The Indian aviation industry turned exactly a century old yesterday. Since the first 10-km flight from Allahabad to Naini, the sector holds the distinction of being the fastest growing and the 9th largest in the world today

EXACTLY a century ago, when India's first commercial flight took off for Naini from Allahabad, not many who witnessed the birth of the country's aviation sector could have foreseen that it would grow to become the ninth largest in the world and ferry close to 50 million people a year.



The first chapter of Indian aviation was penned on February 18, 1911, by French pilot Monseigneur Henry Piguet, who flew a Humber biplane from Allahabad to Naini, just across the Yamuna River, and back covering a distance of about 10 km.

He carried nearly six thousand letters, many of which were addressed to King George V of England with 'First Aerial Post' as the postmark. This was also considered to be the world's first airmail service.

One year later, in 1912, the first domestic air route between Karachi and Delhi became operational. The service between the two cities was operated by the Indian State Air Services together with the Imperial Airways (a UK-based airline).

In 1915, to expand the horizons of the aviation industry, Tata Sons Limited started regular airmail services between Karachi and Madras (now Chennai). They also founded Tata Airlines, which was rechristened Tata Air Services in 1938 and then Tata Air Lines the same year.

On October 15, 1932, J R D Tata himself flew a single-engine aircraft from Karachi's Drigh Road Aerodrome to Bombay's Juhu Airstrip via Ahmedabad. The aircraft continued to Madras via Bellary, flown by former Royal Air Force pilot Nevill Vintcent.

Tata Air Lines did not, however, survive for too long after the end of World War II.

On July 29, 1946, it became a public limited company called Air India and the government acquired 49 per cent stake in it, making it the country's designated flag carrier.
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Air India operated its first international flight on June 8, 1948, from Bombay to London.

Shifting base

At the time of independence, nine air transport companies were operational in the British India. After independence, the number reduced to eight when Orient Airways shifted base to Pakistan.
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The airlines operational at the time were Air India, Indian National Airways, Air Service of India, Deccan Airways, Ambica Airways, Bharat Airways and Mistry Airways.

Experts speak

Parvez Damania, who owned Damania Airways, which was sold in 1996, said, "We are the fastest growing aviation market in the world and all the aircraft manufacturers from Airbus to Boeing feel that the Indian aviation market has huge potential.

The airlines operating on the domestic routes are above the world standard. I think there is no need to increase the number of airlines. Instead, the existing airlines should expand by increasing their reach in other routes."

Former DGCA chief, H S Khola, said, "The growth has been phenomenal in the last 20 years since private carriers entered the industry. I feel the government should involve the airlines, too, while planning the sector's growth."

Milestones

1924: Construction of civil airports began in India. Construction began at Dum Dum in Calcutta, Bamrauli in Allahabad and Gilbert Hill in Bombay