Cruising Heights - February 2023

In this issue

Cruising Heights’ February, 2023 Aero India Special Edition mainly focusses on India’s potential emergence as a global aero-engine manufacturing hub in the future amidst the massively growing civil aviation market in the country. The issue analyses the story of the significance of using ATR aircraft for the UDAN network. The edition also carries a detailed article on the Indian human spaceflight programme (Mission Gaganyaan) which will be launched in 2024. The issue also carries a comprehensive report on the prospects of using Embraer aircraft as an alternative of Airbus and Boeing passenger jets for regional transport in India. A Panorama presentation on ISRO’s upcoming mission to the sun (Aditya-L1) make the edition an impressive read. A back page story on the recent auctioning of Elvis Presley’s private jet, plus- interviews of a number of industry leaders, take the issue to an interesting conclusion. The February, 2023 edition of the magazine is a must-read for everyone.

6E's turboprop ambitions

IndiGo's ATR fleet turns five and the carrier is going from strength to strength with its turboprop fleet. A dexterous use of the machines on the UDAN network and as a feeder to its trunk routes has made this machine critical to the 6E network. AMEYA JOSHI examines and reviews their performance and looks at the path ahead

10+ mins

Q&A: "There is a large ATR ecosystem"

ATR aircraft have been playing, and will continue to play, an essential role to make air transport more accessible and inclusive in India, because they offer a unique combination of unparalleled economics, comfort, reliability, airport accessibility and sustainability, says JEAN-PIERRE CLERCIN, Head of Sales Asia Pacific, ATR, in this interview with CRUISING HEIGHTS

6 mins

Q&A: "A long-standing relationship"

In an interview with CRUISING HEIGHTS, Boeing India's President SALIL GUPTE speaks on the exciting developments in India and on how Boeing is taking advantage of the enormous growth in the aviation sector

7 mins

Q&A: "India is a key market for Embraer"

The cost-per-seat of the E195-E2 is equivalent to the larger 180-seat aircraft that are prevalent in India, while the cost-per-trip is more than 20 percent lower. These attributes make the E195-E2 a very compelling platform to connect cities in India, explains RAUL VILLARON, Vice President, Asia Pacific, Embraer Commercial Aviation, in this interaction with CRUISING HEIGHTS

4 mins

Will The E-2 Make An Impact?

India has one Embraer operator in Star Air. But there is huge potential in the E2. Will any other airline go for this jet from Brazil? AMEYA JOSHI examines the Embraer saga in the Indian subcontinent

8 mins

Q&A: India will grow faster than its peers

Alvarez & Marsal India (A&M India) Managing Director SUDEEP MEHROTRA and Senior Director VARUN AGRAWAL put together key changes observed in the Indian airport sector over the last decade and the trends that are likely to shape the sector over the next decade in the paper titled: \"Airports in India at Inflexion Point\". Here, they answer more questions from CRUISING HEIGHTS on their assessment and the key drivers for growth

4 mins

Q&A: "All Tier-2 cities are showing growth trends"

CareEdge Rating last month issued a report titled \"Airports - Smooth Runway Post Pandemic\". MEHUL PANDYA, MD & CEO, Care Edge, discusses the report and other trends in this Q&A with CRUISING HEIGHTS

4 mins

Accelerated growth!

India's growing domestic airlines have led to emergence of the country as a major commercial aviation market. The joint GE/Safran engineering team has laid out a comprehensive technology roadmap including composite fan blades, heat-resistant metal alloys, ceramic matrix composites (CMCs), hybrid electric capability and additive manufacturing. Both GE and Safran are to begin testing a demonstrator engine at their facilities around the middle of this decade with flight testing to begin soon thereafter. Hydrogen combustion capability is also one of the foundational technologies being developed and matured as part of the CFM RISE programme. India is poised to evolve as a major aero-engine manufacturing hub. A report

10+ mins

Q&A: "CFM's footprint in India will expand"

Currently, CFM has a backlog of 1,500+ LEAP engines in the Indian subcontinent that will support the large and fast-growing domestic market in India, says GAËL MÉHEUST, President and CEO of CFM International, in this one-on-one with CRUISING HEIGHTS

2 mins

Q&A: "Interest in the 6X is high"

The Falcon 6X is an ideal aircraft for the Indian market, able to fly at high-speed cruise nonstop from any point in the country to London. It offers a new level of comfort and utility in the longrange segment, says CARLOS BRANA, Executive VP Civil Aircraft, Dassault Aviation, in this one-on-one with CRUISING HEIGHTS

3 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.

10+ mins

Q&A: "We received 1100+ engine orders"

The GTF Advantage engine will be available starting in 2024, initially in low-rate production and phasing in fully over 24 months. It will be intermixable/ interchangeable with the current configuration, says ASHMITA SETHI, President and Country Head, Pratt & Whitney, in this oneon-one with CRUISING HEIGHTS

3 mins

Q&A: "Digital Tower is a next-gen solution"

Saab's Digital Tower is a flexible and scalable solution for a broad range of use cases, explains MATS PALMBERG, Chairman and Managing Director, Saab India, in this interaction with CRUISING HEIGHTS

3 mins

Q&A: "We completed four years of ops"

Addition of night landing facilities, ILS, and 24X7 operations can lead to exponential growth of the airline, says SIMRAN SINGH TIWANA, CEO of Star Air, in this interview with CRUISING HEIGHTS

3 mins

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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.