MRO

SINGAPORE, Feb.19th, 2024: Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, today announced the official opening of a 48,000 square-foot expansion of its Singapore based engine center, Eagle Services Asia (ESA). The facility will grow its GTF capacity by two-thirds this year. “This expansion demonstrates our commitment to building industrial capacity by continuing to invest in our strategic sites around the world to support our customers,” said Shang Meleschi, vice president of Aftermarket Operations – Asia Pacific and Türkiye at Pratt & Whitney. “We are bringing together talent from our engine center, technologies from the Singapore Technology Accelerator and innovative practices from across Pratt & Whitney to improve MRO performance for our GTF fleet.” The transformative technology insertion applied across both ESA sites integrates robotics, automation and machine learning to increase efficiency, lower stress on machine operators and increase safety for key MRO processes. These innovations include fully automated high-pressure compressor (HPC) rotor stacking, a Receive-in-Check Cobot that augments the work done by human inspectors and a robotic arm to install and remove HPC bearing sleeves. ESA, a joint venture between SIA Engineering Company and Pratt & Whitney, is a member of the Pratt & Whitney GTF™ MRO network. Since introducing GTF MRO capability in 2019, the facility has already completed over 500 GTF engine overhauls. In 2023, Pratt & Whitney announced three GTF MRO facility expansions and six shop activations to support the growing GTF fleet. There are currently 15 active GTF MRO engine centers around the world, with seven locations in the Asia Pacific region including ESA in Singapore, Korean Airlines in Korea, IHI and MHIAEL in Japan, MTU Maintenance Zhuhai and AMECO in China, and China Airlines in Taiwan. By 2025, the company expects to have 19 active GTF MRO shops worldwide.

Bengaluru, February 13, 2024: Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, announced the establishment of its new India Digital Capability Center (IDCC) in Bengaluru. The new center will accelerate innovation and drive digital and business transformation for Pratt & Whitney worldwide.The facility will be co-located with Pratt & Whitney’s engineering and supply chain operations centers of excellence. The location will also facilitate close collaboration with other RTX businesses in India including Collins Aerospace and RTX Enterprise Services. “The expansion of Pratt & Whitney’s digital technology presence in Bengaluru will allow us to leverage India’s aviation and technology talent and accelerate our digital transformation,” said Rahul Dharni, vice president & global chief information officer, Pratt & Whitney. Pratt & Whitney has begun recruiting its first tranche of employees for the IDCC and is expected grow to over 300 employees by 2027. The center will be focused on delivering multiple digital technology capabilities across various priority areas of Pratt & Whitney’s digital transformation. “With $40 million already invested in engineering and supply chain operations centers in the past two years, Pratt & Whitney continues to grow its presence and contribution to India’s aerospace ecosystem with this additional multi-million-dollar investment in the IDCC,” said Ashmita Sethi, president & country head, Pratt & Whitney, India (UTCIPL). Pratt & Whitney’s other investments in-country include a state-of-the-art India Customer Training Center in Hyderabad and its research & development collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. Pratt & Whitney has sourced nearly $55 million in the past 10 years from leading aerospace suppliers in India and also sourced over $500 million in engineering services into India over the past two decades. With an Indian workforce of more than 5,000 people, RTX has one the largest presences amongst aerospace and defense firms in India.

Hyderabad, Thursday 19th January 2024: AVI-OIL India [P] Ltd, a joint venture of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., Balmer Lawrie and Co. Ltd. and NYCO France, and its authorized distributor M/s Tentacles Aerologistix jointly announces that ALLIANCE AIR, a wholly owned subsidiary of Air India Asset Holdings Ltd (AIAHL), has selected TURBONYCOIL® 600 to lubricate its regional fleet of ATR72 & ATR42 powered by P&WC engines. Alliance Air CEO Vineet Sood  said,“we are delighted to confirm a seamless transition to our new engine oil NYCO TURBONYCOIL® 600 . Our rigorous multi-evaluation process ensures that the chosen supplier meets our high standards for quality, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. This move reflects our commitment to optimal engine performance and a successful partnership with NYCO and Avi-Oil.” Rahul Pandey – Executive Director (Engg) said,”we started using NYCO TURBONYOIL 600 since Sept 2023 and the support received from AVI-OIL for the smooth transition was commendable.” “We appreciate this great opportunity to supply a field proven TURBONYCOIL® 600 to Alliance Air. We are committed to delivering quality products for optimal performance and look forward to a successful partnership for years to come,”said  V K Mathew, CEO, AVI-OIL. Approved in line with demanding specifications, including SAE AS5780 SPC Class and MIL-PRF-23699 G STD Class, TURBONYCOIL® 600 is qualified by all major engine manufacturers (General Electric, Pratt & Whitney, Pratt & Whitney Canada, Rolls-Royce, Safran Aircraft Engines, Safran Helicopters Engines, CFMI…). It has been used for more than 35 years in jet engines of military and commercial aircraft.

New Delhi, 9th August, 2023: Global aviation software provider Ramco Systems announced that it will implement its next-gen Aviation Suite V5.9 at AI Engineering Services Limited (AIESL) a one-stop-shop for all engineering requirements. Ramco’s digital platform will further enrich the 20-year-old association with AIESL, thereby offering them operational efficiency, simplified processes and enhanced customer experience. Ramco Aviation Suite will provide AIESL with modules covering 3rd Party MRO services including Line, Hangar, Engine and Component Maintenance, Engineering & CAMO services, Supply Chain Management, and Digital Task Cards. The solution will also enable AIESL to connect with suppliers, thereby aiding seamless flow of information. Through an accelerated data migration and execution plan, the implementation of Ramco Aviation Suite will be streamlined for rapid integration and quicker deployment. Sharad Agarwal, CEO, AI Engineering Services Limited, said, “Our decision to adopt Ramco Aviation Suite was driven by its unmatched compatibility with our strategic direction. Considering the comprehensive MRO-specific functionalities, and out of the box solution, we are keen to leverage Ramco Aviation Suite to drive efficiencies, transform our operations and support our vision to provide best in class services to our customers by maintaining the highest standards of regulatory and safety compliance. With Ramco’s latest technology, we look forward to staying ahead on the innovation front and delivering superior and differentiated services to our customers.” Manoj Kumar Singh, Chief Customer Officer – Aviation, Aerospace & Defense, Ramco Systems, said, “We are proud to be the preferred aviation software provider for AIESL. As we embark on this exciting journey with AIESL, we are dedicated to further strengthening the successful partnership that reflects the same excellence we have maintained over the years. Ramco’s best-in-class product capabilities embedded with the latest AI, ML stacks has been helping us distinguish ourselves as a leading aviation software provider. We look forward to supporting AIESL’s strategic direction.”

Johannesburg,13th July 2023: The Aruba Department of Civil Aviation and the Malawi Department of Civil Aviation have certified ExecuJet MRO Services Africa to do line and heavy maintenance on select aircraft types on those countries’ aircraft registry. Aruba, in the Caribbean, where many business jets are registered, has granted approval that permits heavy and line maintenance on Dassault Falcon 7X and Falcon 900 aircraft as well as the Bombardier Challenger and Bombardier Global series aircraft. Aruba has also approved ExecuJet MRO Services Africa to overhaul Honeywell TPE331 turboprop and complete major periodic inspections (MPIs) on Honeywell TFE731 turbofan engines. In a separate development, the Malawi Department of Civil Aviation has certified ExecuJet MRO Services Africa to do line and heavy maintenance on Malawi-registered Embraer ERJ-135 and Embraer ERJ-145 commercial regional jets, as well as their derivatives, the Embraer Legacy 600 and 650 business jet. Vince Goncalves, Regional Vice President Africa at ExecuJet MRO Services, says: “We are pleased to be recognised by so many international aviation bodies. This latest certification allows us to penetrate these two markets by providing world-class MRO services to local business jet operators and owners as well as those flying into different parts of Africa.” “Customers can expect their aircraft to be well-supported and maintained at all times thanks to our team of highly trained maintenance technicians and engineers who have extensive multi-OEM experience,” he adds. ExecuJet MRO Services Africa is also certified by other civil aviation regulators such as: Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Zambia, Cayman Islands, Isle of Man and San Marino.

Mumbai, 30th June 2023: The Engineering division of SriLankan Airlines recently completed heavy maintenance check of Cebu Pacific Air Airbus A330 (Trent 700). This marks the airlines engineering division foray into providing Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services for wide-bodied aircraft from the Southeast Asian region. Cebu Pacific Air is the first Southeast Asian airline to sign up with SriLankan Engineering for heavy maintenance on wide-body aircraft. The heavy maintenance check on the Cebu Pacific Air aircraft was performed in SriLankan Engineering’s dedicated European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approved wide-body hangar over a period of four days. It was also the third heavy maintenance by SriLankan Engineering for a customer airline with the other checks being carried out on two Airbus A330 (CF6) aircraft of Serene Air, who came aboard last year. This year several new airlines enrolled with SriLankan Engineering for line maintenance services in Colombo and the Maldives. The demand for base maintenance services has also been equally strong. Air-Sial and Salam Air enlisted for component maintenance services, while and Cebu Pacific Air and Jazeera Airways became the newest customers of heavy maintenance services in 2023. The increasing demand for its MRO services has also resulted in an increasing dollar revenue for SriLankan Engineering, which saw a 35 per cent jump in earnings between the last two financial years.

Feature by Aeroclass Ever since the start of the pandemic, the MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) industry has faced many challenges that had an impact on many industry players. According to Anca Gosling, Director of Training Content and Development at Aeroclass, an aviation digital learning platform, despite hurdles, the industry is expected to reach new heights in the coming years. The current state of the MRO market indicates a remarkable recovery, with a projected market value of $94 billion in 2023, an increase of over 20% from the previous year. This growth signifies a return to pre-pandemic levels, as the global fleet has recovered by 98%, and passenger traffic has reached 90% by the beginning of 2023. However, Gosling points out that amidst this positive outlook, the industry further continues to face challenges that impede its rapid development. One of these challenges is effective labour and material cost management as material costs are expected to experience inflation of approximately 6.7% annually over the next couple of years. Gosling explains that to counteract this, MROs are focusing on increasing the usage of used serviceable material (USM). With retiring current-generation fleets, there is ample opportunity to salvage materials, while the commonality between current and next-generation fleets facilitates USM adoption. Shortage of qualified staff Another significant challenge lies in the shortage of qualified staff, particularly maintenance technicians. Anca Gosling explains, “As demand for MRO services rebounds, the industry has had to rapidly scale up production and maintenance operations with fewer employees. To address this issue, operators are implementing measures such as educational outreach, subsidized technical training, improving the work environment, recruiting talent from other industries, and utilising internet-based recruitment platforms Online training and courses, such as the ones offered by Aeroclass, can also play a vital role in optimizing staff training and onboarding processes, enabling faster and more streamlined training programs.” Additionally, the MRO industry faces challenges in its material supply chain. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and suppliers have struggled to meet the increased demand for parts, leading companies to rely heavily on the aftermarket for supplies. “This strain on the supply chain highlights the need for improved collaboration and coordination between OEMs, suppliers, and MROs to ensure efficient and timely availability of required materials,” she shares. Address challenges amicably While the MRO industry is poised for recovery and growth, several challenges must be addressed to ensure its sustained success. Effective labour and material cost management, tackling the shortage of qualified staff, and overcoming material supply chain disruptions are all critical areas that require attention. By implementing strategic solutions such as increased usage of USM, investing in training programs and online education, and collaborating closely with suppliers, the MRO industry can navigate these challenges and continue its upward trajectory, driving innovation and efficiency in the aviation sector. (Aeroclass is the first digital learning platform to focus specifically on the aviation market.Aeroclass is part of the Avia Solutions Group family, the world’s largest ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) provider, with a fleet of 180 aircraft, and a parent company of SmartLynx, Avion Express, Bluebird Nordic, BBN Indonesia Airlines, KlasJet, Magma Aviation and more.)

Paris Air Show, 22.06.2023: GKN Aerospace announced the first delivery of F-35 Lightning II wheels and brakes assemblies serviced and maintained at its GKN Fokker landing gear facility in The Netherlands. This delivery marks the first shipset of its contract to service and maintain wheels, brakes and strut assemblies for the F-35 fleet in Europe. Shawn Black, President of GKN Aerospace Defence Business said: ”This is a tremendous step in expanding the F-35 industrial base while shortening maintenance times in Europe and increasing international partnership in the program. We look forward to continuing our work with Lockheed Martin in supporting this vital multi-role fighter in Europe and the Pacific.” GKN Aerospace’s Fokker business received the contract award to maintain and service the F-35 landing gear from the Joint Program Office due to its extensive experience in landing gear maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) in other platforms including the F-16 and the NH-90 helicopter. Along with maintenance activities, the landing gear business is also involved in the design and manufacturing of the F-35 arresting gear and the development of the F-35 composite landing gear drag brace. GKN Aerospace has been involved in the F-35 program since the start and has designed and manufactured electrical wiring interconnected systems, flaperons, in-flight opening doors, cockpit canopy, air frame parts and arresting gear for all F-35 aircraft.

Bangalore. 6th Feb 2023: Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Helicopter Factory at Tumakuru in Karnataka on February 06, 2023. He took a walk through of the Helicopter Facility & Structure Hangar and unveiled the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH). The factory is India’s largest helicopter manufacturing facility and will initially produce LUHs. The LUH is an indigenously designed and developed three-ton class, single engine multipurpose utility helicopter with unique features of high manoeuvrability. Initially, this factory will produce around 30 helicopters per year and can be enhanced to 60 and then 90 per year in a phased manner. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said, Karnataka is a land of saints and sages that have always strengthened the Indian traditions of spirituality, knowledge and scientific values. He lauded the talent and innovation of Karnataka’s youth and said the manufacturing sector’s strength is manifested in products from drones to Tejas fighter planes. “Double-engine government has made Karnataka the first choice of investors,” the Prime Minister asserted and illustrated the point by the HAL project dedicated today, for which he had laid the foundation stone in 2016 with a pledge for reducing foreign dependence for defence needs. The Prime Minister expressed delight that hundreds of arms and defence equipment are being manufactured in India which are being used by the Armed Forces. “From advanced assault rifles to tanks, aircraft carriers, helicopters, fighter jets, transport aircraft, India is manufacturing it all”, the Prime Minister remarked. Throwing light on the aerospace sector, the Prime Minister pointed out that the investment made in this sector in the last 8-9 years is five times the investment made before 2014 plus 15 years prior. The Prime Minister underlined that Made in India arms are not just supplied to the armed forces but the defence exports have also grown manifold when compared to the years before 2014. He emphasised that hundreds of helicopters are going to be manufactured in this facility itself in the near future which will give rise to businesses worth Rs four lakh crore. “When such manufacturing units are set up, it does not just strengthen the Armed Forces but also creates employment and self-employment opportunities,” Shri Modi remarked as he underlined that small businesses near the helicopter manufacturing facility in Tumkuru will get empowered. The Prime Minister emphasised that with the spirit of ‘Nation First’ success is assured. He talked about revamping and reforms in the working of the public sector enterprises as well as opening up opportunities for the private sector. The Prime Minister referred to the recent propaganda to target the government in the name of HAL and said that falsehood, no matter how big, frequent or high, is always defeated in the face of truth. “This factory and the rising strength of HAL has exposed the purveyors of falsehood. Reality is speaking for itself,” he said and added that today the same HAL is making modern Tejas for the Armed forces and is a centre of global attraction and bolstering India’s ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in the defence sector. In his address, the Raksha Mantri lauded the Prime Minister’s visionary leadership, saying that it has fuelled the rise of a ‘New India’ which has the ability to illuminate the world with its light. He stated that India has been a major centre for production and export of silk, cotton & steel and it has now embarked on a journey to become a global hub in manufacturing, especially in the field of defence. He described the HAL Helicopter Factory as a testament to the country’s growing indigenous capabilities and the Government’s unwavering resolve to achieve ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence manufacturing. Shri Rajnath Singh also called the inauguration as a tribute to the innumerable heroes and freedom fighters of Karnataka who sacrificed their lives to protect the nation. He added that the facility is a reflection of the Swadeshi movement inspired by leaders like Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi. “The Swadeshi movement, which started a century ago, was the first phase of our independence. That was National Movement 1.0. Our vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ is the second phase. It is National Movement 2.0, through which we are moving fast towards freedom from foreign equipment,” he said. The Raksha Mantri stressed that under the Prime Minister’s leadership, the Armed Forces have marched ahead in the defence of the nation with renewed vigour and enthusiasm. Not just the soldiers, but scientists, engineers, machinists, technicians, MSMEs, individual innovators, start-ups, industrial workers and all other sections are contributing to national security and socio-economic empowerment of the country, he added. Shri Rajnath Singh stated that while the Armed Forces are at the borders, every citizen is behind the scene supporting and encouraging them. The HAL Helicopter Facility is a proof of that collective resolve, he said. About HAL Helicopter Factory The Greenfield Helicopter Factory, spread across 615 acres of land, is planned with a vision to become a one-stop solution for all helicopter requirements of the country. After initially producing LUHs, the factory will be augmented to produce other helicopters such as Light Combat Helicopters (LCHs) and Indian Multirole Helicopters (IMRHs). It will also be used for Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul of LCH, LUH, Civil Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and IMRH in the future. Potential exports of civil LUH will also be catered to from this factory. The HAL plans to produce more than 1,000 helicopters in the range of 3-15 tonnes, with a total business of over Rs four lakh crores over a period of 20 years. Besides generating direct and indirect employment, the Tumakuru facility will boost the development of surrounding areas through its CSR activities with large-scale community centric programmes on which the company will spend substantial amounts. All this will result in improvement in the people’s lives in the region. The proximity of the factory, with the existing HAL facilities in Bengaluru, will boost the aerospace manufacturing ecosystem in the region and support skill & infrastructure development such as schools,

At the Aero MRO A&D 2022 conclave, it was on opportunity to meet Anil Kumar Kapoor, Executive Director( Engg), AIESL .We discussed on various keys issues pertinent to AIESL vision, govt policy, scope ahead for Indian MRO , disinvestment etc. Excerpts from the interaction… Vishal Kashyap, Managing Editor, Aviation World What are the priorities areas that you are seeking for MRO sector on behalf of AIESL for 2023? We are looking for the potential segment of base maintenance, engine MRO and component facility which already exists with AIESL. We want to penetrate deep into international markets and perhaps as of now only 5-8 % share is within India and rest all is going as import to OEMS & manufacturers. So, we definitely like to retain this share outgo within India and with government thrust on ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ we look forward to retain business In-house and perhaps in keys areas, we are announcing our capabilities, capacities to match anticipated work load. As India will be emerging as a 3rd largest aviation market in the world, so MRO sector is also bound to grow by leaps & bounds. To cater to these requirements, definitely we are upgrading our skill set, increasing our man power, penetrating deep into the market segments, getting more clients on board l. We are perhaps getting a new customer in the shape of defence sector. We have jointly signed many agreements; MoU with regard to DRDO , IAF and some mission aircrafts also to cater to their specific needs, base maintenance, C -Checks , D- Checks , structure repair, modifications, etc. How India will be able to retain MRO business within India, which seems to be potential challenge as of now? You rightly pointed out that majority chunk is going out of India as imports, be it OEMs support, spare support, and the proprietary rights which OEMS and manufacturers are not ready to share with other competitors. We need to have collaborations with bigger players and different OEMS to come down to India and have JVs and joint working groups or some MoUs need to be signed on dotted lines so as to improve infrastructure and give a manufacturing boost within India so as to at the same time will be catering to Make in India and Atmanirbhar drive and save foreign currency outgo and generate lot of employment. These are potential segments and can’t be imagined the inflow of new orders of aircrafts, defence aircrafts. So, we need to have JV and share the skill set with OEMS and perhaps give them lucrative offer in our various locations to set up their manufacturing hubs there. And, perhaps from here we can export to different part of the world. What’s your take on the taxation part, which has always been red flagged by the MRO industry? There are lot of things that have been done by the Civil Aviation ministry and Govt. of India. Earlier, the taxation policies were very high and recently, few months back it has been reduced which makes us more competitive when we compare with Malaysia and other Asian counterpart’s because there the taxation policies are as good as negligible. But, presently in India also its almost 5 % which is not much . Apart from that some customs relaxations with regard to procurement of spares and if further something down with taxation can be done, it will further announce MRO activities and boost will be given to this industry. What are the issues which need to be resolved to avoid safety challenges of our aircrafts? There are definitely some issues which have come to light in the recent past. There are few cases with engines related to maintenance and quality compromises or some known glitches which vendor also acknowledges by airlines. Although parallel maintenance activities to counter such incidents are already being initiated by airlines. But, still few incidents keep on happening, at the same time the manufacturers are also taking corrective steps to stop such incidents. They do lot of investigation and research putting lot of efforts to avoid reoccurrence. Our regulator DGCA had its own audits program, spot checks and they are very careful on such issues. Is disinvestment still a long way process for AIESL? No, it should not be a long way process as DIPAM secretary, MoCA, is all geared up and we ourselves have given all data to our advisors who are taking it forward. May be by this year end all documents should be ready and global tender should be floated out. So, whosoever is the contender, with the highest bid will take over AIESL. We expect it to be selling within this FY itself hopefully, keeping all finger crossed.