GMR Aero Technic to expand footprint

Building capability for wide-body aircraft and critical component maintenance as well as an engineering school for training

Hyderabad: Hyderabad-based GMR Aero Technic (GAT), a 100 per cent wholly owned subsidiary of GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL), is developing wide-body aircraft capability for maintenance and painting, capability enhancement to add nacelle and certain critical components, besides diversification into military MRO.

GAT has developed an integrated, third-party airframe maintenance, repair, overhaul and aircraft painting (MRO) facility in Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) for commercial aircraft.

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The company was established in 2010 and started operations in 2011, and as on date holds approvals from 21 regulatory bodies such as Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA-India), European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other global regulatory approvals to support maintenance requirements of various international customers.

“Spread over an area of twenty-eight acres, GAT facilities cater to all the airframe MRO needs of an airline / aircraft operator in narrow-body category. This facility can be further expanded on another twenty-five acres, in future,” Ashok Gopinath, chief executive officer, GMR Aero Technic told Telangana Today.

Strategic location

The MRO facility is strategically located at the Hyderabad International Airport, which operates round the clock. Hyderabad is just two hours of flying time away from all major cities in India. Similarly, most of the Middle East and South East Asian cities are only three to five hours flying time from Hyderabad, which helps in achieving logistical efficiency. Furthermore, the GAT facility is located within a Special Economic Zone, simplifying customs procedures and duties, especially for international customers.

Speaking about the ecosystem in the State, he said, “Telangana, especially Hyderabad provides a conducive business environment for aviation related activities and the very fact that P&W, CFM, Boeing, Lockheed Martin etc have already set up manufacturing aerospace and MRO units at Hyderabad is a welcome gesture to the State. With more and more original equipment manufacturers setting up manufacturing units, an MRO and aerospace ecosystem will be created benefitting the airline industry at large by availing all maintenance requirements at one location.”

Critical components

During Covid pandemic, GAT has been functioning at full capacity with two shifts undertaking all the necessary precautions. This has enabled GAT to support the customers both domestic and international. “As part of the expansion plan, GAT intends to develop certain critical component maintenance facilities to support and reduce cost of logistics and turn-around time to the domestic and international airlines in this part of the world,” he added.

GMR Aero Technic has completed over 570 major checks till date and other ad-hoc maintenance work. With its enhanced capacity, on an average, GAT will be able to perform over 140 maintenance checks per year depending upon the nature of the checks. The clientele of GAT includes all domestic airlines. It also has base and line maintenance customers from about 17 countries. The company remains focused to increase its international footprint.

The company has also set up a calibration facility accredited by NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) and ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation) for calibration of precision aviation instruments.

He further added, “As part of providing one-stop solutions to our customers in the areas of certain critical components, cabin modifications etc, GAT has tied-up with other business partners in providing seamless multiple certification to meet customer requirements of end-of-lease checks, lease requirements etc.”

GAT, which ventured into line maintenance business in 2017, has grown rapidly with capability to support narrow body and wide body aircraft. Currently, GAT has the line maintenance setup at 10 airports of India catering to various international customers.

Maintenance training

Gopinath said, “The company has also invested in a DGCA and EASA approved Aircraft Maintenance Engineering School for maintenance personnel which will provide ab-initio course in aircraft maintenance to Indian and international students. This will be a greenfield project, where a new campus is being built closer to its present MRO facility in Hyderabad. This centre of excellence (COE) will be affiliated to international training organisations. The school is expected to be operational by the end of 2021.”
Investments in hangars

GAT has a dedicated paint hangar and this facility is designed to deliver the paint job and is equipped with an extraction system, waste management, docks and mega doors. The company has also invested and installed an inflatable hangar in FY21, adding one line to the company’s existing facility in Hyderabad. GAT is the only MRO in India and Asia region to have installed such a hangar. The inflatable hangar may be used for multiple purposes including scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, engine or landing gear replacement.

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