Air Works receives EASA Part 145 approval for MRO facility in Kochi

The approval enhances the strategic importance of the Kochi MRO facility, already becoming a hub for leading carriers from the Middle East, and follows Air Works’ recent expansion to Dubai.

With this EASA approval, Air Works will be able to offer full MPD support for the Airbus 320 family for base maintenance, C-Checks, structural and corrosion inspections. The approval covers 120-month inspection for all four engine options such as PW1100G, CFM 56, Leap-1A and IAE V2500.

Welcoming the approval, D Anand Bhaskar, Group managing director and  chief executive, said: “We are excited to enhance our EASA-certified capacity and capabilities which will expand the scale of our operations and support to regional aircraft operators and global lessors.

“EASAs 145 approval of our Kochi facility was a much-awaited and long-overdue milestone and is a step forward in accelerating indigenous maintenance, complementing the country’s ambition of becoming Atmanirbhar (self-reliant) and an MRO hub.”

The Kochi facility, commissioned only in March 2021 during the pandemic, is already certified by the DGCA. It is also a DGCA-certified facility for Air Works’ Business Aviation (General Aviation) customers for a variety for aircraft.

Mangesh Karyakarte, Group chief sales officer - Commercial and Defense MRO, said: “With EASA Part 145 approval, we are now uniquely poised to offer flexible maintenance support to our customers from two independent facilities providing end-to-end engineering and maintenance services.

“The approval enables us to offer and undertake a comprehensive series of maintenance checks and repairs, ranging from simple to complex ones on A320 aircraft that dominate the narrow body market in India, including the various airworthiness directives (ADs) and Supplemental Type Certifications (STCs) from time to time.

“Over time, I see Kochi becoming a preferred maintenance facility for both domestic as well as incoming carriers from the SAARC, South-East Asia, Middle East and North Africa.

The twin-hangar MRO facility at Kochi, spread over 50,000 sqm, has been designed as a completely integrated, independent setup, housing key workshops equipped to undertake 

structures, interiors, and composites repairs to support timely aircraft maintenance and turnaround.

Kochi complements Air Works’ primary facility at Hosur in Tamil Nadu, which in 2009 became India’s first EASA-certified Commercial MRO facility. In addition to the Airbus 320 family, Hosur also offers full MPD support for ATR 42/72 and Boeing 737 family aircraft.

The successful renewal of Air Works’ EASA certification for more than a decade demonstrates Air Works’ unwavering commitment to its customers, upholding the highest standards of quality in aviation.

The Group also undertakes MRO work for the Indian Defence forces. Having two independent facilities will allow it to spin them into specialized bases offering a comprehensive yet independent scope of services at each location, creating Centres of Excellence.

Air Works intends to deepen its capabilities at Kochi by adding Type Approvals for maintenance for the B737NG family.