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MUMBAI: Ratan Tata may be given to the purchase of civil aircraft, but the $ 72 billion Tata Group, put the pieces together to be a major player in the general aviation space. Tata, a trained pilot, is working with international players for business jets, helicopters, as well as aircraft management and maintenance services. Investing in this space are determined by two main groups of companies, Tata Sons and Tata Industries.

The group is in talks with Florida-based Avantair to establish a partnership in India, where use of private planes by companies is on the rise. Avantair's business model is of fractional ownership, giving individuals and businesses the benefits of whole aircraft ownership at a fraction of the cost. The firm intends to emulate its US programme here, said sources familiar with the plans.
Until a few years ago, the Tata Group had a small presence in air charter services. Through Taj Air it had forayed into business aviation in 1993 and had just one aircraft. The main purpose was to fly Taj guests to various Taj properties within the country.

Last year, Taj Air increased its fleet size to four aircraft comprising of Falcon and Avanti jets, and also started offering aircraft maintenance service.

Last year, Tata Sons acquired a one-third stake in Italy's Piaggio Aero Industries, manufacturer of the Avanti II turboprop twin, marking the group's entry into aircraft manufacturing.

Though the group, that pioneered commercial airlines business in India through Tata Aviation which after nationalization became Air India, it has almost buried its desire to enter the civil aviation sector after a couple of failed attempts. In mid-1990 s, it planned to float an airline with Singapore Airlines and then it looked to buy a 40% stake in Air India, when the government was talking of divesting its stake in the national carrier. 

It is a most welcome step, Mr. Ratan Tata. The aviation industry will be back to the pioneers of aviation, which will boost the number of airlines in India. Earlier attempts were foiled by a group tata greedy politician, connect with Singapore Airlines would be a great way benifted Indian aviation sector. The problem is that Singapore Airlines has a large fleet of the aircraft and is looking for a loop, in order to park their growing fleet. It only added to the inflow of foreign investments in the country. It should create many jobs for Indians, we can imagine that it must expand to Singapore Airlines and the aviation industry will be boosted too. Unfortunately, our myopic leaders have a different political point of view, in all respects. A look at the status of AIR INDIA. One of the best airlines in the world was already destroyed by the leaders of our time, that they should review the filing on the back TATAs. It will be a great service to the people by our political leaders. It is too much to expect them, but good sense prevail and God will give them Sadbuddhi.