European aircraft major Airbus is likely to tie-up with Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL), for setting up a $100 million maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility at Nashik, Union civil aviation minister Praful Patel said."They (Airbus) want to have a tie-up with HAL and the latter has two bases, one at Bangalore and in Nashik and we have requested Airbus to select Nashik, which will be convenient for both," Patel said here today.US aircraft major Boeing has already signed an MoU with the Maharashtra government and Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) for setting up an MRO in the city.Nashik would be an ideal location to decongest the Mumbai-Pune industrial belt, Patel said.On the progress of the multi-modal international passenger and cargo hub (MIHAN), Patel said it was now up to the Maharashtra Government to speed up the activities for setting up a dedicated company where Airports Authority of India (AAI) will have 49% share, while 51% will be retained by MADC.When asked about his dream project, an aviation academy at neighbouring Gondia district, Patel said it was taking shape and things will be clear very soon.
