Airbus, Indamer Inaugurate Nagpur Helicopter MRO Facility

Defense news - In a significant boost to India helicopter Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) landscape, Airbus Helicopters has joined forces with Indamer to service the country helicopter fleet. The collaboration culminated in the inauguration of the Indamer-Airbus Helicopter MRO facility on December 8, situated at the Multi Modal International Cargo Hub and Airport in Nagpur.

During the inauguration speech, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, Devendra Fadanvis, expressed optimism about the positive impact on India MRO ecosystem. He emphasized the alignment of this initiative with the Indian government Make in India campaign and revealed plans for a new aviation policy in Maharashtra. Fadanvis foresees the commencement of helicopter production in the region, reflecting the evolving dynamics of India aviation market.

With over 125 Airbus helicopters currently operational in India and South Asia, the strategic partnership aims to enhance servicing efficiency and create a seamless aftermarket experience for the region helicopters. Romain Trapp, the Executive Vice President for Customer Support and Services at Airbus Helicopters, highlighted the company commitment to providing technical expertise to support India helicopter MRO ambitions.

As part of the agreement, Indamer will offer MRO services for Airbus helicopters at its facilities in Mumbai, New Delhi, and Nagpur under Airbus Helicopters" authorization. While its Nagpur facility primarily serves Airbus A320s, servicing around 60 aircraft annually, this collaboration will extend Indamer capabilities to meet the maintenance demands of Indian helicopter operators domestically.

Indamer dedicated helicopter MRO division, established over a decade ago, has been actively addressing the growing needs of Indian helicopter customers. Prajay Patel, Director at Indamer, emphasized the significance of fulfilling helicopter maintenance requirements domestically with proper support.

This collaboration is the latest in Airbus efforts to expand its presence in India. Earlier, Airbus inked a deal with Hindustan Aeronautics to establish an A320 MRO facility in Nashik. Additionally, partnerships with educational institutions such as IIT-Kanpur and Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya aim to develop a skilled workforce. Airbus also collaborated with MRO provider GMR Aero Technic to establish the GMR School of Aviation, offering aircraft maintenance training under regulatory authorizations.

Looking ahead, Airbus plans to hire an additional 2,000 engineers in India over the next two years, augmenting its total engineering staff to 5,000. Since establishing the first foreign OEM customer center dedicated to the Indian market in 2010, Airbus Helicopters has played a pivotal role in fostering new market segments in India, including helicopter emergency medical services, airborne law enforcement, and urban air mobility.