 The Beechcraft King Air 260 at Farnborough: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh Textron Aviation returned to the Farnborough International Airshow (FIA) this year as the industry leader with more than 1,700 Cessna and Beechcraft turbine aircraft based in Europe and more than 250,000 aircraft delivered worldwide. I was honoured to have been invited for a tour of the missionized King Air 260 aircraft at the static display. To be able to view the aircraft required special security clearance as is normal for any military and defense settings, even at Farnborough.  The Beechcraft King Air 260: Photo Copyright Textron The Beechcraft King Air 260 marked its debut in Europe, and is a new military multi-engine training aircraft. “The Beechcraft King Air 260 offers exceptional value for multi-engine military training due to its acquisition and operating costs, combined with excellent speed, range, and payload capacity,” said Bob Gibbs, Vice President of Special Mission Sales, Textron Aviation. “This next-generation training aircraft currently serves the U.S. Navy fleet and is ready to support the modernization of multi-engine military training worldwide.”  The Beechcraft King Air 260 at Farnborough: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh This state-of-the-art aircrew training aircraft was recently chosen to modernize aircrew training for the United States Navy’s Multi-Engine Training System (METS) and the Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program in Canada. Specific capabilities include factory options for TACAN (Air to Air), angle of attack (AOA), V/UHF radio, digital audio system, engine trend monitoring, condition-based maintenance plus, observer/jump seat, passenger mission seats and full-face oxygen masks. “The Farnborough Airshow is a great venue to showcase our numerous commercial, defense, special mission and training solutions across our broad range of business platforms,” said Scott Donnelly, Textron’s Chairman and CEO. “For the first time ever, six of our businesses will be represented at an international show. Our full lineup will feature advanced rotorcraft, tactical turboprop and jet aircraft, precision weapons and unmanned aircraft; we look forward to meeting with customers and attendees from around the world who will experience our new and advanced products.”  This versatile aircraft continues to provide the cutting-edge touchscreen avionics technology in the cockpit,and even greater passenger comfort that you’ve come to expect from the King Air® turboprop family. Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Textron Aviation aircraft are engineered to be flexible and accommodating to meet a number of mission specific challenges. Because this aircraft is primarily used for short military training flights, so there is no toilet on this aircraft. From Farnborough this aircraft flew to Glasgow, then onto Greenland, before heading over to make one or two more stops in North America before arriving at its intended destination: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  The King Air® 260 turboprop features optional SiriusXM® weather adding greater capability to areas outside the continental U.S., including Canada and Puerto Rico. Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  British Airways cabin crew in front of the A320neo, registered G-TTNY, on display at the Farnborough Air Show 2024: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh At the recent Farnborough Airshow 2024, British Airways announced that the airline is improving the performance of its latest Airbus A320neo fleet via enhanced use of data and analytics. The announcement came as the airline had its latest A230neo on static display for four days during the airshow. “We were recently looking at how we can fully utilise data and analytics, and one thing we began to realize was, if for example an engine begins to start up later than normal, it’s an indicator that a starter valve is going to fail,” said British Airways CEO and Chairman Sean Doyle. “And now we have a preemptive intervention—if a neo engine is starting up at six minutes rather than three, we replace the starter valves before we get an [aircraft on ground] and we’ve reduced aircraft downtime on that fleet by about 4% as a result.” The flag ship carrier of the United Kingdom has an in-service fleet of 25 CFM Leap-powered A320neos and 15 Leap-powered A321neos, according to the Aviation Week Network Fleet Discovery database. It comes as British Airways recently announced its £7 billion ($9 billion) transformation plan, outlining many initiatives ranging from digital upgrades to its website and app, to operational performance. While just around half of the overall investment is going into new aircraft, the other half is going into modernizing the airline, and this also includes investing in the people who will safely fly these magnificent machines to get passengers around the world. At the airshow, the airline proudly announced a £21 million investment to give up to 200 prospective airline pilots the chance to follow their dream of flying for a commercial airline without the worry of self-funding the £100,000 cost of training, opening the door to being a commercial airline pilot to more people than ever before. “We need to make sure that in a challenging environment—like Heathrow—that we run a much more intelligent and sophisticated operation than we have been doing,” Doyle said. On top of these announcements, the airline also selected GE Aerospace's GEnx-1B engine for six incoming Boeing 787s rather than its current engine partner on the widebody, Rolls-Royce. "The GEnx engine is performing well with millions of reliable flight hours under wing and proven fuel efficiency and economics," said a spokesperson for IAG. "This selection by IAG and British Airways affirms the confidence we have in the GEnx engine and 787 aircraft combination." The GEnx engine family has more than 56 million flight hours since entry into service in 2011 and is the fastest-selling, high-thrust engine in GE Aerospace history with nearly 3,000 engines in service and on backlog, including spares. Will the elegance of once being the "World's Favorite Airline" come back to greet passengers as they board the warm wood-effect non-textile flooring, which covers the length of the galley and forward to the lavatory and flight deck? Time shall tell but for now, these transformations are certainly a much required fresh breath of air.  The aircraft was only delivered on July 17 and entered commercial service on July 19. G-TTNY operated a few flights before arriving at the airshow on July 21 from a short 15 minute flight from Heathrow! The seating configuration sits a total of 180 passengers, with a blend of Economy and Euro Business. Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Louise Haigh, Secretary of State for Transport of the United Kingdom in discussion with Sean Doyle, Chairman and CEO of British Airways, at the Farnborough Airshow 2024: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Louise Haigh, Secretary of State for Transport of the United Kingdom in discussion with Sean Doyle, Chairman and CEO of British Airways, at the Farnborough Airshow 2024: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Air India's Airbus A350-900 registered VT-JRH proudly standing on static display at the Farnborough Airshow 2024: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  During the Farnborough Airshow 2024, Air India proudly showcased its Airbus A350-900 in the new livery, as the carrier aims to become a major player in the global aviation scene. The aircraft, registered VT-JRH, was the first one built for the airline, and was on static display for the three days at the airshow, having arrived as a ferry flight on the 21st of July from Delhi to Farnborough, via a short stop at London Gatwick [piloted by airline veteran Captain Sameer Bagai.]. I had the honor and pleasure to be invited to tour the aircraft twice during the airshow, and met the crew, including the senior pilots and the cabin crew, as well as the senior leadership team from Air India and the Tata Group, including the CEO Campbell Wilson. The Farnborough Airshow happens every two years and is typically a platform for plane makers to rack up multibillion-dollar deals [here is my review of the 2022 show!]. The aircraft, along with another, has so far been deployed on mostly domestic routes for crew familiarization, and did operate a passenger flight to Dubai recently as well. Both these planes have been flown by Air India or Airbus examiners on short rides between Mumbai—Bangalore—Hyderabad, and Chennai to gain landing cycles and release pilots after their check rides so that Air India has an approved pool of pilots to take these planes abroad. Aside from Captain Bagai, the other senior Air India pilots on this visit were Captain Prateek Dhiman and Captain Aditya Chopra. The crew members flew the aircraft back to London Gatwick on July 24, and then as the first scheduled flight from Gatwick to New Delhi as AI148.  The view passengers may see if they board via the stairs. The A350 wing incorporates various design elements, including slats, flaps, ailerons, spoilers, and serves as the attachment points for the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines. The development of the A350 wing involved over 4000 hours of wind tunnel testing, resulting in one of the most efficient wing designs to date. Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Air India's CEO Campbell Wilson [center] standing with the airline's cabin crew, whom are all wearing the brand new uniform, designed by Manish Malhotra. Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Cabin Crew in brand new uniforms on the Air India A350-900 at Farnborough: Copyright Navjot Singh I must admit that I have not had the fortune to travel on Air India [ever!], and the last time I went to India was in 1998, so may opinion of Air India and this aircraft is based on my experience of this aircraft alone. Therefore, I am in no position to comment whether any transformation is or is not happening. However, what I can say is that in relation to other airlines and other passenger aircraft [not just at Farnborough, that I have experienced travelling in], this aircraft has a very modern, clean, and sleek and stylish feel to it. This is not just because it is a relatively new aircraft, but one can see that there has been an effort by the airline to really bring about the best of Indian hospitality and a truly five-star experience for passengers! As a passenger and visitor, you can feel that there is hardly any difference in the cabin's ambiance, seating, and in-flight experience compared to some of the world's best airlines in the Middle East or the Far East. Within the space and density envelope of the long-haul cabin, this is both a marked improvement over the previous generation and stands Air India at the forefront of its full-service carrier competition. Air India has made excellent choices in the seat CMF (color, materials and finish) and in the wider cabin: yes, it’s essentially a modern A350-900 but this is one of the best-looking of its ilk.  Air India's CEO Campbell Wilson [pictured] said at the Farnborough Airshow that the privatisation of the flag carrier means the country’s airlines are better positioned to take advantage of the huge growth potential in India. Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Air India's Airbus A350-900 parked at Farnborough Airport for the 2024 airshow: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh Since its takeover by Tata Group in 2022, Air India has taken huge steps to become a major player on the global aviation scene. Tata also jointly owns Vistara Airlines along with Singapore Airlines. Additionally, the group is merging low-cost carrier subsidiaries Air India Express and the former AirAsia India business. Air India placed a huge order for 470 aircraft with Airbus and Boeing in 2023. The firm order included 70 widebodies, comprising 34 Airbus A350-1000s and six A350-900s, and 20 Boeing 787s and 10 777Xs. On top of this the airline is striving to become a leader not just in providing a truly five-star customer experience, from booking a flight to collecting your baggage, but is also looking to push the boundaries of world class safety in aviation. This is going to be a huge challenge, especially as India’s Tata Group, which owns Air India, has ambitious plans to merge Air India and Vistara Airlines as part of efforts to streamline operations and provide a consistent customer experience. During a roundtable discussion at Farnborough, Air India's CEO Campbell Wilson described the integration of four airlines into two as [I quote]: “probably unprecedented” in the aviation industry, with plans to finalize both transactions by the end of 2024. “There are the competition and legal clearances, then we have to merge all the operating practices, procedures and manuals, and train all the staff. It's a very long and convoluted process, but we’re hoping that by the end of this calendar year we’ll be able to complete both mergers.” Said Wilson.  Special gifts for the media provided by Air India at the Farnborough Airshow 2024, with the new and the old branding: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh The CockpitBelow are some exclusive shots of the cockpit. Also, which you can click here to view a short video.  As more and more of Air India’s crews become familiar with the Airbus A350-900, the airline has announced that this aircraft will be deployed on its services to London from Delhi starting on the 1st of September 2024, and will include not only the airline’s newest widebody aircraft but also upgraded interior cabins. Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  The A350's cockpit is equipped with two Onboard Information System (OIS) displays, that display applications from laptops devices. Like the A220-300 and the Boeing 787, the A350-900 has a Head up Display [HUD], which makes it easier for pilots to operate the aircraft in a dynamic environment, particularly during take-off and landing. The HUD is a pull-down screen that is positioned in front of the pilots’ eyes, so they can see ahead through the window but also see all the instrument readings. Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Spacious and perfect view as seen from the jump seat on the Air India A350-900: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh Business Class CabinThe A350 has 28 seats in Business Class via a 1-2-1 configuration. These are Collins Aerospace Horizon seats with 79 inch width and 48 inch pitch, which are convertible to a fully-flat bed. The Collins Aerospace Horizon seats debuted on the Aeroflot version of the aircraft and have been inherited by Turkish Airlines and Air India. Click here to read more about the seat configuration.  The Business Class cabin of Air India's Airbus A350-900: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Very comfortable Business Class seat on Air India's Airbus A350-900: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Air India is improving its onboard experience with new amenity kits, bedding, and table settings on international flights. Along with a full-flat bed, the amenity kits include Ferragamo products for First and Business class. Passengers in First and Business class will also enjoy sustainable sleepwear, plush slippers, unique bed linen, and exclusive tableware that reflects Indian culture. Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Air India provides an exquisite collection of chinaware that blends lightweight and durable materials with subtle brand elements like intricate Mandala patterns and India-inspired designs. First and Business class guests will receive exclusive, copper-gold plates for Indian meals, and premium passengers will also enjoy lead-free glassware from Slovakia. Photo Copyright Navjot Singh   Ferragamo kits for First and Business Class passengers: The popular Italian luxury fashion house has designed amenity kits exclusively for Air India. This includes a bespoke presentation bag with unique motifs, containing Ferragamo body lotion, hand cream, lip balm, comfortable socks, and a plush eye mask. Additionally, the First Class kit will also have an Eau de Parfum. Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Premium Economy and Economy Class24 seats in Premium Economy in a 2-4-2 configuration, each with a 38 inch pitch seat, and 264 seats in Economy via a 3-3-3 configuration. Collins Aspire Seats with 31 inch pitch. Click here to read more about the seat configuration.    The aircraft Proudly wearing the India titles: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh Some fun facts about the A350-900, according to Airbus are: It's quiet, it's quick, and it has a low cabin altitude. The Airbus A350 is noticeably quieter than other aircraft in the cruise, and I have noticed that it is probably on the same par of quietness as the A380 [you can seriously hear passengers talking on the other side of the aisle!]. The Airbus A350 travels a lot faster than most of the widebody planes flying at the moment. It’s faster than both the Boeing 777 and the Airbus A330 [!] but is slower than the Boeing 747, which sadly is a dying breed. Because the fuselage is made from a carbon-fibre composite plastic rather than aluminium, the cabin can be pressurised more. Essentially that means that the cabin altitude is lower. On an Airbus A350, you can be flying at 35,000 to 40,000 feet, but the cabin will be at around 5,500 feet. (On a conventional aluminium aircraft, the cabin will be around 7,500-8,000 feet.). This helps with the effects of jet lag and how you feel after a flight, too. So these three things – quietness, quickness, and the low cabin altitude – all combine to make passengers feel better in the cabin and after the flight!  The mask of Zorro?! Every Airbus A350 comes with the distinct black masking around the pilot’s window. Here is what Airbus have officially said about the mask: “The A350 XWB is the first ever Airbus aircraft with curved cockpit glasses. These cockpit windows offer more than just the most futuristic, aesthetic and distinctive look. The new windshield enhances the overall aerodynamic efficiency of the aircraft,” said Donna Lloyd, Head of Communication Business Partners at Airbus. “The perfectly curved shape of the nose helps the air flow hug the surface, in the least turbulent manner, thereby reducing drag. The emblematic “Ray-Ban” like black windshield eases the window’s maintenance and contributes to harmonising the thermal condition of this temperature-sensitive window area. The slightly concave nose area (seen from the side) offers the pilots an optimal view of the immediate surroundings easing ground operations and making them safer.”  The A350 is powered by two Trent XWB turbofan engines that result from a very close collaboration between Airbus and the powerplant's manufacturer, Rolls-Royce. The front fan of the Trent XWB is nearly 10 ft. across – making its diameter larger than the fuselage of Concorde - so, to say they are huge is an understatement! Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  The A350 has undergone advancements in its wingtip design, with updated wingtips introduced in 2017 that improve fuel efficiency and range. These are with large curved winglets that extend the wingspan and reduce drag. Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Air India A350-900 parked at Farnborough Airport during the 2024 airshow: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Air India A350-900 parked at Farnborough Airport during the 2024 airshow. The Airbus A350 burns 25 per cent less fuel than most previous generation aircraft, so it generates less carbon dioxide. It is quieter too, so it’s better for the environment in a number of ways: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Air India A350-900 parked at Farnborough Airport during the 2024 airshow. The A350 has cameras on the tail and under the aircraft, which is a feature I know passengers will enjoy and can be accessed via the Air India Inflight Entertainment System. It looks good from the cabin, but it’s also helpful for pilots as it can identify obstacles as they're moving around.: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh In SummaryThe airline has definitely projected a very strong, fresh and positive image at the Farnborough Air Show 2024 with their Airbus A350-900. This is a new era for the Maharajah, and hopefully the passengers can truly enjoy the former motto of "Your Palace in the Sky" when flying with Air India. JRD Tata, former chairman of the Tata Group and the founder of Tata Airlines, which went on to become Air India was determined to make it the best airline in the world. To him, Air India wasn’t just an airline, but a symbol and proud carrier of India’s image across the world, and I believe and can feel that the Tata Group are doing everything they can to keep his legacy and vision alive. The future is exciting for Air India.
 The new QSuite by Qatar Airways: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh On the opening day of the Farnborough Airshow 2024, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, introduced the highly anticipated ‘Qsuite Next Gen’. This next generation of the Qsuite elevates the standards of business class, showcasing innovative features and luxury. I was honoured to attend the ceremony.  The QSuite by Qatar Airways: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  During the reveal, Engr. Al-Meer highlighted the Qsuite Next Gen’s new and enhanced features, including fully customisable Quad Suites; Companion Suites in window aisles; 4K OLED manoeuvrable in-flight entertainment (IFE) screens; along with increased space and privacy in each suite.  Qatar Airways flight attendants at the QSuite Next Gen unveiling. Photo Copyright Navjot Singh
 The Qsuite Next Gen was unveiled alongside Sama, the world’s first AI digital human cabin crew. The event was attended by His Excellency Jassim bin Saif bin Ahmed Al Sulaiti, the Qatari Minister of Transport, and Mr Mohamed Faleh Alhajri, Acting President of Qatar Civil Aviation Authority. Photo Copyright Qatar Airways  Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: “We are excited to have finally revealed the long-awaited Qsuite Next Gen at the Farnborough International Airshow. Qatar Airways has once again raised the bar for its award-winning product, the Qsuite. We look forward to welcoming media and partners to our stand throughout the week to experience the future of business class travel with the World’s Best Business Class onboard the World’s Best Airline.” Photo Copyright Qatar Airways |
Get in Touch:LIFE MATTERSHere I share my thoughts
and experiences during my travels, and how some things have affected my life as an expat and world traveller. Travelling is about capturing that moment in life. Every word, view and opinion on this page is that of Navjot Singh - except where indicated. The most recent is at the top. Scroll down to read the archive. Or search using CTRL+F (COMMAND + F) and enter a keyword to search the page. Just some of the stories you never heard before. The NAVJOT-SINGH.COM web blog is separate to this web site....Click blog, which may not be visible in some countries due to local firewall restrictions, so in those cases this weblog may be read. The weblog also includes some of my press trip reports- most of which are not published on the official blog because of copyright issues. The weblog also contains articles that may be associated directly with a PR trip for a country, airline or a hotel. These are PR reviews done in relations with various companies. If you are an investor or a trend watcher then you may find this website useful as investing has a lot to do with personal observations and finding the ideal trend or next big thing. The average human on the street frequently knows far more about the state of the economy than politicians, university professors, subject matter experts, and financial analysts who seldom travel, or if they do so, only from one hotel to another hotel! The pulse and vibrancy of an economy is nowhere more visible than on a country's streets. 
All photos and words are © Navjot Lauda unless stated. Photos taken by others or by agencies are appropriately copyrighted under the respective name. No photo or word/s may be taken without the prior written permission by the author (i.e. Navjot Lauda). All Rights Reserved. 
Navjot being interviewed by Cecila Lu at GDTV.
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