Air Works, a provider of aviation services, has become the first Directorate General of Civil Aviation approved commercial-airline maintenance, repair and overhaul operator in India.
NEW DELHI: Air Works, a provider of aviation services, has become the first Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) approved commercial-airline maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) operator in India.
According to market estimates, almost all low-cost Indian carriers currently service their aircraft outside India. National Aviation Company of India Ltd’s (Nacil) 20% fleet is maintained overseas and 70% of the other full-service carriers also look outside India for maintenance, repair and overhaul of aircraft.
Fredrik Groth, chief executive officer, Air Works, said the company is beginning with an airframes MRO that requires the least technical and engineering prowess, but would soon graduate to component and engineering MRO services also.
From 2009 onwards, we are eyeing $50 million revenues every year from MRO activities in the country. According to a recent study by Ernst & Young, MRO spending by Indian companies is projected to increase from $440 million in 2007 to $1.2 billion by 2017.
India is a very attractive MRO market since manpower costs at $15 per man-hour are about 20% lower than in other Asia-Pacific markets and up to 50% lower compared to the US.
Air Works already has a hanger in Hosur, near Bangalore, which can house two ATR 72-size aircraft or one narrow body aircraft. Air Works plans to invest up $40 million to set up the additional hangars, paint operation and future engine and component MRO activities.
Air Works will offer services such as line and base maintenance, aircraft painting, structural repairs, cabin upgrades and avionic upgrades.
The company has already announced a joint venture with UK-based Air Livery Plc, as its partner on the upcoming dedicated state of the art paint hangar.
The company’s general aviation MRO, which is already operational in India, does DGCA approved maintenance on over 75 aircraft including Gulfstream, Bombardier, Dassault, Hawker, Cessna, Beech and others.
b_sindhu@dnaindia.net
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