EXCLUSIVE

                                                    ALSO TO AIRLINERS-INDIA.NET

                                                   (September 1, 2006)

(Based on information from source in Air India)

"       Air India has planned to operate direct flights between Delhi/Mumbai to New York, Newark and Chicago (DEL, BOM and JFK, EWR, ORD) from the first quarter of 2007 with brand new B777-200LRs. Estimated date of service is the first quarter of 2007.

"Air India has planned for cross-polar operations and will be venturing over new territory, making it a first for any airline. This will be a 180-minute ETOPS operation. Passenger and cargo will be at maximum limits. Primarily, these flights may take routes over northwest Russia and Finland, as distance-wise, these will be shorter routes. In the case of Polar operations, these flights may use flight tracks G489 and G490.

"The next phase of operation would be between India and the west coast of the USA. These flights will invariably be over-the-Polar-Region or over-Pacific routes.

"The Airports earmarked for en route diversion are:
a. Norilsk (UOOO), Novosibirsk (UNNT), and Krasnoyarsk (UNKL) meet the RFF category of minimum 8 for B777-200LR aircraft. However, the runway strength of UOOO is PCN 47/R/A/X/T. The strengths of other airfields are higher.
b. Tiski (UEST) (RFF 6, R/W 03/21 9022 ft, Strength PCN 50/R/B/X/T),
Mirny (UERR) (RFF 6, R/W 06/24 9186 ft, PCN 45 R/A/W/T).
c. Pevek (UHMP) (RFF 6, R/W 17/35 8202 ft, PCN 23 R/A/X/T).

"The serviceability of airports in the polar region will have to be confirmed by Russian authorities and the Confederation of Independent States to Air India prior to flight. Considering the duration of the flights (14-15 hours nonstop), there must be accurate weather information of the en route diversion airport, update on en route weather, NOTAMs, etc.
"Except the airports mentioned in item (a) above, other airports have limitations on RFF, R/W Strength, etc.
Air India will also need temperature charts and accurate information on solar activity: Because these are crucial while planning the route. Air India will also get this information from the  Russian defence authorities. It must be noted that much of these routes will be over inhospitable terrain that experiences extreme (cold) temperature and for a considerable period of the flight. 

"Air India must also be informed of the special procedures set up for lack of communication especially from late afternoon/night.
Available en route diversion airport services, while planning 180-min. ETOPS flights on these routes.
Temperature and weather information on the Polar routes.
Information on solar activity interfering with communications.

"Important: Assistance in passenger recovery, especially at night. This will be in operation with the Disaster Recovery Plan Air India has put in place for the American region.

"Air India's 777-200LRs have very advanced navigation and communication equipment, with facility for satellite data transmission. Some of this equipment may be used to enhance navigation using satellite navigation systems planned over the Russian/Chinese region. 
Air India will also be coordinating information with other airlines that have worked out route structures over the Polar and Pacific regions."

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"    The Russian Air Traffic Management (ATM) system is a branch of the global air navigation system in the  European  region.  It  covers  the  territory  of  nearly  25  million  square  kilometers  both  in  the sovereign airspace and over the High Seas areas.
 
 
"This route system consists of 4 main ATS routes such as

Polar 1 for flights between the central part of North  America  and  India/Pakistan, 
Polar 2  for  flights  between  central  and  eastern  parts  of  North America and Asia.
Polar 3 for flights between central and eastern parts  of  North  America  and  China/Asia. 
Polar 4  for  flights  between central/eastern  parts  of  North  America  and  China/Asia and  a  large number of link-routes.   
 
"The distance saved compared to non-Polar routes could be as much  as  one  thousand  miles,  while  the  time  saving  will be more  than  two  hours  (2  hours  15 minutes).
Air India flights to America will now be at least 2.5 hours shorter than if on the normal routing and will suffer minimum payload restrictions. 
 
 
"The Crosspolar routes are presently used by seven airlines on the regular basis: United Airlines (UAL), Air Canada (ACA), Continental Airlines (COA), Cathay Pacific Airways (CPA), Singapore  Airlines (SIA), Air China (CCA) and Thai Airways (THA). In July 2005, the  Boeing  Company made  a  ferry  flight  on  the Boeing  777-200LR  from Mumbai (Bombay) to San-Francisco using Polar 2 route.
Other interested airlines are Emirates, China Airlines, Asiana, Korean Air and EVA Air.

"Air India will however be a pioneer in some of the new routes planned. One such new route planned where the entry/exit point will be VAMOL (5022.5 N 10452. 5 E) at the Russia/Mongolia border between LETBI and SERNA. This link-route will generate significant cost savings for the airlines concerned by enabling maximum possible payload, mileage, flight time, and fuel burn.

"United  Airlines  currently  operates  the  following  flights  on  Crosspolar  routes:  Chicago-Hong  Kong, Chicago-Beijing,  Chicago-Shanghai, Chicago-Kansai,  Chicago-Tokyo  and  New-York-Tokyo. United will be sharing data with Air India on this.
 
"A shorter routing from North America to India and Pakistan  is being planned by Air India at AKATI/LANOR, which is the entry  point to Kazakhstan.

 
"Note: Compulsory reporting will have to be done by Air India flight crew (a planned 2-set crew operation = 4 flight crew) to the Russian ATM every 25 minutes. A shorter time period for reporting will be in force during evening/night."