Jim Roche, deputy CEO of Pilatus Aircraft, explains how the Swiss company expects to expand its presence in both defense and general aviation markets in India, in an interview with AW&ST Contributing Editor Jay Menon. AW&ST: What are the short- and long-term business plans for Pilatus in India?

NEW DELHI — India has decided to use its Russian-made Mi-17 V-5 helicopters to transport important political leaders during the ensuing election campaigns, after authorities truncated an order for 12 AgustaWestland AW101 VIP transport helos over alleged corruption charges.

India has lifted a ban on Airbus A380s from flying into the country, a move that will permit international airlines such as Emirates, Etihad, Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines to start its flights to the world’s second most-populous country. “Now, flights of [the] A380 to India will be allowed to airports which are equipped to handle them. At present only 4 airports—Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore have the required infrastructure for operations of the world’s largest passenger aircraft,” Ministry of Civil Aviation says.