Air India has finally succeeded in roping-in a private airline to use the maintenance repair overhaul (MRO) facility at the SEZ in Mihan, Nagpur.
An MoU was signed by Air India Engineering Services CEO H R Jagannath and Spicejet vice president Arun Kashyap in the presence of top AI officials on Tuesday.
With the signing of the agreement, Spicejet will send its aircraft from the fleet of 42 planes to Nagpur MRO in immediate future, Kashyap told reporters during their visit to the MRO.
Kashyap also said Spicejet was in the process of acquiring 100 more aircraft in the days to come.
He said the first Spicejet aircraft was expected to roll in for MRO facility within two months.
It was already sending its aircraft to GMR, Hyderabad, but now onwards, Spicejet will be using the MRO facility of Air India at Nagpur, he said.
Jagannath said after being formally handed over by aircraft manufacturer major Boeing International on December 29, 2014, the MRO started its maintenance operation from March this year and so far handled eight aircraft, while the ninth aircraft was on the pit.
Spread over 50 acres of land adjacent to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, the Rs 600 crore MRO, which is connected by a 3.5 km taxiway, offers a world class facility.
It is carrying out maintenance facility of all types including 'D' check of wide bodied aircraft which is mandatory for an aircraft after flying for 3,000 days.
A team of dedicated engineers and technicians are positioned to carry out a detailed maintenance of Boeing aircraft to make it airworthy.
The construction work of the MRO, funded by Boeing, commenced in March 2011 and completed in a record period of 3.5 years. It was finally handed over to Air India on December 29, 2014, and actual operations commenced from August 27 last year.
The DGCA granted the mandatory approval for C-2 check (2,250 days inspection) on B 777 series aircraft fitted with GE 90-100/115 engines, in May 2015.
Subsequently, 'D' check (3,000 days inspection) approval was granted on February 19 this year, Jagannath said.
The MRO carried out first phase check (every 2,000 hours/240 days) of VT-ALN in June 2015. First 'D' Check of VT-ALL completed in April 2016. The first C-2 check of VT-ALT completed in May this year.
The MRO was also in the process of finalising a facility for Airbus aircraft and after an internal audit necessary papers are with the DGCA for approval, he said.
With the approval, the Airbus family aircraft A319, A320 and A321 series fitted with powerful engines, up to 4A check, will be admitted.
Jagannath said the state-of-the-art facility consists two wide body hangars (100m x 100m X 25m each) apron of size 70,000 sqm.
The MRO facility is designed for undertaking maintenance of any type and size of aircraft, including A-380.
Each hangar can accommodate one wide body or three narrow body aircraft at a time.
Air India will manage the MRO as an owner for maintenance of AI fleet and for other airlines.
Jagannath said the hangars are of international standard, fully equipped to fight fire with foam (deluge/sprinkler) and also equipped with mechanised German sliding door.
(PTI)
