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Business News/ Politics / Policy/  Defence, aviation ministries look to collaborate in aerospace sector
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Defence, aviation ministries look to collaborate in aerospace sector

Defence minister Manohar Parrikar at the Aero India air show in Bengaluru says there is immense scope to do joint work in the aviation sector

Defence minister Manohar Parrikar. Photo: Hemant Mishra/MintPremium
Defence minister Manohar Parrikar. Photo: Hemant Mishra/Mint

Bengaluru: The 11th Aero India show, inaugurated by defence minister Manohar Parrikar in Bengaluru on Monday, saw a renewed push to bring the civilian and defence sides closer in the aerospace sector.

The show combined defence and civil aviation segments for the first time. Parrikar said there is immense scope to do joint work in the sector. In the past few years, defence airports have given several additional slots to airlines, he said. Defence forces have also allowed airlines to shorten their flight path on certain routes with the help of optimum use of civil and military airspace.

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He said there were nearly 1,000 civilian planes on order and together with military planes there was need for about 5,000 engines for the next 10 years alone. There are areas where the two ministries can collaborate, he said.

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd is already providing its Dornier planes to help airlines start more regional flights under a new policy proposed by the aviation ministry.

The regional aviation scheme Udan, which will be in operation for 10 years, envisages providing connectivity to unserved and underserved cities and towns by reviving existing airstrips and airports.

This would be achieved by providing financial incentives in the form of central and state government concessions, as well as viability gap funding for interested airlines to kick off operations while ensuring passenger fares are kept affordable.

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Minister for civil aviation Ashok Gajapathi Raju said India has the fastest-growing aviation sector in terms of passenger traffic. It holds the potential to graduate from the ninth to the third largest aviation market by 2022, he said.

Udan will greatly benefit from HAL’s Dornier planes. He said as many as 50 airports could come alive with flights over the long term as the scheme takes off over the coming weeks.

Earlier in the day, the air show opened with a fly past by three Mi-17 helicopters carrying the Indian national, Air Force and Aero India flags. The show also saw the first ever public display of the Light Utility Helicopter and the handing over by the Defence Research Development Organization of the first indigenous Airborne Early Warning and Control System aircraft to the Indian Air Force.

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Planes such as HTT-40, Hawk-i, Dornier-228, Su-30MKI and the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft were also part of the fly past. This was followed by aerobatic manoeuvres by Su 30 MKI, Sweden’s SAAB Gripen, Tejas LCA, the American F-16 Falcon and the French Rafale. The Yakovlev aerobatic team, the Skycats, the Surya Kiran aerobatics team and the Sarang helicopter display ended the air display.

This edition of Aero India has seen participation by 549 companies and 53 aircraft.

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Published: 15 Feb 2017, 12:52 AM IST
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