India’s federal aviation ministry has proposed a uniform pay scale for all pilots groups at state-owned Air India to resolve long-standing disharmony among the carrier’s crew members. Under the proposal from a committee headed by Justice C.S. Dharmadhikari convened to investigate the 2007 merger of Air India and Indian Airlines, the company will now employ equal pay scales and consistent working hours for pilots from the two legacy carriers, two issues that have been the cause of several strike actions since the merger.
NEW DELHI — U.S. aerospace giant Boeing has extended a contract with India’s Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL) after it recently delivered to the U.S. Navy the first EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft with a cockpit subassembly made by the Indian company. The subassembly provides cockpit floodlighting compatible with the aircraft’s Night Vision Imaging System (NVIS). Boeing had awarded BEL an initial contract in March 2011 for work on F/A-18E/F Super Hornet cockpit subassemblies.
NEW DELHI — Russian firm United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) has signed a contract with India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to make 205 multi-role transport aircraft (MTA) in the 15-20 ton-class for both countries’ air forces as well as other potential customers. The companies have roped in another Russian firm — Multirole Transport Aircraft Ltd. (MTAL) — as the third partner in the joint venture.