Over hundred delegates attended IndianOil’s 19th International Aviation Conference in Jaipur
The 19th edition of the International Aviation Conference hosted by Indian Oil Corporation (IndianOil) commenced in Jaipur with participation of over 100 delegates from 20 different countries representing airline companies; airline statutory bodies; defence services; airline equipment companies, airport operators etc.
Inaugurating the two-day event, RS Butola, Chairman, IndianOil, emphasised on the importance of aviation refuelling among IndianOil’s business verticals. Butola said that IOC’s aviation fuelling infrastructure is spread across the length and breadth of the country. In addition to 96 aviation fuel stations already operating, a new aviation fuel station was also commissioned exclusively to serve the Indian Air Force at THOISE in the leh-ladakh region, one of the difficult and treacherous terrains, he added.
Arun Mishra, IAS, Director General of Civil Aviation, in his keynote address, emphasised the need to maintain low emission levels in the aviation sector so as to ensure environment protection. He advocated exploring the use of bio-fuels in this direction. Mishra also announced the proposed project to start an Aviation University near lucknow in UP, which on commissioning in 2015, will provide skilled personnel to meet the future growth of the aviation sector.
Earlier M Nene, Director (Marketing), IndianOil, in his opening remarks outlined the growth and consolidation phase of IndianOil Aviation and committed investments of `800 crore over the next five years for augmenting, expanding and creating new facilities, including procurement of refuelling equipment, commissioning of new hydrant refuelling systems and augmentation of product tankage. A new B2B transaction module developed by IndianOil is presently under implementation with M/s lufthansa to ensure smooth business transactions and, on successful completion, will be extended to other airlines also.
Butola also released a compendium of the technical papers being presented at the two-day conference. Other senior officials present were R Sareen, Executive Director (Aviation), IndianOil, Pieter Van Espen, Head of Business Development, SkyTanking, Germany, S Venkar, Director (Finance), Air India, Rajiv Goel, Executive Director, Airports Authority of India, Giri Iyengar, Air BP, Dubai and Peter Gallen, BRIC markets, AIR BP.