10 Aug 2020

India Aviation Industry Newsletter 10 August

Air Asia starts facial verification of passengers at Bengaluru International Airport

Passengers of Air Asia India flights from Bengaluru international airport can now choose to authenticate their identity via facial recognition systems installed at the airport as part of the Indian government’s DigiYatra scheme. The airport, in a statement said that passengers can choose to either board an Air Asia flight by going through the biometric authentication process, or through the existing manual process.  The Indian government had launched the DigiYatra scheme in 2018, which allows automatic processing of passengers’ identity based on a facial recognition system at check points like: entry to airport, security check and aircraft boarding.

BCAS issues security guidelines for drone operating systems

Aviation security regulator BCAS has issued guidelines for drone operating systems, which act like cockpits on the ground to remotely pilot the unmanned aerial vehicle. The BCAS has listed out rules that should be followed for cyber security, storage facility, training and background check of staff for drone operating systems or remotely piloted aircraft systems. An RPA or drone is in nano or mini category if it has weight less than 250 grams. If its weight is between 250 grams and 2 kg, it is in the micro category. DGCA approves two more drone training schools; more in the offing  India’s civil aviation regulator, the DGCA, has approved two Hyderabad-based flying academies — Flytech and Wings Aviation — to operate as drone training schools. With this, there are now three DGCA approved drone training schools in India, after the regulator had approved Maharashtra-based Bombay Flying Club. Amber Dubey, who is the joint secretary at the Civil Aviation Ministry and in charge of drones said that more drone training schools are expected to receive DGCA’s approval, and this move is going to bring in “standardization and better quality control in the fast growing drone sector”.

IndiGo Plans to Raise $268 Million Via Sale, Leaseback of Aircraft and other Assets

IndiGo said it planned to raise at least 20 billion rupees ($268 million) through the sale and leaseback of aircraft and other assets, after reporting its steepest quarterly loss in at least five years. Acumen Aviation © 10 August 2020 All Rights Reserved.