The Indian multinational conglomerate Adani Group has instigated changes in key leadership roles at its airport holding company Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL) and Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), in a development that will be of interest to many aerospace executive recruiters.

The personnel moves – which Adani Group confirmed just days after it assumed management control of MIAL from the GVK Group – are being made with a view to consolidating and pushing through the transition of India’s second-largest airport into the Adani fold.

What changes are set to be made?

Adani Group has said that it will relocate AAHL’s head office from Mumbai to Ahmedabad. It also confirmed that the chief executive of MIAL, R.K. Jain, will become Adani Airports’ chief executive, as a replacement for incumbent Ben Zandi, who will take over as AAHL’s chief executive, non-aero.

“He [Jain] will be fully involved in shaping [a] scheme for airport slum rehabilitation to take it to [the] implementation stage. He will also be involved in the airport regulatory issues,” the group stated.

MIAL’s chief executive, as well as chief airport officers at Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Mangaluru, Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram and Jaipur will report to Jain. In turn, Jain will report to the chief executive officer at AAHL, Malay Mahadevia.

Meanwhile, the current president, operations at AAHL – Prakash Tulsiani – will take on Jain’s role as chief executive of MIAL. Director of Adani Ports and SEZ, B.V.J.K. Sharma, has been appointed as Navi Mumabi International Airport Limited (NMIAL)’s chief executive.

Presently heading operations at MIAL is Prabhat Mahapatra, who will occupy the newly created post of head of operations at the Center of Excellence. Manoj Katar, the chief operating officer of Dahej port, was appointed in Mahapatra’s place.

“Collaborative working and agile decision making”

Adani Group commented: “We believe this decision will foster collaborative working and agile decision making, which is of paramount importance at this stage of our journey.”
AAHL became the largest airport operator in India after acquiring a controlling stake in MIAL, which operates the Mumbai airport, earlier in 2021. In terms of passenger traffic, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai is the country’s second biggest.

Adani Group has also won competitive bids to operate airports at cities including Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Lucknow, Jaipur, Thiruvananthapuram and Mangaluru. However, the group is waiting until December to take over airport assets at Guwahati, Jaipur and Thiruvananthapuram, in the wake of economic challenges brought by the COVID-19 crisis.

Is your organisation seeking the expertise and assistance of proven and reputable aerospace executive recruiters? If so, please do not hesitate to enquire to the team at TARCG about our highly professional and responsive aviation recruitment service.

Phil Washington is set to come under scrutiny from Denver City Council, at the next stage of his candidacy to become the CEO of Denver International Airport in Colorado.
As reported by local newspaper The Denver Post, Mr Washington’s career accomplishments, including in both transportation and the United States military, stand out; however, it has also been noted that he has no prior experience in the aviation sector.

Major responsibility for one of the country’s busiest airports

Denver International Airport, known locally as DIA, is one of the United States’ key aviation hubs, and the largest airport in North America by land area. The role that Mr Washington is bidding to take on is therefore a hugely influential one in the aerospace sector.

Sure enough, Mr Washington brings to his candidacy a prominent national profile from the wider transportation industry, and far-reaching connections – albeit, not from the aviation sector itself.

The newspaper observed that recent airport leaders in Miami and Chicago had come from city administrative or legal backgrounds.

However, both Mr Washington and the man who nominated him, Mayor Michael Hancock, have talked up the relevance of his almost 21-year career in public transportation management in Denver and Los Angeles, including as CEO at the Regional Transportation District (RTD).

A track record that promises much for DIA

Most recently, the 63-year-old served for six years as the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, or LA Metro’s CEO, finishing his stint there this spring. Before that, he was in the Army for over two decades, before moving on to RTD.

Mr Washington has said that his work experiences have touched on multiple modes of transportation, including public transit and highway improvements, as well as discussions about freight movement and aviation. In 2020, he also led then-President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team for transportation issues.

He commented: “I interacted with the [Federal Aviation Administration] and airports around the country in evaluating the state of the US Department of Transportation.”
The nominee has also referred to his track record in launching large construction projects at both RTD and LA Metro. This is potentially highly relevant experience, given DIA’s ongoing $3.5 billion capital program that has been subject to delays, scale-backs and cost overruns.

He said of the DIA initiatives: “The first thing is we’ve got to move… these projects forward. I think I bring [an outside perspective], along with the ability to engage and understand aviation very quickly.”

If approved by the full council in its vote on 12th July, Mr Washington would replace Kim Day, who will retire on 16th July after 13 years in charge.

To learn more about TARCG’s own well-honed and in-depth executive search expertise and how we could assist your organisation with the fulfilment of its growth objectives in the aviation sector, please enquire today to our professional and experienced team.

The aviation executive search firm TARCG is now certified by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), as it seeks to continue making best practice in the industry.

TARCG, otherwise known as The Aviation Recruitment & Consulting Group Ltd, has become an approved Corporate Member of the REC, having satisfied the organisation’s extensive membership criteria and committed to its Code of Professional Practice.

It represents the latest stage of TARCG’s evolution as a leader in aviation executive search committed to delivering the best-quality service through collaborations and partnerships.

How significant is membership of the REC?

The REC is a powerful body representing the voice of the recruitment industry, driving standards and supporting recruitment businesses’ efforts to better serve their clients and candidates.

A recruitment agency displaying the REC logo has long been an indication of its quality, given that this signals the business has passed the REC’s Compliance Test and adheres to its Code of Professional Practice.

Taking steps to become an approved REC member was therefore a natural course of action for TARCG, which is always striving to set new standards in its provision of temporary, permanent and headhunting hiring solutions.

A partnership for sustained success in the recruitment sector

Corporate membership of the REC is sought-after among recruitment agencies for various reasons. These range from the legal advice and strategic guidance the organisation provides, right through to the body’s essential business tools and its influence in speaking up for recruiters, drawing upon its relationships across government.

Being an REC Corporate member, for instance, entitles TARCG access to the organisation’s team of capable and experienced specialists in recruitment law, along with a comprehensive library of template contacts, policies and legal guides in relation to every aspect of employment law.

The REC also supports members in coming together to form an industry consensus on relevant issues, in addition to providing help to members to ensure they practise high standards of compliance. A wide range of business services, too, is available to members, including but not limited to auditing services, mentoring, and consultancy.

With membership of the REC dependent on complying with the body’s stringent criteria, and the organisation’s network now encompassing over 3,300 recruitment firms and 10,500 individual recruiters, it is clear that REC certification will be a potent driver of TARCG’s continued success.

To find out more about TARCG’s expertise and solutions as an REC-certified aerospace executive recruiter, whether as a candidate or client, please contact our industry specialists today.

The aviation executive search firm TARCG is now certified by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), as it seeks to continue making best practice in the industry.

TARCG, otherwise known as The Aviation Recruitment & Consulting Group Ltd, has become an approved Corporate Member of the REC, having satisfied the organisation’s extensive membership criteria and committed to its Code of Professional Practice.

It represents the latest stage of TARCG’s evolution as a leader in aviation executive search committed to delivering the best-quality service through collaborations and partnerships.

How significant is membership of the REC?

The REC is a powerful body representing the voice of the recruitment industry, driving standards and supporting recruitment businesses’ efforts to better serve their clients and candidates.

A recruitment agency displaying the REC logo has long been an indication of its quality, given that this signals the business has passed the REC’s Compliance Test and adheres to its Code of Professional Practice.

Taking steps to become an approved REC member was therefore a natural course of action for TARCG, which is always striving to set new standards in its provision of temporary, permanent and headhunting hiring solutions.

A partnership for sustained success in the recruitment sector

Corporate membership of the REC is sought-after among recruitment agencies for various reasons. These range from the legal advice and strategic guidance the organisation provides, right through to the body’s essential business tools and its influence in speaking up for recruiters, drawing upon its relationships across government.

Being an REC Corporate member, for instance, entitles TARCG access to the organisation’s team of capable and experienced specialists in recruitment law, along with a comprehensive library of template contacts, policies and legal guides in relation to every aspect of employment law.

The REC also supports members in coming together to form an industry consensus on relevant issues, in addition to providing help to members to ensure they practise high standards of compliance. A wide range of business services, too, is available to members, including but not limited to auditing services, mentoring, and consultancy.

With membership of the REC dependent on complying with the body’s stringent criteria, and the organisation’s network now encompassing over 3,300 recruitment firms and 10,500 individual recruiters, it is clear that REC certification will be a potent driver of TARCG’s continued success.

To find out more about TARCG’s expertise and solutions as an REC-certified aerospace executive recruiter, whether as a candidate or client, please contact our industry specialists today.

Helicopter operator Halo has placed an order for 200 of Eve’s Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, due for delivery in 2026.

The order is one of the largest yet made for commercial eVTOL aircraft, and comes after Halo was formed by combining two existing helicopter charter firms: Halo in the UK and Associated Aircraft Group (AAG) in the United States.

Half of the ordered vehicles are expected to be used for US-based operations, while the remaining 100 will operate in the UK.

The background of Eve and its eVTOL innovation

Eve is a subsidiary of the Brazilian aerospace conglomerate, Embraer. Last autumn saw it spun out of the EmbraerX incubator, with a view to the continued development of its eVTOL aircraft.

Business aviation group Directional Aviation acquired Halo and AAG earlier this year. Halo will initially operate a charter fleet of Agusta / Leonardo AW109 and AW169 helicopters prior to the introduction of the eVTOLs.

The Eve aircraft accommodates four passengers, and is said to have a planned range of 60 miles (100 kilometres). Embraer has stated it will be 80% quieter than existing helicopters.

Last July, engineers used an Eve engineering simulator to conduct the first flight; this was followed in October by the unveiling of a number of concept drawings for the eVTOL. Eve is also collaborating with another Embraer subsidiary - Atech - on the development of an urban air traffic management system.

“A phenomenal vertical mobility platform”

Directional Aviation principal Kenneth Ricci commented: “Bringing together two companies, which are leading providers of vertical lift and urban mobility services in two of the most important markets, will create a phenomenal vertical mobility platform.

“In placing this order for a revolutionary breakthrough in urban air mobility, we are advancing toward safe, efficient and sustainable travel in and between our cities.

“eVTOL urban air mobility is the greatest opportunity, and the greatest challenge, I have seen in my 40 years in aviation, and Eve is positioned to make it a reality.

“We believe Eve has designed an aircraft that not only is well-prepared for initial certification but also has a proven track record of production.

“The outstanding lineage of aircraft design, certification and production that Embraer brings to this aircraft positions Eve with significant advantages in the competitive landscape.”

Make TARCG your primary port of call for helicopter contract recruitment

As a recruitment agency geared to the specialised requirements of the aerospace, defence and space sectors, TARCG is strongly placed to provide helicopter contract recruitment expertise and solutions to a broad range of clients and candidates.

Reach out to us at any of our international offices to explore the possibilities for how we could work together and help you realise your aspirations in aviation, whether as an organisation or individual.