Airbus will give boost to Make in India

BENGALURU: European consortium Airbus will focus on cementing partnerships with Indian companies during Aero India 2017 to bring to fruition projects under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

Though Airbus sources components and subsystems from more than 40 Indian firms, Mr Pierre de Bausset, President and Managing Director, Airbus India, foresees the potential for more partnerships, a development which augurs well for the Indian aerospace and defence industry.  “I look forward to having conversations around the topic (Make in India) at Aero India. We have partnered with Tata and Mahindra and are working with a host of other companies to script ‘Make in India’ success stories,” he added.

Two major examples of the partnerships—C295W military transport aircraft and AS565 MBe Panther helicopeter—will be on display at the 11th edition of the air show at Air Force Station, Yelahanka.

As part of Avro replacement programme of the Ministry of Defence, Airbus will support Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) in setting-up a final assembly line for the C295W in the country on announcement of the contract. Airbus has partnered with Mahindra Defence to create the country’s first private sector entity for manufacture of military helicopters. Making India the global hub for ‘Panther’ manufacturing –producing Panthers in India, for the domestic market as well as for exports – is proposed under the Naval Utility Helicopter programme.

The scale models on display will include the EC725, now marketed as the H225M, and under negotiations to meet the requirements of the Indian Coast Guard for 14 shore-based helicopters as well as the fuel efficient A320neo commercial aircraft. There are around 590 A320neo on order from India which means, on an average, one aircraft will be delivered to the country every week for the next ten years.

In addition, models of H145 and H125 helicopters, Eutelsat 172B satellite, E-Scan AESA radar and ATR 72-600, will also be on display at the aero exhibition.

For the first time, H130 helicopter, a dedicated air ambulance, equipped with emergency medical equipment, will be on static display. Aviators Air Rescue, in partnership with the Air Medical Group Holding Inc. – a leading air medical provider in the United States – became the first Indian operator to induct three Airbus H130 helicopters in a dedicated air ambulance role last year.

Security beefed up near Yelahanka air base
With Aero enthusiasts all set to descend on Bengaluru from February 14-18, Yelahanka Air Force Station will be a high-security zone.

With authorities apprehending a man on Monday for purportedly trespassing the high-security zone, DC explores the measure being taken to secure the area.

The airbase is set for three-tier security arrangements besides additional plans for extra cover. Nearly 250 cameras will be deployed in Yelehanka AFS to ensure round-the-clock surveillance. Close to the airbase, helipads have been operationalised as part of the disaster management plan. More entry and exit gates have been planned to facilitate movement of visitors. The three-tier security will be provided by Indian Air Force’s Garud commandoes. CISF and army commandos are also expected to be deployed to provide additional cover.

Police will be deployed as part of the third tier and handle security arrangement outside the airbase. The traffic police are also planning seamless traffic movement.