In this issue

The October issue of Cruising Heights focuses on India Air Force's induction of new platforms combined with upgrades to existing assets to maintain its combat edge. Further, it analyses how government's ambitious UDAN scheme remains 'Only HAWA, No HAWAI', considering the lack of visualisation of the challenges and pitfalls it entails.

Rotary Wing Warriors

With the exception of the Cheetah/ Chetak/Cheetal helicopter fleet, the air force helicopter inventory can be divided into Russian platforms (Mi-8, Mi-17, Mi-17 1V, Mi-17 V5, Mi 25, Mi 35, Mi 26) and the indigenously developed Dhruv ‘Advanced Light Helicopter’ (ALH) across ALH MK-I, ALH MKIII, ALH-MKIV versions. Five new helicopter types are to be inducted before the end of the decade; Kamov Ka-226T ‘Sergei’, HAL Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) and Light Combat Helicoper (LCH), Boeing AH-64E ‘Apache’ and CH-47I ‘Chinook’.

3 mins

Easy Fly-Ins, Easy Fly-Outs

A very promising and lucrative market, business aviation in India, claim industry experts and watchers as well as stakeholders, has not been able to take off the way it should.

4 mins

Half Worldwide Bizjet Fleet Is 15 Years Or Older

More than 10,700 of the more than 21,900 global business jets were built in 2002 or earlier, according to data analysed by aviation market research firm Amstat. Nearly half of the global business jet fleet is 15 years or older.

1 min

Creating Smarter Airports And Airlines

A whopping $33 billion will be invested by airports and airlines for IT in 2017, according to SITA’s latest Air Transport IT Trends Insights. Although a major share will go to boost cyber security, ways to provide extra self-service options to passengers will also be a part of the investments.

3 mins

BIAL Innovates For Engaging Pax Experience

To transform the passenger experience and create a future-ready airport, Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) and Accenture recently tiedup for a co-innovation centre at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru.

1 min

E-tail's Massive Boost To Domestic Cargo

Intra-India air cargo has a huge potential but challenges to growth exist. Till infrastructure is ramped up or created in Tier-2 or Tier-3 cities, the e-commerce business will continue to use surface transport.

6 mins

Nagpur Redux

Now that the airport has been handed over to MIHAN India Limited (MIL), work will be speeded up to complete the Multimodal International Hub.

3 mins

Brand India @ FWC-2018

Preparations are on for the mega FIATA World Congress 2018 to be held in Delhi and the Federation of Freight Forwarders' Associations in India has started the process at the recent international meet in Malaysia.

3 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.