Airliners-India.com Flickr Group & Facebook    FAQ   Search   Memberlist   Usergroups   Register   Profile   Log in to check your private messages   Log in  HAPPY ANNIVERSARY-Indian Civil Aviation completes 100 years!          Airliners-India.com Forum Index -> Civil Aviation View previous topic :: View next topic   Author Message 747-237 Member Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11351 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 3:46 am    Post subject: HAPPY ANNIVERSARY-Indian Civil Aviation completes 100 years! http://nvonews.com/2011/02/11/indian-civil-aviation%E2%80%99-completes-100-years/ Indian Civil Aviation’ completes 100 years Feb 18 2011 ‘Indian Civil Aviation’ completes 100 years in the year 2011. On February 18, 1911, the first commercial plane flew in India between Allahabad and Naini carrying mails. To commemorate this milestone, ‘the year 2011-12’ is being declared and celebrated as the “Civil Aviation Centenary Year”. http://www.bellevision.com/index.php?action=headlines&type=193 18 February 2011: Though the date 18 February does not seem to be reminding of any anniversary of a major noteworthy event, the date exactly a century ago laid the foundation of the civil aviation in India when a French pilot Monsignor Henri Piquet undertook the first commercial flight on 18 February 1911 making a journey through air from Allahabad to Naini covering a distance of 10 kilometers just across the Yamuna river carrying world’s first airmail. He carried 6,000 odd letters and postcards, many of which were addressed to celebrities worldwide, including King George V in England. These rare postmarked covers or stamps with the words “First Aerial Post” are considered to be collectors’ delight fetching a handsome fortune if anyone is still in possession of one of these. This aviation feat of Henri Piquet though seemed a short distance across the Yamuna river, opened the entire Indian sub-continent for aviation challenges and future opportunities. http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=69873 Centenary Celebrations of Civil Aviation in India to be Inaugurated Tomorrow Indian Civil Aviation is completing 100 years tomorrow. The year 2011-12 will be declared as the Civil Aviation Centenary Year, starting from tomorrow i.e. 18th February, 2011 and ending on the same date in 2012. On this date in 1911, the first commercial plane flew in India between Allahabad and Naini. Since then, aviation in India has grown from strength to strength. Today India is the 9th largest civil aviation market in the world and this forward march is likely to culminate in India becoming one of the three largest markets in the world by 2020. To commemorate the occasion, the centenary celebrations will be inaugurated by the Minister for Civil Aviation Shri Vayalar Ravi tomorrow. On the occasion several eminent people who have contributed significantly to the growth of Civil Aviation in India will be felicitated. They include Rajiv Gandhi, JRD Tata, Sarla Thukral, Arjan Singh, Air Marshal Aspy Merwan Engineer, Biju Patnaik, Neeraj Bhanot, Capt. Rakesh Sharma, Saudamini Deshmukh and Vijaypat Singhania. To mark the beginning of the centenary year, all buildings, installations associated with civil aviation are going to be lit up tomorrow. All airlines, airports will display the centenary logo in all possible manner, like on tickets, boarding cards, luggage tags, arrival ,departure area etc. A special programme to felicitate pioneer women aviators will be organized on the international womens' day on 8th march. Throughout the year several other events have been planned which include release of a commemorative stamp, commemorative coins and establishment of an Air and Space Theme Park or Museum. MC/DG/ls (Release ID :69873) _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India. Back to top Nimish Member Joined: 16 Dec 2006 Posts: 9757 Location: Bangalore, India Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 12:43 pm    Post subject: Congratulations to all involved, and a proud moment for those in the industry for sure! _________________ We miss you Nalini! Back to top HAWK21M Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 8132 Location: Mumbai, INDIA Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 3:37 pm    Post subject: Amazing Duration.Maybe the MoCA should celebrate this event with atleast a Video. Maybe some News channel could do that _________________ Think of the Brighter side !!! Back to top himmat01 Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1392 Location: DEL Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 4:03 pm    Post subject: HAWK21M wrote: Amazing Duration.Maybe the MoCA should celebrate this event with atleast a Video. Maybe some News channel could do that Maybe our friend Vishnu could do a series on 100 years of aviation in India. _________________ Save Maharashtra! Back to top Spiderguy252 Member Joined: 10 Aug 2007 Posts: 4259 Location: Indian Ocean Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 6:09 pm    Post subject: himmat01 wrote: Maybe our friend Vishnu could do a series on 100 years of aviation in India. Okay, this is getting hilarious. Every thread has a standard "Maybe Vishnu can do an episode on this to highlight the problem" or "Vishnu should begin a new series on this fantastic trend" or "Vishnu, are you listening? Broadcast something on this story tomorrow!" _________________ Yeah. Back to top 747-237 Member Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11351 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 6:31 pm    Post subject: Let's hope somebody acknowledges this occasion - there was no mention about it in the print edition of the Times of India, I am told. _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India. Back to top AirIndia0001 Member Joined: 28 Sep 2007 Posts: 391 Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 8:22 pm    Post subject: 747-237 wrote: Let's hope somebody acknowledges this occasion - there was no mention about it in the print edition of the Times of India, I am told. MoCA's advert as seen in the Delhi edition of the TOI today.. Cheers! AI1 Back to top abhijith16 Member Joined: 14 Sep 2010 Posts: 1575 Location: DOH/IXE/MEL Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 2:57 pm    Post subject: Have a blast! Back to top HAWK21M Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 8132 Location: Mumbai, INDIA Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 10:38 pm    Post subject: Nice Picture there...... _________________ Think of the Brighter side !!! Back to top ssbmat Member Joined: 20 Dec 2006 Posts: 1710 Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2011 8:49 am    Post subject: It looks like MoCA is still stuck in the 90s..perhaps they want to celebrate the Platinum jubilee ..why ? Because the picture shows transition from the Flyer in 1911 to the Boeing 747-400 If they really were enthusiastic, they should have shown the Boeing 787 or atleast the 777-300ER.. That was about the only pertinent aspect of the picture..as for the other faces in it, the less said the better.. Back to top HAWK21M Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 8132 Location: Mumbai, INDIA Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2011 2:07 pm    Post subject: _________________ Think of the Brighter side !!! Back to top The_Goat Member Joined: 03 Mar 2007 Posts: 3260 Location: South of France Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2011 3:01 pm    Post subject: ssbmat wrote: It looks like MoCA is still stuck in the 90s..perhaps they want to celebrate the Platinum jubilee ..why ? Because the picture shows transition from the Flyer in 1911 to the Boeing 747-400 at least, be happy that the babus at MoCA could tell the difference between the Flyer and the 747 _________________ I don't know which is the more pampered bunch : AI's widebodies (the aunties) or Jet's widebodies (the planes). -Jasepl Back to top Optimus.Prime Member Joined: 21 Dec 2009 Posts: 302 Location: VAJJ (No, not Va-Jay-Jay) Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2011 5:07 pm    Post subject: The_Goat wrote: ssbmat wrote: It looks like MoCA is still stuck in the 90s..perhaps they want to celebrate the Platinum jubilee ..why ? Because the picture shows transition from the Flyer in 1911 to the Boeing 747-400 at least, be happy that the babus at MoCA could tell the difference between the Flyer and the 747 Am so sure one of them must have said "Pharak yehi hai Sirji, ek neeche aa raha hai, doosra upar jaa raha hai!" _________________ Why can't Donuts be square? Back to top The_Goat Member Joined: 03 Mar 2007 Posts: 3260 Location: South of France Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2011 7:06 pm    Post subject: Optimus.Prime wrote: The_Goat wrote: ssbmat wrote: It looks like MoCA is still stuck in the 90s..perhaps they want to celebrate the Platinum jubilee ..why ? Because the picture shows transition from the Flyer in 1911 to the Boeing 747-400 at least, be happy that the babus at MoCA could tell the difference between the Flyer and the 747 Am so sure one of them must have said "Pharak yehi hai Sirji, ek neeche aa raha hai, doosra upar jaa raha hai!" LOL Maybe there was something on the lines of " Ek se safed dhuvan nikal raha hai, doosre se nahi, tho dhuvan chodne wale ki tiknalaji bhi purani hogi nah"! _________________ I don't know which is the more pampered bunch : AI's widebodies (the aunties) or Jet's widebodies (the planes). -Jasepl Back to top 747-237 Member Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11351 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 10:45 pm    Post subject: The Hindustan Times ran this article about the occasion. _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India. Back to top con spirito Member Joined: 07 Apr 2007 Posts: 577 Location: Inflight Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 11:32 pm    Post subject: HAWK21M wrote: Same can be found on most of 6E's Aircrafts next to he L1 door. _________________ India is one of the richest countries in the world. The only problem is........all the wealth is distributed in the wrong hands. Back to top Devesh Member Joined: 26 May 2008 Posts: 564 Location: Bangalore, India Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 11:51 am    Post subject: Spiderguy252 wrote: himmat01 wrote: Maybe our friend Vishnu could do a series on 100 years of aviation in India. Okay, this is getting hilarious. Every thread has a standard "Maybe Vishnu can do an episode on this to highlight the problem" or "Vishnu should begin a new series on this fantastic trend" or "Vishnu, are you listening? Broadcast something on this story tomorrow!" I have done a feature, using inputs from MoCA. It has extensive links to Wikipedia and other reference sources, websites, twitter accounts, videos and pictures, so it is relatively lifeless in just a copy and paste of the text, but here goes. For the full experience do visit my blog. Sorry if this sounds like a plug which it is not, but it is an honest view. http://www.bangaloreaviation.com/2011/02/feature-significant-milestones-in-100.html Quote: In what is considered the world's first airmail service, on 18 Feburary, 1911 the first commercial civil aviation flight in India took place in India between Allahabad and Naini, a distance of 6 miles when Henri Piquet carried 6500 mails on a Humber biplane. The first international flight to and from India commenced in December 1912, when the Indian State Air Services in collaboration with UK based Imperial Airways introduced the London-Karachi- Delhi flight. In 1915 Tata Sons Ltd. started regular air mail services between Karachi and Madras and on January 24, 1920 the Royal Air Force started regular airmail services between Karachi and Bombay. 1924 saw the commencement of construction of civil airports in India in Calcutta at Dum Dum, Allahabad at Bamrauli and in Bombay in Gilbert Hill. April 1927 saw the setting up of a separate Department of Civil Aviation to look after all civil aviation matters and also the establishment of Aero Club of India. In February 1929, JRD Tata was awarded the first pilot license by Federation Aeronautique International on behalf of the Aero Club of India and Burma. The same year Aga Khan announced a solo air race between London and Bombay. There were three participants - JRD Tata, Man Mohan Singh and Aspy Merchant. The race was won by Man Mohan Singh. Lt. Col. Shelmerdine was appointed the first Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in 1931 to look after civil aviation regulatory issues. In 1932 Tata Airlines came to being as a division of Tata Sons Limited. On October 15, 1932, J.R.D. Tata flew a single-engined De Havilland Puss Moth carrying air mail from Karachi's Drigh Road Aerodrome to Bombay's Juhu Airstrip via Ahmedabad. The aircraft continued to Madras via Bellary piloted by former Royal Air Force pilot Nevill Vintcent. Tata Airlines was based out of a hut with a palm thatched roof at Juhu Aerodrome with one pilot and two apprentice mechanics along with 2 piston engined aircraft, one Puss Moth and one Leopard Moth aircraft. 1932 also saw the first Indian woman Urmila K. Parikh get a pilot’s license. Between 1933 and 1934 a number of private Indian airlines – Indian Trans Continental Airways, Madras Air Taxi Services, Indian National Airways commenced operations. The Indian Aircraft Act was promulgated in 1934 and was formulated in 1937. In 1940, industrialist Walchand Hirachand in association with the then Mysore Government set up Hindustan Aircraft at Bangalore. We today know this company as Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. or HAL. India’s first aircraft, the Harlow trainer was rolled out for test flight in July 1941. On April 2, 1942 the colonial government announced that Hindustan Aircraft had been nationalised by its buy-out of the stakes of Walchand Hirachand and other promoters. In 1943 the Bangalore facility of HAL was handed over to the United States Army Air Force but still using HAL management. The factory expanded rapidly and became the centre for major overhaul and repair of American aircraft and was known as the 84th Air Depot. When returned to Indian control in 1945, HAL Bangalore had become one of the largest overhaul and repair facilities in the East. In July 1945 the Deccan Airways, jointly owned by the Nizam of Hyderabad and Tatas, was founded. On 29 July 29, 1946 Tata Airlines became a public limited company under the name Air India. Deccan Airways also commenced its first flight this year. Post independence, in 1948, 49% of the airline was acquired by the Government of India, with an option to purchase an additional 2%. In return, the airline was granted status to operate international services from India as the designated flag carrier under the name Air India International. On June 8, 1948, the airline operated its first long-haul international flight from Bombay to London via Cairo and Geneva, using a Lockheed Constellation L-749A named Malabar Princess (registered VT-CQP) In 1948 Prem Mathur became the first female commercial pilot and started flying for Deccan Airways, having obtained her commercial pilot’s license in 1947. In 1950 Air India International increased its service to Nairobi, Kenya via Aden. 1953 was the black year for Indian aviation. In March 1953, the Indian parliament, passed the Air Corporations Act, which forced nationalisation of the entire airline industry. On August 25, 1953, the Government of India exercised its option to purchase a majority stake in Air India International. At the same time seven former freedom domestic airlines, Deccan Airways, Airways India, Bharat Airways, Himalayan Aviation, Kalinga Airlines, Indian National Airways and Air Services of India, were merged to form the new domestic national carrier Indian Airlines Corporation. Indian Airlines inherited a fleet of 99 aircraft including 74 Douglas DC-3 Dakotas, 12 Vickers Vikings, 3 Douglas DC-4s and various smaller types from the seven airlines that made it up. 1953 also saw the introduction of India’s Civil Helicopter Services. In 1956 Ms. Durba Banerjee was inducted as the first woman pilot of Indian Airlines. In 1960, Air India International entered the jet age when its first Boeing 707-420, named Gauri Shankar (registration VT-DJJ), was delivered, and on May 14, 1960, the national carrier commenced jet services to New York City via London. On June 8, 1962, the airline's name was officially truncated to Air India. Three days later, on June 22, 1962, Air India became the world's first all-jet airline. In 1971, the airline took delivery of its first Boeing 747-200B named Emperor Ashoka (registration VT-EBD). This coincided with the introduction of the 'Palace In The Sky' livery and branding. A feature of this livery is the paintwork around each aircraft window. This aircraft holds a special significance for me as it was the first aircraft I ever flew as a passenger at the ripe age of 8 years. Sadly, the Emperor Ashoka crashed on new year's day 1978 performing Air India Flight AI-855 about 3 km (1.9 mi) off the coast of Bandra, Bombay (now Mumbai), India. In 1972 the International Airports Authority of India (IAAI) was constituted to operate the international airports in India. April 1976 saw the first three Airbus A300 wide-body jets being introduced in to domestic service with Indian Airlines which has always maintained a close relation with the European airframer. Vayudoot Airlines (again government owned) started operation in the year 1981 to service the north-eastern states of India where road facilities were limited due to mountainous terrain. In 1984 Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma of the Indian Air Force became the first Indian astronaut and the 138th man in space spending 8 days in space abroad Salyut 7. In 1985 Captain Saudamini Deshmukh commanded the first all women crew flight on an Indian Airlines Fokker Friendship F-27 on the Calcutta-Silchar route. She later also commanded the first Boeing all-women crew flight in September 1989 on the Mumbai-Goa sector. 1985 also saw the establishment of Pawan Hans Helicopters Limited (again government owned) and the establishment of the government owned Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Academy in Fursatganj, Rai Bareli in Uttar Pradesh for training of pilots. In 1986, the National Airports Authority was established to operate purely domestic airports. (I am sure you see the steady rise in the levels of bureaucracy and multiplicity of organisations essentially performing the same service). In 1987, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security was established following the mid-air bombing over the Irish sea of Air India Boeing 747 Emperor Kanishka performing flight AI-182 between Montreal and New Delhi in 1985. In 1989, Indian Airlines continued its close relations with Airbus to become one of the earliest adopters of the new A320 aircraft. 1990 saw Air India entering the Guinness Book of World Records when it conducted the largest evacuation effort by a single civilian airline flying over 111,000 people from Amman, Jordan to Mumbai over 59 days operating 488 flights, just prior to the first Gulf war. 1990 also saw Captain Nivedita Bhasin of Indian Airlines becoming the youngest commander of a jet aircraft at age 26. She subsequently became the first female check pilot on an Airbus A300 aircraft. 1990-93 saw the entry of private airlines after the de-regulation of the civil aviation sector. Private airlines were given permission to operate charter and non-scheduled services under the ‘Air Taxi’ Scheme. East West Airlines was the first national private airline to operate in the country after almost 37 years. In 1994, following the repeal of the Air Corporation Act private airlines were permitted to operate scheduled services and a number of private players including Air Sahara, Damania Airways, East West Airlines, Jet Airways, Modiluft, and NEPC Airlines and commenced domestic operations. Most airlines closed before the end of the decade, with the exception of Jet Airways. Air Sahara was bought by Jet and re-branded JetLite. Modiluft which closed in 1996, was re-incarnated as SpiceJet in 2005. In 1995 the private airlines accounted for about 10% of domestic traffic, today they account for almost 85%. Also, in 1995, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) was constituted after the merging of the International Airport Authority of India with National Airports Authority. In 1998 Dr. Kalpana Chawla became the first Indian-born woman to fly to space as part of a NASA team. 1998 also saw the first private airport under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model come up in Cochin, Kerala. 2003 saw the introduction of the ‘Low Cost Carrier’ business model in the country with Capt. G.R. Gopinath launching Air Deccan which was ultimately purchased by Kingfisher Airlines and re-branded Kingfisher Red. Today the LCC segment accounts for half the domestic air travel in the country. In 2004 the government approved the setting up of private greenfield airports at Hyderabad and Bangalore which subsequently commenced operations in 2008. In December 2004 private airlines with a minimum of 5 years of continuous operations and a minimum fleet size of 20 aircraft, were permitted to operate scheduled services to international destinations. On December 7, 2005, Indian Airlines was re-branded as Indian for advertising purposes as a part of a program to revamp its image in preparation for an initial public offering. Conveniently the IPO was ditched and the airline was made to haemorrhage scare funds. In the same year, the flamboyant Dr. Vijay Mallya launched Kingfisher Airlines. In 2006 the government approved the restructuring and modernisation of Mumbai and Delhi Airport through Public Private Partnership. In 2007, the Government of India announced that Indian would be merged into Air India. As part of the merger, a new company called the National Aviation Company of India Limited (NACIL) was established, into which both Air India (along with Air India Express) and Indian (along with Alliance Air) will be merged. The merger remains controversial and incomplete till today. In 2008 the Parliament passed the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) Bill but the authority was set up only in 2009. Within a year there are already significant disputes between the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Authority which is leaning towards the single till system not wanted by private airport operators. In July 2010, the mammoth Terminal 3 (T-3) integrated terminal was inaugurated at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. At present India is the 9th largest aviation market in the world with 82 operational airports, 735 aircraft, 12 operational scheduled airlines and 121 non-scheduled operators (read private companies creating charter companies to import their business jets free of customs duty). The number of air passengers travelling in India crossed 50 million. _________________ ---------------------- Devesh Bangalore Aviation Back to top sumantra Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 12:56 pm    Post subject: 747-237 wrote: The Hindustan Times ran this article about the occasion. That's a Dragon Rapide to the right! Cheers, Sumantra. Back to top sumantra Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 12:59 pm    Post subject: Devesh wrote: For the full experience do visit my blog. Sorry if this sounds like a plug which it is not, but it is an honest view. Plug? It is an excellent article, Devesh-ji: thanks for sharing this with us! Cheers, Sumantra. Back to top himmat01 Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1392 Location: DEL Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 4:01 pm    Post subject: I came across this blog. There are a few inaccuracies but its interesting. http://oldphotosbombay.blogspot.com/2010/12/bombay-airport-juhu-and-tata.html _________________ Save Maharashtra! Back to top The_Goat Member Joined: 03 Mar 2007 Posts: 3260 Location: South of France Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 8:23 pm    Post subject: Devesh, that's a great article! Himmat, thanks for that fantastic link! I wonder if any historic artefacts are still there at Juhu Airport, like old airline signboards etc? _________________ I don't know which is the more pampered bunch : AI's widebodies (the aunties) or Jet's widebodies (the planes). -Jasepl Back to top HAWK21M Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 8132 Location: Mumbai, INDIA Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 5:05 pm    Post subject: Fantastic pictures there. _________________ Think of the Brighter side !!! Back to top vikramv2 Member Joined: 22 May 2008 Posts: 435 Location: Powai,Mumbai Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 5:22 pm    Post subject: Fantastic stuff _________________ http://airliners1.com Visit my photostream @flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/26842543@N07/ Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First         Airliners-India.com Forum Index -> Civil Aviation All times are GMT + 5.5 Hours Page 1 of 1   Jump to: Select a forum New Members----------------Sign-up Guidelines Airliners-India----------------Civil AviationNon AviationTrip ReportsMilitary Aviation & SpaceInternationalAviation Polls & PreferenceTech/OpsAviation PhotographyEditorial/Analysis/ArticlesAviation HobbyAviation LawAviation Questions & CareersSite Related Flickr Group----------------Photo of the Month My Message Board----------------Pin Up  You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group. 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