By Staff Correspondent
India’s largest independent MRO and aviation services major, Air Works Group has been awarded the ‘Best MRO Services’ award for the second consecutive year at ASSOCHAM’s 14th Annual Conference cum Awards on Civil Aviation and Cargo, held on 18th January 2023.
Mr. P K Thakur, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Govt. of India and Mr. K Narayan Rao, Chairman, ASSOCHAM National Council on Civil Aviation presented the award to Mr. D Anand Bhaskar, Managing Director & CEO, Air Works Group, and his team, in the august presence of the Chief Guest – Jyotiraditya Scindia, Minister of Civil Aviation, Govt. of India at a glittering ceremony in New Delhi on Wednesday. Mr. Emmanuel Lenain, Ambassador of France to India and other dignitaries from the aviation industry and the media also graced the event.
Upon receiving the recognition, Mr. D Anand Bhaskar, MD & CEO, Air Works Group said, “We are absolutely delighted to be adjudged as the winner of ‘Best MRO Services’ by ASSOCHAM, for the second consecutive year! Being the best celebrates excellence – a philosophy that underpins every aspect of Air Works business including our workmanship, and the way we manage premium aviation assets, as well as our commitment towards our customers. I accept this prestigious award on behalf of every member of the Air Works family who continue to resolutely give their very best in ensuring that our customers always fly assured!
A much-anticipated annual event, ASSOCHAMs 14th International Conference cum Awards recognize and celebrate the outstanding contribution and success of various stakeholders in Indian Civil Aviation including airlines, airports, MROs, cargo companies, freight forwarders, ground handlers and FTOs alike. Winning this distinguished award for the second consecutive year doesn’t just reflect Air Works’ industry leadership but also the rigorous focus and attention-to-detail that goes into ensuring the sustenance of this philosophy across every touchpoint in the company, especially the last mile. Air Works bagged the premium award for 2022 despite pandemic-led disruptions, reflecting the resilience and agility of its over 7-decade-old legacy.
The past year (2022) was eventful for Air Works, as the aviation market recovered globally from the pandemic complementing the company’s strong investments that were undertaken during the pandemic. The company continued to see 100% utilization of its maintenance facilities, growing its heavy maintenance customers by 70% over the previous year. Its group company – SA Air Works – became India’s maiden Avionics company to enter a select pool of global companies in the field of aerospace design, that will enable it to create IPs in the form of STCs and repair schemes.
Among other developments, maintenance of defence assets and OEM engagements witnessed significant growth on the back of deepening relationships with Boeing, Embraer, Bell, and Leonardo, allowing more and more heavy maintenance work to be undertaken within the country, boosting Atmanirbharta. Moreover, Air Works’ international line maintenance business registered a strong recovery with the addition of several international airlines to its existing mix of customers, even as the brand’s Cabin & Interiors business doubled over last year.
The company also enhanced the speed of digital transformation, exploring application of emerging concepts such as AI and Blockchain in the MRO space. Recently, it deployed an AI-based, WhatsApp Chatbot that connects its Spare part inventory with the end-used (engineer) via mobile devices, in real-time. It also undertook successful Proof of Concepts (POC) using blockchain for quicker inventory management as well as an industry-first project wherein it used 3D-scanning to assess airframe structural damage from a comprehensive perspective, enhancing the quality of damage assessment.
ASSOCHAM’s 14th Annual Conference cum Awards event received an enthusiastic response from the industry witnessing active participation from all stakeholders. The event also recognized other performers with Awards in separate categories.
