Why is this a Milestone?
- The Event: Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated a new Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Hyderabad.
- The Partner: The facility is established by Safran, a leading French aerospace company.
- Global Status: This is the largest MRO facility Safran has established anywhere in the world for its LEAP engines.
- Location: Situated at the GMR Aerospace and Industrial Park, Hyderabad.
2. Inside the Facility: Scale & Investment
- Investment: Set up with an initial investment of ₹1,300 crore.
- Size: Sprawled over 45,000 sq.m.
- Primary Function: Dedicated to the maintenance of LEAP engines, which power a significant portion of the global narrow-body aircraft fleet.
3. Strategic Shift: From ‘Make in India’ to ‘Design in India’
- The Vision: The PM urged a transition towards “Design in India,” specifically in aircraft engine and component design.
- The Enablers:
- Leveraging India’s vast MSME network.
- Utilizing the country’s young and skilled talent pool for aerospace propulsion design.
4. Policy Framework: Enablers of Investment
- FDI Liberalization:
- 100% FDI is now permitted in most sectors via the automatic route.
- Defence Sector: Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) cap raised to 74% under the automatic route (previously a restricted sector for private players).
- Space Sector: Major reforms adopted to open the sector to private and foreign participation.
- Incentives: Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes are actively attracting global manufacturers.
5. Prelims Tech Check: What is a LEAP Engine?
- Full Form: Leading Edge Aviation Propulsion.
- Type: A high-bypass turbofan engine.
- Usage: Used to power modern narrow-body aircraft (e.g., Airbus A320neo, Boeing 737 MAX).
- Key Feature: Known for high fuel efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions compared to previous generations.
