Pawan Hans in an expansion mode

The Pawan Hans Ltd (PHL) and the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) are collaborating with each other for setting up of MRO business for defence and civil helicopter industry, which has a potential to provide an efficient, cost effective, better turnaround time for the customers.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between PHL and HAL has been signed on March 16, 2016, at India Aviation 2016 for setting up of Helicopter MRO facility for both defence and civil helicopters at Rohini Heliport in Delhi. The facility is expected to be operational by June 2016. MoU was signed by CEO, HAL, and Executive Director, PHL, in the presence of Minister of Civil Aviation P. Ashok Gajapati Raju, Secretary, Civil Aviation, R.N. Choubay and both the Chairmans of HAL and Pawan Hans.

India is among the fastest growing and currently the ninth largest civil aviation market in the world. India is expected to become the third largest aviation market in the world by 2020. Civil Aviation Industry in India has ushered in a new era of expansion driven by suitable growth factors. As per international forecasts the fleet size of helicopters in Ccvil segment in India is expected to go up to 800 from present number of 280 in the next 10-15 year period and that the growth would come on two counts – fleet expansion and replacement of the ageing machines. Defence helicopter in India segment is rapidly growing. Currently there are approximately 1,200 helicopters with defence customers. There may be a demand of 800-1,000 new helicopters in next 10 years.

The new Draft Civil Aviation Policy, released by the Government last year gives the required and emphatic boost to the MRO sector with proposed reformations on MRO taxation, duties/cess, procedures, etc. These should result in re-bounce of Indian MRO industry with performance and expansion.

The prospects for the helicopter MRO market are encouraging given the number of helicopters expected to be active over the next ten years and beyond. Besides, there is growing demand in defence segment, domestic civil segment and potential to enter into international market.

Both PHL and HAL, who are already leaders in their domains, are collaborating in MRO field as one of the areas to effectively exploit future business prospects as well as to take on competitors to maintain leadership positions in helicopter industry in India.