Aviation
Inside Air India One: India’s Advanced Aerospace Marvel
Every country has its own powerful aircraft dedicated to serving its most important officials, such as the Prime Minister and President. India’s newest Air India One is among these. It is equipped with advanced aerospace technology, making it a powerful large aircraft.
As we all know, the United States President’s aircraft, Air Force One, is one of the most famous planes in the world. Similarly, many countries have special aircraft for their VVIPs, such as presidents and prime ministers. These aircraft are not typical; they are flown with special support from the country’s defense agencies.
The air traffic control call sign for any special extra section flight flown by the Indian Air Force for the President of India, Vice President, or Prime Minister is Air India One. The mission is directed by a special unit based at Air Force Station Palam.
The executive enclosure on the Indian Air Force aircraft features an office and a bedroom. All other passengers on Air India One must carry color-coded identity cards at all times. Inside, the plane includes a meeting area, a VVIP cabin, a medical facility, and seats for additional dignitaries and personnel. This aircraft can fly continuously for 17 hours after refueling.
In the event of an emergency, the plane can refuel in the air. Air India One, powered by twin GE90-115 engines, can reach a top speed of 559.33 mph. These planes are like flying fortresses. The cost of Air India One is estimated to be Rs 8,458 crore. Like Air Force planes, these new aircraft have a limitless range and are capable of flying around the world continuously.
In the event of an attack, the customized aircraft can conduct a counter-offensive, similar to Air Force One’s military systems. The Boeing 777 is equipped with systems to detect missiles and jam suspicious radar frequencies. Whether it’s electronic jammers for anti-missile defense or communication jammers, Air India One is equipped with military-grade security systems and facilities for medical emergencies and passenger comfort.
The aircraft features advanced electronic warfare suites that can not only prevent attacks but also retaliate if necessary. It is equipped with its own missile defense system, called the Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) and Self-Protection Suites (SPS). These systems include large aircraft infrared countermeasures, countermeasures dispensing systems, and integrated defensive electronic warfare suites, capable of jamming enemy radar signals and diverting nearby missiles with countermeasures and flares.
It has twelve Guardian Laser Transmitter Assemblies AN/AAQ-24 (V)N (6 installed and 6 spares)
It has eight (8) LAIRCM System Processor Replacements (LSPR) AN/AAQ-24 (V)N (2 installed and 6 spares)
It has twenty-three (23) Missile Warning Sensors (MWS) for AN/AAQ-24 (V)N (12 installed and 11 spares)
It has five (5) AN/ALE-47 Counter-Measures Dispensing System (CMDS) (2 installed and 3 spares)
The countermeasures subsystem uses lasers mounted in pointer-tracker turret assemblies to automatically counter advanced intermediate-range missile systems without any action required by the crew. The pilot will be informed when a threat missile is detected and jammed.
To ensure the aircraft controls are protected from hacking, Air India One is equipped with an Intruder Detection System (IDS). This system inspects all inbound and outbound network activity, identifying suspicious patterns that may indicate an attempted network or system attack. The IDS helps safeguard the aircraft from anyone trying to break into or compromise its systems.
Aviation
Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating
Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.
This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.
One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.
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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.
The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.
The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.
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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.
Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.
With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.
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