MRO

New Delhi, April 9, 2025: Mahindra Aerostructures,a part of the Mahindra Group, has been awarded the contract by Airbus Helicopters to manufacture and assemble the main fuselage of its H130 light single-engine helicopter — marking a major milestone for India’s ‘Make in India’ vision and further cementing Mahindra’s position as a trusted partner in the global aerospace supply chain. The contract was signed in the presence of Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Minister of Civil Aviation, Government of India, Vumlunmang Vualnam, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Rémi Maillard, President and Managing Director of Airbus in India and South Asia, and Dr Anish Shah, Group CEO and Managing Director of the Mahindra Group. Under this agreement, Mahindra will produce the H130’s main fuselage assembly, which will then be shipped to Airbus Helicopters’ facilities in Europe. Industrialisation will commence immediately, with the first cabin assembly scheduled for delivery by March 2027. Dr Anish Shah, Group CEO & MD, Mahindra Group, said, “We are delighted to deepen our longstanding partnership with Airbus through this pivotal aerostructures contract. As a global leader, Airbus has played a transformative role in nurturing India’s aerospace ecosystem and showcasing it on the world stage. It is an honour for us to build on our proven track record with Airbus, harness our industrial process excellence, and embark on this new initiative. This collaboration highlights our commitment to supporting the Government of India’s flagship ‘Make in India’ program.” Rémi Maillard, President and Managing Director, Airbus in India and South Asia said, “We have a strategic plan for India and we are implementing it to develop a holistic aerospace ecosystem across all dimensions: assembly, manufacturing, engineering, innovation, digital and training. The H130 fuselage manufacturing contract underscores Airbus’ confidence in the growing industrial excellence of the Indian supply chain, which offers the right mix of competencies and competitiveness. We are glad to extend this bond with India through our latest association with our partner Mahindra Aerostructures.” Mahindra already supplies a variety of parts and sub-assemblies for Airbus’ commercial aircraft programmes. The latest contract marks a significant milestone for Mahindra as it continues to expand its portfolio of capabilities from parts and sub-assemblies to larger and more complex aerostructures. For Airbus, India is both a major market and a strategic resource hub. Today, every Airbus commercial aircraft has components and technologies made in India. Currently, Airbus’ annual procurement of components and services from India stands at $1.4 billion. The H130 is an intermediate single-engine helicopter tailored for passenger transport, tourism and private and business aviation, as well as medical airlift and surveillance missions. It has a wide, unobstructed cabin, which accommodates the pilot and up to seven passengers, providing outstanding visibility through a large wrap-around windscreen and wide windows. Its state-of-the-art technologies, materials, systems and avionics make it a quiet and powerful helicopter.

Saline, Michigan,22nd March 2025: Liebherr-Aerospace Saline and SkyWest Airlines have signed agreement for landing gear overhaul and systems maintenance on a defined portion of SkyWest Airlines’ Embraer 175-E1 fleet. Program overhauls will commence in 2025 and undergo complete “restoration” in accordance with Embraer’s requirements for continuing intervals of 30,000 flight hours or 12 calendar years. From the first entry into service in 2004, the Embraer 170/175-E1 family aircraft have proven highly successful with over 950 deliveries and current production backlog. Mr. Will Dew, Managing Director Commercial at Liebherr-Aerospace Saline, Inc. noted: “We initiated induction lines for the first Americas region overhauls in 2012 and have continuously operated active lines for the complete Embraer E170/175/190/195-E1 family since that time. Over the course of the prior three years, we have undertaken a structural transformation of our MRO activities to establish additional capacity, mature efficiencies, and anchor supply chain resilience within the landing gear product line. In this upcoming phase of overhauls, we welcome SkyWest Airlines as a lead customer that will benefit from this achievement”. The complete landing gear system for the Embraer E1 generation of E-Jets was developed and is manufactured by Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH (Germany), Liebherr’s center of competence for flight control and landing gear systems.

Gurugram, 22nd March 2025: Thales has opened its new avionics MRO facility in Gurugram, near the New Delhi airport. Aligned with the vision of “Aatmanirbhar Bharat”, this centre will provide a wide range of services, including the maintenance & repair of avionics components, to prominent Indian airlines such as Air India and IndiGo. This new repair hub draws on Thales’s expertise as a global leader in the aerospace industry, providing premium support and services to airline customers in India. The inauguration was done by Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu in the presence of Damien Syed, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of France in India, along with senior Government officials and eminent dignitaries from the French Embassy and the industry. The Thales team was led by Yannick Assouad, Executive Vice President, Avionics, Thomas Got, Vice President, Aviation Global Services and Gilles Bono, Vice President, India. This occasion marks a milestone in Thales’s continued investment strategy in India’s rapidly expanding aviation market. Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu said, “My heartfelt appreciation goes to Thales for setting up this dedicated facility in India to provide onshore MRO services to our airlines. Taking a tour of the facility and seeing it firsthand, I must say that I am deeply impressed by the meticulous planning and innovation that have gone into creating this centre. I believe the inauguration of this advanced avionics MRO centre marks a significant milestone for Indian aviation and a proud moment for Thales in India. This facility exemplifies our collective commitment to building a self-reliant India and a self-reliant aviation ecosystem.Thales stands out as a shining example of Indo-French collaboration, we must together leverage India’s vast talent pool and facilitate India’s rapidly growing aviation market.” Thomas Got, Vice President Aviation Global Services, Thales, said, “India’s MRO industry is set for significant growth, becoming a key region for airlines. We are proud to inaugurate our Thales Maintenance and Repair Centre in India. This highlights our localisation efforts to bring our technological and avionics repair expertise closer to airline customers. The Gurugram centre is backed by the power of a global support and services organisation, and aligns with Thales’s strategy to expand its presence in India.”

Mumbai, 29th January 2025: Air India, is set to showcase its premium cabin product and in-flight offerings at the upcoming Outbound Travel Mart (OTM) 2025, scheduled to take place from 30 January to 1 February 2025 at the Jio World Convention Centre, BKC, Mumbai. Taking inspiration from Air India’s signature design philosophy, the exhibition booth has been conceptualised with ‘The Vista’ as an integral part of its structure, blending aesthetics with immersive digital experiences. The pavilion will showcase various aspects of Air India’s transformation journey, captivating audiences with a live demonstration of Business Class and Premium Economy seats that are today available on Air India’s newly retrofitted A320 family aircraft. These aircraft come with subtle cabin mood lighting, spacious legroom and wider pitch, and modern features, like portable electronic device (PED) holders and USB ports to charge mobile phones, laptops and other gadgets, among others. Visitors will be able to experience the seats in real-time while also getting a glimpse of Air India’s brand new A350 product at the Virtual Reality (VR) experience zone. In addition, Air India will also display a selection of in-flight meals to showcase its refreshed menus and enhanced dining experience onboard. “OTM 2025 presents a significant platform for Air India to engage and deepen ties with more than 40,000 key trade visitors from across the globe while highlighting the milestones of our transformation journey. With the Air India pavilion featuring unique activations and immersive experiences, including our Business Class and Premium Economy seats, we are set to demonstrate our commitment to delivering world-class product and services to our customers,” said Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India. At the VR experience zone, visitors will embark on a virtual journey of the state-of-the-art A350 aircraft that have recently been deployed between Delhi and London Heathrow, New York (JFK), and Newark. The booth will also give visitors a chance to sign up for Maharaja Club, Air India’s all-new frequent flyer program that offers a host of privileges and exclusive benefits.

Dubai, 8th Jan 2025: The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has certified ExecuJet MRO Services Middle East’s facility at Dubai’s Al-Maktoum International Airport (DWC) to perform line and base maintenance on Bombardier Global 7500 aircraft. This certification comes in response to growing customer demand and reflects ExecuJet’s commitment to meeting the needs of a rapidly expanding fleet in the region. “We are excited to extend our support to the Bombardier Global 7500 with EASA certification for our state-of-the-art DWC facility,” says Nick Weber, Regional VP for the Middle East at ExecuJet MRO Services. “With years of experience maintaining the Challenger and Global series, our team is committed to delivering the highest standards of quality, safety and craftsmanship. Whether it’s scheduled maintenance, unscheduled repairs or mobile repair team (MRT) requirements; ExecuJet is dedicated to providing expert service that exceeds our customers’ expectations.” The DWC MRO facility is a purpose-built 15,344m2 air-conditioned facility with wide ranging MRO capabilities to support various aircraft and engine models. The facility also houses workshops for non-destructive testing (NDT), sheet-metal and composite repair capabilities,painting, touch up and so on. The MRO provider’s longstanding reputation for excellence is underscored by its record of Service Excellence Awards, including Bombardier’s Business Aircraft Authorised Service Facility overall and international rankings for 2011-2015 and 2018-2020. These awards, based on key performance indicators, highlight ExecuJet’s dedication to exceptional customer service, aircraft reliability and on-time performance. “We understand the importance of aircraft availability and on-time departures for our customers. We continue to focus on improving aircraft reliability and operational efficiency,” says Weber. “ExecuJet is well-positioned to support the growing Global 7500 fleet with the same level of professionalism and expertise our customers have come to rely on,” he adds.

Dubai,09 December 2024: flydubai has received the GCAA CAR 147 Approved Maintenance Training Organisation certification, enabling it to run its in-house maintenance and engineering training and certification. The CAR 147 training certification is a regulatory framework established by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) in the UAE, which allows the airline to provide approved training for aircraft maintenance engineers and technicians. The certification ensures that the training programmes meet specific standards and requirements set by the GCAA, aligning with international aviation standards and recommended practices. His Excellency Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), said: “granting flydubai a maintenance training organisation approval represents a major advancement in the educational infrastructure to train and qualify skilled professionals in the civil aviation sector. This initiative also strengthens our national capabilities in this field, aligning with the highest international standards.” Al Suwaidi continued: “it is essential for organisations to keep pace with rapid changes in the aviation industry by updating their training programmes and enhancing their capabilities. By enabling the airline to prepare highly qualified engineers and technicians, flydubai will significantly contribute to the aviation sector in the country and provide the necessary competencies in this vital field.” Commenting on receiving the new certification, Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, said: “we are very proud to receive the CAR 147 approval which represents another milestone in flydubai’s journey. Underscoring our continued commitment to investing in our in-house capabilities, the certification will also help in building a solid foundation for further growth as part of our role in supporting Dubai’s economic and aviation vision.” The certification will enable flydubai to cultivate and grow its skilled maintenance and engineering workforce and support its growing fleet over the coming years. The airline has also announced its first purpose-built maintenance facility which is set to open in Dubai South by 2026. Obtaining the CAR 147 certification enables flydubai to tailor the curriculum to its specific operational needs, aircraft types and the highest safety standards. This enhances in-house capabilities and streamlines the onboarding process, enabling the airline to quickly scale its workforce to meet growing operational demands. Khalid Alhumaidan, Senior Vice President of Compliance, Safety and Sustainability at flydubai, added: “I would like to thank the teams at flydubai and the GCAA for all their hard work in laying the foundation for this certification. Our focus is to develop new talent through a structured programme that trains candidates to become qualified engineering and maintenance professionals, trained to the highest safety and quality standards and enabling them to support and sustain flydubai’s future plans.”

BALI,November 29, 2024: FL Technics Indonesia (PT Avia Technics Dirgantara), a subsidiary of global aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) leader FL Technics, proudly unveils its new 17,000-square-meter MRO facility in Bali. Strategically located at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS), this cutting-edge facility will serve the fast-growing MRO needs for narrowbody aircraft in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 family aircraft. The grand opening ceremony gathered esteemed aviation leaders, government representatives, and FL Technics’ parent company, Avia Solutions Group, to mark this milestone event. “This facility is a testament to our commitment to Asia and Australia’s aviation growth. It will empower airlines to uphold the highest safety and efficiency standards,” said Zilvinas Lapinskas, Chief Executive Officer of FL Technics Group. “These three hangars represent a triumph for the region and our group, unlocking opportunities and driving progress for businesses and communities in Asia, Australia, and beyond.” The new six-bay maintenance hub is purpose-built to support classic and next-generation models of the Boeing 737 and the Airbus A320 family, including current and new engine options. Designed to meet the growing regional demand for these aircraft types, the facility is equipped with dedicated production shops and offices, creating over 500 new jobs for the local economy. FL Technics Indonesia operates under Part-145 AMO certifications issued by the Indonesian Directorate General of Civil Aviation, and its services are also planned to achieve CASA, FAA, and EASA certificates of approval in the coming months. “This expansion comes at a crucial time for the Asian aviation market,” said Martynas Grigas, CEO of FL Technics Indonesia. “With our advanced infrastructure and the presence of other Avia Solutions Group companies like BBN Airlines Indonesia, SkyTrans, and Thai SmartLynx, we’re poised to strengthen supply chains, bolster growth, and support airlines across the region and beyond.” FL Technics’ new facility in Bali joins its extensive MRO network, which includes base maintenance hangars in Lithuania (Vilnius and Kaunas International Airports), the UK (Prestwick International Airport), Indonesia (Jakarta International Airport), and an upcoming location in the Dominican Republic (Punta Cana International Airport).