Siva Govindasamy: May 2009 Archives

Malaysia Airlines has appointed former Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi (above) as an advisor, giving him a non-executive position on the carrier's board.

It remains to be seen what kind of "contacts and experience" he will bring to the carrier, as MAS has said, and if he would help the airline to make the changes that it needs to become more viable.

Badawi's political connections, however, remain tenuous as he was basically pushed out of the premiership following the ruling Barisan Nasional's poor results at last year's general elections. Some in Malaysia view this as part of the routine appointments that are made after senior politicians leave office.

Air India has appointed a new head, but for how long?

Arvind Jadhav, a career civil servant, began work as the Indian flag carrier's chairman and managing director today. He was appointed by the civil aviation ministry after his predecessor, Raghu Menon, quit following differences with the minister Praful Patel.

Given that the Indian general elections are ongoing and due to end only in mid-May, the country could well have a new government in the next few weeks. And then, depending on who takes over the civil aviation ministry and the direction that he or she may want, sources say that Air India could well have a new head.

The uncertainty is likely to continue for Air India in the coming weeks.

Australia's defence white paper, which was released on Saturday, has a wide-ranging wish list that aims to revamp the country's military in the next 20 years. This envisages a big growth in the defence budget, which is bound to face opposition from various groups.

Here are some highlights relating to military aviation, with hyperlinks to the key sections in the white paper itself.

The Royal Australian Air Force's "potent and flexible air combat capability is a cornerstone of Australia's defence posture," says defence minister Joel Fitzgibbon. "Control of the air over our territory and maritime approaches is critical to all other operations in the defence of Australia." This includes:

• Acquiring around 100 fifth-generation Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft (above) and associated weapons systems;
• Half of Australia's Boeing F/A-18F Block II Super Hornet fleet will be configured on the production line to enable them to be converted to the EA-18G 'Growler' electronic attack variant should later strategic circumstances dictate;
• Delivery of five EADS KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport for air-to-air refuelling will begin soon, increasing the range and endurance of combat and surveillance aircraft;
• Reaffirming the commitment to six new Boeing 737-based Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft to provide surveillance, command and control functions to other networked Australian Defence Force platforms;
• Buying eight new maritime patrol aircraft, which will provide advanced antisubmarine and anti-surface warfare capabilities as well as sophisticated maritime search capabilities;
• Buying approximately seven new high-altitude, long-endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to compliment the new maritime patrol aircraft and replace the Lockheed Martin AP-3C Orion fleet with a more comprehensive and advanced maritime surveillance capability;
• Enhanced air transport capability options through the acquisition of a two additional Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules to bring the total fleet number to 14 aircraft;
• Up to 10 new tactical battlefield airlifters with a significantly greater range, speed, payload and protection measures that the retiring de Havilland DHC-4 Caribous;

The Royal Australia Navy should "operate closely with air combat and maritime surveillance and response aircraft to establish sea control, and project force across our vast maritime environment," says Fitzgibbon. This will include:

• A new fleet of at least 24 new naval combat helicopters, equipped with dipping sonars to detect submarines at greater ranges;
• Six new NH Industries NH-90 multi-role helicopters that will replace the general utility service previously provided by the Westland Sea King fleet;

The Royal Australian Army must be "capable of conducting joint land combat in a complex operational environment and be able to defeat incursions onto the Australian mainland, territories and offshore installations," says Fitzgibbon. This entails:

• Improved mobility through the acquisition of seven new Boeing CH-47F Chinook medium lift helicopters;
• Acquisition of a range of UAVs to support the ground forces.

Singapore Airlines has reached a temporary agreement with its pilots on no-pay leave while continuing with negotiations with the Airline Pilots Association-Singapore (Alpa-S).

SIA wants its pilots to take up to three days no-pay leave a month as it cuts capacity and parks aircraft, while the union says that its members should not take more than the one day that the airline has asked its other staff to take.

Singapore's Ministry for Manpower brokered the temporary agreement. This allows SIA to begin implementing the agreements it had sealed with its other staff unions earlier from 1 May, given that these deals were contingent on its talks with Alpa-S.

Given that both SIA and the Alpa-S have had a long history of disagreements, and it remains to be seen if this temporary agreement will lead to a permanent one. There might yet be another sting in the tail. Watch this space.

                                                                                        Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter

Okay, after the false alarm from last time, this time it appears to be real. Australia will release its defence white paper tomorrow, spelling out the country's military strategy and priorities for the next 20 years.

There is speculation that the paper envisages a build-up of Australia's air and naval capabilities in response to China's growing power in the region, leading to Beijing's diplomats bristling at the connection ahead of the release of the report.

Canberra is also likely to reaffirm its commitment to the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, and provide clarification on the future of the country's naval helicopter and airborne early warning and control programmes.