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sabya99 Member
Joined: 19 Dec 2011 Posts: 1399 Location: New Jersey/CCU
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sabya99 Member
Joined: 19 Dec 2011 Posts: 1399 Location: New Jersey/CCU
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Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2019 7:07 pm Post subject: |
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After grand opening, Kerala's 4th int'l airport is now up and running...
Read more at: https://english.manoramaonline.com/news/kerala/2018/12/09/kannur-airport-inauguration-first-flight-kerala.html How many airports this small state need?
Ex Cope India 2018: A testimony to growing India-US military relationship
Ex Cope India 2018, with its fourth edition in the series of the bilateral joint exercises, has been planned at two Air Force bases — Kalaikunda and Panagarh in West Bengal — from 3-14 December. https://www.thestatesman.com/india/ex-cope-india-2018-a-testimony-to-growing-india-us-military-relationship-1502714901.html
I think both these airbases were built and used by US air force during WWII.
Proposed Balurghat airport in north Bengal. Its elevation 78 ft, length 4600 ft (approx..) and only 5 miles away from the city. Hopefully someday it is developed into 8000 ft runway airport. North Bengal people need an airport here. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Balurghat+Airport/@25.2634402,88.7943414,1001m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m7!3m6!1s0x39fc9fe5c8aa4061:0x17438454bac66e41!8m2!3d25.2634405!4d88.7965357!9m1!1b1?hl=en
BA to resume flights to Pakistan ;
British Airways is to restart flights to Pakistan next year, more than 10 years after it halted services following a major hotel bombing.
More : https://www.bbc.com/news/business-46604748
14 Landmark Innovations That Changed the Course of Aviation History. https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/biggest-milestones-business-aviation-history-190036609.html
India makes its aircraft disappearance proof post MH370 incident; here’s how. https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/india-makes-its-aircraft-disappearance-proof-post-mh370-incident-heres-how/1418651/
Major boost for Indian Air Force as ISRO puts military satellite GSAT-7A in orbit. The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark II vehicle lifted-off with the two-ton satellite from the second launch pad on the barrier island located in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh.
https://www.thestatesman.com/india/major-boost-indian-air-force-isro-puts-military-satellite-gsat-7a-orbit-1502717606.html
American Airlines and Southwest Airlines are first into new LaGuardia.
Frequent travelers from Chicago to New York City’s close-in LaGuardia Airport can start to see the bright, shining light at the end of what has been a very dark tunnel for too many years. On Dec. 1, the first 11 gates opened for business in a new Concourse B in what will be an all new LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in a couple more years. https://www.bizjournals.com/chicago/news/2018/12/19/american-airlines-and-southwest-airlines-laguardia.html
Dhaka international airport with its 3rd terminal (2022). The animation is impressive, but it remains a single runway airport. That has to change. https://youtu.be/TE-en3lJlDE
Comparison of Kolkata vs. Dhaka airport : https://youtu.be/MfLoPOvgJEk _________________ Sabya99 |
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sabya99 Member
Joined: 19 Dec 2011 Posts: 1399 Location: New Jersey/CCU
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sabya99 Member
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sabya99 Member
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sabya99 Member
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sabya99 Member
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sabya99 Member
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sabya99 Member
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sabya99 Member
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Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 6:26 pm Post subject: |
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Boeing: UK joins countries blocking aircraft. The UK's Civil Aviation Authority has banned the Boeing 737 MAX from operating in or over UK airspace "as a precautionary measure".
The decision comes after an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing Max 8 crashed on Sunday, killing 157 people on board, the second fatal accident involving that model in less than five months.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-47536502
Boeing has grounded its entire global fleet of 737 Max aircraft after investigators uncovered new evidence at the scene of the fatal Ethiopian Airlines crash.
The US plane-maker said it would suspend all 371 of the aircraft.
He said that satellite data showed possible similarities between flight patterns of Boeing 737 Max planes operating in Canada and the Ethiopian Airlines plane that crashed.( more at https://www.bbc.com/news/business-47562727) _________________ Sabya99 |
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sabya99 Member
Joined: 19 Dec 2011 Posts: 1399 Location: New Jersey/CCU
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Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2019 4:45 am Post subject: |
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Ethiopian Airlines CEO sees 'clear similarities' between crashed 737 MAX jets – Xinhua.
(Reuters) - The crashed Boeing Co 737 MAX jets in Ethiopia and Indonesia appear to have a common connection, Ethiopian Airlines Group Chief Executive Officer Tewolde Gebremariam told China’s state news agency Xinhua on Friday.
Investigators have found a piece of a stabilizer in the wreckage of an Ethiopian jet with the trim set in an unusual position similar to that of a Lion Air plane that crashed last year, sources have told Reuters.
https://in.reuters.com/article/ethiopia-airplane-idINKCN1QW2JF _________________ Sabya99 |
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sabya99 Member
Joined: 19 Dec 2011 Posts: 1399 Location: New Jersey/CCU
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sabya99 Member
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sabya99 Member
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Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2019 4:00 pm Post subject: |
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Kolkata: Work to boost runway capacity to start in April
Read more at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/68638670.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
AAI at last woke up! Both the northern points of primary and secondary runway will be connected by building an extended taxiway F NORTH. This will double up the capacity of secondary runway to 30 movements per hour. Main runway could be closed for repair for extended period of time. Secondary runway could be used to launch aircrafts from both north and south side. Capacity of primary runway will also go up and 19L turn pad will be used more frequently. This will safely help NSCBI airport a 30M passenger per year airport. Cost 315 crore, time needed 2022 summer. This should have been done much earlier! _________________ Sabya99 |
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sumantra Member
Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi
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Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2019 11:13 am Post subject: |
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sabya99 wrote: | Kolkata: Work to boost runway capacity to start in April | Sir: on my Calcutta trip last weekend, I saw some work already going on on the secondary runway. NSCBIA has had the good luck of having some good directors over the years.
Cheers, Sumantra. |
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sabya99 Member
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sabya99 Member
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iah87 Member
Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 2566
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Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2019 11:38 pm Post subject: |
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No wonder it was shot down. You don't send old planes just because it is cheap or it is in the inventory. India's defense budget is huge, much higher than Pakistan and they can afford better planes. MIGs are nicknamed "flying coffins" and for good reason. It is time to retire all MIGs and go for the best that US has to offer. |
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sabya99 Member
Joined: 19 Dec 2011 Posts: 1399 Location: New Jersey/CCU
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Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2019 5:41 am Post subject: |
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In a highly contested battlefield quantity has a qualitative edge. This has been proved many times. I don’t blame IAF. Rest of my comment just sarcastic! _________________ Sabya99 |
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sabya99 Member
Joined: 19 Dec 2011 Posts: 1399 Location: New Jersey/CCU
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Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2019 4:08 pm Post subject: |
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Speaking to TOI, Kolkata airport director Kaushik Bhattacharya announced the plan for demolition of old domestic terminal at NSCBI airport, Kolkata.
Read more at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/68730409.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
I have just noticed aerobridges from this terminal removed. If the adjacent warehouses are also demolished then there are enough space for 10 C class aircraft parking spots. But no hope for wide body aircrafts. This will take passenger capacity to 33-35 million PA.. Glad to see AAI thinking to make CCU a 40 MPA airport in distant future. Perhaps with adequate taxiways and extending secondary runway to south side, we could reach a 50 MPA airport.
Three designs on board for Kolkata airport expansion. (Latest update )
Read more at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/68758340.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
I think design 1 or 2 are most practical. As apron space is short the best way to extend the boarding capacity is to occupy space from car parking lot. By the time construction is complete CCU will be looking for 40 MPA terminal again. _________________ Sabya99 |
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sabya99 Member
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sabya99 Member
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shivendrashukla Member
Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Posts: 1354 Location: Mumbai, India
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Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2019 8:20 pm Post subject: |
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iah87 wrote: |
No wonder it was shot down. You don't send old planes just because it is cheap or it is in the inventory. India's defense budget is huge, much higher than Pakistan and they can afford better planes. MIGs are nicknamed "flying coffins" and for good reason. It is time to retire all MIGs and go for the best that US has to offer. |
That is a very incorrect assessment to make. The MiG was shot down because it was outnumbered 4 is to 1. The MiG Bison is a completely different aircraft as compared to MiGs of 1980s or even 1990s. It has helmet mounted displays and a good radar as well. And the best of all, it takes under 2 mins from start up to take off, something even F18/F22 and even F35 cant do. This was the reason it was deployed for ORP duties in Srinagar.
If any rumors are to be believed, the MiGs actually surprised F16s. They are not expecting MiGs to come out and their signature was well hidden by pir Panjal ranges. It was when the MiGs actually pounced on F16s that they fired their advanced AMRAAMs. There were 05 AMRAAMs fired and only 1 hit. A 25% success rate. IF this is not good, i do not see what else can be quantified as good.
Also, India does not hide its losses, unlike an F16 which went down in Pakistan. |
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sabya99 Member
Joined: 19 Dec 2011 Posts: 1399 Location: New Jersey/CCU
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Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2019 9:33 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the clarification! _________________ Sabya99 |
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sumantra Member
Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi
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Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2019 11:11 pm Post subject: |
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Brilliantly put, Shukla Sir. the Bison is really something, and its capabilities are not really listed down. The airframe is the same, but a well-maintained uprated aircraft with modern avionics, BVR and the riff-raff is something no one would want to encounter, especially as the USAF also experienced in the COPA exercises in 2012. The IAF uses its resources and varied inventory realyl well, along with its support systems. The think-tank has to be envied for the planning. This is not to say that the PAF does not have capable aircraft or personnel. They do, but look at the numbers, and when a choicest strike force of 24 aircraft is driven back with a fourth of its size, one knows where a well-thought strategy lies. One has to perhaps be in India to appreciate the constraints and the strengths in spite of the constraints, that this fantastic fighting force has.
Cheers, Sumantra. |
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sabya99 Member
Joined: 19 Dec 2011 Posts: 1399 Location: New Jersey/CCU
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Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2019 6:08 pm Post subject: |
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Landing at Andal airport, West Bengal. https://youtu.be/f7QrhNN-FtU
Inoculated Against Failure: Airbus A380 Goes Down in a Blaze of Dishonor
https://spectator.org/inoculated-against-failure-airbus-a380-goes-down-in-a-blaze-of-dishonor/
Airport near Lasha, Tibet with both civil and military activity. Very close to Indian border:
https://www.google.com/maps/search/airport+near+Lasha,+Lhunzhub,+Lhasa,+China/@29.2959812,90.9190101,1036m/data=!3m1!1e3
Flight take off from NSCBI airport facing north : https://youtu.be/jy5kqxiKxhM?list=PLr_RWFDDySKBNX6oxGcAtvY9x0tU0W5O4 Flush mounted LCD lights replacing old runway lights, indicating Cat IIIB lighting system installed.
All you need to know about B797 or wait till 2025 : https://youtu.be/Aew-4nhOC8U
British Airways Chooses Boeing 777 to Replace 747s. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/british-airways-leaning-toward-boeing-082243184.html
Why This MiG-21 Vs. F-16 Dogfight Heats Up A $15 Billion Fighter Contest.
https://www.investors.com/news/mig-21-pilot-shot-down-india-fighter-jet-procurement/
2 Southwest Airlines planes clip wings at Newark Airport; no injuries. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/southwest-airlines-planes-clip-wings-newark-liberty-international-airport-today-2019-03-02/ Nobody cares for this crowded airport, it needs urgent renovation!
NSCBI Airport Secondary runway to get fresh surface for safer operations. Kolkata secondary runway will be repaved with asphalt and new CAT IIIB lighting system will be installed. Target date for completion April 2020.
Read more at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/68262170.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
Landing on Kolkata main runway from north in rain. Please note service road construction in the east side of main runway, https://youtu.be/qMd7cdhQeaA
The fate of Flight 302 raises questions about the future of the Boeing aircraft.https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2019-03-11/what-does-ethiopian-air-flight-302-crash-mean-for-boeing-787-max
IAF carries out major combat drill along border to thwart intrusion of PAF into Indian airspace
During the exercise, IAF jets including frontline aircraft, flew at supersonic speeds in the border districts including Amritsar.
https://www.thestatesman.com/india/iaf-combat-drill-border-thwart-intrusion-paf-indian-airspace-1502738834.html
India, Pakistan threatened to unleash missiles at each other: sources. https://bdnews24.com/neighbours/2019/03/17/india-pakistan-threatened-to-unleash-missiles-at-each-other-sources
This is almost a repetition of Kargil war of 1999. Super powers and China keep an eye on Pakis!
Pakistan’s Long, Controversial Love Affair with the F-16 Fighting Falcon. https://www.yahoo.com/news/pakistan-long-controversial-love-affair-095900593.html
Pakistani airspace restrictions keep routes closed, carriers off balance. https://www.yahoo.com/news/pakistani-airspace-restrictions-keep-routes-closed-carriers-off-133642783.html High airfares take toll on passenger traffic growth _________________ Sabya99 |
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sabya99 Member
Joined: 19 Dec 2011 Posts: 1399 Location: New Jersey/CCU
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Posted: Sat Apr 27, 2019 9:42 pm Post subject: |
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Traffic report for FY 18-19 of major desi airports:
DEL 18.7M (Int.) 50.5M (Dom.); BOM. 14.4M (Int.) 34.4M (Dom) ; BLR 4.5 M (Int.) 28.8 (Dom.):
MAA. 5.94 M(Int.) 16.60M (Dom.) CCU . 2.78M (Int.) 19.1M (Dom.), HYD 3.98M (Int.) 17.4M. (Dom.)
Growth percentage: DEL 5.4%. BOM 0.70% BLR 23.8% MAA 10.7% CCU. 10%. HYD. 17.9%
Analysis: DEL heading for 100M+ airport in about a decade. BOM. showing signs of capacity constrain as its intersecting runway could not handle any more movements no matter how big the terminal. Growth of BLR is spectacular and it may catch up with BOM in near future. Also it has space for building another set of runway, so further expansion is possible. MAA has larger International passenger load than BLR. This has helped to maintain fourth position among desi airports. CCU did well with large domestic passenger load but did poorly with international passengers. HYD is doing extremely well with both international and domestic passenger. It might overtake CCU in coming days. Biggest asset of CCU will remain its large pool of domestic passengers. I think in next five years it might reach 30M capacity and AAI babus wake; it is time to build more taxiways , apron areas etc.
Other two civil airports of West Bengal namely Durgapore and Bagdogra are doing just fine. Durgapore handled 45,000 from last years 6000. So this proves it will be a commercially viable airport and no other hand out necessary. Bagdogra about to reach 3M mark needs urgent infra upgrade and both Bengal govt. and AAI should work together. _________________ Sabya99 |
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sabya99 Member
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sabya99 Member
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sabya99 Member
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sabya99 Member
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Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 5:19 am Post subject: |
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Safety scare on runway at NSCBI airport.
Two planes approach from opposite ends.
Two planes allegedly entered the same runway of the city airport for take-off at the same time from opposite ends on Friday morning, officials said.
Alerted by the pilot of one of the aircraft, the air traffic control asked the other plane to vacate the runway.
One of the flights was Air India’s and the other SpiceJet’s. Both were bound for Silchar in Assam.
The Air India flight, an Airbus A319 that was carrying 138 passengers, was to start its take-off run from the southern end of the runway.
“There was congestion for take-off at the northern end. So, the aircraft was given permission to start its take-off run from the southern end,” said an airport official.
The plane was given clearance to use taxiway Delta and enter the runway at 6.24am, said officials.
At the same time, the SpiceJet flight, a 78-seater Bombardier Q400 with 68 passengers, was asked to use taxiway Bravo and wait at the edge of the runway. The pilot was asked to enter the runway after the Air India flight took off, officials said.
“The SpiceJet pilot was asked to wait at the holding point for the other flight to take off,” an official said. (more)
https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/safety-scare-on-runway/cid/1690743?ref=more-from-states_states-page. _________________ Sabya99 |
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sabya99 Member
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sabya99 Member
Joined: 19 Dec 2011 Posts: 1399 Location: New Jersey/CCU
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Posted: Sun Jun 09, 2019 6:39 am Post subject: |
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At last AAI woke up; this is the preparation for taxi track F north construction. Did AAI babus knew how important this project was for capacity upgrade of both the runways? A tender call from AAI.aero webpage!
Airside Capacity Enhancement of NSCBI Airport, Kolkata. SH:- Extension of F-Taxi Track from proposed Bay No. C - 13 to 19R & from 19R to 19L, Construction of 03 nos. RET’s, 04 nos. Apron, Shoulders and Box Culvert at different locations of NSCBI Airport,
Region / Airport : Eastern Region/Kolkata
Last Sale Date : 30-Nov-2018 18:00
Department : Engineering
_________________ Sabya99 |
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sabya99 Member
Joined: 19 Dec 2011 Posts: 1399 Location: New Jersey/CCU
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Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2019 6:16 pm Post subject: |
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INS Arihant left crippled after ‘accident’ 10 months ago. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ins-arihant-left-crippled-after-accident-10-months-ago/article22392049.ece Ballistic missiles are complex things, must be handled with care.
IndiGo, SpiceJet to add 50 planes in summer amid capacity deficit.
SpiceJet not to change configuration of aircraft keeping in mind urgency to fill up vacant routes. https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/indigo-spicejet-to-add-50-planes-in-summer-amid-capacity-deficit-119041300793_1.html
Inside Kolkata airport, a video report : https://youtu.be/Um4LwB_pbss
Speaking to TOI, Kolkata airport director Kaushik Bhattacharya announced the plan for demolition of old domestic terminal at NSCBI airport, Kolkata.
Read more at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/68730409.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
I have just noticed aerobridges from this terminal removed. If the adjacent warehouses are also demolished then there are enough space for 10 C class aircraft parking spots. But no hope for wide body aircrafts. This will take passenger capacity to 33-35 million PA.. Glad to see AAI thinking to make CCU a 40 MPA airport in distant future. Perhaps with adequate taxiways and extending secondary runway to south side, we could reach a 50 MPA airport. Latest news: adjacent warehouses are demolished now. See GE picture.
Three designs on board for Kolkata airport expansion. (Latest update)
Read more at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/68758340.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
I think design 1 or 2 are most practical. As apron space is short the best way to extend the boarding capacity is to occupy space from car parking lot. By the time construction is complete CCU will be looking for 40 MPA terminal again.
India successfully test fires Nirbhay missile.
https://www.thestatesman.com/cities/india-successfully-test-fires-nirbhay-missile-1502745585.html
India successfully test fired a sub-sonic cruise missile Nirbhay off the Odisha coast on Monday.
The 1,000-km range missile was fired for a shorter range from a launch pad from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur in Balasore district, said informed sources.
Indigenously developed by the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), the Nirbhay missile can carry warheads of up to 300 kg, the sources added.
It can travel with a turbofan or turbojet engine and is guided by a highly advanced inertial navigation system.
The Secret Is Out: The U.S. Air Force Has Russian MiG-29s To Dogfight.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/secret-u-air-force-russian-220000285.html
Metro hub 150m from Calcutta airport.
Kolkata airport Metro station will have corridor with walkalators for passengers to reach the terminal from the station. https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/metro-hub-150m-from-calcutta-airport/cid/1689212?ref=more-from-states_states-page
SpiceJet inks pact with Emirates.
The deal will add a total of 67 weekly connections between Emirates’ hub in Dubai and Indian destinations. https://www.telegraphindia.com/business/spicejet-inks-pact-with-emirates/cid/1689256?ref=business_home-template
Mid night takeoff from NSCBI airport. Note, lighted taxiways and runway edge lights : https://youtu.be/ExQ8fRgrOT0 _________________ Sabya99 |
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sabya99 Member
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sabya99 Member
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sabya99 Member
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sabya99 Member
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Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2019 10:12 pm Post subject: |
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Mumbai to Durgapur flight services start under UDAN scheme
The new flight reiterates the airline’s commitment to augment connectivity between metro and non-metro cities.
https://www.thestatesman.com/cities/kolkata/mumbai-durgapur-flight-services-start-udan-scheme-1502770061.html
SpiceJet, the low cost airliner today flagged off a daily direct flight on the DurgapurMumbai route under the regional connectivity scheme, UDAN. The under-served market of Durgapur is the airline’s 13th destination under UDAN.
The new flight reiterates the airline’s commitment to augment connectivity between metro and non-metro cities. The route was awarded under UDAN III and is exclusive to the airline, thereby making it the only carrier to offer flight services on the sector.
There are total 122 seats in the flight and on day one today, around 80 passengers arrived from Mumbai and 113 passengers departed from Andal.
In line with the aviation tradition to mark key milestones, the inaugural flight was greeted with a water cannon salute upon its arrival at the Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport, Durgapur. The airline also hosted a flag-off ceremony at the Durgapur Airport which was graced by dignitaries and SpiceJet staff. The launch was initiated with the customary lamp lighting ceremony thereby marking the formal announcement of SpiceJet’s SG 6355 Durgapur to Mumbai flight. The first passenger was welcomed and gifted a memento by the dignitaries. Mr Babul Supriyo, Union minister of state for environment, forest and climate change said, “Enhancing air connectivity to Durgapur and Asansol was a promise that we had made to the people and I am delighted to announce the commencement of daily non-stop flights connecting Durgapur (Andal) to Mumbai from today. The UDAN scheme, an excellent initiative of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has helped provide air connectivity to the remotest parts of the country and I am elated that people from Asansol/Durgapur and the region around will have direct connectivity to the country’s financial capital and easy onward connections to the rest of the country and abroad.”
“It will enhance the ‘Ease of Living’ Doctrine of our Government by saving both time and money. I would like to congratulate and thank SpiceJet for honouring my request and making this flight possible,” the Union minister said.
Comment: This is the beginning. Durgapur will become a major airport in eastern India with many more destinations. _________________ Sabya99 |
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sabya99 Member
Joined: 19 Dec 2011 Posts: 1399 Location: New Jersey/CCU
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Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2019 4:41 am Post subject: |
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How Calcutta won a Dubai flight but lost a London one.
The new route sounds suspiciously like a consolation prize.
https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/how-calcutta-won-a-dubai-flight-but-lost-a-london-one/cid/1693185?ref=west-bengal-recommended-stry-4
First, the good news: Air India has announced a flight from Calcutta to Dubai from mid-July.
Now, the bad news: the new route sounds suspiciously like a consolation prize that masks the tale of how Calcutta missed out on a direct flight to London.
The decision to launch the Calcutta-Dubai flight, which will be in operation four days a week, has prompted sources to convey to this newspaper that Air India had almost finalized plans a few months ago to introduce a direct flight from Calcutta to London.
But the Centre decided to give the route to Bangalore and it was launched in November last year, which the sources have attributed to political reasons.
However, after the Lok Sabha elections that transformed the BJP from an also-ran to a serious contender for power in Bengal, the Centre has apparently decided that a gesture from Air India could reap rich dividends in the international-flight-starved state. At present, the state has no direct flight to any of the countries in Europe and the Americas.
Since the London route had already been given to Bangalore, Air India then decided on the Calcutta-Dubai flight, the sources said.
On Tuesday, Air India announced that the non-stop Calcutta-Dubai flight would commence from mid-July with a 182-seater Airbus A320neo aircraft. The flight will operate four days a week.
Sources in Air India said discussions and deliberations were on for more than two years to revive the Dhaka-Calcutta-London route, which the state-owned airline had withdrawn in October 2008.
“Things had almost been finalized towards the end of last year after a lot of deliberations and discussions. But then suddenly we were told the flight to London would operate from Bangalore and not Calcutta,” said a source in Air India.
“Bengal has been deprived of direct connectivity to London because of political reasons. We had tried for two years for the Calcutta-London flights but it was given to Bangalore,” Derek O’Brien, Trinamul Congress parliamentary party leader (Rajya Sabha), said in response to a question. O’Brien is the chairman of all parliamentary committees on transport, including aviation but barring the railways.
In 2016, Air India chairman-cum-managing director Ashwani Lohani had said in Calcutta the airline would operate the London flight from the middle of 2017 with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
“A Dhaka-Calcutta-London flight is on our radar and I have asked my people here to start a survey. It can be launched by the middle of next year with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft,” Lohani had told this newspaper.
In 2016, chief minister Mamata Banerjee had requested then civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju to start an Air India direct flight to London.
Before that, Mamata had personally requested Jet Airways, which has now ceased to operate, to start a direct flight to Europe. The airline had turned down the request, saying Calcutta was a low-yield market and the flight would not be viable.
After Air India pulled out its direct London flight in 2008, British Airways and Lufthansa had followed suit, snapping Calcutta’s direct air links with Europe.
Aviation industry sources said the Calcutta-Dubai sector could face competition from Emirates and Etihad Airways that flies to Abu Dhabi.
According to these sources, most Emirates passengers proceed from Dubai to Europe and the US. “At least one direct flight to Europe would have been more viable and beneficial for Calcutta. Now many of our clients fly to London and other European destinations through Delhi and Mumbai,” said Anil Punjabi, chairman, east, the Travel Agents Federation of India.
The sources said more than 200 passengers travel daily from Calcutta to the UK through other cities.
An Air India spokesperson said the airline expected the Calcutta-Dubai flight to be successful. “There is demand and we are expecting the flight to become successful,” he said.
COMMENT: Unless private desi airlines take the initiatives CCU will remain marginalized. DON’T EXPECT ANYTHING FROM Air India in near future. This is a political decision and not a commercial one. However if Paki air space remains out reach to Indian airlines at some point MCA,IAF might be forced to think of decentralization of West bound flights from India.The earlier the better! _________________ Sabya99 |
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sumantra Member
Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi
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Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2019 8:06 am Post subject: |
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sabya99 wrote: | How Calcutta won a Dubai flight but lost a London one.Unless private desi airlines take the initiatives CCU will remain marginalized. DON’T EXPECT ANYTHING FROM Air India in near future. | Sir, would you believe pulp journalism and Derek O'Brien? The fact that the AI study still did not find CCU to be commercially viable yet, and 9W not taking the bait (and of course, BA, LH, KL and all other airlines which had served the market before the ME3 came in) should give an indication as to what to make, of the yields. Indigo jumped in to the CCU market when Kingfisher was folding up, but has not even put a long-haul from CCU on the radar, tells you something, which you conveniently chose to ignore. A DXB flight (that too, not daily) tells you something: even if it were a `consolation' prize, it is on a narrowbody on a rather `safe' destination, still for a low-yield market (yes, the numbers are there for DXB). BLR has far better yields as compared to CCU, and a cash-starved AI will/should not patronise a low-yield market.
Cheers, Sumantra. |
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