✈️ Civil Aviation in India – Historical Timeline

🛫 Early Years & Airmail Services (1911–1930s)

• 18 February 1911: First commercial civil aviation flight in India took place between Allahabad and Naini, covering a distance of 6 miles, flown by Henri Piquet on a Humber biplane.
   Carried 6,500 mails – world’s first official airmail service and the beginning of civil aviation in India.

• December 1912: First international flight to and from India (London–Karachi–Delhi) by Indian State Air Services and Imperial Airways.

• 1915: Tata Sons began regular airmail service between Karachi and Madras.

• 24 January 1920: Royal Air Force began regular airmail between Karachi and Bombay.

• 1924: Civil airport construction began at Dum Dum (Calcutta), Bamrauli (Allahabad), and Gilbert Hill (Bombay).

• April 1927: Department of Civil Aviation and Aero Club of India established.

• February 1929: JRD Tata received India’s first pilot license.
  ✅ Aga Khan’s solo air race (London–Bombay) won by Man Mohan Singh.

• 1931: Lt. Col. Shelmerdine appointed as first Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

• 15 October 1932: Tata Airlines began airmail on the Karachi–Ahmedabad–Bombay–Bellary–Madras route.
  ✅ Urmila K. Parikh became first Indian woman to get a pilot’s license.

• 1933–34: Airlines like Indian Trans Continental Airways, Madras Air Taxi Services, and Indian National Airways began operations.

• 1934 (promulgated), 1937 (formulated): Indian Aircraft Act came into force.

🛩️ Pre-Independence Aviation Industry (1940s)

• 1940: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) established in Bangalore by Walchand Hirachand and Mysore Government.

• 1941: Harlow Trainer aircraft tested.

• 1945: Deccan Airways founded (jointly by Tatas and Nizam of Hyderabad).

• 1946: Air India established (from Tata Airlines); Deccan Airways’ first flight.

• 1948:

  • Air India International Ltd. launched international services.

  • 8 June 1948: First international flight Bombay–London via Cairo and Geneva.

  • Prem Mathur became first woman commercial pilot (license in 1947).

🛫 Nationalisation & Early Expansion (1950s–1960s)

• 1953:

  • Air Corporations Act passed.

  • Nationalisation of 8 private airlines into Indian Airlines and Air India International.

  • Civil Helicopter Services introduced.

• 1956: Durba Banerjee became first woman pilot of Indian Airlines.

• 1960: India entered jet age with Boeing 707-437; first Indian flight to USA.

🛬 Institutional Development (1970s–1980s)

• 1972: International Airports Authority of India (IAAI) constituted.

• 1981: Vayudoot airline launched (Govt-owned, for remote areas).

• 1984: Rakesh Sharma became first Indian in space (Salyut 7).

• 1985:

  • Capt. Saudamini Deshmukh commanded India’s first all-women crew flight.

  • Pawan Hans Helicopters Ltd. and Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Academy (IGRUA) established.

  • Air India Flight 182 bombing; led to creation of Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) in 1987.

• 1986: National Airports Authority constituted.

• 1989: Indian Airlines inducted Airbus A320, among first globally.

🛫 Liberalisation & Private Sector Era (1990s)

• 1990–91:

  • Deregulation via Air Taxi Scheme.

  • East West Airlines became first national-level private airline in 37 years.

  • Capt. Nivedita Bhasin (26) became youngest jet commander and first woman Airbus A300 check pilot.

  • Air India entered Guinness Book for largest civilian evacuation (111,000+ evacuees from Amman in 59 days).

• 1994: Repeal of Air Corporations Act; scheduled services opened to private players (Jet, Sahara, Modiluft, etc.).

• 1995:

  • Private airlines handled 10%+ domestic traffic.

  • 42 foreign airlines operated to/from India.

  • Airports Authority of India (AAI) formed (merger of IAAI and National Airports Authority).

• 1998:

  • Dr. Kalpana Chawla became first Indian-born woman in space.

  • Cochin became India’s first private airport.

• 1999: IC-814 hijacked to Kandahar.

🛫 Modern Reforms & Infrastructure Growth (2000s–2010s)

• 2003: Entry of Low-Cost Carriers (LCCs) with Air Deccan.

• 2004:

  • Approval of Hyderabad and Bangalore private airports.

  • Rule: Indian carriers with 5 years of ops + 20 aircraft eligible for international routes.

• 2005:

  • Indian Airlines rebranded as Indian.

  • Entry of Kingfisher Airlines.

  • Govt designated AI, Indian, Jet, Sahara for international ops.

• 2006: Govt approved PPP modernisation of Mumbai and Delhi airports.

• 2007: Regional Airlines Policy launched (licenses for intra-regional carriers).

• 2008: Announcement of Greenfield Airports Policy.

• 2009: Establishment of Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA).

• 2010:

  • Terminal T3 inaugurated at IGI Airport, Delhi.

  • Pawan Hans launched Jal Hans (seaplane service).