On April 10, 2025, Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), inaugurated the Digital Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder(DFDR & CVR) Laboratory at the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), located in Udaan Bhawan, New Delhi (Delhi).
- The lab, also known as the ‘Black Box Lab,’ is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and was established with an investment of Rs.9 crore.
About DFDR & CVR Laboratory:
i.The facility has been established with support from Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
ii.The facility helps improve aviation safety in India by allowing AAIB to investigate accidents, repair black boxes, recover data, and support safer aircraft and helicopter designs.
iii.It is designed to meet global benchmarks, and supports India in fulfilling its responsibilities as a member of Montreal, Canada based International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
About Aviation Career Guidance Programme:
Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu introduced the Career Guidance Programme in Aviation at the Indian Aviation Academy, New Delhi, to educate Class 11 and 12 students about various career opportunities in the aviation sector, including piloting, air traffic control, aircraft design, and airport management.
- An interactive session was conducted by women pilots who addressed students’ queries and shared insights from their professional journeys.
- The programme seeks to nurture young talent to meet the growing demands of India’s expanding aviation ecosystem.
Mahindra Aerostructures Secures Contract from Airbus Helicopters
In April 2025, Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based Mahindra Aerostructures Private Limited (MASPL), a unit of Mahindra & Mahindra, has secured a contract from Airbus Helicopters, a division of France-based Airbus, to manufacture and assemble the main fuselage of the H130 helicopter.
- The contract was signed in the presence of Union Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu,MoCA; Vumlunmang Vualnam, Secretary, MoCA; Rémi Maillard, President and Managing Director(MD) of Airbus in India and South Asia; and Dr Anish Shah, Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and MD of the Mahindra Group.
Key Points:
i.The H130 is a light single-engine helicopter used primarily for passenger transport.
ii.Mahindra will produce the H130’s main fuselage assembly, which will then be shipped to Airbus Helicopters’ facilities in Europe.
iii.Production will start right away, and the initial deliveries are scheduled for completion by March 2027.
About Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB):
Director General(DG) – Godaba Venkata Gouri Yugandhar
Headquarters – New Delhi (Delhi)
Established – 2011 under the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA).
