In this issue

This edition of is full of in-depth stories on our variety of issues concerning defence, national security and regional Geopolitics. The two cover stories on India's submarine fleet outline why India needs to urgently beef up the strength of subs if it has to be a true blue water navy in the region and a larger force in the Indo-Pacific. We also examine the government's ambitious target to have India among the top five exporting nations for defence equipment and the sort of road map that is required to achieve this goal. We also look at ISRO's Netra program which hopes to provide a proactive initiative to safeguard India’s interests in space by mitigating the risks posed by space debris and other hazards. We also have a piece on the Prime Minister’s recent visit to Bhutan and how that will impact the relationship between the two countries. All this plus all are regular features in the April of

India's space economy set to soar

India's burgeoning space economy could see a substantial increase in its global share by 2040. At present, India's space sector contributes a modest $8 billion to the overall cake.

2 mins

JettWings leads the way in UDAN 5.3

JettWings Airways has emerged as a frontrunner in the aviation industry, solidifying its position as a leading private operator under the UDAN RCS 5.3 scheme.

1 min

Sock drying to underwear adventures: Laundry tales at 30,000 feet

Picture this: you're settled into your first-class seat, ready for a smooth and luxurious flight with United Airlines. But as you glance around, you notice something that makes you do a double-take.

1 min

PLETHORA OF AIR TRAVEL ACTIVITY IN THE INDIAN SKIES

The Northern Summer schedule for 2024 took off on March 31, 2024, ushering in a rush of air travel activity. With DGCA's seal of approval on 24,275 weekly departures, the skies buzzed with an average of 3,467 flights daily. However, on the inaugural day, airlines only managed to execute 3,035 scheduled domestic flights, representing a modest 87.5 per cent of the approved schedule. Delving into the nuances of this aviation landscape, an exclusive analysis by aviation analytics company Cirium unveils fascinating insights into the longest and shortest flights crisscrossing the Indian skies.

2 mins

Agnibaan SOrTeD rocket launch postponed again

Chennai-based space start-up Agnikul Cosmos called off the maiden launch of its 3D-printed, semi-cryogenic Agnibaan rocket about 129 seconds before lift-off citing communication in the onboard hardware.

2 mins

Pushpak RLV-TD successfully lands autonomously

ISRO achieved another significant milestone in reusable launch vehicle (RLV) technology with the successful landing of Pushpak (RLV-TD), the winged vehicle, autonomously on the runway.

1 min

TIME FOR CREDIBLE ROTARY-WING CAPABILITIES

With tactical-level challenges looming in India’s neighbourhood, it is time for the Indian armed forces to rapidly brush up on rotorcraft capabilities. A Special Report

10+ mins

"PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES: A TROUBLED LEGACY IN NEED OF REVIVAL"

Pakistan International Airlines PIA), once renowned for its slogan Great People to Fly With,’ has a storied history of contributions to the aviation industry. despite its illustrious past, PIA has faced challenges in recent decades, witnessing a decline from its former glory. This downward trajectory has prompted concerns about the airline's sustainability and competitiveness in the modern aviation landscape. The Pakistan government is now preparing to privatise the

10 mins

Qatar explores major widebody order with Boeing, Airbus

Qatar Airways is reportedly in preliminary discussions with both Boeing and Airbus regarding a potential order of up to 150 widebody jets to modernise and expand its fleet as it needs to tackle the issue of an ageing fleet for long-distance.

1 min

"Embraer achieves ETOPS-120 certification for E2 Series

Embraer recently achieved a significant milestone with the acquisition of 120-minute ETOPS (Extended-Twin Engine Operations Performance Standards) approval for its E190-E2 and E195-E2 aircraft.

1 min

FLY91 set to soar

Regional carrier FLY91 launched its commercial operations in mid-March, aiming to establish a strong presence in the aviation sector. India’s youngest airline plans to break even within two years, the Goa-based airline anticipates employing approximately 350 staff members by the end of its inaugural year.

1 min

Star Air expands with fourth E175

Star Air (S5) welcomed its fourth Embraer E175 aircraft in March.

1 min

BA AT 50: REFLECTING ON THE CONCORDE AGE AND BEYOND

As British Airways celebrates its 50th anniversary, industry watchers and experts are saying that this prompts reflection on the evolution of flying with the airline and raises questions about whether the Concorde era truly represented aviation's golden age.

7 mins

VISTARA PILOTS' PROTEST AMIDST AIR INDIA MERGER HIGHLIGHTS INDUSTRY-WIDE CHALLENGES

Pilots are one of the most important human resources for any airline. Even more so in these times when the average growth in Indian Aviation is a close to 15 per cent. Unfortunately, though, pilots in India are an unhappy lot highlighted by the mass leave taken by Vistara pilots. NIDHI SHARMA dissects the issue.

7 mins

A GIANT OF AN AIRCRAFT

Engineers have recently unveiled blueprints for what could become the crowning achievement of airborne engineering: the WindRunner.

3 mins

New Terminal for Dehradun

The newly constructed terminal building at Dehradun Airport was officially inaugurated on February 14, representing a significant step forward in enhancing infrastructure and connectivity in the northern state.

1 min

Gearing up for Propulsive Efficiency ROLLS

Aero-engine manufacturers are accelerating the development of next-generation powerplants for commercial aviation. A special report

8 mins

Mission Gaganyaan: ISRO gets back to work

The Indian human spaceflight programme has the potential to create an all-new aerospace ecosystem for setting up associated industries, boosting thousands of MSMEs in the sector and creating at least 15,000 jobs for Indian youth related to the domain. An in-depth report

10+ mins

Greenwash or Sustainability?

As the pressure to reduce their carbon footprint grows on airlines, the industry grapples with a complex set of options with no clear visible goal in sight. As things stand, the 2050 zero carbon goal seems pretty elusive.

9 mins

Air Power and India's Northeast

India’s Northeast is being connected to the rest of India as never before. With the operationalisation of Hollongi Airport in Arunachal Pradesh state's capital of Itanagar, every state in the region is now connected with the rest of India. A report on the region and its aviation potential.

10 mins

The real regional CONTENDERS

ATR and Embraer are bullish on market prospects for their regional transport aircraft A Special report

9 mins

WINGS INDIA FLIES

The 2024 edition of Wings India conducted in February in Hyderabad saw the participation of all the industry heavyweights. There were a few orders and some interesting announcements. A Special report.

7 mins

A321XLR: Likely delay in delivery!

Touted as a game-changer that could see single-aisle long-haul travel, the A321XLR has hit a roadblock in the form of regulatory issues surrounding its additional fuel tank that was to be fused directly into the fuselage. Added to that are supply chain woes. When all that was settled came news that the certification process has extended the timeline, with Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury acknowledging that the process is taking longer than initially anticipated. The aircraft could now see a delay in the entry for service with the timeline moving to likely late 2024. An insight into the developments.

9 mins

New Terminal for Dehradun

The newly constructed terminal building at Dehradun Airport was officially inaugurated on February 14, representing a significant step forward in enhancing infrastructure and connectivity in the northern state.

1 min

Gearing up for Propulsive Efficiency

Aero-engine manufacturers are accelerating the development of next-generation powerplants for commercial aviation. A special report

8 mins

Mission Gaganyaan: ISRO gets back to work

The Indian human spaceflight programme has the potential to create an all-new aerospace ecosystem for setting up associated industries, boosting thousands of MSMEs in the sector and creating at least 15,000 jobs for Indian youth related to the domain. An in-depth report by AMARTYA SINHA

10+ mins

Greenwash or Sustainability?

As the pressure to reduce their carbon footprint grows on airlines, the industry grapples with all complex set of options with no clear visible goal in sight. As things stand, the 2050 zero carbon goal seems pretty elusive.

10 mins

Air Power and India's Northeast

India's Northeast is being connected to the rest of India as never before. With the operationalisation of Hollongi Airport in Arunachal Pradesh state's capital of Itanagar, every state in the region is now connected with the rest of India. A report on the region and its aviation potential.

9 mins

The real regional CONTENDERS

ATR and Embraer are bullish on market prospects for their regional transport aircraft A Special report

8 mins

WINGS INDIA FLIES

The 2024 edition of Wings India conducted in February in Hyderabad saw the participation of all the industry heavyweights. There were a few orders and some interesting announcements. A Special report.

7 mins

Read all stories from Cruising Heights

Cruising Heights Magazine Description:

CRUISING HEIGHTS is India's best known monthly aviation magazine with equal interests in air cargo, travel and tourism. In its four years of existence, Cruising Heights has received accolades from the Minister of Civil Aviation, Aviation CEOs, Airport Developers, Travel Agents Associations and others for its path-breaking stories.One of the first true aviation magazines of the country, Cruising Heights was started with the idea of supporting professionals in the airline business to make informed choices on a variety of subjects from ground handling to cargo to airport development-all of which are transforming the Indian aviation scene in mind-boggling ways. Later, due to the interest it generated and in response to demands from the travel and tourism industry stakeholders we have targeted the general reader-the educated Indian who is keen to be an informed Indian-to know what's happening in the business.