- Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DGAQA) gives approval to Airbus C295 Quality Management System
October 20, 2022 – The Airbus Defence and Space Quality Management System (QMS) for the
C295 aircraft has received approval from the Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality
Assurance (DGAQA), the Indian regulatory authority for aeronautical quality assurance. This is
the first time a QMS of a foreign aircraft manufacturer has been approved by DGAQA.
The certificate of approval was handed over by Director General of DGAQA, Sanjay Chawla to
Kajetan von Mentzingen, Head of Quality, Airbus Defence and Space at a ceremony held on the
sidelines of DefExpo 2022, in Gandhinagar. This is a significant first step of a comprehensive
quality assurance roadmap agreed between Airbus and DGAQA for the C295 ‘Make in India’
programme.
Speaking on the approval, Kajetan von Mentzingen said, “We have crossed a milestone for the
C295 ‘Make in India’ programme. This certification demonstrates the trust and confidence that
DGAQA places in Airbus quality standards. It marks the beginning of a robust and
comprehensive roadmap that Airbus has put in place for the C295 ‘Make in India’ programme. It
will be the foundation for successful aircraft manufacturing in India under the policy of
Aatmanirbhar Bharat.”
India formalised the acquisition of 56 Airbus C295 aircraft to replace the Indian Air Force (IAF)
legacy AVRO fleet, in September 2021. Under the contractual agreement, Airbus will deliver the
first 16 aircraft in ‘fly-away’ condition from its final assembly line in Seville, Spain. The remaining
40 aircraft will be manufactured and assembled by Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) in
India as part of an industrial partnership between the two companies. This certification is part of
this programme, which involves the full development of a complete industrial ecosystem: from
the production of detailed parts to assembly, test and qualification, to delivery and maintenance
of the complete lifecycle of the aircraft.
