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Sealed after high-level talks between a visiting
delegation of New Zealand led by its Minister
for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment,
Steven Joyce and their Indian counterparts led
by Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh, the agreement
enumerates types of cooperative activities like
sending and receiving experts or instructors for
training purposes; acceptance of licenses; acceptance
of aeronautical products including but not limited
to aircraft, engines, propellers and parts, and
aviation services; organization of seminars; exchanging
information on activities, policies, practices
and laws and regulations concerning civil aviation,
including but not limited to safety and environmental
matters and visits and exchanges of technical
personnel or other experts. The growth of air
services between the two countries should greatly
facilitate in enhancing cordial relationship,
connectivity trade and tourism, said Ajit Singh.
It was surprising, he noted, that was no direct
air connectivity yet between the two countries.
“India is predicted to jump from the 9th largest
civil aviation market in the world to the third
by 2020. Domestic traffic in India is expected
to grow from 46 million to 90 million passengers
per year, with international traffic soaring from
34 million to 90 million in the same period,”
said Steven Joyce. He was accompanied on his visit
to New Delhi by nine New Zealand aviation companies.
Named ‘Arrangement for Cooperation on Civil Aviation’,
the document was signed in the presence of Union
Minister of Civil Aviation Ajit Singh and Minister
of Economic Development and Tertiary Education
Mr. Steven Joyce of New Zealand, by Secretary
Civil Aviation K.N, Shrivastava and High Commissioner
of New Zealand to India Ms. Jan Henderson. “This
agreement provides a framework of cooperation
that can be looked upon and promoted in the civil
aviation sector of both the countries. It will
initiate and promote exchange of training experts,
acceptance of licenses, acceptance of aeronautical
products and aviation services,” Richard White,
commissioner for New Zealand Trade and Enterprise,
told India Strategic. He confirmed that as of
now, an average 100 Indian students got their
training for Commercial Pilot’s Licence (CPL)
in New Zealand and the CPL is accepted in India
after a student clears an examination by the Directorate
General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). 410 Indian nationals
gained their CPLs between 2008 and 2011.
John Nicholson, chief executive, Aviation New
Zealand, reiterated that the New Zealand CPL is
well recognised and more and more Indian students
have been showing interest in coming there. He
added that there is tremendous interest from both
the sides on bilateral aviation trade. New Zealand
exports nearly around $40 million (New Zealand
dollars) worth of aviation sector services to
India per annum.
Both India and New Zealand plan to form a joint
committee to determine and oversee mutually acceptable
activities in the civil aviation sector. “We are
looking at the opportunities in the third markets
to develop airports in partnership with Indian
companies in the areas such as the southeast Asia,”
informed Adam Bennett, customer director, New
Zealand trade and enterprise.
Trade in the aviation sector between the two
countries is on a positive stride. Radiola Aerospace,
through Tata Power SED secured a four year contract
to undertake flight inspection of new navigation
aids at 30 military airfields throughout India
and the first one at Bhatinda is already done
informed Brent Albiston, Managing director of
the New Zealand based company.
Airways New Zealand installed a future navigation
system for Airport Authority of India in Kolkata
Airport.
Christchurch Engine Centre services DART, JT8D
and V2500 engines for several airlines in India.
Glidepath and Atrax supply baggage and freight
handling systems to airports around the country.
Redesign has designed food and beverage areas
in several major airports including T3 at Delhi
and Mumbai International Airport. Rishworth Aviation
has been supplying pilots and first officers to
airlines like Air India, Kingfisher, Go Air and
many others.
Serko provides an on line booking system to Indigo.
Superstructure Group provides its risk and safety
management system, AQD, to one of the major airlines
in India.
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