Low cost, high quality and Indian

Representatives of global aircraft making companies are keen on exploiting the low cost high quality expertise available with the Indian aeronautics industry in specific areas, as the many partnerships they are exploring show. Many of these collaborations may emerge as risk sharing ventures.

"We are not looking for technology transfer, but risk sharing partnerships," summarised Vincent Gorry, Snecma Group's representative in India, which was just about right for Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's boss, A K Baweja. HAL had become very good in specific areas the public sector aircraft maker could deliver at globally competitive rates, he said.

Indian capabilities are being looked at as global airlines are competing to keep and expand business in the passenger segment while keeping a lid on costs. For this they need engines that burn less fuel, deliver greater thrust-to-weight ratio, make less noise and emit less pollutants. And, better seats and more headroom in cabins is a must.

So engine and aircraft makers are looking for partners who delivered high quality parts at lower costs, said Michel Dechelotte, director of development at Snecma Group's Russian business.

Dechelotte is chairman and chief executive officer of the French part of PowerJet SA, a joint company of Snecma Moteurs and NPO Saturn of Russia that will build the SaM146 engine for the Russian Regional Jet (RRJ). The RRJ is being built by a consortium led by the Sukhoi Design Bureau.

HAL, which is considering making a proposal to build the tail assembly of the RRJ, as a potential 10 per cent stakeholder in that project, is being approached by PowerJet to make some of the composite envelop of the engine and acoustic panels, "as HAL is very good in composites," Dechelotte said.

"You hit the nail on the head," he said, to a query on such partnerships, adding, "Hurel Hispano, a Snecma subsidiary which is making the nacelle (the envelop), has been here for the last five days quietly scouting for sub-contractors," he said.

"Residual value of the engine is getting a lot of attention these days. Civil aviation authorities of various countries have set norms for aircraft safety, noise and emissions that are becoming more stringent. If an engine delivers features that are even better than the minimum compliance required, then it immediately translates to lower costs for the airlines as they can operate such engines longer."

SaM146 will deliver 40 per cent less carbon monoxide and various nitrogen oxides (NOx) than the current international norms (called stage 3), be 20 decibels less noisy, he said. It will deliver 20 per cent lower maintenance costs. "The aim," Dechelotte said, "is to develop the engine until its emissions are 50 per cent less than stage 3 norms."