By Sangeeta Saxena

Juhu Aerodrome, Mumbai. 07 August 2024. Glass ceilings don’t break themselves – they need to be broken. And the icing on this cake is building a skyscraper on it. In a remarkable achievement that underscores India’s growing prowess in the global aerospace industry, Mumbai-based Aman Aviation & Aerospace Solutions has shattered the glass ceiling by securing a prestigious contract to perform Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services on Mi-17 helicopters of the Nepalese Army. This milestone marks the first time an Indian MRO company has been entrusted with such a critical task for Russian-made military helicopters, signalling a new era of regional cooperation and trust in Indian technical expertise. This achievement marks the first time an Indian MRO company has been awarded such a contract, highlighting India’s growing capabilities in the aerospace sector and its expanding influence in the regional defence industry.

Aman Johri, Director of Business Development , Aman Aviation & Aerospace Solutions speaking with Editor ADU who was in Mumbai on an invitation from Aman Aviation informed, “The entire idea behind this was we wanted to show that civil-military convergence is possible. We’ve been working on this for almost two & a half years now. The first one that was low-hanging, due for overall, almost right there and a burning issue for our region was the Nepal Army. We’ve been knowing about these aircraft for almost five to six years now, that there are problems of management of spares with the Nepal Army. Also there’s a problem with them for management of engineers, technicians and their rotations. So for them to have a full-fledged overall facility was a little difficult. 3 BRD Chandigarh with the Indian Air Force have their hands full with the kind of work they’re already doing. And not just that,  for the last five years, the Indian Air Force is now moving towards the OPCC embedded models, where private companies are interested with large scale MROs.”

Indian Air Force (IAF) is in charge of about 220 Mi-17 helicopters, which entered service in 1991. These helicopters are widely utilised for a variety of tactical duties, including as troop transport, assault operations, ferries and airdrops of supplies in distant locations, special operations, search and rescue missions, and disaster management. They progressively superseded the previous Mi-8 types. Since 1991, 3 BRD, which was founded in 1962, has been engaged in the maintenance, refurbishment, customisation, and retrofitting of the engines and parts of the Mi-17 series. Upon its introduction in 2012, the depot also assembled and tested the Mi-17V5 variant in flight. The depot installed a new assembly line in 2019 with the express purpose of maintaining the Mi-17V5 helicopters.

To lessen its reliance on imports, the depot has worked to indigenise a variety of aircraft components. Additionally, it has improved and altered helicopters to increase their capacity for a range of operating requirements. The depot has worked on a number of projects over the years, one of which involved converting five Mi-17V5s for use as VIP transportation for the Prime Minister, President, and Vice President. Too much on their plate already.

Aman continued, “We went to the Nepal Army, spoke with them and showed them our capabilities. A lot of the engineers within our team are MI-17 trained. We have ex-Indian Air Force, ex-HAL and ex-DRDO also. And on the civil side, some people have handled Mi-17 with MESCO Airlines, which was the only Mi-17 civil operator in India. And not just that, they used to operate for offshore. So our team members have done engineering maintenance in the worst of the worst conditions without management or spares, without anything available, without resources. So now if you give them resources, you give them funding, you give them space, you give them tools, they’ll be able to do a much better job. So technically, we proved our capability to the Nepal Army.”

By winning this contract, Aman Aviation has demonstrated its capability to meet these stringent requirements, showcasing Indian talent and technology on an international stage. It is a testament to India’s growing capabilities in high-tech industries and the increasing confidence that neighbouring countries have in Indian MRO industry. It also highlights the strategic importance of India’s defence ties with Nepal, fostering greater collaboration between the two nations.

“We are incredibly proud to be the first Indian company to undertake the MRO of Mi-17 helicopters for the Nepalese Army. This contract is not just a business win for us; it’s a milestone that opens new doors for the Indian aerospace industry. It reflects the world-class quality and reliability that Indian companies can offer in the maintenance of complex military equipment. It is a Government to Government contract. So the DPSU which is the forefront is Mazagon Docks Ltd (MDL). Together we have worked as a great team. They agreed to our hangar at Juhu Aerodrome to be the appropriate work area and permitted us to do the MRO here. The Nepalese Army team has being keeping full track and we have finished the work in precisely nine months,” stated Aman Johri.

MRO of Mi-17 helicopters involves comprehensive services to ensure these helicopters are operational, safe, and reliable. A Russian-designed helicopter widely used for both military and civilian applications, makes MRO a critical aspect of the lifecycle.  Several specialized companies and national organizations provide MRO services for Mi-17 helicopters, often with experience and authorization from the original manufacturer. MRO services might also be provided by military depots or civilian aviation companies in countries that operate Mi-17s.

Aman Aviation & Aerospace Solutions is approved M.R.O by the DGCA India in CAR 145, DOT (US),& ISO 9001:2016.A3S is providing the tailored solutions for the maintenance, repairs and overhaul needs on the components on case to case basis.