Following instructions from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Indian carriers are sending a message to their foreign pilots: thanks, but it is time to pack your bags and go back home. Since 2002 when the Indian aviation sector opened up, it has grown at a phenomenal 30%+ year on year and foreign pilots were the only solution. More than 800 …

Airlines flouting rules relating to safety and passenger comfort will now have to pay higher penalties with new laws coming into effect. The penalties will be imposed on an airlines if it violates safety aspects like airworthiness of the aircraft, security and issues relating to passenger comfort. The rules raise the penalty limit from Rs 1,000 to up to Rs …

The month of April has been bringing signs of a slowing down in the economic slow down. Industrial production, railways freight loading (indicative of raw materials for the core sector of steel, cement, mining), employment, stock markets and even inflation rates have moved back in to positive territory. While it a month does not make a trend, there is a …

Today is shaping up to be a Boeing videos day. We have videos of the second Boeing 787 Dreamliner roll out, and another of a Japan Airlines Boeing 747 sucking a baggage container. Now a video of a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 which had a gear problem causing a fiery landing at Houston airport. Great video from CNN and KTRK …

The Aviation Herald reports a Japan Airlines Boeing 747-400, registration JA8922 performing flight JL061 from Los Angeles LAX, USA to Tokyo Narita Japan with 245 passengers and 17 crew, had just pushed back and had its engines running at taxiway C between taxiways C10 and P, when engine number 1 (the outer left) sucked a luggage container into its inlet. …

Thanks again to Liz Matzelle we have a video of Boeing 787 Dreamliner number two (ZA002) being rolled out to the flight line. I am a little surprised the plane is painted in the livery of launch customer All Nippon Airways since this aircraft does not have a customer. ZA002 bearing test registration N787EX can be expected to fly about …

Over 50 Indian passengers flying Air France had a “harrowing” time at Paris airport after their aircraft developed a technical problem and on reaching Mumbai, complained bitterly that they were victims of “racial” profiling. The passengers were flying from Boston to Mumbai via Paris in an Airbus A330-200 aircraft registration F-GZCL. AF-218 was en-route from Paris Charles de Gaulle, France, …

With an aim to make visa services faster, hassle-free and efficient, the Indian Consulate in Toronto has decided to outsource its consular services under a new visa regime which will become functional from May 22. Preeti Saran, Consul General of India, said “The government has decided to outsource consular services in Canada. VF Services (Canada) would be the nodal agency …

South African Airways (SAA) will operate six additional flights between India and South Africa between May 18 through 26, using the higher capacity Airbus A340-600 to meet the growing demand for the semi-final and finals of the Indian Premier League season 2 (IPL2) cricket extravaganza. In cricket crazy India, there is a sudden escalation in the demand on the India …

Air New Zealand is offering its passengers an iPhone extension of it’s famous Inflight Concierge service. London-Spot-On™, a free iPhone application which can be downloaded from iTunes, helps travelers find the top local spots for a purchase or a pint, provides one-touch access to resources such as travel deals, tube maps, hand-picked recommendations and can’t-miss events, tourist sites, and insider …

Emirates has announced a ‘Companion Offer’ for all its First and Business Class passengers travelling on its 163 weekly flights from India to any destination on the Emirates network. Passengers booking an Emirates’ First or Business Class return ticket will receive 50 per cent discount on the airfare in the same class for a companion of their choice. The offer …

Ever wonder how an airline “kicks the tires” of its new aircraft prior to taking delivery. Videographer Liz Matzelle made this wonderful video of a British Airways Boeing 777 undergoing flight testing. Hope you enjoy and my humble request for you to please express your thanks to Liz as I do. Incidentally Liz is also a great photographer of real …

Captain Vasuki Prasad is regular reader of Bangalore Aviation. He has written a nice technical article on the Instrument Landing System and how exactly does it function. Read it here. Congrats Vasuki.

Dubai based Emirates airlines has announced an increase in its free baggage allowances provided to passengers travelling on or after May 4. 30kg for Economy Class passengers, 40kg for Business and 50kg for First. This excludes countries like in North America where a piece concept applies. Gold and Silver Members of Skywards, Emirates frequent flyer programme are entitled to an …

Jet Airways is trying its hand at the low cost game. It will introduce a new all Economy service, Jet Airways Konnect starting this Friday, on select routes in India, offering a no-frills, economy class service where guests will be offered attractive and competitive low fares on specific routes. Using a dedicated fleet of two Boeing 737 and six ATR72 …

Late last month, SWISS took delivery of the first of its nine new Airbus A330-300 aircraft featuring the all new First Class. The aircraft registration HB-JHA is named “Schwyz” after the Canton in Switzerland, has a three class configuration; 183 seats in Economy, 45 in Business Class and 8 in First Class. I hope you enjoy the video of the …

Airbus has confirmed it is further cutting down production rates for its A380 superjumbo from 18 to 14 for this year in response to specific customer requests for deferrals during the on-going economic crisis. According to the new plan, Airbus expects to deliver 14 double-decker aircraft in 2009 and more than 20 aircraft in 2010 Airbus had already revised its …

Singapore Airlines will discontinue its thrice a week service to Hyderabad/Shamshabad and hand it over to its regional subsidiary SilkAir will will increase frequency to five a week service from June 15, using an Airbus A320 aircraft. The current schedule is :MI478 Departing Singapore 21.00 arriving Hyderabad 23.05 except Tue, ThuMI477 Departing Hyderabad 00.05 arriving Singapore 07.25 except Wed, Fri …

The Boeing Company and Turkish Airlines (called THY for Türk Hava Yolları) have signed an order for five Boeing 777-300ER (Extended Range) airplanes valued at $1.36 billion at current list prices. This is the first time Turkish Airlines has purchased new 777s directly from Boeing. The airline currently operates a fleet of 65 Boeing airplanes including Next-Generation 737s and 777-300ERs …