Aviation

Aircraft built by a Mumbai man on terrace gets license to fly

Mumbai: In an unparalleled achievement, a commercial pilot who made a full-fledged aircraft on the terrace of his residence has been awarded a registration by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, a top official said here on Monday.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis formally handed over the DGCA certificate to Capt. Amol Yadav, presently a Deputy Chief Pilot with Jet Airways.

Working virtually single-handedely, Yadav built the six-seater aircraft on a residential building terrace in Kandivali suburb, north-west Mumbai, over the past six years and finally it has been accorded official recognition.

“Encouraging efforts… Great example of @makeinindia! Captain Amol Yadav gets certificate of registration from DGCA, meets CM @Dev_Fadnavis to thank his efforts and follow up with Hon PM @narendramodi & Government of India It is 1st Indian private company to get this certificate!,” the Chief Minister’s Office tweeted in a congratulatory message.

The DGCA certification implies that Yadav can now undertake further tests and fly the aircraft in the open skies.

Yadav, 41, had displayed the aircraft during the “Make In India” mega-event in Mumbai last year which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the presence of several foreign dignitaries.

At the event in February 2016, Civil Aviation Minister P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Fadnavis saw his aircraft, appreciated the efforts and had assured him all help to make his venture a success.

“The terrace atop my three-BHK flat is spread over around 1,600 square feet and served as my workshop for this aircraft which I created in the past over six years,” Yadav told mediapersons.

He said the inspiration to assemble a full-fledged plane came to him after he witnessed aviation buffs in the US buying phased-out aircraft and remodelling them into customised six-seater or twelve-seater flying machines.

Presently parked on an airstrip in Dhule, Yadav’s aircraft Yadav can fly upto beights of 13,000 feet, climbing at 1,500 feet per minute, achieve top speeds of 185 knots with a range of 2,000 kms, and a capacity to carry six people.

The Maharashtra government plans to allot a 155-acre plot in Palghar, adjacent to Mumbai from where Yadav intends to build upto 20-seater passenger aircraft over the next few years through his venture, Thrust India Company.

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.