News for '-civil-aviation'

SpiceJet flier gets stuck in loo mid-air, crew advises not to panic

SpiceJet flier gets stuck in loo mid-air, crew advises not to panic

Rediff.com17 Jan 2024

SpiceJet apologised for the inconvenience caused to the passenger and will also provide a full refund. As the passenger kept waiting in the lavatory, a cabin crew slipped in a note asking the passenger not to panic and that despite trying their best, the door could not be opened.

What will Maharaj do after Maharaja is sold?

What will Maharaj do after Maharaja is sold?

Rediff.com25 Nov 2021

There is no reason for keeping an entire ministry with a total staff strength of 2,300, just for the oversight of a few aviation sector laws and regulatory bodies, notes A K Bhattacharya.

33 pilots, 97 cabin-crew members found drunk on duty in H1 of 2023: DGCA

33 pilots, 97 cabin-crew members found drunk on duty in H1 of 2023: DGCA

Rediff.com18 Sep 2023

In the first half of this year, 33 pilots and 97 cabin-crew members failed their compulsory alcohol tests, which are conducted either before or after flights, according to data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). In contrast, in the first half of 2022, the DGCA data recorded only 14 pilots and 54 cabin-crew members being identified as intoxicated while on duty. This data has been reviewed by Business Standard. As per the DGCA rules, pilots and cabin-crew members have to undergo pre-flight breath-analyzer tests.

Suitable action to be taken after probe into IndiGo engine fire: DGCA

Suitable action to be taken after probe into IndiGo engine fire: DGCA

Rediff.com29 Oct 2022

A Bengaluru-bound A320 ceo aircraft, carrying 184 people, aborted takeoff at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi due to fire in one of its engines Friday night.

Manika Batra's priority-tagged baggage vanishes

Manika Batra's priority-tagged baggage vanishes

Rediff.com8 Aug 2023

Manika Batra has lost her baggage containing sports equipment, while returning home from a tournament in Peru

Pilot suspensions rose 2x in 2022 for violating safety norms: DGCA

Pilot suspensions rose 2x in 2022 for violating safety norms: DGCA

Rediff.com19 Apr 2023

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) suspended the licences of 92 pilots in 2022 for violating safety norms, which was more than double the 2021 figure. The number of scheduled flights (domestic and international) in India increased by 32.74 per cent to 1.3 million in 2022, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium. A DGCA official stated that the minimum period of licence suspension in 2022 was one month and the maximum was three years.

Oil leak forces AI's Newark-Delhi flight to land in Stockholm, DGCA to probe

Oil leak forces AI's Newark-Delhi flight to land in Stockholm, DGCA to probe

Rediff.com22 Feb 2023

An airline official said there were 292 passengers, including 8 infants onboard the plane.

Indian airlines to operate 8% more weekly flights in winter schedule

Indian airlines to operate 8% more weekly flights in winter schedule

Rediff.com23 Oct 2023

Indian airlines will operate a total of 23,732 flights every week during the winter schedule, which is more than 8 per cent higher than the year-ago period, amid rising air traffic demand. The winter schedule 2023 -- effective from October 29 to March 30 next year -- for the scheduled carriers has been approved by aviation regulator DGCA. Go First, which stopped flying from May 3 and is undergoing an insolvency resolution process, will not be having any operations during the winter schedule.

Is V K Singh Up For Promotion?

Is V K Singh Up For Promotion?

Rediff.com9 Sep 2023

General Singh was assigned to receive leaders representing the planet's two superpowers -- the president of the United States and the premier of the People's Republic of China.

Peeing incident: Air India fined Rs 30 lakh, pilot's license suspended

Peeing incident: Air India fined Rs 30 lakh, pilot's license suspended

Rediff.com20 Jan 2023

The incident came to the notice of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) only on January 4 and the latest actions are for violations of various norms.

Tendulkar, Kohli, Big B, Ambani, Adani among 7K invited for Ram temple opening

Tendulkar, Kohli, Big B, Ambani, Adani among 7K invited for Ram temple opening

Rediff.com6 Dec 2023

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has sent invitations to 7,000 people, including 3,000 VVIPs, for the consecration.

Breather for SpiceJet; DGCA removes it from enhanced surveillance regime

Breather for SpiceJet; DGCA removes it from enhanced surveillance regime

Rediff.com25 Jul 2023

Aviation watchdog DGCA has taken off SpiceJet from its enhanced surveillance regime, a senior official said on Tuesday. The airline, which has been facing multiple headwinds, was placed under enhanced surveillance recently. The senior DGCA official said that in view of the observations made in the past concerning inadequate maintenance and in view of the incidents during the monsoon season last year, SpiceJet was placed under enhanced surveillance.

Why Telcos Want Airlines To Replace Altimeters

Why Telcos Want Airlines To Replace Altimeters

Rediff.com2 May 2023

'If the airlines are not given a clear deadline to change the altimeters by the DGCA, why should they do it voluntarily?' 'It means that the aircraft will be grounded for a while and lose money.'

CISF adds 100 personnel to man new security counters in Mumbai, Delhi airports

CISF adds 100 personnel to man new security counters in Mumbai, Delhi airports

Rediff.com14 Dec 2022

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has prepared a pool of more than 100 personnel to man additional security counters expected to be handed over to it for easing the ongoing congestion at large airports of Delhi and Mumbai, official sources said Wednesday.

Akasa Air's occupancy soars at fastest pace among peers in April

Akasa Air's occupancy soars at fastest pace among peers in April

Rediff.com10 May 2023

Akasa Air's plane occupancy, or load factor, improved the most among all major carriers in April compared to the last month. Load factor signifies the percentage of seats that the airline has been able to fill in its planes. The Vinay Dube-led carrier, which started commercial flights in August last year, saw its load factor jump by more than 11 per cent in April, according to the Ministry of Civil Aviation's data

Airbus, Tata plan helicopter manufacturing facility in India

Airbus, Tata plan helicopter manufacturing facility in India

Rediff.com26 Jan 2024

Airbus Helicopters will partner with the Tata Group to establish a final assembly line for helicopters in the country, a development that will help in boosting indigenous manufacturing activities. This will be the second final assembly line that will be built by Airbus in India after the 'Make in India' C295 military aircraft manufacturing facility in Gujarat. The Final Assembly Line (FAL) will produce Airbus H125 helicopters from its civil range for India and for exporting to some of the neighbouring countries, Airbus Helicopter said in a statement.

Air India to buy 250 planes from Airbus

Air India to buy 250 planes from Airbus

Rediff.com14 Feb 2023

Tata Group-owned Air India will buy 250 aircraft, including 40 wide-body planes, from Airbus as the airline expands its fleet and operations. This is the first time in more than 17 years that Air India has placed an aircraft order. It is also the first order placed by the carrier under the ownership of Tata Group. On Tuesday, Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran said Air India has signed a letter of intent to acquire 250 aircraft from Airbus.

DGCA renews Jet Airways' air operator certificate, says Jalan Kalrock Consortium

DGCA renews Jet Airways' air operator certificate, says Jalan Kalrock Consortium

Rediff.com31 Jul 2023

Jalan-Kalrock Consortium, the winning bidder for bankrupt Jet Airways, on Monday said aviation regulator DGCA has renewed the airline's air operator certificate. Cash-strapped Jet Airways stopped flying from April 17, 2019. The Air Operator Certificate (AOC) was re-issued on May 20, 2022. However, since the airline did not start operations, AOC expired on May 19, 2023.

Top-level bureaucratic reshuffle at Centre, Pant named new health secretary

Top-level bureaucratic reshuffle at Centre, Pant named new health secretary

Rediff.com14 Jun 2023

Pant, a 1991-batch Indian Administrative Service officer of Rajasthan cadre, is currently secretary in the ministry of ports, shipping and waterways.

Indian airlines slapped Rs 2.75 cr fine in 2023

Indian airlines slapped Rs 2.75 cr fine in 2023

Rediff.com4 Jan 2024

The aviation regulator slapped fines amounting to Rs 2.75 crore on Indian airlines in 2023, marking a 39 per cent rise in financial penalties from Rs 1.97 crore in 2022. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said it imposed fines on domestic carriers such as Air India, IndiGo, AirAsia India and SpiceJet for issues related to non-compliance in 2023. The regulator also carried out a record number of 5,745 surveillance activities in the year to ensure compliance by airlines, aerodrome operators, and aviation personnel among others.

Jettwings, new regional airline for Northeast states, plans takeoff in Oct

Jettwings, new regional airline for Northeast states, plans takeoff in Oct

Rediff.com15 Jun 2023

Sanjive Narain, owner of Assam's oldest news channel, and Sanjay Aditya Singh, promoter of a cabin crew training academy, are coming together to launch a regional airline providing business and premium economy services in the Northeast. Jettwings Airways will be based in Guwahati and will connect places with twin-class Embraer E175 aircraft. The airline has secured an initial no-objection clearance from the civil aviation ministry and plans to launch services in October.

DGCA slaps Rs 10L fine on AI over Paris-New Delhi flight incidents

DGCA slaps Rs 10L fine on AI over Paris-New Delhi flight incidents

Rediff.com24 Jan 2023

This is the second time in less than a week that the watchdog has taken enforcement action against the airline in connection with unruly passenger behaviour.

Random Covid testing for arriving foreign flyers from Dec 24

Random Covid testing for arriving foreign flyers from Dec 24

Rediff.com23 Dec 2022

Following random testing, if anybody is found Covid-positive, the sample should be sent for genomic testing at the designated INSACOG laboratory network, Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan wrote in a letter to his civil aviation ministry counterpart Rajiv Bansal.

Govt calls off strategic sale of Pawan Hans as winning bidder disqualified

Govt calls off strategic sale of Pawan Hans as winning bidder disqualified

Rediff.com3 Jul 2023

The government on Monday decided to call off the strategic divestment of Pawan Hans as the successful bidding consortium Star9 Mobility Pvt Ltd was disqualified in view of pending legal cases. Pawan Hans is a 51:49 joint venture of the government and ONGC. The government had in April last year decided to sell the helicopter service provider for Rs 211.14 crore to Star9 Mobility Pvt Ltd -- a consortium of Big Charter Private Ltd, Maharaja Aviation Private Ltd and Almas Global Opportunity Fund SPC.

Drunk flyer booked for peeing on passenger on board American Airlines

Drunk flyer booked for peeing on passenger on board American Airlines

Rediff.com5 Mar 2023

A passenger on a New York-New Delhi American Airlines flight allegedly urinated on a fellow male passenger in a drunken state, sources said on Sunday.

10 flights diverted, nearly 100 delayed in Delhi as dense fog hits ops

10 flights diverted, nearly 100 delayed in Delhi as dense fog hits ops

Rediff.com14 Jan 2024

Among the impacted flights, Air India's flight AI 185 from the national capital to Vancouver that was to depart early in the morning was rescheduled.

Go First turbulence: Lessors seek to deregister more planes

Go First turbulence: Lessors seek to deregister more planes

Rediff.com9 May 2023

As Go First awaits the NCLT verdict on its voluntary insolvency resolution plea, lessors have sought deregistration of nine more aircraft of the crisis-hit airline. In one week, various lessors have approached aviation regulator DGCA for deregistration and repossession of a total of 45 planes of Go First. The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) is set to pronounce the order on the carrier's petition on Wednesday.

LS polls: Private jets, helicopter demand to see 40% jump

LS polls: Private jets, helicopter demand to see 40% jump

Rediff.com10 Mar 2024

Helicopters are anticipated to be more in demand compared to fixed-wing aircraft as choppers will help in providing accessibility to rural and remote areas in a shorter time.

Want To Be A Drone Pilot? Read This

Want To Be A Drone Pilot? Read This

Rediff.com29 Nov 2023

'Candidates will receive hands-on training in drone piloting, maintenance, data analysis, and regulatory compliance.'

As Go First seeks to plug exit, 200 pilots accept Air India's job offer

As Go First seeks to plug exit, 200 pilots accept Air India's job offer

Rediff.com30 May 2023

Around 200 pilots of Go First, the cash-strapped airline that suspended operations on May 2, have joined Air India. As many as 75 of them started training with the Tata-owned airline on Monday. As Go First tries to salvage its operations, it has announced additional pay or retention allowance of Rs 100,000 and Rs 50,000 for captains and first officers, respectively, with effect from June 1.

'Aviation ministry's role doesn't end with Air India'

'Aviation ministry's role doesn't end with Air India'

Rediff.com16 Feb 2022

'Government shouldn't be in the business of running airlines, instead it should develop the ecosystem of civil aviation.'

IAF scrambles Sukhoi jets as Iranian plane gets bomb scare on Indian airspace

IAF scrambles Sukhoi jets as Iranian plane gets bomb scare on Indian airspace

Rediff.com3 Oct 2022

Indian Air Force fighter jets were scrambled to intercept a foreign aircraft with its origin in Iran that was moving towards New Delhi's airspace.

Jhunjhunwala-backed Akasa Air to launch operations from June

Jhunjhunwala-backed Akasa Air to launch operations from June

Rediff.com26 Mar 2022

Speaking at an interactive session on the sidelines of Wings India 2022, Dube on Friday said the airline hopes to have a fleet of 72 aircraft in the next five years. "We hope to launch our first commercial flight in the month of June.

PIX: World leaders in Delhi for G20 Summit

PIX: World leaders in Delhi for G20 Summit

Rediff.com8 Sep 2023

The G20 leaders will deliberate on pressing global issues at the grouping's annual summit here on September 9 and 10. India is hosting the summit in its capacity as the current G20 chair.

Will This DGCA Plan Reduce Pilot Fatigue?

Will This DGCA Plan Reduce Pilot Fatigue?

Rediff.com6 Nov 2023

Increasing cases of aviators in India complaining of fatigue and in some cases leading to death have spurred the DGCA to bring in draft rules to reduce stress.

Telcos to stop high-frequency band 5G services in and around airports

Telcos to stop high-frequency band 5G services in and around airports

Rediff.com30 Nov 2022

Telecom operators will need to shut down 5G services in high-frequency bands in and around airports following restrictions imposed by the Department of Telecom at the request of the civil aviation ministry, according to sources. Based on buffer and safety zone details provided by the aviation ministry, the DoT has asked telecom operators to not install 5G base stations in the 3.3-3.6 Ghz band in the area of 2.1 kilometres from both ends of the runway and 910 meters from the centre line of the runway of Indian airports with immediate effect. "Telecom operators will need to shut down 5G service in the 3.3-3.6 Ghz band only in and around airports based on the order.

4 days after plane crash, Russia confirms death of Wagner chief Prigozhin

4 days after plane crash, Russia confirms death of Wagner chief Prigozhin

Rediff.com27 Aug 2023

Black boxes from the jet that crashed and killed Yevgeny Prigozhin and nine other people have also been recovered by Russian investigators.

Commercial pilot licenses to be valid for 10 years now

Commercial pilot licenses to be valid for 10 years now

Rediff.com16 Oct 2023

Commercial pilot licenses will now be valid for ten years, with the government amending rules as part of efforts to further improve ease of doing business in the aviation sector. Till now, the validity of Commercial Pilot License (CPL) was for five years and after completion of that period, it had to be renewed. The civil aviation ministry amended the Aircraft Rules, 1937.

Who is the father of civil aviation in India?

Who is the father of civil aviation in India?

Rediff.com9 Jun 2010

The rediff quiz on aviation sector

Making Drones For India's Villages

Making Drones For India's Villages

Rediff.com16 May 2024

'From our survey we found that there was a problem in the agricultural sector and drones could solve the problem.'