GMR Aero Technic Becomes the First MRO in South Asia to Receive FAA Approval

GMR Aero Technic Ltd. (GATL), a 100% subsidiary of GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd. (GHIAL) has received the prestigious & coveted Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval on popular Narrow Body Aircraft (B737 and A320), making it an authorized MRO services provider for all C checks for FAA registered B737/A320 aircraft and for NDT (Non Destructive Testing) inspections.

Currently, GATL holds the largest share of the market for outsourced airframe Base Maintenance MRO business in India, backed by a wide set of approvals & certifications from across the globe including India (DGCA), Europe (EASA), Malaysia (DCA), UAE (GCAA), Oman (PACA), Bahrain (DCA), Nepal (CAAN), Bangladesh (CAAB), Myanmar (DAC) and Cayman Islands. The addition of FAA certification opens up new opportunities for GATL to perform base maintenance and re-delivery checks for the Operators/ lessors looking for an FAA approved MRO. Given the increasing number of leased and aging aircraft in the fleet in India, the MRO industry is expecting a sizable uptick in re-deliveries in the coming years as the older aircraft complete their lease terms with the Indian carriers. As the sole MRO provider in the South Asia region with FAA approval in place, GATL is uniquely placed to attract more heavy maintenance checks and cater to sections of the market which are aligned with FAA regulations.

GATL offers MRO services which include base maintenance, line-maintenance, limited shop/Component support and cabin interiors. It offers fully equipped workshops and aircraft painting capabilities to handle requirements for B737, A320 (both ceo and neo variants), ATR and Bombardier Q400, which are the most commonly used aircraft types in commercial airline industry in India. GATL is the first 3rd party MRO in the South Asia region to have carried out C-checks on the latest Airbus A320neo variant and GATL is also the only Authorised Service Facility for Bombardier Q400 aircraft in the region. GATL is currently developing capabilities to include MRO capabilities for wide body aircraft and the new B737 MAX variant among others.

In addition to the Base Maintenance services offered at its Hyderabad facility, GATL also provides Line Maintenance services to international airline operators at various Indian Airports and Kathmandu, Nepal. GATL’s other focus areas include Defence MRO, smaller component maintenance and various specialized services along with aircraft livery painting.

GATL offers several key strategic advantages, such as being located within Hyderabad Airport, one of the busiest and best connected International Airports in India, putting it within a maximum of 5 hours flying distance from key markets and customers in the region. Also, GATL’s location within a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) offers added advantages in terms of lower costs and increased ease of doing business for its airline customers.

The compelling value proposition provided by GATL to its customers is evident from its diverse & ever growing clientele that already includes every major private airline in India including IndiGo, SpiceJet, Jet Airways, Go Air, Vistara and Air Asia India in addition to several leading airlines and aircraft leasing companies such as Oman Air, Air Asia Malaysia, Gulf Air, Air Arabia, Flynas, GECAS (aircraft leasing), Alpha Star (Saudi), Hello Air (Bangladesh), Jade Global (Dubai), Wataniya (Kuwait), Island Aviation (Maldives) and Rotana Jet (UAE).

Commenting on this development, Mr. SGK Kishore, Director, GATL & CEO, GHIAL, said, “GATL has been consistently expanding its horizons in the domain of MRO business by offering best-in-class services to its clients in the region. With the addition of FAA certification, GATL is uniquely placed in South Asia and the Middle East region to offer a competitive value proposition in terms of maintenance, repair and overhaul of various types of aircraft. With its strategic business proposition and excellence in service delivery, GATL is well aligned with the Make in India mission of the Government of India.”

Contact: 

Subhendu Ray, Senior Lead - Corporate Communications

Email: subhendu.ray@gmrgroup.in