Airlines in India may have pruned aircraft orders, but it’s a different story when it comes to helicopter makers, as they see orders from India only increasing. In line with this trend, global giant Bell Helicopters has plans to set up an assembly plant in India.
As Indian aviation struggle to steer past rough weather, a steady growth in helicopter business in India clearly emerge out as a silver lining, so much so that helicopter maker, Bell is looking forward at setting up a helicopter assembly centre and MRO here in India.
The company is presently scouting for strategic partners.
Bob Fitzpatrich, VP at Bell Helicopters, said, "We will set up an assembly centre and MRO here. The Indian market is growing at over 15 per cent. The Indian corporate is still buying machines; the offshore/onshore oil exploration business is growing. Also, charter services in India are increasing."
After all, chartered helicopter operators like Global Vectra, the key client to Bell in India, have been seeing business boom and are themselves charting out fleet expansion plans.
Moreover, helicopter taxi services, too, are gaining momentum in the country.
Ravi Rishi, Chairman of Global Vectra Aviation, said, "We are growing. As corporate demand increases, we are starting helicopter taxi services. The Indian consumers can now afford it."
Sources said that the possible partners to Bell could include engineering giants like Larsen & Tourbo, Mahindra &Mahindra and the Tatas, who have not only been actively enhancing their aircraft parts manufacturing capabilities but have also been fighting for a pie in defence equipment manufacturing space. These bigwigs are however dominated by global giants like Lockheed Martin, which also has big India plans.
Certainly, Bell seems to be at India’s door at the right time.