Boeing 777 VVIP aircraft operated by the Indian Air Force (Image Credit: Andy Egloff)
Boeing on 10 May 2022 announced an effort to explore opportunities with AI Engineering Services Ltd. (AIESL) for the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) of critical equipment on key Boeing defence platforms in India, including the P-8I operated by the Indian Navy and the 777 VVIP aircraft operated by the Indian Air Force. The collaboration was announced at the Boeing India Aatmanirbharta in Defence conference organised at New Delhi with participation from dignitaries from the Indian Navy, AIESL, and other key supplier-partners. “Our planned collaboration with AIESL could position us to provide significant value-add to our defence customers locally by enabling faster turnaround, exceptional operational capability and mission readiness for the Indian armed forces. This is also an important step as part of our commitment to the Government of India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision of making India a regional MRO hub,” stated Surendra Ahuja, Managing Director, Boeing Defence India. This collaboration would support the Indian Navy’s growing P-8I fleet, building up the local aviation ecosystem, while ensuring quicker turnarounds for the Indian Navy. It would also help build indigenous MRO capabilities as it would bring the P-8I landing gear repair and overhaul work to India for the first time. “Such collaboration would drive forward our vision for strengthening MRO capabilities in India, for India. We remain excited and committed as we provide critical support to India’s armed forces as part of the Boeing India Repair Development and Sustainment (BIRDS) hub initiative,” stated Sharad Agrawal, CEO, AI Engineering Services Ltd. Boeing India’s collaboration with AIESL would provide further impetus to the BIRDS hub initiative, an in-country network and alliance of suppliers led by Boeing in India that envisions a competitive MRO ecosystem for engineering, maintenance, skilling, repair and sustainment services of defence and commercial aircraft. The hub has been growing capabilities in India in the areas of heavy maintenance, component repairs, training and skilling of MRO maintainers. An important aspect of BIRDS is training programmes to increase skilled manpower by developing sub-tier suppliers and medium, small and micro enterprises (MSMEs) to build high quality MRO capabilities in India.
(L to R): Rajiv Kumar, Head of Marketing, DGM, AI Engineering Services Ltd, RAdm Deepak Bansal, VSM, ACNS (Air Materiel), Indian Navy, Sharad Agarwal, CEO, AI Engineering Services Ltd, Salil Gupte, President, Boeing India, Ashwani Bhargava, Senior Director, Supply Chain, Boeing India, Surendra Ahuja, Managing Director, Boeing Defence India, Faizi Mohsini, Director, Services, Boeing Defence India
AI Engineering Services Ltd. is a Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) approved MRO set up in India that serves as a one-stop-shop for all engineering requirements at major airports with a pan- India footprint. Prior to Air India divestment, the company was transferred to a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), AI Assets Holdings Ltd., formed by the Government of India. With a great skill set, huge professional experience and MRO infrastructure located at all the major metros, AIESL manages and maintains Airbus, Boeing and ATRs fleets belonging to various national as well as international airlines with Technical Dispatch Reliability of more than 99%. AIESL facilities includes hangar facility, line and base maintenance, engine overhaul, avionics accessories shops and components shops, structural repairs including composite repair, cabin and seat repair facility, landing gear, engineering support service and many specialised services. Its dedicated support team for AOG requests provides highly coordinated troubleshooting and engineering support round the clock.