Mahindra set to launch small aircraft in two years

Company signs technology partnership with Aernnova Group.

Mahindra Aerospace on Monday unveiled plans to manufacture eight-seater passenger aircraft,becoming the first Indian private company to venture into the sector.

Within a time frame of two years,you can expect manufacturing of aircraft to begin in India. We will have full-fledged eight-seater aircraft being manufactured here in India, said Hemant Luthra,president of Mahindra Systech.

The aircraft,to be manufactured in India,will be the smallest configuration available in the Australia-based GippsAero portfolio. Mahindra Group acquired GippsAero in 2010.

The company will roll out the GA10,a 10-seat turboprop derivative of the GA8,in 2014. The company is also working on a 18-seater aircraft.

Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra,after inaugurating the first aerostructure manufacturing facility in India here,said that the company will provide connectivity to untouched areas through their utility aircraft.

The facility spans an area of 25,000 square metre and is housed in the Narsapura Industrial Estate near Bangalore. Our utility aircraft will be used to connect areas,where no one goes now. It will be like our old Mahindra Jeep that used to go into areas where other vehicles found it difficult to tread, said Mahindra.

He added that India should and can become an integral part of the global aerospace industry as a producer and not just consumers.

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Our vision is to become a robust part of the supply chain, Mahindra added.

The plant has been established at a total cost of approximately Rs 150 crore and has the capacity to deliver about Rs 250 crore in revenue per annum.

Initially,the company plans to commence manufacturing activities with smaller parts and sub-assemblies,and then ramp up to larger,more complex assemblies.

Mahindra Aerospace also announced the signing of a technology partnership with the Aernnova Group,a leading aerostructures tier I supplier that is headquartered in Spain with facilities around the globe.

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Aernnova specialises in the design and manufacture of major airframe assemblies and is a key supplier on numerous civil and military aircraft programs for several global aircraft original equipment manufacturers.