“We see a huge potential in the aviation business. We think this sector will continue to grow” he said.
When asked whether the Group wants to manufacture commercial or defence aircraft, Sumantran said “You will know everything over the next three or four months” adding, “it is difficult to talk about it now as we are still in the process of deciding the scale of the business.”
Defiance Technologies, a Hinduja Group outfit, , has already started work on testing and validation for aerospace systems while Ashok Leyland Defence Systems is doing design and engineering for sub-systems in India.
Another leading conglomerate, the Anand Mahindra-led M&M, is also foraying into the aerospace segment through the acquisition of two Australian companies Aerostaff Australia and Gippsland Aeronautics. Aerostaff is a 20 year old manufacturer of aerospace components and assemblies for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) of global aerospace at Port Melbourne in the Victoria State.
The 26 year old GippsAero is a leading turboprop aircraft manufacturer for the general aviation sector and has certification in 32 countries worldwide. It also has a U.S. Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR 23) certification, which testifies the highest degree of safety to fly fare paying passengers between small and remote airfields.
Mahindra Aerospace Pvt Ltd (MAPL), belonging to the Mahindra group, plans to invest Rs. 175 crore over the next 5 years to manufacture 475 aircraft in the two to twenty seat ranges.