Aerospace Diary

By:   Neelam Mathews  New Delhi 10 hours ago  Source: Flight Global India's air force could outsource some of its MRO requirements to privately-owned companies in the country. This comes as defence procurement begins to lean toward western suppliers, with a large number of contracts in the pipeline, amid frustration with the level of support available for the Russian aircraft that are the mainstay of the air force. Potential areas of cooperation with third-party MRO firms include issues with obsolescence in avionics for regular upgrades in software, training, calibration of test set-ups, ageing studies and radio frequency identification (RFID), say industry sources. The air force has a large mixed fleet, inadequate spares and support, high attrition of skilled manpower and issues of obsolete equipment. Lessons have been learnt from the unavailability of spares for Ind...

Neelam Mathews March 19, 2012 Things seem dire for Kingfisher by the looks of it. DGCA E.K Bharat Bhushan has expressed serious concern over Kingfisher’s state of affairs to Aerospace Diary. The meeting we had reported earlier with the Kingfisher management for filing of the revised schedule with the DGCA did not take place. “It is strange that an important planned meeting with an eminent government body like this was not attended by the airline's officials,” says an analyst. “We are doing everything to see Kingfisher’s operations are being run in a safe manner. We are concerned with what is happening with operations severely truncated…(and) a pilot agitation on….The situation will evolve. We are looking at all possibilities,” says Bhushan to Aerospace Diary. Increasingly, safety of the carrier is being questioned by the industry. We had reported the revised schedule by Kingfisher to be submitted had just under18 of 66 aircraft. How long will even these last without cash to ...

Business & Operations Overhaul & Maintenance Feb 01 , 2011 , p. 37   Neelam Mathews NEW DELHI Though a list of potential partnerships has fallen through, India’s aftermarket potential remains high. By Neelam Mathews NEW DELHI—As the Indian economy swings back post-recession with an 18% increase in passenger traffic over last year, the fleet of 421 aircraft will increase by 50 in 2011, paving the way for regenerated interest in MRO facilities. Despite exaggerated promises, the MRO industry in India has not been able to deliver. The country’s only third-party provider, Air Works India Engineering, has been on an expansion spree for want of competition to get the first-mover advantage. “The Indian aviation industry is one of the most dynamic, with potential for exponential growth as fleets are expected to grow to over 720 in the next four years,” says Ravi Menon, executive director of Air ...

Aviation Week & Space Technology Jan 17 , 2011 , p. 37 Neelam Mathews Mumbai AFI KLM finds Indian partner for component repair center Printed headline: Component Thrust India will gain its first component repair shop in a joint venture between Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M) and Mumbai-based Max Aerospace and Aviation Ltd.’s Max MRO Services. Construction is to start early this year and finish in the first quarter of 2013, says AFI KLM E&M President Franck Terner. Terms were not disclosed, but the company, as yet unnamed, is expected to start operations with a 10,000-sq.-meter (108,000-sq.-ft.) facility. Plants are under construction in Bengaluru and Nagpur, which offer tax-free zones established to encourage industry. Nagpur is home to the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) center and taxiway Boeing is establishing for Air India . ...

 News AWIN First Nov 16 , 2010 Neelam Mathews  MUMBAI Air France Industries , KLM Engineering and Maintenance (AFI/KLM) and Mumbai-based Max MRO have gained a first-mover advantage in India by becoming the first to announce a joint venture for a component repair facility. The two partners did not disclose the details of the joint venture announced Nov. 16 as modalities are still being worked out. The 10,000-sq.-meter facility is expected to be set up in the tax-free zone of Nagpur, where Boeing is setting up hangars for Air India and where Max owns land, or at another location. “We are trying to develop a global network as the customer wants proximity to suppliers. Our association will empower the JV for transfer of know-how ... it’s a long road and there is no question to limit it to Airbus A320s ,” said Franck Terner, president of Air France Industries in India.  The components business at present is around $100 million, says Terner. “This figure, I believe ...