Airlines from India

I have posted some pictures of Airlines operating in India (I mean, Airlines with Indian registeration). Apart from these are also many others that operate, but I was not able to source any pic's. So those left out are

Spice Jet - Low cost budget airline - Operates with a fleet of Boeing 737-800 series aircrafts.
GO air - Low cost budget airline - Operates with a fleet of Airbus 320 - 200 series aircrafts.

Air india Express - India's only budget Internaional airline, operating mainly to the Middle East from Kerala and Mumbai. This airline operates with a fleet of Boeing 737 - 800 series aircrafts. This airline has come as a boon to all the low salaried Indian's in the Middle East.

Air India - India's flagship International carrier, operates to many countries and is popularly known for being late, fat cabin crew, poor and harsh service, but appreciated for the Seat pitch and reasonable price.

But YES, they are trying to change and overcome the image that they have now.
The Airline operates with Boeing 747 and 777 and Airbus 310-300 series of aircrafts.
They have recently placed an all Boeing order for 50+ airframes, consisting of 777's and 787's.

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Indian largest private airlines, and for majority of the domestic routes operates with Boeing 737 aircrafts and for the less density routes operates with ATR - 42.
Recently started operating on International routes (Srilanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Singapore, Malaysia, UK and USA) For the UK and US route they currently operate with 3 leased Airbus A340 aircrafts.
They have an order for 10 each of Airbus 330's and Boeing 777's.

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New low budget carrier, with its mail operational base in Coimbatore. Operates only with Brazil's Embraer 170-100 series aircrafts.

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Indian Airforce - Boeing 737-200 and also a few regional jet series aircrafts. This is used for government of India and also for all the Domestic travel of the President and Prime Minister.
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KingFisher Airlines, a new budget air carrier operates only with Airbus 320-200 series aircrafts and this is the only budget airline in India, that provides IFE and service like none.

This is the Only airline in india that has booked Airbus 380, that too 5 airframes to be inducted into the fleet from the year 2011.
They will also booked 5 Airbus 330 series aircrafts with delivery from 2008, when they are expected to go International.

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Air Sahara - B737-700,
Mainly operates with Boeing aircrafts like 737's and has newly added an 767. Also operates Canadair regional jet for its less density routes
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Indian Airlines - A300 - B4 - 200 (Now the name has been changed to INDIAN)
Operates an all Airbus fleet of 300, 319, 320 & 321

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Air Deccan, India's first low cost budget airline. HQ at Bangalore, and started by Ex-pilots of Indian Airlines.
Their fleet has ATR - 42 series and Airbus 320-200 aircrafts.

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A subsideary of Indian Airlines, operates with 4 Boeing 737-200 series aircrafts. By 2006 end, there is a rumour that this airline would be fully converted to a Cargo airline in the domestic sector.

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BlueDart, operates with 3 Boeing 737-200 series aircrafts. They are the first mainline courier company to start airservices. They now cater to almost all the couries companies operating in India.

Pictures are taken from : www.airliners.net

My friends. . .

Mercy while waiting for a train to Changi Airport.
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(L - R) Pradeep, Madhu and Sree @ Cathay Cine Plaza

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(L - R) Sree, Mercy, Madhu, Pradeep and Purnima (our friend since GOPIO)
We (incl Me) had been here to watch The Cronicle of Narnia @ Cathay Cine Plaza, Orchard

Happy New Year 2006 . . .

Wishing 1 and all and VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR 2006. i sincerley wish Good health, prosperity, happiness and luck to all my family, friends and readers of this postings.

Wish yesterdays events, I could wake up only at 1230hrs and spent the rest of the afternoon at home in front of the TV and comp.

Later in the evening met up with Madhu and Pradeep at Cityhall to watch the Fireworks display at Marina bay. I felt that the fire show was better than the one I had experienced at Dubai. Fentastic co-ordinated display for fire work. The whole place was very badly crowded and had a tough time getting there and then coming out.

After the display, we walked upto Orchard and spent about 2 hours there, where we met Joby, Lan, Roshan & Wife. We all had fun chatting. By the way Madhu lost the camera in the crowd at Orchard. He had taken video of the full fire work display, but unfortunetly alls gone.

these pic's below were taken from my mobile camera, hence low resolution.

WISHING ONE AND ALL A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR 2006

30th Dec'05 Evening gathering of friends. . .

I came back to Singapore from Chennai on the morning of 30th. I met Pradeep, Adi and Aysha for lunch at China Town. I had wonderful Meet Kebab rolls and believe me, it was just great and having that kind of food after a very long time.

Anyway later on Pradeep, Adi and Me played pool at Parkway parade and decided to spend the after dark evening at Beech Cabana, on East Coast Beech Park. Madhu and Sree had joined us for that and Sree was totally blown out. We all shared 2 mini barrels of tiger draft and 1 each of Ice lemon tea coctail. It was fun after a long time for me but and not for them as they had a fantastic time on 20th at Rouge and again for the Gopio Meet at Grand Hyatt...

We (Pradeep, Madhu, Adi & Me) went over to Arab Street for Hukka and its was the first time that I was having one after coming to Singapore. We had also ordered some food. For hukka we had taken 1 each of Pineapple and Mixed fruit. Madhu was the one who had enjoyed it the max and I am sure that the 2 pic's below would justify my comment.

Not sure about others, but I really missed Mercy and Aysha. Anyway theres always a next time...

My apartment pictures, during recent floods. . .

The pictures were taken by my bro Ashok during the amazing floods in Chennai this December due to heavy rains, forcing the reservoirs to open gates and discharge water. The one nearer to my house is Chembarambakkam and the pictures are really amazing. I missed the floods coz I reached Chennai late by 3 days.

My family, as well as many other residents had to move into hotels nearby, as the water in the well got contaminated, moreover no electricity and no home delivery of grocery from shops in the vicinity.

I am very glad that Ashokettan was there in Chennai, otherwise dad would have had a tough time.

This (Above and below) are pictures of Regency Park. Residential complex, being my block

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The building on the right is Where i have my house. Its the A block in Bhatia Gardens, Chennai. The building on the left is F block

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View from the terrace of Block C & E.

Anandettan at work

Anandettan, at his ITS office, Mumbai.

I was really amazed at the office and factory setup at ITS Mumbai, I mean 'this was a real surprise as I had some other picture in mind and when I got to C it, I was at awe'.

I missed out on the full workforce at the company, as it was Friday and most of them had already left after work. Tagged along Anandettan, Krishnettan and Prem for lunch at the canteen.

I was sitting at is office for about 2 hours and believe me (not exaggerating) he just could not get himself away from the phone, and if not that then paperwork, signatures etc. Hands off to him.

Wishing u all the best, health and luck in all Ur endeavours.

Culture & Discipline

A fundamental problem affecting the quality of public services in India is indiscipline amongst both providers and users. The culture of indiscipline begins at the top when important people feel they are above the rules, says Arun Maira.

THE King of Sweden inaugurated the annual Tallberg Forum in July 2005 and decided to stay on to attend some of the sessions. I was lucky to find one of the last remaining chairs in a popular session the next day. A little later, I felt someone, who could not find a chair, standing beside me. Looking up, I found it was the King himself! Someone else noticed him and pointed him to a vacant chair in another part of the room. In Sweden it did not seem unusual to find the King waiting behind others.

Before the start of another session in Tallberg, I was in animated conversation with a Swedish executive. A distinguished looking older man came up and asked if he could sit in the vacant chair next to us. The Swede turned to him and said that we were all assigned to groups and he would find his name in the lists posted at the door. So the gentleman walked back to the door, but reappeared a few minutes later and sat down with us. When the conversation was over, he introduced himself to me. He was Peter Wallenberg. The Wallenbergs are perhaps the richest and most powerful Swedish industrial family. It did not seem unusual in Sweden that a Wallenberg should be treated, and expect to be treated, like everyone else.

Last June, I was sitting in a plane boarding passengers from Delhi to Mumbai. Union minister for agriculture Sharad Pawar came on board carrying his hand-bag which he himself put into the overhead locker and then sat down waiting for other passengers to board. This was unusual; because in India it is customary for VIPs to be escorted into the plane at the very last minute with airline staff carrying their bags for them. The airline coach into which the passengers disembarked in Mumbai got held up on the tarmac due to 'VIP' movements in the airport. Soon a jeep with red light flashing came to take Mr Pawar off the coach to the terminal. He refused, saying that everyone on the coach was in a hurry. Very soon, an alternative route was cleared and all the coaches that had been stranded reached the terminal.

Running to check in at the Mumbai airport a few weeks back, I turned and found Ratan Tata behind me, pulling along his carry-on. The airline staff also saw him and rushed to grab his bag and offered to get him a boarding pass. He would have none of it. He was in queue behind me and the others, he said. This is rare in India, where some 'important' businessmen only show up at the last minute, their staff having already checked their bags and obtained their boarding passes for them.

The Swedes are disciplined and have the best run public services in the world which work for all, rich and poor. A fundamental problem affecting the quality of public services in India, whether they are provided by the public or private sectors, is indiscipline amongst both providers and users. We must change our basic Indian culture of indiscipline, people say. There are two requirements to change cultures. The first is to begin with simple things that affect everybody and the results of which can be made visible very soon, like house-keeping as the first step to create a culture of high quality. The second requirement is to begin at the top, with the people who should lead and show the way. For example, the CEO should stoop to pick up the trash paper on the shop floor rather than asking his aide to do it.

HOWEVER, it is not easy for people at the top to forego their privileges. In the 1970s, when some executives determined to create a new culture in Telco's new factories in Pune that would be more egalitarian and less status oriented than the culture in any other Indian factory at the time (including factories of MNCs), they proposed eliminating separate canteens for managers and asking managers to queue with workers in the same canteens; also that the security staff would stop managers' cars in their sample checks of vehicles at the factory exits. Some managers resisted the changes with two arguments. One was that symbols of difference are necessary to strengthen the authority of people in charge — which is the age-old argument for providing the King with a crown and dazzling clothes to improve the authority of the King's government!

The other argument was that senior managers' time is more precious than time of workers and hence they should not have to wait in queues in the canteen or at the security gates. This same argument would justify CEOs and ministers arriving at the last minute to board planes with their bags having been checked in before hand. But imagine the embarrassment of a senior Tata executive who self-importantly rushed onto a plane in Mumbai that had been held up a few minutes to wait for him. The first person he saw sitting amongst the fuming passengers was none other than J R D Tata! JRD had checked in punctually with the other passengers with no pretensions about the greater importance of his time.

Another reason why top people must use the same facilities as the masses is to know what the real state of affairs is. Sumant Moolgaokar, chairman of Telco, would occasionally stop on his tours of the Pune factories to use the workers' toilets. And if they were not clean, God help the resident director! So the resident director got into the habit of using the toilets himself, just to be sure. Some years ago, the India Brand Equity Foundation, presenting foreign investors' impressions to Indian CEOs and government officials, pointed out the delays visitors faced in the immigration and customs' queues at our airports. Some Indian CEOs were surprised. They did not know how bad it felt because they were whisked through by special escorts! Fortunately, this was looked into and now, I am glad to say one can clear out of our airports even faster than in America and Europe, even though the infrastructure in our airports is poorer. Culture is not about hardware: it is about software — the attitudes and behaviour of people. Money is not required to change culture: leadership is.

(The author is chairman, Boston Consulting Group, India)

CrossWinds test. . .

Just watched this and it's quite interesting to see just how much power 2 engines of a Boeing 747 can produce!!!

These were conducted by the UK auto show "TopGear" a lasy year with a 'Virgin Atlantic' aircraft at Pittzberg Airport, Germany.

Click on this link to view the video : http://www.wimp.com/crosswinds/

courtesy: http://www.airliners.net

Interview with God. . .

Click on the link and get directed to the slides;

A man interviews GOD, and then the reply also is very thought provoking.

When I think, everything said there is TRUE enough and we are just drifting in that, without even thinking what we are supposed to be doing, "Living to the fullest".

Thanks Kannumama and Malu, for forwarding this link to me:

Click on the link http://www.theinterviewwithgod.com/ to experience it...

GlObAl WaRmInG. . .

My previous work place....

Pic's are in random sequence...

pic The Resort, Mumbai - Front Office staff party at Marve (2002)
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My room pal's at Dubai (L-R: Santosh, Me and Unny). We three were a good real freaks, speaking about everything under the sun and also were good at gaping through the window on to the girls at the bus stop. The group is incomplete without Emelynne (2003)

Imtiaz and Andrew, were a great deal of support.

Kooteri

This is the house where my Amma grew up. My grandma stays there along with my aunt and family.

I have a lot of fond memories from this house. Ok, a couple of them are like this..
- Every summer holidays, Most of my uncles and their kids come over for about a month or two. We kids (roughly between 12-15 people) sleep in one room. We chit chat for long hours into the night and then when some elders scream, then we sleep.
- We all play badminton and cricket, both girls and boys play together. We also have regular tournaments and competetion between family members.
- Locally made cakes, halva and Chakka (jack fruit). Tapioca, greens, Banana, Pepper, Coconut's, Cashew's,Mangoes, mustard all grown in the family garden. It tasted much better, than what we have at Chennai.
- Siting in the stream near the rice fields and goin for walk in the Cashew plantations.

- Playing BUS-BUS, running all around the fields.
- Having Kanghi water, at the fields with the workers.
- Theyyam at tharavadu, every year January.

Can carry on with many. Its where I have learnt and experienced a lot of things.

good pic's. . .

These pictures were taken by Sashi, Anu's BIL. It was during the visit to Singapore by Anandettan and Ashokettan , Edathi's and kid's.

These pic's were taken while at the Carlsberg Bar at Sentosa Islands.

3 brothers having fun with beer, on a very hot day. The beer was very refreshing after the long walk we had on that day.

I was and am really glad that they could make that trip to Singapore and it was great time we had here, although it was only for about 4- 5 days.

Thanks people, I really love u all.

Try these blogs...

Hey all, try this link http://justjool.blogspot.com/2005/11/life-in-new-millennium.html
and i am sure, u will really like it.

also try out my other blogs:

http://readthrough.blogspot.com
http://paintingsnpictures.blogspot.com
http://jcu-s.blogspot.com

Kuala Lumpur ...

I was at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for 6days and 5 nights. I baically went there along with my friend Pradeep , for meeting job agents and also to explore the local labor market.

As I have got used to the life at Singapore for the past 17months, KL was way different, chaotic traffic, pollution, the people, cars and filth along the roads etc... I was immediatly reminded of Chennai and Mumbai where the life is somewhat similar, except for the cars and aircon buses.

I had a very good time there and especially getting to know Pradeep better and also strengthening our friendship. Apart from the hectic schedule of meeting the agents, we did find time to go around a couple of places, near Bukit Bintang.

One of the highlights of our trip was the trip to the Petronas Twin Towers (locally known as KLCC -Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre). Its a very majestic building and I was feeling so week and timid, against this great twin structure. The experience cannot be that easily expressed, it has to be felt to understand.

(Above) at the 41st level at the Sky bridge, connecting the two towers. The view is great from here.
(below) joining the towers is a shopping arcade and at the backside there is also a nicely laid out garden with fountain, with a wonderful view of the tower.

Mercy and brother had joined us on late Friday evening to spend the weekend at KL. On Saturday we all went to Sunway Lagoon Theme park and enjoyed it thoroughly. They have lovely water slides and also I enjoyed the roller coaster ride. It was a great experience.

On our return to SIN, we took the Intercity Express train and as usual with the train journey, back at India, it got delayed for more than 1 1/2 hour. The train ride was convenient, as it had TV, playing a movie as well as some documentaries; the train had a pantry coach with good and comfortable seats. One thing is for sure, next time, the train is out of question for travel to Singapore.

Over all we had good fun also the agents meeting were to a large extend positive. I now really want to settle down in KL or other parts of Malaysia for many reasons, close similarity with India, good food and inexpensive, normal cars (unlike the middle east, where all cars are big and bulky) and close proximity to Singapore.
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I am not able to get the right words for this particular posting, so kindly excuse the broken sentences and grammatical errors. Will try to do a better job.

Me in full size

Had to undergo a lot of pain to take a full size picture. I would have gone to atleast 20 studios, before I found this place, below an esclator shaft, in Lucky Plaza, Orchard Road.

I have added this new blog to my collection

http://paintingsnpictures.blogspot.com/

My Other blogs:

http://arungv.blogspot.com/
http://readthrough.blogspot.com/
http://jcu-s.blogspot.com/
http://gva-resume.blogspot.com/

Reminiscence !

True to the blog title "Reminiscence". When I was looking at these pictures, I was really transported back to those good days.

My friends at Bhatia Gardens, Chennai. on my left is Lalit and Anand (Cousins). We used to have great fun and enjoyed the vacations to the fullest.

We generally played cricket in the evening and during the day we played either tennis, badminton, foot ball or even hide and seek. Forgot, we used to also go cycling into the Manapakkam village and also sit on the compound walls of Chennai Airport.

Me with Anandettan's BSA SLR cycle. We were staying at house # 7, 4th Cross Street, Indira Nagar, Adayar.

It was an independant house with lots of plants and trees. When I was in 3rd standard, Achan bought for me a 'Hamilton' cycle. I cried for 2 full days and then Anandettan had brought in the cycle to the house.

I had a great deal of fun in that, as I used to go for cycling in that with school friends. My friends and me used to sit near actor Sharath's house in Adayar. He had a travel agency by the name of FlySun travels, next to Achan's hardware shop 'Allied Distributors'.

This picture was taken, during Achan's 60th birthday celebrations. Apart from my immediate family members, Vasanthi chittamma, Ammini velliamma (in front of Anandettan, she is the only elder person to Achan in his family), Kannan chetta, Baby chittamma, Kizhikode velliamma and Shantha chittamma.

We had been on a pilgrimage to many historical temples in Tamil nadu and this ceremony was held at the most famous temple, renouned for 60th birthday celebrations. (I do not know the name of temple, will post it after I get em)

At the Bhatia Garden house, Think I was still studying in school, when the picture was taken.

Picture, taken from Adayar house. The curtain behind us, leads to the bedroom where I used to sleep and it also had the Swamy photo's.

My brothers and me were all studying in school then.

My Amma looks very beautiful in this picture and believe me, even now she looks really beautiful.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, is a very interesting and spell binding book about the life of a boy who is in search of hidden treasures in the Egyptian pyramids.

Santiago, a shepherd boy, who dreams of seeing the world, is compelling in its own right, but gains resonance through the many lessons he learns during his adventures. The story is told in the form of a fairy tale and really makes one wonder, if it can be true. The story has in it some drama, tension, wisdom, decision making, convictions, hard work, dedication, self-empowerment and over coming of depressions and main theme of the whole story ‘Believing in dreams and making that a reality’.

When I started to read the book, I forget the world I was in and could only rest after finishing the book.

I definitely vouch for this book and thank Aditya and Mercy for suggesting me about the book and making me buy it.

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The Alchemist presents a simple fable, based on simple truths and places it in a highly unique situation. And though we may sniff a bestselling formula, it is certainly not a new one: even the ancient tribal storytellers knew that this is the most successful method of entertaining an audience while slipping in a lesson or two. Brazilian storyteller Paulo Coehlo introduces Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who one night dreams of a distant treasure in the Egyptian pyramids. And so he's off: leaving Spain to literally follow his dream.

Along the way he meets many spiritual messengers, who come in unassuming forms such as a camel driver and a well-read Englishman. In one of the Englishman's books, Santiago first learns about the alchemists--men who believed that if a metal were heated for many years, it would free itself of all its individual properties, and what was left would be the "Soul of the World." Of course he does eventually meet an alchemist, and the ensuing student-teacher relationship clarifies much of the boy's misguided agenda, while also emboldening him to stay true to his dreams. "My heart is afraid that it will have to suffer," the boy confides to the alchemist one night as they look up at a moonless night.

"Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself," the alchemist replies. "And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second's encounter with God and with eternity." --Gail Hudson

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Some more review: http://silverydaze.blogspot.com/2005/05/whats-worlds-greatest-lie-boy-asked.html