The government is working on a blueprint for the domestic manufacturing of aircraft and also looking at aircraft financing from within the country. Speaking to the media at the Global Aviation Summit 2019, organised jointly by the civil aviation ministry, the Airports Authority of India and Ficci, the minister emphasised on carrying out of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) work domestically, Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu said on Tuesday.
He also said that, we will soon roll out a road map for manufacturing of aircraft in India. Stating that the country needs 2,300 new aircraft to meet the future air travel demands, we would like to join hands with top players from across the globe. The government wants aircraft financing to be done by domestic players. We are already working on financing of aircraft and how that should happen from India. We are losing out lots of resources to outsiders. The government wants aircraft MRO to happen in the country. There are so many planes and the maintenance and repairs that can be done in India.
Prabhu warned that if MRO work is not carried out in the country then the government will be losing out lots of money, besides job opportunities. The domestic passenger traffic has been growing at 17-18 per cent. The government is also now focusing on cargo and has for the first time unveiled a policy to boost the growth in the segment. The government has recently launched a drone policy and would like to make sure that drone becomes one of the preferred uses for many sectors such as agriculture and disaster management, among others. We will make sure that drones are manufactured in the country.
