Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is an Indian aerospace and defence firm in the public sector.
The organization develops, plans, builds, and delivers aircraft, helicopters, avionics, and communications equipment for the military and commercial markets.
Now, in a significant development in Indian aeronautics, HAL has signed a contract with the largest European aircraft manufacturing company — Airbus. The pact was established to provide Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities to the A-320 aircraft family at Nashik. According to reports, the facility would begin in November 2024.
The two parties entered the joint venture and sealed the deal on November 9. The event, which marks an important milestone in India’s aircraft industry was held in New Delhi.
After the agreement was signed, HAL formally declared that its partnership with Airbus would contribute to the Made-in-India objective by helping the Indian aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) sector become self-sufficient.
A statement issued by HAL read, “Under the collaboration, Airbus will supply the A-320 family tool package and offer specialised consulting services to HAL to establish an MRO facility for the A-320 family of aircraft. The partnership between HAL and Airbus will support the growing demand for MRO services in the country and expand the commercial fleet, especially the A-320 family of aircraft.”
The aerospace defence PSU stated that it hopes to offer commercial airlines a one-stop shop for maintenance and repair (MRO) by establishing integrated MRO services in India, claims reports. According to HAL CEO (MiG Complex) Saket Chaturvedi, “HAL wants to establish an integrated MRO hub in the country and provide Airlines with an effective MRO solution” which he thinks would further align with civil-military convergence.
The creation of a robust MRO infrastructure is a crucial component of the aviation ecosystem that Airbus is committed to expanding in India, as highlighted by Remi Maillard — President and Managing Director of Airbus India and South Asia.
As per Navratna PSU (Public Sector Undertaking), the partnership between HAL and Airbus aims to significantly decrease lead times, enhance turnaround times, and lower maintenance costs, all of which will increase the fleet’s availability for flying operations.
This partnership with HAL is a significant step forward in promoting skill development and technical innovation in India. The pact creates opportunities for jobs and skill development in the area too. It is believed that the collaboration between HAL and Airbus is aimed to strengthen India’s standing in the global arena.
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