Indian Airline NEWS: Inauguration of Centenary Celebrations of Civil Aviation in India

Following is the text of speech of the Civil Aviation Minister Shri Vayalar Ravi at the inaugural of the Centenary Celebrations of Civil Aviation in India:

“It is a great occasion for India that we are today celebrating the completion of 100 years of commercial civil aviation in this country. A hundred years ago, on this very day a plane flew from Allahabad to Naini, carrying 6500 mails. This marked not only the birth of commercial civil aviation in India but also the first airmail service in the world.

We have gathered here today to celebrate the achievements of civil aviation during the last hundred years and I welcome you all on this occasion.

Flying has been an eternal dream for humanity. It has been symbolic of the spirit of freedom – the desire to reach the skies.

India took to wings only 7 years after the historic flight of the Wright brothers. It is believed that the first planes came to India and perhaps to Asia in 1910 though the first commercial civil aviation flight took off only on the 18th February 1911.

Since then India and Indians have never looked back. Through the eventful decades, Indian civil aviation has flown from strength to strength and is today one of the fastest growing aviation market in the world.

Contributing to this growth has been the undaunting spirit of our entrepreneurs, pilots, engineers, crew-members and scientists. It is not only a proud but a grateful nation which remembers those remarkable Indians who have steered the sector through thick and thin to reach its present heights.

Today, we are remembering Late Rajiv Gandhi ji who rose to become the Prime Minister of India from being a pilot and who laid the foundation of some outstanding aviation related institutions like Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Udaan Academy and Pawan Hans Helicopters Limited.

I would also like to acknowledge Late JRD Tata who is generally considered to be the father of Indian Civil Aviation.

Civil aviation is a major driver of the economy. The International Civil Aviation Organisation estimates that every 100 dollars spent on air transport produce benefits worth 325 dollars for the economy. Hundred additional jobs in air transport result in 610 new jobs in the economy.

The last hundred years have seen Indian civil aviation expand exponentially. From the days of the first flight when aircrafts landed on plain grounds without any navigational aids, we have traveled a long distance to modern and world-class airports of Hyderabad, Cochin, Bangalore and of course T-3.

Today the handling capacity of our airports has reached to 235 million people, which is sufficient to fulfill our needs for the next few years. I would like to point out that airports are being improved not only in the major Metros but also 35 non-Metros, in a phased manner.

It is a matter of satisfaction for us that during the last two decades from a fleet of only about 100, the scheduled operators today have 435 aircrafts connecting the nation and the world. This growth is going to be further accelerated in the years to come and we expect that in another decade or so India would have about 1000 more planes and 500 more helicopters.

The acquisition of these modern aircrafts and the investment in airports is expected to generate business opportunities worth about 150 billion dollars that will revolutionize the sector. Civil Aviation is clearly the sunrise sector of the Indian economy that is likely to change the way Indians move, think and live.

The last hundred years have posed innumerable challenges in the civil aviation sector which we successfully overcame. The new century that lies ahead of us, is also bound to throw up new challenges. It is necessary for us, as a nation, to foresee those challenges and to prepare ourselves to meet them effectively.

The increase in the number of aircrafts is bound to put a heavy pressure on our regulatory and oversight systems. Today India is considered to be one of the safest countries in terms of civil aviation. Recently, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of America even cited India as a role model in the Asia-Pacific region.

In order to retain this position and to assure all travelers the guarantee of safety, it would be necessary to redefine the parameters of regulation. We are already looking into this matter and considering to restructure the DGCA into a more comprehensive system, which works well above international standards.

One of the biggest challenges before us is to lend renewed vibrancy to public sector undertakings like Air India and Airports Authority of India. These two organisations have rendered historic service to the nation and their continued vibrancy is critical for optimal growth of the sector. The Government is committed to support these organizations to ensure their healthy future.

Civil aviation is a major employment creator and according to available studies it is expected that this sector will create new employment opportunities for nearly 26 lakh Indians by 2025.

Catering to this human resource need is in itself a challenge. We shall strive to develop and nurture a strong world class training infrastructure in the country to ensure continuous production of skilled and professional manpower to fulfill the requirements of this sector.

Civil Aviation industry is extremely sensitive to the economic environment in which it operates. Issues of taxation, investment policies and competition are vital to its survival. As the sector grows, there would be an acute need to fine-tune our system of competition management, taxation laws and investment strategies, while remaining socially responsible towards the aspirations of common Indians.

The increase in civil aviation activity is bound to impact the environment too. It is necessary that we should nationally gear up to face this challenge and move towards better technologies and mitigation strategies to minimize the effect of aviation on environment. A socially harmonized growth of aviation alone will ensure its sustainability.

While we are celebrating our continuous growth it is also necessary to be eternally cautious of the threats to our security from various quarters. We have to remember the tragedies of Kanishka and IC 814 to remain constantly vigilant of the dangers that lurk round the corner.

Maintaining security is the priority that cannot be overlooked even for a single moment. It might have some effect on passenger facilitation but it is imperative in the larger interest of travelers as well as of the nation

As we move ahead into the next century, it is our resolve to let this sector blossom fully but responsibly. At the centre of this entire system is the common man and we would like all the players in the sector to make the flying experience of passengers safe, secure, comfortable and happy.

The rights of the passengers need to be respected and protected at all times. While we will ensure a liberal and competitive environment for the growth of the private sector, they must strive to maintain the centrality of the consumer.

We have recently taken significant steps for consumer protection through Civil Aviation Regulations on disability related rights, refunds, cancellations, delays, over-bookings and denied boardings.

We would appreciate that Airlines and Airports should compete with each other in offering to passengers better of facilities, services and protection of their Rights. We in the Government propose to further strengthen this initiative in the days to come.

In conclusion, I would like to congratulate the entire country for the success story of the last hundred years. This function today just marks the beginning of a year-long series of events and initiatives which will make this centenary year a memorable one.

During the year we propose to set up institutions like Universities, Museums, Archives etc which will strengthen the sector. A century has been completed and we assure the nation that the new century that dawns today would see this sunrise sector spread the sunshine of prosperity all round the country.”

2. Centre honours Neerja Bhanot

NEW DELHI/CHANDIGARH: The civil aviation ministry conferred an honour on Neerja Bhanot posthumously on Friday in New Delhi. The award was presented to Neerja`s brother, Aneesh Bhanot, to launch the centenary celebrations of Civil Aviation in India by Union minister for overseas Indian affairs and civil aviation Vayalar Ravi.

Other persons to be honored at the function at Ashoka Convention Centre were JRD Tata, Marshal Arjan Singh, Sarla Thukral, Air Marshal Aspy Merwan Engineer, Biju Patnaik, Capt Rakesh Sharma, Saudamini Deshmukh and Vijaypat Singhania.

Senior flight purser Neerja had saved hundreds of lives, while sacrificing her own, during one of the most brutal terrorist attacks in aviation history. On September 5,1986, Pan Am 73 landed at Karachi from Bombay (now Mumbai), on its way to New York.

As passengers were boarding the aircraft at around 6 am, four hijackers, later identified as Safirani, Jamal, Muhammad and Munawar, dressed in Pakistan police uniforms and armed with assault rifles, pistols, grenades and plastic explosive belts stormed the aircraft and seized control of it. A fifth hijacker, Al-Turki, who had Libyan connections, took a position inside the Airport terminal building and provided logistics support.

Realizing that the hijackers intended to kill Americans aboard the plane, Neerja and the other airhostesses hid the passports of American passengers when the hijackers ordered them to collect the passports of all the passengers. The flight remained under the control of the hijackers for 17 hours and ended in a bloodbath with the hijackers firing indiscriminately inside the aircraft and hurling hand grenades at the passengers, who they had herded into one section of the aircraft.

Neerja opened one of the emergency doors and helped passengers escape. She was shot dead while shielding three young children from a hail of gunfire from the terrorists. Neerja is also the youngest recipient of India`s highest civilian award for bravery posthumously — the Ashok Chakra.

3. 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)

4. aviation
Indigo to add 14 planes this year

The country’s largest low-cost airline Indigo, which entered record books with the single largest order for big jets in commercial aviation industry in December, will add 14 planes to its fleet this year. This will take its total fleet strength to 48. The Gurgaon-based carrier had sealed a $15.6-bil

lion (around R 70,000 crore) deal to buy 180 aircraft with a capacity to carry about 150 passengers each. Aditya Ghosh, President, Indigo, said a final decision on engine selection was yet to be taken by the airline.
Ghosh said, as of now, the airline had no plans for an initial public offering of shares to fund its expansion plans. “There is no listing plan at the moment,” said Ghosh. He added that the airline had no immediate plans to raise fares in the backdrop of an increase in jet fuel prices.

The low-frills carrier has a domestic market share of 18.6% that makes it the country’s second largest airline, along with Kingfisher. From August, it would start international operations to Singapore, Bangkok, Dubai and Muscat.

Panel to resolve AI wage issue
A committee headed by a retired judge would be appointed to resolve issues relating to disparity in wage structure and seniority of Air India (AI) employees.

The suggestion was made by Civil Aviation Minister Valayar Ravi during his meetings with leaders of (AI) unions in Mumbai. "After a two-day meeting with all the employees unions of AI, I have suggested formation of a committee headed by a retired judge to resolve their issues relating to service matter," said Ravi after inaugurating the centenary celebration of civil aviation in India on Friday.

NEHA JAIN

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