The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : They have come prepared to clinch the deal

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

They have come prepared to clinch the deal

Anand Sankar

Aircraft manufacturers organise flying sorties for `potential customers'

BREATHTAKING: A F/A-18 Super Hornet with an Indian Air Force Officer on board in the backseat performing a touch-and-go manoeuvre at Yelahanka Air Station in Bangalore on Monday. — Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

Bangalore: Lockheed Martin might have pulled off a publicity coup by attempting to get business tycoon Ratan Tata fly in the F-16 Fighting Falcon, but that does not mean others are just standing by. At stake is the multi-billion dollar Indian Air Force (IAF) contract for 126 multi-role fighter aircraft.

This year, all the manufacturers competing for the deal have come prepared with twin-seat trainer aircraft that they can use to fly "potential customers". Mr. Tata will be flying backseat in the twin-seat F-16 if he does take to the air.

On Monday, a number of manufacturers organised flying sorties for "potential customers". One senior IAF officer went on a sortie in Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet, which was not in the IAF's initial Request For Information (RFI) list. It is a late entrant in the race for the contract.

The F/A-18 with the IAF officer on board took off into the late afternoon sun for a bird's eye view of Bangalore and the American pilot took full opportunity to show off the aircraft's capabilities. The plane even made a touch-and-go manoeuvre at Yelahanka Air Station's runway.

The other aircraft that had "potential customers/dignitaries" on board were the F-16 and the MiG-35. Even the Swedes have come prepared with a twin-seat JAS-39 Gripen.

These flights are slotted between the morning and evening air displays.

This is because a clause in the Flying Manual, an official code for pilots and air controllers, for Aero India 2007 states that only persons essential for functioning of the aircraft, pilots/crew, are allowed during practice sessions and displays.

The clause specifically prohibits passengers during these times. Airspace, well away from the airfield, has been allocated for the aircraft with passengers so that there can be freedom to manoeuvre and also the person at the backseat can get a chance at the controls. The other aircraft that will take passengers are the CH-47 Chinook helicopter and Hindustan Aero-nautics Limited's Dhruv helicopter.

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