FICCI : Industry's Voice for Policy Change

Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Civil Aviation Minister, said that COVID-19 has provided new opportunities to the Indian civil aviation sector. “Today, India is the third-largest domestic aviation market and poised to become third-largest in the overall civil aviation market very soon. The Indian aviation sector has grown exponentially in last few years and is one of the critical enablers as well as an indicator for India’s endeavour towards a US$ 5 trillion economy,” he added.

Addressing the virtual session ‘The Future and Dynamics of Civil Aviation Sector: Making India an Aviation Hub’, organized by FICCI during the ‘Aero India 2021 – 13th Biennial International Exhibition & Conference’, Puri said, “The PM’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat is not just about manufacturing for the world, it is also about creating jobs and the aviation sector has a significant multiplier effect on job creation,” he said.

Talking about the government’s vision of 2040, Puri said that the vision talks about India as an aviation hub. India’s aviation infrastructure has been benefited with recent upgrades in recent years and India has the capacity to develop effective infrastructure. To fully realize its potential, the government is focusing on policies to add remote and regional areas to the map of Indian aviation, added Puri.

Elaborating on the expansion of airports in the country, Puri said that we will be adding 100 new airports by 2024 and the figures indicate a mammoth opportunity in Indian civil aviation sector. Highlighting the importance of air cargo sector, he said that the resilience shown by Indian air cargo sector despite challenges posed by the pandemic drives home the benefit that has been brought through policy changes and recalibration of business models. “We expect that we may close the year 2021 at the same level of 2019-20,” added Puri.

Speaking on the potential of air cargo, Puri said that the resilience shown by the Indian air cargo sector despite COVID-19 challenges drives home the benefit that has been brought through policy changes and recalibration of business models. We expect that we may close the year 2021 at the same level of 2019-20.”

He further said that currently, the helicopter potential in India is well below the potential of the country as large as India. There is a growing requirement of helicopters for civil use in tourism, mining, corporate travel, air ambulance, homeland security. Similarly, efforts are on to establish India as an MRO hub. To promote MRO services, he said the government has taken many measures like reduction of GST on MRO services reduced. This will not only allow foreign partners to establish in India but benefit our Indian companies as well. “India now stands poised to enter US$ 5 billion aircraft spares market in a significant way,” he added.

Pradeep Singh Kharola, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Govt of India while highlighting the potential of Indian aviation sector said that people now want to travel from point to point and is an opportunity for carriers. “We are working on the air services agreement to provide a level playing field to our carriers.”

He further said that currently, we have over 100 operational airports in India and the government is targeting to develop 200 airports in the next 4 years including airport, heliports, seaports and advanced landing grounds. “The unique feature in this would be inviting public-private partnership. We had very successful PPPs and we are looking for a more private investment which will make airports a hub of economic activity,” added Kharola.

Remi Maillard, Chairman, FICCI Civil Aviation Committee and President & MD, Airbus India said COVID-19 has given an opportunity to India to turn into an international hub. Indian carriers have a competitive advantage, and we must leverage to developing long haul flights. “We have discovered that resilience is very important. We have never compromised on safety as aviation means safety,” he added.

Ashmita Sethi, Co-Chair, FICCI Civil Aviation Committee & President and Country Head, Pratt & Whitney India said that India will continue to grow as fastest growing market and we need to nurture innovation and start-ups and skill development. “We should incentivize manufacturers and OEMs to scale-up in India,” she added.

Usha Padhee, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation; Amitabh Khosla, Country Director, IATA; Wolfgang Prock-Shauer, COO, Indigo; Salil Gupte, President, Boeing India; D Anand Bhaskar, MD & CEO, Air Works also shared their perspective.

Orissa Diary | Feb 04, 2021

Nation has the scope, capacity and potential to create an MRO ecosystem: Air Marshal Vibhas Pande

Air Marshal Vibhas Pande, Air Officer-in-Charge, Maintenance (AOM), IAF today said that four pillars needed to achieve a convergence or synergy between commercial or civil and defence MRO (maintenance, repairs & overhauls) are effects of scale; leveraging skills; skill development, and process.

Addressing the session on “Convergence of Civil & Defence MRO” at Aero India 2021, Air Marshal Pande elaborated that the MRO for both civil and defence depends on effects of scale; skills- leveraging skills of former servicemen who have maintenance capabilities; skill development of the younger workforce, and the process of inspection & quality to ensure safety.

Elaborating on the MRO business in the country, Air Marshal Pande said that it has grown exponentially and has great prospects to further grow. “The scope is phenomenal. As on date our dependence on foreign OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) is to the tune of 85 per cent. The civil aviation sector and the MSMEs can contribute in a large way. There is huge scope, capacity and potential in the country to create an all-new ecosystem as far as defence MRO is concerned,” he added.

When we look at the MRO, it is not only the airframe and the engine, but every piece of machinery, system, and sub-system that need repairs in its lifetime. Spares are divided into two- AGS (aircraft general spares) and non-AGS, the manufacturing of which is a project in itself, he said.

On maintenance and quality, Air Marshal Pande quipped that we (India) are the only Air Force in the world that keeps our machines fly worthy. “The quality of a defence equipment must meet the norms and once it’s achieved there are no limits,” he further added.

Mr Amber Dubey, Joint Secretary, MoCA, Govt of India mentioned about recycling of deregistered aircraft that the RBI has given a green signal to. “Recycling is a huge industry. It was being done with ships initially, and the same can now be done with aircraft that have been deregistered by the DGCA. The govt and the RBI is gradually working to take down roadblocks that hindered the path,” he said.

Mr Dubey also added that any deregistered aircraft can be taken down for parts or components free of tax and without any paperwork required. It now falls in the Free to Export list of the RBI.

Further, Mr Dubey said that the NAB (National Aeronautics Board), announced in mid- January this year, much like the two other major hi-tech sectors like atomic and space, will be headed by the Prime Minister himself. It aims to cut out on all bureaucracy to function.

“The concept is to go from generics to specifics. Atmanirbhar Bharat is no more a slogan. There is now a focus on outcome rather than output,” Mr Dubey added.

Mr Salil Gupte, President, Boeing India said that under Atmanirbhar Bharat there are world class MROs that need to scale up, develop and showcase what they can do to the world. “India will be an MRO hub for both defence and civil aviation,” he said.

Mr SP Shukla, Chair FICCI Defence & Aerospace Committee and Group President (Defence, Aero, Agri & Steel); Member of the Group Executive Board, Mahindra Group said that our govt is committed to developing the MRO ecosystem in India. “India is currently the world’s third largest aviation market. The Udaan Scheme is also a key component of NCAP as it looks to enhance regional connectivity by operationalising over 400 regional airports in the coming years.

The Indian MRO market, said Mr Shukla, is estimated at close to USD 800 million, which is only a small fraction of the global MRO market. “Further with the expected increase in fleet size of all Indian airlines to almost 1800 aircraft in the next 20 years, the domestic MRO market would need to grow exponentially to provide on ground support to the large air fleet in India,” he said.

Defence MROs are not very different to civil MROs and this segment to grow too. Currently it is limited to base repair depots of the IAF and the HAL. Involvement of Pvt industry has already commenced, and it needs to increase further, Mr Shukla added.

Mr Sudhakar Gande, Co-chair, FICCI Defence & Aerospace Committee and CEO, Jupiter Capital Pvt Ltd said that in integrating the Atmanirbhar policy while building a global MRO we need to scale up, developing and leveraging skills, technology, and simpler processes.

Mr Praveen PA, Director, Aerospace & Defence, Govt of Telangana; Col KV Kuber (Retd), Director, Defence & Aerospace, E&Y India; Mr Bharat Malkani, Chairman & MD, Max Aerospace & Aviation Ltd; Mr D Anand Bhaskar, MD & CEO, Air Works; Mr Luigi Celmi, CEO, Lufthansa Technik Services India; Mr CS Tomar, MD, Tomar Aviation Services; Mr Ravi Menon, Director, Air Works, also shared their views on the convergence of the civil and defence MRO ecosystem in the country.

Ten News | Feb 04, 2021

Govt to develop 200 Airports in the next 4 Years: Secretary, Civil Aviation

Mr Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Civil Aviation Minister, Govt of India today said that COVID-19 has provided new opportunities to the Indian civil aviation sector. “Today, India is the third largest domestic aviation market and poised to become third largest in the overall civil aviation market very soon. The Indian aviation sector has grown exponentially in last few years and is one of the critical enablers as well as an indicator for India’s endeavour towards a US$ 5 trillion economy,” he added.

Addressing the virtual session ‘The Future and Dynamics of Civil Aviation Sector: Making India an Aviation Hub’, organized by FICCI during the ‘Aero India 2021 – 13th Biennial International Exhibition & Conference’, Mr Puri said, “The PM’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat is not just about manufacturing for the world, it is also about creating jobs and the aviation sector has significant multiplier effect on job creation,” he said.

Talking about the government’s vision of 2040, Mr Puri said that the vision talks about India as an aviation hub. India’s aviation infrastructure has been benefited with recent upgrades in recent years and India has the capacity to develop effective infrastructure. To fully realize its potential, the government is focusing on policies to add remote and regional areas to the map of Indian aviation, added Mr Puri.

Elaborating on the expansion of airports in the country, Mr Puri said that we will be adding 100 new airports by 2024 and the figures indicate a mammoth opportunity in Indian civil aviation sector. Highlighting the importance of air cargo sector, he said that the resilience shown by Indian air cargo sector despite challenges posed by the pandemic drives home the benefit that has been brought through policy changes and recalibration of business models. “We expect that we may close the year 2021 at the same level of 2019-20,” added Mr Puri.

Speaking on the potential of air cargo, Mr Puri said that the resilience shown by Indian air cargo sector despite COVID-19 challenges drives home the benefit that has been brought through policy changes and recalibration of business models. We expect that we may close the year 2021 at the same level of 2019-20.”

He further said that currently the helicopter potential in India is well below the potential of the country as large as India. There is a growing requirement of helicopters for civil use in tourism, mining, corporate travel, air ambulance, homeland security. Similarly, efforts are on to establish India as an MRO hub. To promote MRO services, he said the government has taken many measures like reduction of GST on MRO services reduced. This will not only allow foreign partners to establish in India but benefit our Indian companies as well. “India now stands poised to enter US$ 5 billion aircraft spares market in a significant way,” he added.

Mr Pradeep Singh Kharola, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Govt of India while highlighting the potential of Indian aviation sector said that people now want to travel from point to point and is an opportunity for carriers. “We are working on the air services agreement to provide a level playing field to our carriers.”

He further said that currently, we have over 100 operational airports in India and the government is targeting to develop 200 airports in next 4 years including airport, heliports, seaports and advanced landing grounds. “The unique feature in this would be inviting public private partnership. We had very successful PPPs and we are looking for more private investment which will make airports a hub of economic activity,” added Mr Kharola.

Mr Remi Maillard, Chairman, FICCI Civil Aviation Committee and President & MD, Airbus India said COVID-19 has given an opportunity to India to turn into an international hub. Indian carriers have a competitive advantage, and we must leverage to developing long haul flights. “We have discovered that resilience is very important. We have never compromised on safety as aviation means safety,” he added.

Ms Ashmita Sethi, Co-Chair, FICCI Civil Aviation Committee & President and Country Head, Pratt & Whitney India said that India will continue to grow as fastest growing market and we need to nurture innovation and start-ups and skill development. “We should incentivize manufacturers and OEMs to scale-up in India,” she added.

Ms Usha Padhee, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation; Mr Amitabh Khosla, Country Director, IATA; Mr Wolfgang Prock-Shauer, COO, Indigo; Mr Salil Gupte, President, Boeing India; Mr D Anand Bhaskar, MD & CEO, Air Works also shared their perspective.

sify.com | Feb 04, 2021

Aviation critical enabler for India's $5 tn economy bid: Puri

Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Wednesday said that aviation sector is one of the critical enablers for India's endeavour towards a $5 trillion economy.

Addressing a virtual session organised by FICCI during the Aero India 2021, he said: "Today, India is the third largest domestic aviation market and poised to become third largest in the overall civil aviation market very soon."

"The Indian aviation sector has grown exponentially in last few years and is one of the critical enablers as well as an indicator for India's endeavour towards a $5 trillion economy."

Besides, he said the PM's vision of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' is not just about manufacturing for the world, it is also about creating jobs and the aviation sector has significant multiplier effect on job creation.

About the government's vision of 2040, Puri said that it talks about India as an aviation hub.

To fully realise its potential, the government is focusing on policies to add remote and regional areas to the map of Indian aviation, he added.

Elaborating on the expansion of airports in the country, the minister said that they will be adding 100 new airports by 2024 and the figures indicate a mammoth opportunity in Indian civil aviation sector.

Highlighting the importance of air cargo sector, he said that the resilience shown by Indian air cargo sector despite challenges posed by the pandemic drives home the benefit that has been brought through policy changes and recalibration of business models.

"We expect that we may close the year 2021 at the same level of 2019-20," Puri added.

The Siasat Daily | Feb 04, 2021

Aviation critical enabler for India’s $5 tn economy bid: Puri

Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Wednesday said that aviation sector is one of the critical enablers for India’s endeavour towards a $5 trillion economy.

Addressing a virtual session organised by FICCI during the Aero India 2021, he said: “Today, India is the third largest domestic aviation market and poised to become third largest in the overall civil aviation market very soon.”

“The Indian aviation sector has grown exponentially in last few years and is one of the critical enablers as well as an indicator for India’s endeavour towards a $5 trillion economy.”

Besides, he said the PM’s vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ is not just about manufacturing for the world, it is also about creating jobs and the aviation sector has significant multiplier effect on job creation.

About the government’s vision of 2040, Puri said that it talks about India as an aviation hub.

To fully realise its potential, the government is focusing on policies to add remote and regional areas to the map of Indian aviation, he added.

Elaborating on the expansion of airports in the country, the minister said that they will be adding 100 new airports by 2024 and the figures indicate a mammoth opportunity in Indian civil aviation sector.

Highlighting the importance of air cargo sector, he said that the resilience shown by Indian air cargo sector despite challenges posed by the pandemic drives home the benefit that has been brought through policy changes and recalibration of business models.

“We expect that we may close the year 2021 at the same level of 2019-20,” Puri added.

Magzter | Feb 03, 2021

Helicopter operations in India well below the country's potential: Puri

Helicopter operations in the country are well below its potential and their requirement is rising in multiple areas including tourism, mining, corporate travel and medical services, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said Wednesday.

"Currently, the helicopter operations in India are well below the potential of a country as large as ours. The total number of helicopters in India are around 250," he said in a video message to a seminar organised by industry body FICCI here at Aero India 2021 exhibition.

"Brazil has around 1,250, Australia has around 2,000, the US has more than 14,000. There is a growing requirement of helicopters for civil use in tourism, mining, corporate travel, air ambulance, homeland security, air charter, etc," he added.

He said that while big established airlines across the world are in red, the fleet strength of Indian carries has increased from 669 in March 2020 to 713 in November 2020.

"This figure will go beyond 2,000 in the next few years," he mentioned.

The minister also said the total air cargo handled in India in December 2020 was 91 per cent of the figures clocked in December 2019.

Indian aviation sector has been significantly hit by the coronavirus pandemic, with various airlines taking measures such as firing people and cutting salaries during 2020.

Civil Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola in his speech at the event said that long-haul sectors to the US and Europe from India provide a big opportunity to the Indian carriers as their share currently is less than 15 per cent on these routes.

He said COVID-19 has given an opportunity to the aviation sector as people will now like to travel from point to point and not through hubs.

"The old concept that we want to travel through hubs and all is disappearing," he said.

Before the pandemic, a significant amount of long haul air travel from India was through hubs like Dubai and Singapore.

"We want airline to acquire bigger planes...We are working on air services agreements so that we can provide a level playing field to our carriers," he said.

Air services agreement is signed between two countries to fix the number of flights each country's carriers can operate. The agreement also fixes the number of cities these flights can operate to.

Freshers Live | Feb 03, 2021