Mahindra opens Aerostructure facility; 8-seater aircraft in 2 years
Published: 22nd October 2013 07:24 AM | Last Updated: 22nd October 2013 07:24 AM | A+A A-
Small aircraft maker, Mahindra Aerospace will start to produce eight-seater aircraft in the next two years. The company inaugurated its Rs 150 crore new aerostructure manufacturing facility in Narasapura in Kolar District, near Bangalore on Monday.
The new set up will be a service provider for multiple Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). “You can expect that within a time-frame of two years, we will have a full-fledged eight-seater aircraft being manufactured in India,” Hemant Luthra, President of Mahindra Systech said.
Mahindra Group, which has other businesses such as automobile manufacturing, entered the aerospace market when they integrated Aerostaff and GippsAero into its acquisitions into their operations.
The venture is said to have exported close to 250 airplanes from Australia so far. These aircraft are used for humanitarian aid, tourism and other adventure sports in North America as well as Europe, they said. The group currently produces the GA8 utility aircraft, which is certified in 38 countries.
Anand Mahindra, Chairman of the $16 billion group added that the company will look to continue their efforts in the global aerostructure supply chain. The company also said that they are developing the GA10, 10 seater turboprop derivative of the GA8 which will make its way into the markets in 2014. The group also has an agreement with public owned National Aerospace Laboratories to co-develop a 5-seater C-NM5 which will follow the GA10 into the certification process.
The company also said that it is looking at government spending on defence aircraft and helicopters. Mahindra said that at least 20% of the $20-40 billion defence spend on aerospace equipment should go to local businesses.
The company is in the process of getting AS9100C and NADCAP accreditation. “We will deliver complex, build-to-print parts and assemblies out of this facility and offer cost-competitive, world-class aerospace manufacturing capabilities,” Luthra said.
