Indian Aviation Visionary: Capt. G. R. Gopinath
While returning after on of those regular business seminars at Jaipur, I was glad when the Jet Air Flight took off on time from Jaipur Airport. It was already a tiring day and I was looking forward to a smooth landing at Mumbai and a warm reception back home after a thirty minute drive from the Airport. The crew appeared to be new, as revealed by the extra care they were putting into their words and actions. The anxiety behind the polished behavior was much too perceptible. But they did a great job, especially when we were asked to fasten the belts for landing at Mumbai well on time but had to be in that position for over 30 minutes as the plane circulated for want of landing space. Despite reaching Mumbai air-space on time, we finally landed and reached our bay a full 45 minutes behind schedule.
The journey back home was also tough, more than double the time than usual at that hour. Obviously this was not my day! The trauma of reaching home a clear two hours behind schedule set me off thinking. The thoughts went back to the days when I started flying in good old Indian Airlines (the only airline available), then the East-West Airlines (now defunct), Damania, and a bit later the Jet Air. It soon became a choice between Indian Airlines and Jet Air with the former’s subsidiary Alliance Air proving handy in some trips. But for the tiring delays during winter, I never had any delay on account of ” air congestion”, those days. But the perceptible increase in passengers used to be a topic of discussion between friends. We used to joke that the day was not far off when the numbers would increase to such an extent that, passengers would have to travel standing in air crafts!
Then came the “golden era” as I would call it. A Golden Era for airlines as well as air passengers. The crowds at every airport were doubling every other day. Soon the names of Airlines started multiplying- AirSahara, Air Deccan, Go Air, Indigo, King Fisher, Paramount, Spice Jet et al. It appears that every family in the country chose to fly rather than choose the time consuming Rail or Road transport. This change in attitude was not brought in because of sudden realization of the value of time. I feel the whole change came in because of one single visionary entrepreneur, Capt Gopinath of Air Deccan. If the mobile phone revolution in this country materialised because of the vision of Dhirubai Ambani who had said”I would like every Indian to make a phone call at the rate of 50ps per minute”, it was Capt Gopinath,who dreamt up the success of budget airlines in the country, who made any one who was willing to fly, board an aircraft. Air Deccan gave the other established carriers a run for their money. I myself have traveled in the Air Deccan at as low fares as Rs99/- Rs.500/- etc many a time. Typical of our scepticism, the concept of budget carriers was ridiculed by the Buz Press. But Capt Gopinath held on to his dream and soon Air Deccan became on of the largest ferriers of people by air. The fact that his success made other players to come on the scene as well and cluttered our air-space is an unfortunate side effect. It is also true that with the take over of Air Deccan by Vijaya Mallya’s Kingfisher, the real bargains in charges have gone for a toss.Yet the budget air concept stays.
It is now up to the Governemnt to ensure that the air traffic congestion and lack of infrastructure at the airports are sorted out at the earliest. Yet, if some one in Guwahati is able to land at Trivandrumon the same day now, despite the congestions, the credit should go to this single visionary entrepreneur, Capt Gopinath.b
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March 1st, 2008 at 10:59 am
With the rise in air traffic, there is always a high risk of a disaster waiting to happen. I think the government should put a curb on the number of airlines. The good thing though, is that even the common man can satisfy his desire to travel in an aeroplane; given the steep fall in prices.
March 1st, 2008 at 10:14 pm
I am afraid my full article on the Indian Aviation Industry did not get posted here due to an editing error on my part. My sincere apologies to all those who would have taken time to read it and would have felt a distaste due to its incomplete format.I am appending the portion omitted in the earlier post.
It appears that every family in the country chose to fly rather than choose the time consuming Rail or Road transport. This change in attitude was not brought in because of sudden realisation of the valueof time. I feel the whole change came in because ofone singlevisionary entrepreneur, Capt Gopinath of Air Deccan.If the mobile phone revolution in this country materialised because of the vision of Dhirubai Ambani who had said”I would like every Indian to make a phone call at the rate of 50ps per minute”, it was Capt Gopinath,who dreamt up the success of budget airlines in the country, who made any one who was willing to fly, board an aircraft. Air Deccan gave the other established carriers a run for their money. I myslef have traveled in the Air Deccan at as low fares as Rs99/- Rs.500/- etc many a time. Typical of our scepticism, the concept of budget carriers was ridiculed by the Buz Press. But Capt Gopinath held on to his dream and soon Air Deccan became on of the largest ferriers of people by air. The fact that his success made other players to come on the scene as well and cluttered our air-space is an unfortunate side effect. It is also true that with the take over of Air Deccan by Vijaya Mallya’s Kingfisher, the real bargains in charges have gone for a toss.Yet the budget air concept stays.
It is now up to the Governemnt to ensure that the air traffic congestion and lack of infrastructure at the airpots are sorted out at the earliest. Yet, if some one in Guwahati is able to land at Trivandrumon the same day now, despite the congestions, the credit should go to this single visionary entrepreneur, Capt Gopinath.b
March 1st, 2008 at 10:38 pm
It was my fault :O I should have left your draft alone.