’s capital city Hanoi and its largest city of Ho Chi Minh with India’s capital city New Delhi.” “Vietjet’s flight network covering up to six direct routes between Vietnam and India also mark sa milestone in the two countries’ 50 years of diplomatic relations, since 1972. We will progressively expand the flight connection between the two countries in the coming time while constantly enhancing service quality along with technology adoption to bring our passengers best flying experience,” Mr. Son added. With flight time of just over five hours per leg and diversified flight schedules throughout the week, Vietjet’s direct flights have eased traveling from India to the ‘lands to remember’ of Vietnam including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Quoc. Passengers can now easily connect to Vietnam’s other attractive destinations such as of Ha Long Bay, Da Nang and famous heritage sites in the central region, etc. or quickly transfer across the Southeast and Northeast Asia.Vietnam has lifted the arrival regulations relating to Covid-19 and travelers can enjoy a complete pre-pandemic fashion arrival in Vietnam.

Civil Aviation, Top Stories

MoCA launches National Air Sports Policy

New Delhi, 07th June 2022: The Minister of Civil Aviation, India, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia launched the National Air Sport Policy 2022 (NASP 2022). NASP 2022 lays out the vision of making India as one of the top sports nations by 2030 by providing a safe, affordable, accessible, enjoyable and sustainable air sports ecosystem in India.The event was graced by Rajiv Bansal, Secretary, MoCA, Sanjeev Kumar, Chairman, AAI,Amber Dubey, JS, MoCA, Rubina Ali, JS, MoCA, SK Mishra, JS, MoCA, Piyush Srivastava, Senior Economic Advisor, MoCA, PK Thakur, Deputy Director General, MoCA and other dignitaries from AAI, MoCA, DGCA and BCAS. Air sports, as the names suggests, encompasses various sports activities involving the medium of air. These include sports like air-racing, aerobatics, aeromodelling, hang gliding, paragliding, paramotoring and skydiving etc. India has the potential to be among the leading nations in the world of air sports. It has a large geographical expanse, diverse topography, and fair-weather conditions. It has a large population, especially the youth. It has a growing culture for adventure sports and aviation. The National Air Sports Policy (NASP) 2022, is a step in this direction. It has been drafted based on the inputs received from policy makers, air sports practitioners and public at large and will ensure establishment of good quality of infrastructure, equipment, instructors and services. The policy will cover the following air sports in India:- 1. Aerobatics 2. Aeromodelling and model rocketry 3. Amateur-built and experimental aircraft 4. Ballooning 5. Drones 6. Gliding and powered gliding 7. Hang gliding and powered hang gliding 8. Parachuting (including skydiving, BASE jumping and wingsuits etc.) 9. Paragliding and paramotoring (including powered parachute trikes etc.) 10. Powered aircraft (including ultralight, microlight and light sports aircraft etc.) 11. Rotorcraft (including autogyro) Under the new policy, there will be four-tier governance structure for air sports in India namely • Air Sports Federation of India (ASFI) as the apex governing body • National associations for individual air sports or a set of air sports, as appropriate • Regional (e.g. West/ South/ North East etc.) or State and Union Territory level units of the national air sports associations, as appropriate; and • District-level air sports associations, as appropriate. • The Civil Aviation Minister said, “It is time for India to take its rightful place and become global capital of air sports. We want to create an environment of adventure, thrill and sports in the country. For this, we will leverage the energy of our youth below the age of 35 which accounts to 70 percent of India’s population which is larger than the total population of Europe and three times that of USA. India has a huge geographical expanse extends from the Himalayas and the mountainous regions to our states in the northeast to the plains in central India to the coastal regions on the western-eastern coastline, and therefore you have the ability in this country to have the widest diversity of air sports.” The policy, according to Hon’ble Minister, will serve to attract air sports enthusiasts from all over the world, especially those who live in areas where harsh winters prevent them from participating. He believes that air sports enthusiasts from Europe, North America, and Australia would flock to India to practice in the winters. Speaking on the future of Air Sports in India, “From a small market size of around 5,000 odd air sports practitioners creating around Rs 80-100 crore of annual revenue in India, I feel we can target over Rs 8,000 – 10,000 crore annual revenue and generate over 1,00,000 direct jobs. The economic multiplier benefits in terms of travel, tourism, support services and local infrastructure development will be over three times.” The event also had presence of two Indian Air Sports Players –Shital Mahajan and Rachel Thomas. Both are sky drivers and Padma Shri awardee. Shital Mahajan is known as the first woman to perform an accelerated free fall jump over the Antarctica from 10,000 feet, the youngest woman to jump over both the North and South Poles and the first woman jumper to perform it without trials while Rachel Thomas was the first Indian woman to skydive from 7,000 ft over the North Pole. Both Air sports enthusiasts expressed their gratitude for introducing National Air Sports Policy which will help India become air sports hub by 2030. Key Objectives of NASP 2022:- 1. Promote an air sports culture in the country 2. Enable adoption of international good practices in safety including but not limited to, air sports infrastructure, equipment, operations, maintenance and training 3. Develop a simple, stakeholder-friendly and effective governance structure 4. Enhance participation and success of Indian sports persons in global air sports events; and 5. Promote design, development and manufacturing of air sports equipment in India in line with the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. Courtesy: PIB/MoCA

FOREWORD

Dear Readers,

 

Welcome to the latest edition of Aviation World. This is an incredibly significant issue for us, perfectly timed to align with several prominent aviation events unfolding across the globe.

 

Chief among them is the Farnborough International Airshow, taking place from July 20th to 24th, 2026, in Hampshire, United Kingdom. Ranked as one of the world’s premier events for aviation, aerospace, and defense, this year’s airshow arrives at a crucial moment. Against a backdrop of geopolitical turbulence, Farnborough provides an invaluable platform to engage with global leaders and gain firsthand perspectives on the future of the industry. Inside, you will find our comprehensive curtain-raiser report focusing on the show’s core themes, as well as the highly anticipated static and aerobatic aircraft displays.

 

On our front cover, we are proud to feature Capt. Vaibhav Goutham Suresh, Director of the School of Aviation, Logistics and Tourism Management (SALTM) at Galgotias University. In an exclusive interview, Capt. Suresh highlights how SALTM bridges the gap between academia and the runway, delivering a comprehensive curriculum that ensures graduates are industry-ready from day one. Complementing this, our special feature on SALTM dives deeper into how the institution maintains world-class academic standards and a cutting-edge learning environment.

 

We are also privileged to bring you exclusive insights from a stellar lineup of industry trailblazers in this edition, including:

  • Robin Glover-Faure, Chief Customer Officer of Acron Aviation
  • Karim Makhlouf, CCO of Royal Jordanian Airlines
  • Pallavi Joshi & Vimal Priya, the leadership powerhouse behind AirFleet Managers &Aviatrics Global
  • Wg. Cdr. Prem Kumar Garg (Retd.), CEO of IndiaOne Air

Each shares a detailed perspective on driving innovation, navigating current market dynamics, and establishing progressive frontiers within their respective sectors.

 

Beyond these highlights, this issue is packed with curated features and analytical pieces designed to keep you informed and inspired.

 

Finally, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our esteemed advertisers and partners. Your unwavering support empowers us in our ongoing endeavor to make Aviation World a truly world-class publication with global reach and recognition.

 

Happy Reading!

 

The Editorial Team

 

Aviation World

NEWSLETTER

Aviation World Magazine is India’s premier aviation magazine and has been actively supporting the development of the Indian and global civil aviation sector. We started our journey in year 2015 and its been 12 years now and the response and acceptance is really encouraging. Thanks to all our associates and writers who remained with us in our progressive journey.

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

Disclaimer

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