THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Air India’s Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO) facility in the capital is likely to commence operations on Monday with the unit earning the statutory clearance from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). Though the Rs 110-crore unit was commissioned in last December some vital works were pending then.
“We have received the security clearance and the first aircraft is likely to move
into the hangar on Monday,” H R Jagannath, Chief of Engineering, Air India Express, told Express.
The BCAS team which inspected the twin hanger unit last week had expressed satisfaction over the arrangements. The team also asked the national carrier to submit an SOP and to arrange a launch for the BSF personnel. The report of the joint survey conducted by the CISF and the Airport Authority of India was also submitted to the BCAS.
The work of the taxiway to the hangar was completed recently. The taxiway would double up as a rapid exit route from the airport in case of an emergency. Officials of the AIE Engineering Department on Friday met the AAI authorities and sought permission to remove the barricade on the taxiway.
The MRO, in the initial stage will carryout the maintenance works of Boeing 737-800 aircraft of the Air India Express. The works include the repair of wheels and
brakes, oxygen bottle, component painting and crack detection among others.
The unit will also undertake works of other airlines which would fetch a decent profit for the national carrier. This gains relevance as the C check, the mandatory check for an aircraft after 12 rounds of base check, could only be performed in a hangar.
Around 200 skilled personnel would work at the hangar. They include the current staff working at the open maintenance base of Air India on the airport premises.