INDIAN AIR LINE

From The Chairman’s Desk

Welcome aboard! The Indian Civil Aviation Industry, which has witnessed rapid growth in recent years, acquired centrestage at the country’s maiden civil aviation exposition India Aviation 2008, held in Hyderabad last month. The event, organised jointly by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) evoked keen interest, with leading aviation companies from India and abroad participating and displaying their products. More than 37 aircraft, including commercial aircraft, regional aircraft, business aircraft, cargo aircraft, helicopters, gliders, motor gliders and paragliders, besides aircraft machinery and related equipment were on display during the four-day mega event.

Air India showcased its Boeing 777-300LR and Airbus A319, the latter being formally inducted in the fleet after making a ceremonial landing at Hyderabad in the presence of Civil Aviation Minister, Mr. Praful Patel and other dignitaries. Business visitors, corporate flyers and travel agents who visited the aircraft expressed their genuine appreciation for the quantum jump made by Air India in providing a product that can match the best in the industry for international and domestic travel.

The theme pavilion recapitulated the various milestones achieved by the Indian Civil Aviation Industry since JRD Tata flew the first flight on 15th October 1932, heralding the birth of Civil Aviation in India. Air India’s history, which is virtually synonymous with that of the Indian Civil Aviation Industry, played a pivotal role in embellishing the theme pavilion by providing rare pictures of various milestone events from its archives. Models of various types of aircraft operated by Air India over the years were also exhibited. A touch of nostalgia was added by reproduction of Air India’s advertising over the years with the Maharajah, Air India’s mascot, being depicted in various avatars.

The occasion also gave an opportunity to reflect of the strides made by the Civil Aviation sector. It was in 1947 that Air India, then a Tata airline, launched the non-stop flight on the Kolkata-Mumbai sector. The advertisement released to promote the flight read “AIR INDIA AT YOUR SERVICE… to fly you non-stop from Calcutta to Bombay. We provided transportation to and from airports, and meals (both vegetarian and non-vegetarian) en route. We have hostesses to see to your comfort. And, on this, our Viking Service, you can smoke while you fly!” The flight then took five hours and 40 minutes to traverse the distance of 1,064 miles between the two metro cities. It was 60 years later, in 2007, that Air India launched its non-stop flight from Mumbai to New York with the state-of-the-art Boeing B777-200LR.

Other major events included the landing by Airbus A380, the world’s largest passenger aircraft. The giant double-decker made a low fly-past and landed gently waving the Indian flag from its windows amidst thunderous applause from aviation enthusiasts. Air India made the occasion momentous by not only arranging for the ceremonial landing of its new aircraft to coincide with the event but also inking the Joint Venture Agreement with the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS), a global leader in aerospace services, for creation of an Aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Centre for Airbus aircraft. Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, stated at the inaugural function that Tata Group, founder of Air India before the airline was nationalized, was keen on setting up a Tata Aviation System in the proposed economic zone on the outskirts of Hyderabad for which 50 acres of land has been allotted.

The event, which will be held biennially henceforth, attracted thousands of students from aviation academies, engineering and hospitality colleges besides management institutions. As a leader of the aviation industry in the country, Air India salutes the initiative taken by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and FICCI for taking another step in globalizing the Indian aviation industry.
I thank you for flying Air India and look forward to your continued patronage.

(Raghu Menon)
Chairman & Managing Director