Air India’s facility for Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) has gone operational at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad.
Developed with an investment of Rs 79.20 crore, the unit will provide the capacity to service the world’s contemporary aircraft types. It was inaugurated on Friday by the Minister for Civil Aviation, P Ashok Gajapathi Raju.
The MRO facility can accommodate two narrow body aircraft at a time or one wide body aircraft. The hangar covers an area of 9,000 sq. m. and has a height of 24 metres. It features an open bay that is capable of providing services for next-generation, wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 787/ 777/ 747 and Airbus A320/321/319 aircraft.
Air India Engineering Services Ltd (AIESL), a wholly owned subsidiary of AI, which developed the facility, has received the mandatory DGCA certification to carry out the operation and also testing of aircraft, engines and components for the Air India fleet. It will service AI’s fleet of 125 aircraft which is likely to grow in the future.
Rohit Nandan, CMD, Air India, said at one point of time it was difficult to construct the facility as the carrier faced financial difficulties but with the support and motivation from the Government of India and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, it has been completed.
The Minister said that the Government was doing everything possible in removing the hurdles in the way of Air India.