Aerospace

Five operators will operate on 128 routes and connect 70 indian regional airports.

According to The Hindu Flights for Rs. 2,500 connecting these smaller centres may begin from April
Beginning April, passengers may be able to fly on as many as 128 routes connecting 70 big and small airports across the country by paying ₹2,500 for an hour’s flight.
The Centre on Thursday announced a list of routes awarded to five airlines which will operate flights under its regional connectivity scheme, named UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik).
“We will be adding 43 new destinations with the launch of RCS,” Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said. “Flying was a rich man’s prerogative earlier, but now it has also become a common man’s prerogative.”
Turbo Megha Airways Low-cost airline SpiceJet, Air India subsidiary Alliance Air along with regional airlines Turbo Megha Airways, Air Deccan and Air Odisha Aviation won the rights to operate flights under the regional connectivity scheme under which half of the seats on the plane will be capped at ₹2,500 per hour’s flight.
Some of the inactive airports that will soon witness regional flights include Shimla, Agra, Bikaner, Gwalior, Kadapa, Rourkela, Jharsuguda, Vidyanagar, Burnpur, Diu, Shillong, Kullu, Mysore, Jagdalpur, Salem, Utkela, and Hosur.
The regional airlines will connect these destinations with their nearest bigger airports such as Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Bhubaneswar, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Jaipur, among others.
Civil Aviation Secretary R.N. Choubey said that the first regional flight may likely begin its operations in April. “Fortunately, in the first round of bidding, the airlines focussed on airports that are ready to take flights. The deadline to start operating regional flights is September,” Mr. Choubey said.
Subsidy on losses

As per the scheme, the Centre will subsidise the losses incurred by airlines flying out of dormant airports to help airlines charge ₹2,500 for an hour’s flight to passengers.
80% of the subsidy will be collected by charging a levy of up to ₹8,500 on each departing flight of domestic airlines and the rest 20% will come from the respective State governments.
The Centre had asked airlines to submit their proposed routes along with subsidy amount required to operate the regional flight. This was followed by counter-bids from other airlines and the one asking for the least financial support won the bid.
Government will provide subsidy to airlines for first three years of operations when they will have exclusive flying rights on the selected routes.
“The scheme has a unique market-based design. We have a successful national and international aviation market but an underdeveloped regional market. This scheme will stimulate growth in the regional aviation market and will connect underserved and unserved airports that really didn’t have flight services,” Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha said.
Mr. Sinha said the airlines which had won the first round of bidding under the scheme would require a subsidy of ₹205 crore for running their operations. This would ultimately lead to the creation of 13 lakh seats in the regional aviation market.
“This is really about bootstrapping and creating a market which is not a perpetual subsidy,” Mr. Sinha said. “Once the market gets jump started, it will operate on a commercial basis as per market forces of supply and demand,” the Minister of State added.
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Aerospace

Which is bigger 777x or 787 aircraft ?

The 777X is a new series of the Boeing 777 family and is designed to be larger and more efficient than its predecessor. It features two variants: the 777-8 and the 777-9, being the larger of the two.

The Boeing 777X emerges as the larger sibling within the Boeing family, representing a significant leap forward in both size and efficiency. Comprising two variants, the 777-8 and the 777-9, the latter takes the crown as the larger of the two. With its expansive fuselage and impressive wingspan, the 777X is tailored for long-range journeys and boasts a substantial passenger capacity.

On the other hand, the Boeing 787, affectionately known as the Dreamliner, occupies a niche in the market as a smaller yet formidable aircraft designed for medium to long-range flights. Its distinguishing feature lies in its composite fuselage, a technological marvel that renders it lighter and more fuel-efficient compared to conventional aluminum counterparts. The Boeing 777X is larger than the Boeing 787 aircraft.

When it comes to passenger capacity, the 777-9 reigns supreme, typically accommodating a sizeable contingent of 400-425 passengers in its standard configuration. In contrast, the 787, with its more modest dimensions, typically carries between 240-290 passengers, depending on the variant and layout.

One of the remarkable innovations introduced with the 777X is its folding wingtips, a feature designed to address the logistical challenges of accommodating such a large aircraft in conventional airport gates. These folding wingtips enable the 777X to retract its wings, allowing it to fit into gates designed for smaller aircraft while still reaping the benefits of an extended wingspan during flight, thereby enhancing fuel efficiency and operational flexibility

Aerospace

China Secures Production Certificate for Mass Production of Pilotless eVTOL Aircraft

EHang

The first passenger-carrying pilotless electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in the world, the EH216-S, has received the Production Certificate for its eVTOL aircraft from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

This is a significant milestone for EHang Holdings Limited, the leading UAM technology platform company in the world. This outstanding accomplishment is another big step towards mass manufacturing for the eVTOL aircraft and the ensuing commercial operations, building on the ground-breaking acquisition of the Type Certificate and the Standard Airworthiness Certificate for the EH216-S.

The PC is a crucial certificate that the aircraft maker receives from the CAAC, the country’s aviation authority. By obtaining this certificate, EHang has demonstrated that it has set up a quality management system for mass production that satisfies the airworthiness regulation standards set forth by the CAAC, and the company has been given permission to continue producing mass quantities.

It is also a strong guarantee of the calibre of the goods made by EHang. Raw materials, supplier management, manufacturing organisation, production quality control, aircraft pre-delivery test, after-sales repair and maintenance, etc. are all included in the mass production quality management system for the EH216-S.

To ensure that every aircraft and its components that roll off the production line strictly adhere to the approved type design and safety requirements, the system sets clear guidelines and documentation for every step in the production procedure. This ensures comprehensive traceability and safety control.

Aerospace

Four Airbus A380 Superjumbos lined up to be scrapped

EASA Proposes AD for Airbus A380 Wing Rib Foot Cracks

In a strategic move aimed at reclaiming valuable resources from the iconic Airbus A380 aircraft, VAS Aero Services and Dr. Peters Group have announced a significant collaboration.

This partnership marks a milestone in aviation logistics and aftermarket services, with four of these colossal planes slated for teardown and redistribution of used serviceable material (USM).

The venture between VAS Aero Services, renowned for its expertise in aircraft dismantlement, and Dr. Peters Group, a prominent Germany-based investment fund management firm, underscores a commitment to sustainable aviation practices. This isn’t their first foray into scrapping A380s; their successful partnership has already seen the dismantlement of these aircraft, making them pioneers in this niche.

Under the agreement, the latest consignment brings the tally to eight A380s entrusted to VAS by Dr. Peters Group. Managing Director Christian Mailly of Dr. Peters Group emphasized the trust placed in VAS, citing their unparalleled capabilities in dismantlement and aftermarket sales network. It’s a strategic move in response to the growing demand for quality USM parts, particularly with the resurgence in reliance on the A380.

Notably, the teardown process will be carried out at various locations, optimizing the positioning of harvested parts to cater to different markets. While some parts will be positioned in Europe to support operators in the region and the Middle East, others will remain in the Asia-Pacific region. This meticulous strategy ensures efficient access to spare parts, benefiting MROs and airlines across these markets.

The decision to retire these A380s comes at a time when operators are reassessing fleet strategies amidst evolving market dynamics. Despite initial plans for quick retirement due to the emergence of more fuel-efficient alternatives, factors such as a rebound in long-haul demand and delays in new widebody deliveries have prompted operators to reconsider. The A380, with its unique capacity and capabilities, presents a practical solution for short-term capacity management.