A mile stone at Cochin International Airport will be realized when Maintenance-Repair –Overhauling building is inaugurated. India’s first Airport under a Public Private Partnership is reaching nearer to its dream goal of setting up an Aerotropolis concept with the pattern of world’s other Aerotropolis. An MRO is a workshop for aircrafts and any aircraft can knock at CIAL MRO for its timely maintenance, Repair and for overhauling. CIAL MRO built around 1,35,000 square feet area in 32 acres near CIAL Academy is expected to fill the vacuum of an MRO in down south of Indian Peninsular.
CIAL MRO will have access to world class infrastructure and logistics support with its vision to become a World Class Service organization by providing high quality service , on time, at competitive prices. The main attraction of our MRO is that it is in an ideal location and availability of adequate human resources. In addition, excellent track record of Promoters and it is close to captive market. Also aims for major expansion and the cost of living are moderate. The proximity with an AME School and the plan to start Line maintenance shortly, is also a plus point.
Today, CIAL is operating 61 flights daily by 15 International and 7 Domestic Airlines with a scheduled aircraft movement of 420 aircraft per week. It also aims to have target market from India, Middle East, South East Asia, Cargo Operators and Business jets.
MRO will be completed in two phases. The first phase will be the completion of two narrow body Hangars, Adequate Workshops and storages, State of the Art Infrastructure, Parking Bays and Run-Up Bay. The Phase II will be targeting for two more narrow body Hangars, Two Wide body Hangars and workshops. There by MRO can offer services like Narrow Body, Wide Body and Business jets and can handle six aircrafts at a time.
In the component MRO, there will be Wheels & Brakes, Electrical & Avionics, Hydraulics, Oxygen & Safety Equipments, Cabin interiors, Engine storage & Support with scope for further expansion.
With the full establishment of MRO, it can go for the business model like Partnership with MROs/Airlines/OEMs and it can go for the Technical collaboration with other MROs and allied industries. For betterment it can sign Long Term Business Contract with other similar industries which will guarantee an un- interrupted supply of raw materials, related components, spare parts which are not readily available or produced in India. This will give a spare support continuously for the MRO.
Today Indian Aerospace Industry structure divided in various groups or categories. Among them the lead organizations are Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Aircraft Maintenance & Service Depots of Armed Forces especially of Indian Air Force, Airline & MROs, Indian Space Research Organizations, ADA, ADE and GTRE and other Aero space Labs of DRDO, NAL and a large number of small, medium and large private sector industries including IT solutions and other service providers.
The private sectors infrastructure capabilities are Aero space Materials, Castings and Forgings, Precision Machined Sheet components, Cables, Connectors, Looms, Metallic and other Composite Structures, Equipment and Systems, Small Aircraft, Ground Handling Equipments, Tools, Jigs and Fixtures and also Software design and other solution providers.
As per the conservative forecasts by DGCA, by 2015 the number of aircrafts with a seating capacity of 300 or more will be increased to 36 and 200-300 seater will jump to 120. Aircraft with 100-200 seats will be up by 350 and 50-100 seater will be 200. But by 2020 the total number of aircraft, in all these categories will exceed 2000 aircrafts in our country. This will be a leap forward and the prospect of any MRO in India will be attractive.
Two narrow body Hangars will be of 2750 SQM each and 6500 SQM for Shop facilities. Besides there will be 32000 SQM of Apron and will be a Taxi Way Link.
Various other MRO projects are signed in India by various agencies and probably CIAL MRO is the first one came up in a short notice and nearing completion. The various other projects are either agreement signed or land acquired stage now. This gap is a boon in disguise for CIAL MRO and will definitely give a quantum jump and could make Goodwill within this gap, which will ensure a constant business of aircraft to our MRO.
By this year end, MRO will be operational, said, Dr. CG Krishnadas Nair, MD, CIAL. The ever increasing aviation sector will be a plus point to CIAL MRO. The total expenditure involved in MRO will be around 80 crore and till now 35 crores spent. The remaining amount could be gathered from the partner industry or from private investors. It is expected that within three years of its operation, MRO will get back its capital. Besides this, MRO also offers more employment opportunity. CIAL is looking for a reliable and reputed partner to operate the MRO for couple of years with a condition to give 49% share for the business. It is expected to find a suitable partner from some foreign countries soon.