The Hindu : Kerala News : CIAL to choose partner for Rs.600-crore project

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Sunday, Sep 02, 2007
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Kerala

CIAL to choose partner for Rs.600-crore project

M.P. Praveen

KOCHI: The Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) will finalise the partner for its proposed Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO) facility within two months. The bidding process for the project, conceived as a joint venture, is already underway and 4-5 groups are in the fray. “We will fix the partner by October end,” Shriram Bharath, the Managing Director of CIAL, told The Hindu.

Under the Rs. 600 crore MRO facility, six aircraft maintenance hangars will be set up. “Two hangars for narrow bodied-aircraft will be completed by the middle of next year,” Mr. Bharath said. This will mark the first phase of the project and will cost Rs. 96 crore. These two hangars will have facilities to handle aircraft like Boeing 737-800, Airbus 320 and ATR, he said.

Academy plans

In the later stages, a hangar exclusively for wide-bodied aircraft and double bay hangars capable of accommodating both wide and narrow-bodied aircraft will be set up. Selection of partner for the MRO facility will also give a boost to the aviation academy proposed by CIAL. The academy will see a unique association between CIAL and the Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat).

“The Memorandum of Understanding with Cusat will be signed soon after deciding on the MRO partner,” Mr. Bharath said. As per the arrangement, arguably the first of its kind in the country, Cusat will impart theoretical lessons, and CIAL will offer practical classes. Facilities at its aircraft maintenance hangars will be utilised for the purpose.

The syllabus for the aviation courses to be offered by the academy will be decided through joint consultations among all the stakeholders - CIAL, Cusat and the MRO partner, Mr. Bharath said.

The focus would be on aviation courses that would equip the students to face the challenges posed by the growing aviation industry.

The academy will offer Diploma and B. Tech programmes in aircraft maintenance and related fields. Experts will be drafted in to train the students. “The first batch for the courses will be admitted in the next academic year,” Mr. Bharath said.

Diploma holders would be given the charge of managing the hangar facility. They will be supervised by B. Tech engineers. From simulators to machine rooms, lathes and aerospace laboratories, the academy will have state-of-the-art facilities matching international standards. It will have classrooms for conducting various academic programmes.

The airport plans to import aircraft tools for providing practical training to the students. An aircraft would be permanently stationed at the aviation academy, so that the students have a hands-on experience in dealing with various aspects related to its operation and maintenance.

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