GE Aviation will provide technical support to air navigation service provider Airports Authority of India (AAI) to speed deployment of Required Navigation Performance (RNP) flight paths throughout India. “India has more than 50 mid-sized airports which could benefit immediately with track-mile and fuel savings from RNP,” says Giovanni Spitale, general manager of GE Aviation’s Flight Efficiency Services.

AirAsia India, the country’s new no-frills carrier, received its first Airbus A320, inching closer to launching its operation in the domestic sector to help connect smaller Indian cities. A joint venture between Malaysia’s low-cost carrier AirAsia Group Bhd and local investors the Tata Group and Arun Bhatia’s Telestra Tradeplace, the airline got permission from the Indian government late last year to import 10 aircraft.

NEW DELHI — The Indian air force (IAF) has decided to “urgently” buy 106 PC-7 Mk. 2 Basic Trainer Aircraft (BTA) from Pilatus, pulling the plug yet again on state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which is also making an aircraft for training junior pilots. The BTAs will be acquired from the Swiss company under the “Buy & Make (Indian)” category, in accordance with India’s defense procurement policy. India is already taking delivery of PC-7 Mk. 2 aircraft from Pilatus under a contract for 75 such aircraft signed in 2012.