Page 33 - AAA SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2013 Online Magazine

INDIA SECTION

India Off SSC Blacklist
India says it has resolved two
airworthiness Significant Safety
Concerns (SSC) cited by ICAO, and can
now fly its Boeing 787s to Japan.
“The ICAO has conveyed that
corrective action taken by India against
the SSC have been successful and the
country is no longer listed amongst
the states with such concerns,” said
an Indian Civil Aviation Ministry (ICAM)
spokesman. The SSC had ramifications
for many Indian airlines, including the
787-equipped Air India, which was
refused permission to land in Japan.
The Japan Civil Aviation Bureau decided
Air India could not switch from 777-ERs
to 787s because of the two SSCs issued
by ICAO’s December 2012 audit.
“The aviation watchdog, which had Qatar Dreamliner to Bangalore, Delhi
included India with the 13 nations with Leading Gulf carrier Qatar Airways will Moses. “We hope passengers flying
the worst record of air safety oversight, fly Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner to Bangalore on Doha-Bangalore and Doha-New
has now removed us from its blacklist and New Delhi from September 1 from Delhi routes will luxuriate on board the
after a compliance audit last week,” the its capital Doha. “We are introducing 787s in the new service.” Of the 254
ICAM official noted. Dreamliner to Bangalore and New custom-made seats, business class will
The ICAO concerns included issues Delhi, which are two of our important have 22 in a 1-2-1 configuration while
relating to approval of major modifications routes in India, to provide a great flying economy cabin will have the remaining
and repairs to registered aircraft, while experience with excellent service and 232 seats in 3-3-3 layout. “India is a
the procedures for granting Air Operator comfort,” says Henry Moses, Qatar India key market for us with an extensive
Permits to non-scheduled operators country manager. The Qatar 787s boast route network offering 95 passenger
and flight documentation systems for wireless facilities to enable passengers flights non-stop each week from 12
scheduled airlines also raised ICAO’s to remain in touch with those on the gateway cities to Doha,” Moses says.
eyebrows. Director General of Civil ground through internet and SMS Currently, the airline operates a daily
Aviation Arun Mishra supplied ICAO with mobile texting, across both business service from Ahmedabad, Amritsar,
a corrective plan for both issues, and a and economy classes. “Our Dreamliners Bangalore, Chennai Goa, Hyderabad,
three-member ICAO team visited India in provide a game-changing experience Kolkata, Kozhikode, Mumbai and
August to validate the Corrective Action with designed interiors, spacious Thiruvananthapuram, with 11 flights a
Plan and examine documentary evidence cabins and custom-made seats in both week from Kochi in Kerala and double
in support of the blacklist removal. business and economy classes,” says daily flights from New Delhi to Doha.

Air India to Lease 19 A320s
Air India plans to lease 19 Airbus A320 to the documents. The remaining 12
jetliners as the national carrier seeks aircraft will be delivered through the
to expand its services and compete financial year that ends March 31, 2016.
with other local airlines. The airline will A spokesman for Air India said the 19
take the airplanes on dry lease (without aircraft will be used to replace ageing
crew) for six years, according to tender A320s in its fleet and to also expand
documents. The aircraft will have 180 capacity. Air India purchased 31 aircraft
economy-class seats and will be fitted from Airbus between 1989 and 1993. It
with fuel-saving Sharklets on their wing bought an additional 43 A320s between
tips. The first seven aircraft will have 2006 and 2010, and is also taking delivery
to be delivered in Q4 2013, according of 27 787 Dreamliners from Boeing.

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