Civil Aviation Authority

It increases the efficiency and productivity of businesses by reducing travel time that would be required to drive or to use more congested commercial airports. It provides training for a majority of new pilots.


Companies/ Government Agencies can use airplanes/ helicopter to:

• For corporate Use

• Offshore purposes especially helicopters

• Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

• Disaster Management

The latest statistics for the civil aviation sector depict:

• FDI up to 100 per cent is allowed under the automatic route for Greenfield projects.

• For existing projects, FDI up to 100 per cent is allowed; while investment up to 74 per cent under the automatic route and beyond 74 per cent under the government route.

The Indian aviation industry is one of the fastest-growing aviation industries in the world with private airlines accounting for more than 75 per cent of the sector of the domestic aviation market (as of 2006). A compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18 per cent and 454 airports and airstrips in place in the country, of which 16 are designated as international airports, the time has come to monitor the increasing growth of aviation sector.

Today, the General aviation sector is most neglected in the civil aviation industry. It is treated as a step child of aviation in India. There are no separate guidelines for general aviation. In India there is no concept of FBO's (Fixed Base Operator), helicopters or GA (General Aviation) terminals. Maximum use of General Aviation is in corporate charters, followed by offshore operations through helicopters, tourism etc. In the private charter industry itself there is an estimated business of Rs.2900 crores and it should not be neglected. General Aviation in India is a very niche market, especially since it is hassle free and has instant availability status. The value additional benefits of private aircraft are that it can fly to destinations not covered by scheduled airlines, has access to over 400 air strips (Only 90 are operational right now). The versatility of helicopters of reaching where nothing else can is not being exploited to its best potential.

Piper went back to the drawing board with its single-engine Piper jet and the result is the Altair. The new aircraft differs substantially from the proof-of-concept Piper jet and includes a redesigned fuselage that is substantially larger than the stretched Meridian body that served the original.The tail-mounted engine stays but the longer nacelle and reworked tail give the aircraft a sleeker appearance. Company executive vice president, Andy Groom, said the new aircraft was aimed at both the business and owner-pilot market and suggested larger versions of the aircraft were possible in the future. He declined to say whether future designs would have more engines.

Groom said the company learned a lot from the proof-of-concept aircraft and there would be some direct transfers, such as the Garmin G3000 flight deck. However, a traditional dual yoke replaces the side stick controllers that were in the prototype. Groom also expected the 160 position holders on the old design to transfer their commitment to the new design.The new aircraft will be ready for customers in 2014 and will be priced at $2, 5-million.

Big Order for Embraer

Any doubts that Embraer will be a major player in the business aircraft market have evaporated as Net jets announced its intention to buy 125 phenom 300 light business jets from the Brazilian plane maker.Net jets placed a firm order for 50 phenoms and optioned 75."We expect to buy all the aircraft," Net Jets' CEO, David Sokol, told a jammed news conference at NBAAs press day. Sokol said the choice of the phenom 300 was based on input from customers and the features and performance they wanted

Sokol said the billion dollar deal would be a fundamental part of its fleet refreshment plan and older Citations and Hawker Beech craft aircraft would be retired as the phenoms came on line starting in2012. The Net jets phenom 300s will be unique and the feature package in the so-called platinum Edition will not be available to other customers.

Speed Records

During the show, Hawker Beech craft Corporation (HBC) received recognition for setting six world speed records in its flagship Hawker 4000 business jet between October 2009 and April 2010.For the second year in a row, National Aeronautic Association (NAA) president, Jonathan Gaffney, presented the official certificates for the marks, which are sanctioned by both the NAA and the Federation Aeronautique International (FAI), to HBC chairman and CEO, Bill Boisture, and executive vice president Shawn Vick at the NBAA convention."These records are a testament to the performance and technology of the Hawker 400," said Shawn Vick.

Surprise Announcement

In perhaps the most surprising announcement of NBAA 2010, Sikorsky confirmed it intended to invest in Eclipse Aerospace, prompting speculation that the sometimes bizarre story of the original very light jet might have a happier than expected outcome."This agreement in principle affords us an opportunity to invest in a great product and to further leverage our strong aftermarket and product support capabilities for fixed-wing application," Sikorsky VP, Mark Cherry, said in a statement.

Eclipse owner, Mason Holland, is understandably thrilled about the recent events. "We are elated about this potential new venture with Sikorsky Aircraft and the phenomenal reach we can extend to Eclipse Jet owners by access to the global service, support and supply chain network of Sikorsky,"Holland said."With the closing of this agreement we would have it all-a phenomenal fuel efficient twin-engine jet, an enthusiastic customer base and a fantastic support staf, all coupled with the depth and strength of a sound and experienced partner, Sikorsky Aircraft," he added.

Electric –Powered Cessna 172

An electric-powered Cessna 172 proof-of-concept aircraft will be ready to fly by April this year, Bye Energy and Cessna said at NBAAs convention. The two companies are collaborating on the project, which was announced earlier last year at EAA Air Venture.George Bye, CEO of Bye Energy, said the project was making steady progress."This is an ambitious effort, but we are continuing to uncover additional efficiencies with electric powered flight," he said.

Cessna CEO, Jack Pelton, said progress toward first flight of the electric 172 demonstrator was "encouraging news for the future of mainstream general aviation."When the project was introduced in July, Pelton said the electric power plant offered significant benefits, but there were significant challenges to get there. He believed Bye Energy had "gotten off to a good start in understanding those challenges and how to overcome them."

East Africa has Soroti in Uganda as one of the latest and old pilot training schools followed by East Africa School of Aviation based in Kenya for ,Air Controllers course, Flight Dispatch and operations course, Engineering ,Management courses in aviation. Kenya has emerged as one of the fastest pilot training area with Wilson Airport leading with over 5 flying schools and with the launching of Orly Airpark recently which will mainly provide private aircraft parking and training to decongest the Wilson Airport.

For your pilot training course you are advised to engage a consultant in aviation. There are many schools in Kenya but some do not advice professionally but they are only after money and it might take you over 3 years to complete your flying hence need to engage a consultant who has the knowledge and experience which school provides quality, effective and efficient service. The consultant will also assist you on a daily basis and engage the school on why they are not following the syllabus or taking too long for a certain course and this will put them on their toes to improve in there area of weakness. As a student is you complain there will be bad blood even lead to suspension and thus affecting you mentality which will ruin your career.

1. Examination Fees and Other Charges hiked by Kenya Civil Aviation Authority.

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority propose to introduce a new "flight safety charge" of usd 2 per passenger on internal flights and kshs 50 on domestic flights. Stakeholders have warned repeatedly that it is better to collect one ‘commuted' annual fee per aircraft rather than a little fee for each service. The annual fee for licenses are being virtually doubled, such as, Students Pilot License will go up from kshs 500 to kshs 1, 000, a CPL from kshs 2,700 to kshs 4,500, and a Type Rating from 900 to 2,000.

Costs of sitting examinations are being tripled. In the PPL, Air law will increase from 500/- to 1,500/- , Navigation from 500/- to 1,500/- , etc. All CPL Subjects are proposed to go up from 1,100/- to 3,000/- each.

Ethnic discrimination still remains a feature in conversion of CPLs "foreigners" will pay kshs 16,000/- for writing a conversion paper of their foreign CPL, while "Kenyans" pay only kshs 10,000/-.

ATPL conversion exams will cost foreigners kshs 32,000/- whereas Kenyans will pay kshs 16,000/-. While we have these variations, Kenya Civil Aviation Authority is supposed to be reminded that ICAO regulations states that all aviation fees and charges must be the same for everybody, foreign or indigenous.

There are consultants who can organize for ground classes for Engineers, Pilots for those who want to convert their licenses before they sit for the exams and it normally takes 4 weeks for South Africa & American trained students and for British 1month and 2 weeks in class to be able to pass the exams.

2. Uganda CAA Scuttles Student Training.

The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority has now instructed all the flying schools that no hours flown will be logged before having obtained the Student Pilots License. In Uganda the issuance of the Students Pilot License takes weeks and month with the loss of applications, the need for a separate "security" check and the obvious miscommunication and loss of documents possibilities between CAA and security body.

The new Uganda Civil Aviation Regulations apparently require this and the CAA is now enforcing it and disallowing any flight time done by students during their interminable wait for the SPL.This means that before a school can start flying with a student, if he wants to log that time, then there will be a delay of unknown duration while the application is processed. This basically kills off flight training in Uganda for all but the very patient.

Instructors feel that it certainly takes away any attraction of a trial lesson in that the student can no longer log this 30 minutes. And when all fired up and excited from the trial lesson they will now have to wait weeks or months to begin training .This will effectively reduce the number of people wanting to start training.

Flight schools are now struggling for survival in Uganda, despite the fact that there is a good demand and the airlines are crying out for new Ugandan pilots.

Do you want to join the general aviation community of pilots? It is a community of civil aviation operations other than those air carriers holding a Certificate of Public Convenience and it's indispensable! So many individuals are stuggling to find information on how to become a pilot.There are manuals that will serve as guides for you, the prospective student, or for the ones that are fully occupied in flight training and of course the ones soaring through our friendly skies as pilots!

These manuals will show "how to" fashion, general procedures for obtaining FAA student pilot, sport pilot, recreational pilot, and private pilot certificates. Now there are many references to FAA Flight Standards District Offices (FSDOs) contact is maintained between the FAA and the general aviation public. The FAA inspectors at your local FSDO are professionally trained and are prepared to advise and assist you toward reaching your goal as a pilot. Choosing a Flight School Most airports have facilities for flight training conducted by flight schools or individual flight instructors. A school will usually provide a wide variety of training material, special facilities, and greater flexibility in scheduling.

Many colleges and universities also provide flight training as a part of their curricula. There are two types of flight schools catering to primary general aviation needs. We have the certificated "part 141 school". The other as a "part 61 school." Part 141 school has been granted an Air Agency Certificate by the FAA.The certificated schools may qualify for aground school rating and a flight school rating. In addition, the school maybe authorized to give their graduates practical (flight) tests and knowledge(computer administered written) tests.Many excellent flight schools:

They find it impractical to qualify for the FAA part 141 certificate and are referred to as part 61 schools. One difference between a part 141 school and a part 61 school is that fewer flight hours are required to qualify for a pilot certificate in a part 141 certificated school. The requirement for a private pilot certificate is 40 hours in a part 61 school and 35 hours in apart 141 certificated school. This difference may be of little importance or influence for a private pilot certificate because the national average indicates most pilots require 60 to 75 hours of flight training.