Gentelman
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A will made of steel and an aircraft
made in Pakistan
June 28, 2013
"That, my friend, is the very first
airplane made in Pakistan by a private
aircraft manufacturer, proudly stated my
host pointing in the direction of the
aircraft hanger behind me.
As I turned around with anticipation and
saw an all composite two seat, three
propeller aircraft, gleaming in the sunlight
coming in through the hanger vents, a
feeling of pride overwhelmed me. It was
immediately followed by profound respect
for my host entrepreneur and his long and
inspiring journey from a dream to its
realisation parked right in front of me in
that hanger.
My host was Faisal Naveed Asif, CEO
of Scaled Aviation Industries, whom I had
met on the judges panel at a business plan
competition in a local university just a few
weeks ago. Before the event, when Faisal
introduced himself as the CEO of the only
private-sector, certified, aircraft
manufacturer in the whole of Middle East
and South Asia, I was immediately
impressed and decided that I must know and
tell this mans story which is guaranteed to
be inspirational for seasoned and budding
entrepreneurs alike. I asked Faisal if I could
come and visit his facilities and a couple
weeks later he called and we agreed to meet
at Scaled Aviations Walton Airport Royal
Hanger.
Faisal is a soft spoken and down to earth
individual. However, underneath that
modesty, he hides a brilliant mind trained
by years of work with the defence sector,
especially the Air Force and excellent
academic credentials. When giving me an
overview of some of the innovative aspects
of his manufacturing process, his eyes lit up
like those of a father telling the story of his
childs achievements. I could tell that this
man was truly proud of all the ingenuity
around him, most of it, a product of his
own brilliance.
Faisal Naveed Asif, CEO of Scaled Aviation
Industries. Photo: Khurram Zafar
Faisals journey started back in 2001 when
he announced to his family that he is going
to quit work in the defence sector and
develop an indigenous aircraft in Pakistan.
The initial reactions were not very
encouraging. He recalls that one of his
uncles quipped that he couldnt produce a
stable, four-legged chair in his furniture
factory, let alone build an airplane. He also
remembers his friends speculating that he
has gone mad.
Furthermore, one of the first things Faisal
realised after embarking upon this journey
was that its littered with clearance
requirements from numerous departments;
the bureaucracy, the red tape, the security
clearances, the No Objection Certificates
(NOCs), the wild goose chases between
departments and ministries. But none of
that deterred Faisal.
The man, with the will of steel, persevered
and managed to kick off his manufacturing
operations in 2006. After about six years of
bootstrapping the operations with his own
capital and some debt financing, Faisal
managed to produce the first air craft in
2012 that was ready for test flights. More
importantly, his factory gained the
capability of producing dozens of planes of
varying capacities every year, making it a
potentially viable business. The planes
would cost less than many of the high end
cars we see on the roads and were more
fuel efficient than a standard four door
Sedan!
Along the way though, Faisal had to make
some compromises because two of the most
sensitive parts of the aircraft the engine
and the instrument panel could not be
built in Pakistan because of the stringent
laws, lack of economically viable
manufacturing facilities and an absent
partner ecosystem. He managed to import
those parts, but after and among others,
clearances from the US Department of State
pursuant to Pakistan signing off on
the Kerry-Lugar bill. That was a real shock
for me!
He once again prevailed and obtained the
necessary permissions for his aircraft to
start logging airtime. Although this whole
experience of getting run-arounds from the
government departments and various
agencies has left him bitter, he always
manages to sneak in a satisfactory smile on
his face when recalling his horror stories
with the bureaucratic red tape. He proudly
narrates the story in which he turned down
the offer by an Arab prince to come and
build his factory in the Middle East. He was
offered anything he would want along with
state citizenship, but he refused and chose
to pursue his dream in Pakistan.
The day I met Faisal, he had scheduled a
flight for his aircraft and was waiting for
his pilot buddy to arrive. When it was all
set to jet, I was offered a ride in it. Multiple
thoughts crossed my mind before I
responded to that offer. At first, I hesitated,
thinking it is the first of its kind airplanes,
the very first off the factory floor.
Additionally being a software engineer by
training got the best of me.
What if this plane had bugs ? I asked
myself,
What if it went up and never came down?
I thought.
But then I was reminded of Faisals
meticulous planning, his entrepreneurial
zeal and determination to build a first class
flying machine.
This man wouldnt take the slightest
chance and wont let anything shatter his
dream, a voice inside me reassured.
It was just a moments hesitation and then I
said yes. As I flew over Lahore in Faisals
two seat Storm Rally aircraft, the
exhilarating feeling of flying in Pakistans
first privately manufactured aircraft
remained in the backdrop and I couldnt
help but stay in awe of Faisals spirit and
feel proud to be associated with him by
virtue of being a fellow Pakistani.
So there, muffled among the many
screaming stories in the media about
injustice, intolerance, terrorism,
corruption , energy crisis and what not,
breathe the whispers of ingenuity,
inventiveness and excellence. The untold
story of a shy entrepreneur from Quetta
who dared to dream big, persevered and
fought all odds stacked against him, and
built Pakistans very own, indigenously
manufactured aircraft!
I flew in it, and it was amazing!
www.http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/17917/a-will-made-of-steel-and-an-aircraft-made-in-pakistan/
Pakistan’s first indigenous aircraft
manufactured by Scaled Aviation Industries.
made in Pakistan
June 28, 2013
"That, my friend, is the very first
airplane made in Pakistan by a private
aircraft manufacturer, proudly stated my
host pointing in the direction of the
aircraft hanger behind me.
As I turned around with anticipation and
saw an all composite two seat, three
propeller aircraft, gleaming in the sunlight
coming in through the hanger vents, a
feeling of pride overwhelmed me. It was
immediately followed by profound respect
for my host entrepreneur and his long and
inspiring journey from a dream to its
realisation parked right in front of me in
that hanger.
My host was Faisal Naveed Asif, CEO
of Scaled Aviation Industries, whom I had
met on the judges panel at a business plan
competition in a local university just a few
weeks ago. Before the event, when Faisal
introduced himself as the CEO of the only
private-sector, certified, aircraft
manufacturer in the whole of Middle East
and South Asia, I was immediately
impressed and decided that I must know and
tell this mans story which is guaranteed to
be inspirational for seasoned and budding
entrepreneurs alike. I asked Faisal if I could
come and visit his facilities and a couple
weeks later he called and we agreed to meet
at Scaled Aviations Walton Airport Royal
Hanger.
Faisal is a soft spoken and down to earth
individual. However, underneath that
modesty, he hides a brilliant mind trained
by years of work with the defence sector,
especially the Air Force and excellent
academic credentials. When giving me an
overview of some of the innovative aspects
of his manufacturing process, his eyes lit up
like those of a father telling the story of his
childs achievements. I could tell that this
man was truly proud of all the ingenuity
around him, most of it, a product of his
own brilliance.
Faisal Naveed Asif, CEO of Scaled Aviation
Industries. Photo: Khurram Zafar
Faisals journey started back in 2001 when
he announced to his family that he is going
to quit work in the defence sector and
develop an indigenous aircraft in Pakistan.
The initial reactions were not very
encouraging. He recalls that one of his
uncles quipped that he couldnt produce a
stable, four-legged chair in his furniture
factory, let alone build an airplane. He also
remembers his friends speculating that he
has gone mad.
Furthermore, one of the first things Faisal
realised after embarking upon this journey
was that its littered with clearance
requirements from numerous departments;
the bureaucracy, the red tape, the security
clearances, the No Objection Certificates
(NOCs), the wild goose chases between
departments and ministries. But none of
that deterred Faisal.
The man, with the will of steel, persevered
and managed to kick off his manufacturing
operations in 2006. After about six years of
bootstrapping the operations with his own
capital and some debt financing, Faisal
managed to produce the first air craft in
2012 that was ready for test flights. More
importantly, his factory gained the
capability of producing dozens of planes of
varying capacities every year, making it a
potentially viable business. The planes
would cost less than many of the high end
cars we see on the roads and were more
fuel efficient than a standard four door
Sedan!
Along the way though, Faisal had to make
some compromises because two of the most
sensitive parts of the aircraft the engine
and the instrument panel could not be
built in Pakistan because of the stringent
laws, lack of economically viable
manufacturing facilities and an absent
partner ecosystem. He managed to import
those parts, but after and among others,
clearances from the US Department of State
pursuant to Pakistan signing off on
the Kerry-Lugar bill. That was a real shock
for me!
He once again prevailed and obtained the
necessary permissions for his aircraft to
start logging airtime. Although this whole
experience of getting run-arounds from the
government departments and various
agencies has left him bitter, he always
manages to sneak in a satisfactory smile on
his face when recalling his horror stories
with the bureaucratic red tape. He proudly
narrates the story in which he turned down
the offer by an Arab prince to come and
build his factory in the Middle East. He was
offered anything he would want along with
state citizenship, but he refused and chose
to pursue his dream in Pakistan.
The day I met Faisal, he had scheduled a
flight for his aircraft and was waiting for
his pilot buddy to arrive. When it was all
set to jet, I was offered a ride in it. Multiple
thoughts crossed my mind before I
responded to that offer. At first, I hesitated,
thinking it is the first of its kind airplanes,
the very first off the factory floor.
Additionally being a software engineer by
training got the best of me.
What if this plane had bugs ? I asked
myself,
What if it went up and never came down?
I thought.
But then I was reminded of Faisals
meticulous planning, his entrepreneurial
zeal and determination to build a first class
flying machine.
This man wouldnt take the slightest
chance and wont let anything shatter his
dream, a voice inside me reassured.
It was just a moments hesitation and then I
said yes. As I flew over Lahore in Faisals
two seat Storm Rally aircraft, the
exhilarating feeling of flying in Pakistans
first privately manufactured aircraft
remained in the backdrop and I couldnt
help but stay in awe of Faisals spirit and
feel proud to be associated with him by
virtue of being a fellow Pakistani.
So there, muffled among the many
screaming stories in the media about
injustice, intolerance, terrorism,
corruption , energy crisis and what not,
breathe the whispers of ingenuity,
inventiveness and excellence. The untold
story of a shy entrepreneur from Quetta
who dared to dream big, persevered and
fought all odds stacked against him, and
built Pakistans very own, indigenously
manufactured aircraft!
I flew in it, and it was amazing!
www.http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/17917/a-will-made-of-steel-and-an-aircraft-made-in-pakistan/
Pakistan’s first indigenous aircraft
manufactured by Scaled Aviation Industries.
