New Delhi Apr 18 PTI US-based aircraft engine manufacturer GE has partnered with the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation TIDCO to set up a centre of excellence in the southern state on emerging aviation engine technologiesAn investment of about Rs 14126 crore over five years was proposed to be funded by TIDCO and GE in two phases according to a joint press release issued on MondayThe centre of excellence will work towards technology development of aviation engine parts such as compressor heat exchangers combustor components casing frames gears and splines it noted PTI DSP RC

New Delhi Mar 30 PTI The Indian Air Force IAF on Wednesday said it will organise a conclave at its Hakimpet station in Secunderabad to commemorate the Chetak helicopters 60 years of serviceDefence Minister Rajnath Singh will be the chief guest at the conclave that will be organised on April 2 according to a statement issued by the IAFChetak was inducted in the IAF in April 1962The conclave intends to provide a platform to showcase six decades of helicopter operations in the country highlighting Chetak helicopter operations in particular the statement notedThe event will involve reflections narrations and discussions by prominent speakers from the veteran community and the services it saidAir Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari and other senior officials of the helicopter branch of the three armed forces will participate in the conclave it mentionedOfficials of the defence ministry the Indian Coast Guard and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited will also participate in the conclave PTI DSP RC

New Delhi Jan 31 PTI The multi-modal connectivity envisaged under PM Gati Shakti will be achieved if the Centre and all the 36 states and Union territories work together Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on MondayPrime Minister Narendra Modi launched PM Gati Shakti - National Master Plan on August 15 last year to develop multi-modal connectivity through integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure connectivity projectsA total of 16 Union ministries including the railways and the roadways ministries have been brought under the planGati Shakti is not a scheme but it is an initiative a foundation But it will not be an exaggeration if I say that it is a brahmastra Scindia said at an event hereIt is a brahmastra powerful weapon that will take India to the destination that the countrys forefathers dreamt about he addedApproximately 12-13 per cent of the the countrys GDP is spent on logistics currently Scindia notedA family is happy when every member carries out his duties he said adding that similarly under Gati Shakti 16 departments have been tied together so that each fulfils its responsibilities and uses resources judiciously to achieve its targetsThe National Master Plan will have a multiplier effect on the lives of people the minister notedHe said words like gati speed and shakti strength have been added to the countrys dictionary after a gap of 70 yearsThe investments made by the United States in multi-modal logistics in the last 100 years has turned it into a super power Scindia saidIf we could bring all 36 states to work together and if we could develop coordination so that there is no delay in getting the requisite permissions we will be able to achieve the aim of multi-modal connectivity he added PTI DSP RC

New Delhi Jan 18 PTI The annual Beating the Retreat ceremony which takes place in the national capital on January 29 will have a show of nearly 1000 drones by a IIT-Delhi-based startup to commemorate 75 years of the countrys independence senior officials of the defence ministry said on TuesdayMoreover for the first time on the parapet of the north block and the south block there will be a laser projection mapping show to commemorate 75 years of independence they addedThis is the first time that the Beating the Retreat ceremony will have a laser show and a drone show the officials saidThese two shows will take place in addition to the foot-tapping music and classical renditions that are there every year at the ceremony they saidThe officials said Botlab a startup from IIT-Delhi will put up the drone show with nearly 1000 dronesIt will be be themed on 75 years of independenceIndia will be the fourth country to conduct a drone show of this size that has been designed and conceptualised indigenously the officials saidChina Russia and the United States are the three other countries that can put up a drone show of this size they addedThe Beating the Retreat ceremony marks a centuries-old military tradition dating back to the days when troops disengaged from a battle at sunsetAs soon as the buglers sounded the retreat the troops ceased fighting sheathed their arms and withdrew from the battlefield PTI DSP RC

New Delhi Dec 28 PTI All the 695 hospitals and clinics of the Indian Railways have been connected with each other through a software called Hospital Management Information System HMIS to provide faster and better healthcare to patients according to an official statement issued on TuesdayHMIS has been executed by RailTel a public sector undertaking PSU of the Ministry of Railways in association with the Centre for Development of Advance Computing C-DAC the statement notedThe patients will have the benefit of accessing all their medical records on their mobile device the statement issued by RailTel addedThe features of the software extend from customising clinical data according to the departments and laboratories a multi-hospital feature that provides cross-consultation seamless interface with medical and other equipment it saidThe implementation of the software as a pilot project started in December 2020 The second and final phase of the implementation has just been completed at all the 695 hospitals and health units of the railwaysPatients will be able to get faster and hassle-free healthcare access With entire medical data readily available doctors will be able to treat better with clinical knowledge support according to the statement PTI DSP RC

New Delhi Oct 29 PTI The suspension of scheduled international passenger flights due to the coronavirus pandemic has been extended till November 30 aviation regulator DGCA said on FridayHowever international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on a case-to-case basis it addedScheduled international passenger services have been suspended in India since March 23 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic But special international flights have been operating under the Vande Bharat Mission since May 2020 and under bilateral air bubble arrangements with selected countries since July 2020India has formed air-bubble pacts with around 28 countries including the US the UK the UAE Kenya Bhutan and France Under an air-bubble pact between two countries special international flights can be operated by their airlines between their territories with specific restrictionsThe circular issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation DGCA also said the suspension does not affect the operations of international all-cargo services and flights specifically approved by it PTI DSP RC

New Delhi Sep 28 PTI Flight crew members and air traffic controllers will be tested by their employers for psychoactive substances such as cannabis and cocaine from January 31 next year according to rules issued by aviation regulator DGCAThe worldwide spread of use of psychoactive substances their general availability and the ever-increasing number of addicted users is a serious concern to aviation safety the rules which were issued on Monday mentionedAirlines and air navigation service providers will have to carry out random drug-testing of at least 10 per cent of the flight crew members and air traffic controllers employed by them every year according to the rules issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation DGCAThe rules mentioned that commercial aircraft operators maintenance and repair organisations flying training organisations and air navigation service providers will have to carry out drug tests before employing any person or admitting a trainee pilotThese organisations will also have to test all those aviation personnel -- at the first available opportunity -- who have refused a drug test to a foreign regulator during flight operations to that country the rules saidAll aforementioned aviation workers will be tested for the following psychoactive substances -- amphetamine cannabis cocaine opiates barbiturates and benzodiazepineWhenever an aviation personnel is found positive in a drug test the DGCA has to be informed within 24 hoursCompanies in the aviation sector should encourage their employees for self-declaration regarding use of psychoactive substances the rules mentionedSuch employees shall be subjected to rehabilitation process by the organisation before return to active duty Number of such cases shall be reported to DGCA on a six-month basis the rules saidIn case the report of a drug test is non-negative the employee will be immediately removed from duty till a confirmatory report is received the rules mentionedIf the confirmatory test -- which is being done for the first time -- is also positive then the employee will be referred to a de-addiction centre by the organisation for a de-addiction-and-rehabilitation programmeSuch an employee shall return to active duties after again having undergone the tests for the consumption of the psychoactive substance with a negative test report In addition fitness certificate by the medical in-charge of the concerned organisation shall be required the rules statedIf a personnel is found positive in a drug test for the second time during work his or her licence will be suspended for three years and it will be cancelled if a personnel tests positive for a third time PTI DSP RC

New Delhi Aug 25 PTI Aviation personnel including flight crew members air traffic controllers and aircraft maintenance engineers will be tested by their employers for psychoactive substances such as cannabis cocaine and ecstasy according to the draft rules issued by aviation regulator DGCA on WednesdayThe worldwide spread of use of psychoactive substances their general availability and the ever-increasing number of addicted users is a serious concern to aviation safety the draft rules mentionedAirlines and air navigation service providers will have to carry out random drug-testing of at least five per cent of the flight crew members and air traffic controllers employed by them every year stated the draft rules of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation DGCAThe draft rules mentioned that commercial aircraft operators maintenance and repair organisations flying training organisations and air navigation service providers will also have to carry out drug tests before employing any person or admitting a trainee pilotThese organisations will also have to test all those aviation personnel -- at the first available opportunity -- who have refused a drug test to a foreign regulator during flight operations to that country the draft rules statedAll aforementioned aviation workers will be tested for the following psychoactive substances -- amphetamine methamphetamine cannabis cocaine opioids barbiturates benzodiazepine and MDMA or ecstasyWhenever an aviation personnel is found positive in a drug test the DGCA has to be informed within 24 hoursAviation sector companies should encourage their employees for self-declaration regarding use of psychoactive substance the draft rules mentionedSuch employees shall be subjected to rehabilitation process by the organisation before return to active duty Number of such cases shall be reported to DGCA on a six-month basis the rules saidIn case the report of a drug test is positive the employee will be immediately removed from duty till a confirmatory report is received the draft rules mentionedIf the confirmatory test -- which is being done for the first time -- is also positive then the employee will be referred to a de-addiction centre by the organisation for a de-addiction and rehabilitation programmeSuch an employee shall return to active duties after again having undergone the tests for the consumption of the psychoactive substance with a negative test report In addition clearance by treating psychiatrist and the certification by the medical in-charge of the organisation concerned shall be required the rules statedIf a personnel is found positive in a drug test for the second time during work his or her licence will be suspended for three years and it will be cancelled if a personnel tests positive for a third time PTI DSP RC