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karatecatman · Guest

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The first VVIP flight of Boeing Business Jet was inaugurated today (April 1, 2009) by the Hon’ble President of India Smt Prathiba Devi Singh Patil at Air Force Station Palam. The aircraft was inducted in the Communication Squadron of the Indian Air Force in the year 2008 and was ready to undertake its first VVIP flight today.

The Boeing Business Jet is an executive derivative of the Boeing 737 new generation family. It is a Boeing 737 -700 aircraft with winglets and powerful engines which give it increased range, lower fuel consumption and enhanced handling capabilities. It has a Glass Cockpit with Head Up Display(HUD), Inertial Navigation System, Dual Flight Management System,CAT-III ILS with Autoland capability.The aircraft is capable of cruising upto 41000 feet at a speed of 450 knots. The aircraft is equipped with amenities which enable it to establish itself as an office in the air. The interiors of the aircraft have been designed aesthetically and are configured to seat 60 passengers. The aircraft is divided into three zones. There is a VIP Conference Room which has six executive seats, a 32” LCD and a Video Tele Conferencing (VTC) camera, personalized screens along with noise cancellation headset. The aircraft also has a VIP bedroom with a 24” LCD screen, inbuilt closets, therapeutic oxygen cylinder, emergency medical equipment and a reclining bed. The communications centre that serve the VIP is equipped with SATCOM, Video Tele Conferencing, Internet, Fax, Printer and a UHF set for onboard security personnel. The Executive Zone can accommodate 12 passengers. This zone also has personalized screens and ports for LAN access. The third zone called the Staff Zone can accommodate 36 passengers and is equipped with six drop down screens. The aircraft also caters for In Flight Entertainment which consists of four DVD players, 30 CD changers and an air show.

The aircraft has various safety features that take inputs from other systems and aircraft, generating advisories in order to obviate any situation that comprise the safety of the aircraft such as EGPWS (Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning Systems), TCAS (Traffic Collision and Avoidance Systems), Intruder Detection System and Emergency Equipment provisioned with a resuscitator, automatic external defibrillator, therapeutic oxygen cylinder, life rafts and emergency medical kits.

The Communication Squadron was entrusted with the responsibility of flying dignitaries within India and abroad ever since its raising on 01 January 1947. Over the years, the squadron has been equipped with various types of aircraft, which include the Dakota, Devon, Viscount ,Avro, Boeing 737, Mi 8 Helicopter, the Embraer Legacy Jet and now the Business Boeing Jets.

karatecatman · Guest

www.samaylive.com/news/president-takes-maiden-flight-on-iafs-vvip-jet/616328.html
President takes maiden flight on IAF's VVIP jet

Wed, 01 Apr 2009

New Delhi, April 1 : Ushering an era of power-jetting-in-style for VVIPs, President Pratibha Patil today formally inducted the Indian Air Force's newly-acquired, highly-secure Boeing Business Jets (BBJs) and embarked on her visit to Arunachal Pradesh and Assam on its inaugural flight.

Patil performed prayers and cut a ribbon to mark the commissioning of the Rs 934-crore BBJs in to the IAF's Communication Squadron at Palam airport here.

Walking up the red-carpeted stairway, the President, who is also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, waved at the IAF personnel and the media corps before settling down in the plush VVIP cabin, which comprises a state-of-the-art executive office with conferencing facility and a private room with a double bed cot and in-flight entertainment features.

Designed to act as a command centre-cum-office in the sky in the event of an emergency such as a nuclear attack, the BBJs -- derived from Boeing 737-700 -- is custom built for the IAF by the US aircraft manufacturer and can carry a maximum of 46 passengers and a large cargo space.

"The trip would now be more business like. We will get more time to study, concentrate and apply our minds as flight will be more smooth," said Patil, just before the flight took off from Palam for the north-east.

karatecatman · Guest

The IAF BBJ pictures
Many, many thanks to source for these exclusive pictures. Some of these were published.

The IAF BBJ ceremony at Palam Technical area, Indira Gandhi Airport on April 1, 2009. President Pratibha Patil inaugurated the aircraft alongwith the IAF chief Fali Homi Major.
President Patil then boarded the aircraft for the North East.

The old 737 can be seen in one picture.

Note:
No interior pictures. Simply out of the question!!
(This is the maximum size of the pictures.)

HamiltonAir · Member Joined: 25 Dec 2006 Posts: 937 Location: Bangalore

Thanx for the pics KCM! Hope we had some interior pics as well. What will happen to the 732? will they place her in a museum?
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HamiltonAir

HAWK21M · Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 3:38 pm Post subject:

Nice pics.....Note safety procedures not followed regarding the stepladder left slidegate,its away from the Aircraft,A person can fall off.
Wink

The B732s are famous for High cycles & low hrs.....very interesting unlike others of its type,due type of utilization.

regds
MEL
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Think of the Brighter side !!!

crew320 · Member Joined: 20 Dec 2006 Posts: 301 Location: New Delhi