India - France & Europe first partners in civil aviation sector

Jerome Bonnafont

One cannot imagine India tomorrow without a fully modern and comprehensive civil aviation network. In this respect, “India Aviation 2008,” the international exhibition and conference on civil aviation being held in Hyderabad at the initiative of Praful Patel, Minister of State for Civil Aviation, illustrates India’s ambitions and renewed efforts to strengthen its aeronautics sector as a whole.

France and Europe are India’s first partners in this area, as reflected by the signing of our air agreement two weeks ago in Marseille and the presence today in Hyderabad of our leading aeronautic companies. Our partnership is exemplary and comprehensive, covering the expansion and modernisation of fleets, the development of modern airports, the maintenance and security of equipments, training. I would like to give an indication of its tremendous prospects also.

India wants to build the most modern aviation fleets possible and the impressive progress accomplished in the last few years will undoubtedly continue. Today, Indian domestic and international airlines have on their fleets some 180 Airbus and have ordered some 370 aircraft, giving Airbus a market share for passenger and cargo aircraft of 65 per cent. This cooperation is based on an industrial logic as demonstrated through the doors of the Airbus 320, manufactured in Bangalore. Eurocopter is also cooperating on this basis and more than 600 helicopters have been produced in India since the beginning of its partnership with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. ATR is equally well-placed in the market of regional carriers, holding a share of 95 per cent. Dassault’s Falcon jets are popular in the Indian corporate world. Indeed, this show should help India take full measure of the great European achievement that is EADS, a leading company for planes with Airbus, helicopters with Eurocopter, and space with Astrium, a long-term ally of the Indian Space Research Organisation. The Hyderabad exhibition will be the first occasion for an Airbus 380 demonstration flight at an air show in India. The arrival in India of this remarkable plane, the best worldwide in its category, will help in this respect.

Airport infrastructure development is the second critical area for our cooperation. Europe is covered by a network of modern, secure, comfortable, increasingly eco-friendly and often architecturally challenging airports, for both local and intercontinental flights. Our “hubs” are well-known for their efficiency, competing with each other in order to attract the best companies. India is engaged in the construction of a similar network and we want to share the very special know-how these hubs master with Indian authorities, both in airport design and operations.

The maintenance and security of aeronautical equipments as well as the safe conduct of air traffic operations are also a major concern and another critical area for our cooperation. Thales, for example, is well-known in this area and this is why they are present today in Hyderabad. Maintenance co-operations are also under consideration through several joint ventures, such as Airbus/ATR-NACIL which should be concluded tomorrow. On the aero engines front, CFM, a subsidiary of the French engine manufacturer SAFRAN, powering the A320 and B737, holds a fair share (50 per cent) of the Indian market.

Personnel training is another crucial area of cooperation. Initiatives by French entities towards setting up training facilities for pilots (as in Bangalore by ATR and Airbus) and maintenance technicians (as possibly in Hyderabad in the near future by CFM) should be pursued and strengthened. France is also looking forward to working further with India on the setting up of an aeronautics university in Hyderabad.

Last but not least, our cooperation should become a component of global efforts to combat climate change. French and European aircraft manufacturers are developing aircraft emitting less noise, less particulates and less gases. This aspect should be taken into account since our leaders reaffirmed during the EU-India summit of September 29 in Marseille that clean and sustainable development are our joint priority.

“L’aventure de l’air” is one of humanity’s greatest accomplishments. Let Europe and India cooperate even further so that the next steps allow us to make greater progress for the benefit of economic development and our fellow citizens’ best interests.

(The writer is the Ambassador of France to India.)