New Delhi, October 7
The Hindustan Times
After waiting for 20 years, Air-India is now on the fast track for acquiring new aircraft. The airline has chalked out a plan whereby it will have at least three B777-200 (ER)s as part of its fleet by January next year.
India’s international carrier has put out an advertisement on its website asking for training of its pilots on B777-200 ERs. The timing of this tender document is uncanny, for as the Hindustan Times reported recently, Boeing president & CEO Harry Stonecipher is scheduled to visit India shortly.
AI has invited technical and financial proposals for pilot training on the triple 7 by October 11 at its operations office in Kalina, Mumbai. Which means there is an expediency attached to the proposal. The structure of the document is such that the carrier has asked for technical specifications under Annexure I and the financial bid is part of the Annexure II offer.
It also adds categorically that as per the carrier’s procedure, it does not permit posttender negotiations — except with the bidder offering the best financial terms. Air-India has asked for ground training facility and wet lease of 777-200 simulators. This clearly means that AI is leasing Boeing 777s with a configuration of 46 business class, 244 tourist class and 9 lavatories. Packed with a GE 90-94B Thurst Rating engine and a CAT 111 B approach system, the Boeing 777 is reported to be in a class of its own.
AI had put out a tender for the triple 7s extended range and long-range last month in the hope that it will be able to operate these long range aircraft to European and APAC destinations this winter season.
As per the tender, ground training will commence in the third week of October, fixed base simulator (FBS) in November and full flight simulator (FFS) between November 2004 and March 2005.
Interestingly, AI had chosen rival manufacturer Airbus’ 340-300 over the B777-200 ER in its fleet acquisition plan submitted to the government in January this year. But in August a meeting chaired by Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel discussed the fleet acquisition proposal and the AI management was told to revisit the plan and submit a fresh proposal. The new plan is likely to be put before the ministry in November.
In addition to this, the airline has undertaken leasing aggressively for both medium capacity long-range and ultra long-range aircraft. In a board meeting, it was decided that since A340-300s are not available for dry lease till the end of 2005, AI will look at other aircraft types like the B777-200 (ER) and A330-200 as well.
By: KabirT - 9th October 2004 at 11:07
I like the last one as well. The hindi version of Air-India needs to match the font style you’ve selected for the english title IMO.
Kabir, I tried to do a larger version of the jharoka windows with an AI livery I was designing. I’m embarrased to say it started to look like a “mithaai ka dabba (box of sweets)” and so I abandoned the idea 🙂
haha yes those designs are absolutely horrible.
By: KabirT - 9th October 2004 at 11:07
I like the last one as well. The hindi version of Air-India needs to match the font style you’ve selected for the english title IMO.
Kabir, I tried to do a larger version of the jharoka windows with an AI livery I was designing. I’m embarrased to say it started to look like a “mithaai ka dabba (box of sweets)” and so I abandoned the idea 🙂
haha yes those designs are absolutely horrible.
By: steve rowell - 9th October 2004 at 06:58
I think i like the second one
By: steve rowell - 9th October 2004 at 06:58
I think i like the second one
By: Nasir - 9th October 2004 at 05:04
I like the last one as well. The hindi version of Air-India needs to match the font style you’ve selected for the english title IMO.
Kabir, I tried to do a larger version of the jharoka windows with an AI livery I was designing. I’m embarrased to say it started to look like a “mithaai ka dabba (box of sweets)” and so I abandoned the idea 🙂
By: Nasir - 9th October 2004 at 05:04
I like the last one as well. The hindi version of Air-India needs to match the font style you’ve selected for the english title IMO.
Kabir, I tried to do a larger version of the jharoka windows with an AI livery I was designing. I’m embarrased to say it started to look like a “mithaai ka dabba (box of sweets)” and so I abandoned the idea 🙂
By: KabirT - 9th October 2004 at 02:04
I like the last one Sandy…. but you cant remove the old style windows from the livery. That was the main reason why the revised Landor livery was not accepted by the public. 🙂
By: KabirT - 9th October 2004 at 02:04
I like the last one Sandy…. but you cant remove the old style windows from the livery. That was the main reason why the revised Landor livery was not accepted by the public. 🙂
By: Bmused55 - 9th October 2004 at 00:39
another quick one
By: Bmused55 - 9th October 2004 at 00:39
another quick one
By: ALBERT ROSS - 8th October 2004 at 23:49
Hmmm… that would be difficult. The Indian people are very proud of AI’s livery. When a new Landor designed livery was introduced in the late 80s/early 90s to replace the current livery, public annoyance was so great that the old livery was re-introduced.
Here, here, the classic AI livery is superb – just think of all those arches painted on a 777 :rolleyes:
By: ALBERT ROSS - 8th October 2004 at 23:49
Hmmm… that would be difficult. The Indian people are very proud of AI’s livery. When a new Landor designed livery was introduced in the late 80s/early 90s to replace the current livery, public annoyance was so great that the old livery was re-introduced.
Here, here, the classic AI livery is superb – just think of all those arches painted on a 777 :rolleyes:
By: Bmused55 - 8th October 2004 at 23:47
:p
By: Bmused55 - 8th October 2004 at 23:47
:p
By: MSR777 - 8th October 2004 at 23:21
SANDY!!!!!!
By: MSR777 - 8th October 2004 at 23:21
SANDY!!!!!!
By: Bmused55 - 8th October 2004 at 23:16
Beeeeeeeutiful pics…….But would still look better on Airbus A330/340 and we may still see it yet!
ugly colourscheme for an ugly plane.. your right 😉
By: Bmused55 - 8th October 2004 at 23:16
Beeeeeeeutiful pics…….But would still look better on Airbus A330/340 and we may still see it yet!
ugly colourscheme for an ugly plane.. your right 😉
By: MSR777 - 8th October 2004 at 23:15
Beeeeeeeutiful pics…….But would still look better on Airbus A330/340 and we may still see it yet!
By: MSR777 - 8th October 2004 at 23:15
Beeeeeeeutiful pics…….But would still look better on Airbus A330/340 and we may still see it yet!
Sign In
October 8, 2004 at 1:20 am