Airliners-India.com

[karatecatman]

At last, the begining of the new exercise to revamp the 747-400s.
All Y seats get chucked out and new seats go in.
IFE gets total revamp. It's the new Thales IFE i4000.
F and J get the new IFE and laptop connectivity.
Galleys too get their share of attention. Microwaves get in.
New toilets.

[Jaysit]

While they're revamping the 744s, they need to chuck out the 744 First Class and J Class seats as well.

The First Class seats are circa 1994, while the J Class seats are not lie-flat - not even angled lie flat. And while they're similar to Qatar Airways J Class seats, the AI seats look like they've been hit by several bulldozers. They're often broken, tattered, and dirty.

[karatecatman]

[stealthpilot]

(edited)
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eP007

[karatecatman]

A UNI report says that Air India had to ground 281 flights over the past three years, most of them due to a technical snags.
However, there is no data available to establish that due to the aged fleet, the aircraft of Air India developed technical snags, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel has told Rajya Sabha today, says the report.
He said the average age of Air India’s fleet is 14.6 years.
During the period 1st April, 2004 to 25th April, 2007, Air India operated 1.01 lakh flights. Out of these, 237 flights were grounded due to technical reasons,’’ Patel said.
As against the requirement of 1580 sets of crew equivalent to 3160 professional pilots, 2940 pilots are available in the aviation sector leaving a shortfall of seven per cent, Patel said.
He said the airlines are coping up with the demand by employing expatriate pilots and retired pilots below the age of 65 years, subject to medical fitness.
Ageing aircraft: 123 aircraft more than 20 years of age are operating in the country, Patel said.
Of the 123 aircraft, 38 are registered with the public sector operators and 85 with private operators, he said.

[Jaysit]

[karatecatman]

Air India has narrowly escaped the EU scanner of joining the list of blacklisted airlines!!!!!!!


The new updated (May 2007) list of blacklisted airlines has fresh clauses against Pakistan Inernational Airlines.

Air India has come under some scrutiny on the condition of its A310s.

***
Jane's Aviation UK has also sent a questionnaire on the condition of Air India's fleet to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, The Minister, the DGCA and Air India, but there has been no reply from any agency/the airline.

[COUGAR]

[Jaysit]

[quote="karatecatman"]Air India has narrowly escaped the EU scanner of joining the list of blacklisted airlines!!!!!!!


The new updated (May 2007) list of blacklisted airlines has fresh clauses against Pakistan Inernational Airlines.

Air India has come under some scrutiny on the condition of its A310s.
[quote]

That makes no sense.

Unlike PIA, AI do not operate any A310s on their European or US runs.

[karatecatman]

The issue has risen as AI plans a serious relook at its old stations of Rome, Zurich, Geneva and Amsterdam (following the aggressive march of Jet Airways into Brussels.)


Doesn't make sense for AI to use the 777s, 737-800s and the 747 battalion here.

So AI's solution. Use the surplus A310 brigade that has been released after the deployment of AIX on SE and West Asia.

[Nimish]

[karatecatman]

Works out to be 8 aircraft.

The owned fleet will be slowly converted into freighters. Two have already been changed.

[karatecatman]

This is open to the public


And just the right thing for all anutters!

Here is the text in original which am pasting here:

"Air India is planning to revamp its current website.

We welcome your suggestions and ideas to help us meet the needs of our online visitors better.

Please mail your suggestions to suggestus@airindia.in ...."


i.e.
suggestus@airindia.in

[777-237LR]

I heard that 2 744 and 2 A310 (all on wet lease) will be returned by Air India in May and June 2007.
With the 777LR not coming soon, how will AI manage? Will they have to reduce some of the US flights?

[maut3000]

[COUGAR]

Oh i dont think there is any reason to worry! AI people in Nariman Point and Kalina have plenty of friends who are aviation consultants based in US and Canada and have deep connections with Air India.

I am sure AI mgmt can work out a lease deal for some clapped out plane lying around in the desert or flying for some african airline somewhere. It doesnt even have to be a 310 or 772 or 744. Any arbit aircraft will do provided the rate is right! After they do have 767's and 757s flying dont they? And even a little corrosion/rust doesnt matter. Arre bhai: paisa bolta hain! Is duniya mein sab kuch bikta hain. Sirf dam sahi hona chahiye!

ANd it is a win-win situation for everyone! The ghar-ka-beta consultant/dalaal gets his business, the AI mgmt gets their cut off the lease and the airline gets the aircraft. When the aircraft can fly no more (in 1 years time), its time to hunt for another aircraft, and they can dial the same trusted "consultant" again who will find another clapped out aircraft for them! And the cycle continues....!

With Air India its all in the phamily!
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[maut3000]

Cougar! Any particular reason for such a reaction?

I don't see a way out. If the dry lease doesn't get extended, airline is left with 2 choices:
1) Cancel flights
2) Lease whatever is available

If they don't get any 747, 310, 737 OR 777 (which is all they have crew for), hey HAVE to go for a wet lease, don't they?

[COUGAR]

Long term leases are one thing. Short-Term leases: quite something else!

With the way AI handles things...!
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<B>Live to Ride - Ride to Live</B>

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[777-237LR]

A friend of mine from AI who was in Seattle for training
on the 777 had been inside VT-ALA and has confirmed
that the aircraft is ready for delivery. It seems that the delay
is because it has to be repainted in new colours. He also saw
the giant 777-300ER VT-ALJ which is due to roll out very soon.

[COUGAR]

ALJ is for AI?
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<B>Live to Ride - Ride to Live</B>

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[sammyk]

[karatecatman]

[karatecatman]

After Airbus 380, check out GE 90

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/after-airbus-380-check-out-ge-90/40438-7.html



With Air India training it's own maintenance engineers, the art of tweaking this engine now aims to not only install and service these engines on it's own but also aims to emerge as a one-stop service provider for these engines in Asia.


Report quotes the AI engg manager as talking about a propeller in the GE90-!!!!

[Aseem]

is it possible to paint the aircraft all over again without spoiling the seat etc that are already installed? or do they take them out.
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[url=http://openflights.org/user/aseemsjohri]
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[karatecatman]

Usually pulled out.
BA's engg magazine says piant jobs require the interiors to be pulled out. At least thats what they do at BA.

[karatecatman]

Air India will explore the possibility of operating flights between Mangalore in Karnataka and several points in the Gulf region with the augmentation of the fleet, Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel today said, says a UNI report.

Mr Patel said the requests for introduction of direct flights from Mangalore to Kuwait was examined and Air India Express had commenced its three-weekly return flights from Mangalore to Dubai.

Air India was planning to increase the frequency to six weekly flights shortly. A feasibility study was under process for operating flights from Abu Dhabi and Muscat in the next phase, Mr Patel told senior Congress MP from Karnataka Mr B Janardhana Poojary in a letter.

[sammyk]

[karatecatman]

There is something about making the aircraft lighter as well when in the paint hanger.

And overall not an easy job considering that the paint job has to be done from scratch probably.
Boeing must be probably handling its first case of customer stupidity.

And in all likelihood, Airbus is facing the same problem with IA. But Airbus must have a lo of patience handling IA after that 43-aircraft order went dragging on for years.

It has to be hand polished again, made clean and then about 1,500 litres of chromate free paint over a surface area of 2000 m2.
Even if electrostatic pistols are used to minimize paint mist and where the used air is cleaned and washed through the multi-stage cleaning process, it takes about 9 days.

[Nimish]

[777-237LR]

Air India not to offer fresh VRS, nor buying A380s
PTI
Sunday, May 13, 2007 19:00 IST

MUMBAI: Air India on Sunday said there would be no voluntary
retirement scheme (VRS) as of now in the face of its merger
with Indian, nor does it propose to go for A380 super jumbo
in the immediate future.

"We already had a VRS...no plans now," Air India Chairman
V Tulsidas, who is tipped to become the Chairman of the
merged two public sector airlines, said.

Ahead of the merger with Air India, Indian has recently
offered a VRS for its cabin crew.

Regarding reports that Air India too going for A380, which
had recently come to India for demonstration flights, Tulsidas
said, "We have already placed orders for our requirements
till 2012."

Air India has ordered 68 aircraft from Boeing for both budget
and the regular airlines.

It has placed 18 Boeing 737-800 for its budget airline, Air India
Express, and the remaining for operating in various routes,
including 23 Boeing 787.

Air India is to take delivery of its first Boeing 777 long-range
aircraft next month, which would be utilised for its non-stop
operations to the US.

"So the question of buying A380 does not arise now. When
we look at the requirement for new aircraft after 2012, all
options are open including purchase of A380," Tulsidas said.

Link:http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1096536

[karatecatman]

Update:

Got this confirmed from Nariman Point.
The "new" livery that Matt Cawby has revealed on the AI 777LRs is not final.

The 3 aircraft are to be repainted shortly after an Air India "new paint job" team (leaving for the US soon) finalises things with Boeing.

Original Rajasthani arch windows may stage a comeback. (Got this out after describing the details in Matt's pictures, and then having the usual stunned reaction at the other end of the phone line.)

[karatecatman]

Staff crunch lands AI Express in major crisis

Says a DGCA source, “The Air India Express delays that have taken place are due to the shortage of manpower especially among engineers and technicians.”

Interestingly the next-generation Boeing 737 aircrafts of the airlines were being maintained by rival companies, Jet Airways and Air Sahara, since Air India Express was short of engineers.

A source from the engineering team of Jet Airways said, “For one and a half years we did the line maintenance of Air India Express. This includes minor change of oils among other things. But, for the last seven months, they have been doing the maintenance work themselves.”

Captain P P Singh, chief operating officer, Air India Express, confirmed the shortage. “Engineers for the Boeing 737-800 aircrafts are not many in number. For sometime, the maintenance of our aircrafts was done by Jet Airways as well as by Air Sahara.”

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1096877

[karatecatman]

http://www.aircargonews.com/070514/shorts070514.html


Has a picture of Air India's cargo A310.

[HAWK21M]

Any Fwd view.
regds
MEL
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Think of the Brighter side !!!

[D-ABTH]

im not convinced that their order is gonna stand them strong if they wanna compete and grow like the best airlines in the world.. much more join SA on a strong footing as far as international presence is concerned. They have to constantly review their fleet strength and keep the orders going to remain dynamic or its going to be the same story every 10 years or so with ageing fleets and dropping standards.
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If it aint Boeing.. I aint going.

[karatecatman]

AI unveils revamp plan for 6 Boeings
12 May, 2007 l 0138 hrs ISTlSaurabh Sinha/TIMES NEWS NETWORK

NEW DELHI: In one of the most ambitious facelifts, Air India has launched a Rs 300 crore refurbishing plan for the six Boeing 747s it owns. Each of these about one-and-a-half-decade-old Jumbos are to be fitted with brand new seats, toilets and interiors. The refurbishing is being done by AI along with a leading European carrier at Mumbai and the first of these retrofitted planes will be ready by next Friday after a test flight is done Tuesday. The work on all the six Jumbos will be completed in a year.

"All economy class are being changed so that they have the latest in flight entertainment (IFE) system that the Boeing 777 would have. The club and first class seats, that were changed two years ago, are being made compatible for the new Thallis I-4000 IFE systems," said a senior official. Focussing on IFE, AI has decided to have a business channel and also launched a new magazine.

The cabin interiors are also being changed and AI is introducing the concept of "mood lighting" in aircraft so that passengers feel they are getting natural light as per the time of flight. The airline is also going to revamp its website to make its user-friendly.

Aviation minister Praful Patel had on Thursday said that the work on AI Jumbos will be taken up as the Boeing 777s start joining the fleet from next month. In fact the refurbished Jumbos would later get the new livery of the merged AI-IA carrier that will get operational by July 15. But the design will be unveiled only when the first 777 arrives here next month.

Meanwhile after Patel's directive, AI has begun looking at some European cities for setting up a hub there. Jet had recently made Brussels as its hub in Europe. Among the cities AI is looking at are Paris, Frankfurt and Budapest.

In fact, Indian Airlines is also focussing on IFE as its new planes will have five channels and a DVD channel on all the 42 Airbus that would now join its fleet. IA is also aiming for live TV in its planes. "The old planes in national carriers' fleet may be giving trouble, but we are sure of giving a world class experience in the new planes that would join from next month," said a senior aviation ministry official.

http://tinyurl.com/3akf39

[777-237LR]

Wouldnt it be better if AI had sold these 744 for a good price instead of spending so much on revamping them to use them for a few more years. Many airlines like SQ will be getting rid of all their pax 744 in a couple of years, AI could have replaced them with 77W, which are very economical comparatively.

[rutvij]

Here is A Portion of the Information Memorandum prepared By AI for US Ex-Im Bank to Procure Loans!!



Projected Operating Statistics:

Air India developed the operating statistics which are used in the preparation of the projected financial statements.

A weekly operating schedule by route by airplane type was prepared for each year of the forecast. This schedule is used to generate frequencies, seats, kilometers, flight hours, and ASK's. RPK's are developed based on load factor assumptions by region.

Load factors and corresponding passenger traffic is projected based on capacity offered by Air India and its competitors and passenger demand on the route network. The fleet requirements are determined by the passenger and route forecast. The fleet plan forecast is the result of an analysis of the routes and frequencies planned with the resulting fleet utilization determining the number of airplanes required.

Important features of the plan are:

737-800 operations are predominantly to destinations in the Middle East/Persian Gulf region.
Selected domestic routes and Asian itineraries are added towards the end of the study period as the 737 fleet grows in size.


777-200LR aircraft are introduced on six non-stop routes.

Mumbai to New York City and Singapore are introduced in FY2008. Delhi service to the same two destinations begins in FY2009. A flight from Mumbai to Dubai is also added in FY2009. Mumbai to Chicago begins in FY2010.


One stop 777 -300ER to North America begins in FY2008 with flights to Los Angeles and San Francisco (both via Frankfurt) from, respectively, Mumbai and Bangalore. Direct service to London and service to Tokyo from Delhi (via Mumbai) also begins in FY2008. In FY2009 additional North American flights are added: Delhi to Toronto (via Amristar and Birmingham), Delhi to Los Angeles (via Frankfurt), Chennai to New York City (via London). Also added in FY2009 are flights to Sydney from Mumbai (via Singapore) and direct flights from Delhi to London. In FY2010 service begins to: Chicago from Delhi (via London), Chicago from Hyderabad (via Paris), San Francisco from Delhi (via Frankfurt) and New York City from Bangalore (via London), Riyadh from Mumbai, Delhi and Kochi (via Thiruvananthapuram). In FY2011 three additional North American flights are added: Vancouver from Delhi (via Frankfurt), Dallas from Delhi (via Paris), and Washington, DC from Delhi (via Paris).

The 787-8 aircraft will be the most versatile aircraft in the fleet.

In FY2009 the 787-8 begins service to Kuwait from Mumbai, Delhi, Kochi, and Chennai. . Also in the Middle East, service to Jeddah begins from Hyderabad, Lucknow, Kozhikode, and Mumbai. The 787-8 also begins service to Africa (Dar es Salaam and Mauritius) and Asia (Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, and Seoul). In FY2010 more flights to Asia are added: Osaka from Delhi (via Hong Kong), Beijing from Delhi, Sydney from Mumbai (via Singapore), Kuala Lumpur from Delhi, Shanghai from Mumbai (via Delhi). Also added are European flights to: London from Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Dhaka (via Kolkata), Frankfurt from Chennai, Hyderabad, and Delhi.

Africa/Middle East flights are added to: Lagos from Mumbai (via Nairobi), Dubai from Mumbai and Delhi, Johannesburg from Mumbai (via Mauritius).tA--FY2011 four 60fflestic desth.ations nom Mumbai are added: Ahmcdabaa, J3angalor:9, Hyd'irabad, and Chennoi. Also added in FY2011 are flights to London from Delhi, Taipei from Mumbai (via Delhi), and Tokyo from Delhi.

[Nimish]

Excellent post Rutvij - thanks for the info!

Extracting the BLR/MAA related activity:

[AKLDELNonstop]

Did I miss something or is AI actually planning to fly to DXB and SIN on a 772LR???
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