Indian helicopter sales and support company Indocopters will open its third maintenance, repair and overhaul facility for Eurocopter rotorcraft in Bangalore in the second quarter of 2010.
The company, which distributes and maintains Eurocopter aircraft in India, also plans to open a fourth MRO facility in Bhubaneshwar in eastern India.
This will "mostly likely come up in Bhubaneshwar by the second half of this year", says Indocopters chief executive Mike Meyer.
Indocopters, part of Vectra Group, already has MRO facilities in Greater Noida and Mumbai. It is investing Rp1.5 billion ($33 million) in the first three MRO facilities, it says.
Indocopters has facilitated the sale of around 20 Eurocopter types over the past three years including four helicopters to private owners and commercial operators at the India Aviation air show in Hyderabad earlier this month.
Meyer says Eurocopter plans to double its India-based fleet in India within the next three to five years - capturing 40-50% of the market, he adds.
The growing market for pre-owned helicopters is also being explored by Eurocopter although India's lack of infrastructure could be a hindrance to further growth, says Indocopters chief executive Rohit Kapur.
He concedes however that "the regulators are positive about the needs and are moving quickly to resolve them".
Eurocopter is not the only helicopter manufacturer hoping to increase its market share in India. Earlier this month, AgustaWestland delivered an AW139 to India's Jindal Steel & Power. The 12-seater aircraft will be used for corporate transport purposes in India, says AgustaWestland, which has sold more than 30 aircraft in the country.
Source: Flight International
