NEW DELHI — Almost 30 years after it was conceived, India’s indigenously designed and developed Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) has reached the second phase of its long-awaited Initial Operational Clearance (IOC II), clearing the way for its induction into the Indian air force. The LCA, manufactured by the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), will now be called Tejas Mk. 1. It will be called Tejas Mk. 2 after receiving its final operational clearance (FOC), slated for the end of 2014.
Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia Group will initially import 10 aircraft for its India-based operations, which are likely to begin in March. AirAsia, which has already won approval for its joint venture airline in India, was initially planning to begin operations in the country in December with three Airbus A320 aircraft, and then add 10 Airbus aircraft each year to expand its operations in the country.
