The Tata Group, India's largest conglomerate and an industrial powerhouse, could enter the aerospace production business and start manufacturing parts such as fuselages and wings within the next few years.

"We started out by designing components, and moved on to designing aircraft parts such as the fuselage and wings. But many aircraft manufacturers want end-to-end solutions, from the design to production itself, and we are in a position to provide this," says Suresh Babu, director aerospace practice at group subsidiary Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).

Tata would be the second major manufacturer of aerospace parts in India after state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL).

Apart from design work, the company also produces components for global aerospace companies. Regu Ayyaswamy, vice-president for engineering and industrial services at TCS, says that clients include major airframe and engine manufacturers. These companies are making inroads into India as the country's civil and defence aerospace industry booms.

"Over the next 10 years, the amount of work that is coming into the aerospace industry in India is simply astounding. There is a lot to do and we hope to get a share," he says. "The sooner we get into this the better, probably within the next two to three years."

The Tata Group has had a long involvement in the aviation industry. Its former chairman J R D Tata started Tata Airways, which later became national carrier Air India. Ratan Tata, the current chairman, is an aviation buff who is licensed to fly jet aircraft and helicopters.

Production work could be undertaken by another subsidiary Tata Advanced Materials. This Bangalore-based company is involved in the design, engineering, testing and manufacture of advanced composite products.

The group, which has manufacturing interests such as car producer Tata Motors, is likely to invest in the heavy equipment needed to produce aerospace parts in the coming years.

This foray into aerospace parts manufacturing, however, would not be in competition with Bangalore-based HAL, says Babu. He says that TCS and HAL already collaborate to provide engineering solutions to aerospace companies.




Source: Flight International