Govt working on domestic production of aircraft, to join hands with major global players: Suresh Prabhu

Mumbai: The government is working on a blueprint for the domestic manufacturing of aircraft and also looking at aircraft financing from within the country, Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu said on Tuesday. Speaking to the media at the Global Aviation Summit 2019, organised jointly by the civil aviation ministry, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and FICCI, the minister also emphasised on carrying out maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) work domestically. “We will soon roll out a road map for manufacturing of aircraft in India,” Prabhu said. [caption id=“attachment_4384451” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Suresh Prabhu. AFP.[/caption] Stating that the country needs 2,300 new aircraft to meet the future air travel demand, he said, “We would like to join hands with top players from across the globe.” The minister said 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 loosing out lot of resources to outsiders,” Prabhu said. He further said the government wants aircraft MRO to happen in the country. “There are so many planes and the maintenance and repairs can be done in India,” he said. Prabhu warned that if MRO work is not carried out in the country then the government will be loosing out lot of money, besides job opportunities. He said the domestic passenger traffic has been growing at 17-18 percent, adding the government is also now focusing on cargo and has for the first time unveiled a policy to boost the growth in the segment. Prabhu said the government has recently launched a drone policy and would like to make sure that drone becomes one of the preferred use for many sectors such as agriculture and disaster management, among others. ‘We will make sure that drones are manufactured in the country," he said.     To keep watching India’s No. 1 English Business News Channel – CNBC-TV18, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family Pack (inclusive of 24 channels), available for Rs. 35/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 4/- per day. To keep watching the Leader in Global Market & Business News – CNBC-TV18 Prime HD, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family HD Pack (inclusive of 25 channels), available for Rs. 50/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 1/- per day.