WORKING AGENDA DAY 2
April 12, 2025 [Saturday]
​4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON
EMERGING TRENDS IN AVIATION MRO INDUSTRY
Programme accurate as on 10 April 2025
09:00 – 10:00
Registration & Tea
10:00 – 10:30
Auditorium
Opening Remarks
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Address by:
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Shri. Vaibhav Varun, Managing Director, Aviakul Group of Companies
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Gp. Capt. GVG Yugandhar, Director General, Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau​​​
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Prof. (Dr.) G.S. Bajpai, Vice Chancellor, National Law University Delhi
10:30 – 11:30
Auditorium
[PA-04] Panel Discussion
Engine MRO: Challenges & way forward
The Panel Discussion on Engine MRO: Challenges & Way Forward will explore strategies to enhance India’s self-reliance in engine maintenance, reduce foreign dependency, and integrate digitalization, predictive maintenance, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). As the aviation industry expands, engine MRO remains critical to ensure fleet reliability and cost efficiency. With the global engine MRO market projected to reach $42.71 billion by 2025 and $58.16 billion by 2030, key developments such as Safran’s $200 million MRO investment in Hyderabad and the growing presence of next-gen engines like LEAP, GTF, and Trent XWB highlight the need for regulatory reforms, capacity expansion, supply chain resilience, and skill development.
The panel will address critical questions: Can India become a global engine MRO hub? How can certification and approvals be streamlined? What best practices can mitigate supply chain disruptions? How can compliance be simplified while maintaining safety? The discussion will pave the way forward for the future of India’s engine MRO sector
Moderator:
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Col. Kandadai V Kuber (Retd.), Director - Aerospace and Defence, Ernst & Young LLP
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Panellists:
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Shri. Ashok Gopinath, President & Accountable Manager, GMR Aero Technic
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Shri. Ashwani Acharya, Chief Operating Officer, Indamer Technics Private Limited
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Shri. Jetendra Gavankar, Chief Executive Officer, Safran India
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Shri. Ravindranath Singh Thakur, Executive Director, AI Engineering Service Limited (AIESL)
11:30 – 12:00
Auditorium
[FS-01] Fireside Chat
CEO’s Perspective: Are we tech ready?
The Fireside Chat, CEO’s Perspective: Are We Tech Ready? will feature a leading MRO CEO discussing the industry's digital transformation, automation, and sustainability-driven innovations. With ICAO’s commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050 and the rapid rise of technological innovations, leading MRO providers are beginning to adopt AI – driven predictive maintenance, IoT based fleet monitoring, blockchain for MRO records, robotics, AR/VR-assisted maintenance, 3D printing and digital twins to optimize operations. However, challenges persist, including workforce reskilling, regulatory complexities, rising costs, supply chain disruptions, and cybersecurity threats.
As we navigate these challenges, key questions arise: How can Indian MROs compete globally despite regulatory and cost pressures? What strategies can airlines and MROs implement to enhance predictive maintenance through data sharing? How can academia and industry collaborate to train the next-gen workforce in AI-driven diagnostics and composite repairs? How can cybersecurity risks be mitigated as Indian MROs adopt IoT enabled fleet monitoring system? The discussion will spark deeper insights into India’s readiness for the next wave of digital transformation to position India as a global MRO leader.
Moderator:
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Smt. Poonam Chawla, Senior Aviation Journalist, Associate Publisher, Air Cargo Update; Founder, Women Board of Directors
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Speaker:
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Shri. Sharad Agarwal, Chief Executive Officer, AI Engineering Service Limited (AIESL) ​​
12:00 – 13:00
Auditorium
[PA-05] Panel Discussion
Helicopter MRO: Empowering the Rotorcraft Maintenance
The helicopter MRO sector is crucial for maintaining the safety and efficiency of rotorcraft across civil, defense, emergency services, and emerging urban air mobility (UAM) applications. The Panel Discussion on Helicopter MRO: Empowering Rotorcraft Maintenance will bring forth key stakeholders – operators, MRO providers, Indian Air Force representatives, manufacturers, and industry experts to explore solutions for strengthening India’s helicopter MRO ecosystem. With the global helicopter MRO market projected to reach $12.34 billion by 2030, India still heavily depends on foreign MRO facilities due to limited local infrastructure, high operational costs, high import duties on spare parts, regulatory hurdles, and a shortage of skilled technicians.
The panel will discuss: How can India develop indigenous helicopter MRO capabilities? How can regulations be streamlined to attract investments in the sector? Should military helicopter MRO be opened to private players? The discussion will pave the way forward for India’s path to becoming a global rotorcraft MRO hub.
Moderator:
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Shri. Rajinder Singh Passi, Chief of Flight Safety, Chipsan Aviation Private Limited
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Panellists:
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Shri. Manuel Munari, Managing Director & Flight Instructor, AviaMEA, UAE
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Shri. Jitendra Singh Negi, General Manager (AME & MRO), Pawan Hans Limited
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Shri. J P Modi, Senior Vice President Quality & CAMO, OSS Air Management Private Limited
13:00 – 14:00
LUNCH
Data driven Maintenance: Military Domain
The Keynote Lecture on Data-Driven Maintenance: Military Domain will focus on how the aerospace industry is rapidly digitizing operations, with the military – particularly the Indian Air Force (IAF) – leading the charge. For over two decades, the IAF has utilized its supply chain ERP, IMMOLS, and integrated it with the electronics-Maintenance Management System (e-MMS). These systems, leveraging AI, IoT, and the "Intelligent Digital Grid," enable data-driven decision-making, real-time fleet monitoring, and optimized maintenance. Yet, challenges persist including, legacy systems, high costs, supply chain issues, skill gaps, and data security.
The expert will discuss: How can legacy systems be integrated into advanced maintenance frameworks? How can security risks related to sensitive maintenance and operational data be mitigated while promoting interoperability across systems and services? What role should private sector innovation play in shaping the future of military maintenance, and how can trust and collaboration be built? How will ubiquitous data access reshape future warfare? The session will examine how data-driven maintenance is transforming military operations, especially within the IAF and explore opportunities for convergence with civil aviation through shared technologies, digital frameworks, and collaborative innovation
14:00 – 14:15
Auditorium
[KL-01] Keynote Lecture
Speaker:
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Air Vice Marshal Puneet Sarin (Retd), VSM, Advisor to Board, Sakthi Aircraft Industry
Role of Drones in MRO
Fireside Chat: Role of Drones in MRO will highlight the role of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in revolutionizing aviation Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) practices. By minimizing aircraft downtime through automated visual inspections and integrating real-time data into MRO software, drones offer reduced safety risks, and substantial cost savings while improving predictive maintenance and streamlining operations. However, challenges persist, including limited flight time, autonomy, battery endurance, weak supply chain for drone-specific components, regulatory compliances, and the integration of drones into existing workflows.
The experts will shed light on critical issues: How can drone regulations be standardized to facilitate global MRO operations? What technological advancements are needed to enhance drone endurance and autonomy? How can infrastructure investment and specialized training support the seamless implementation of drones in MRO? How can MRO providers balance the cost of drone adoption with long-term profitability? The session will provide key insights into how drones can play a pivotal role in India's journey towards becoming a global leader in MRO services by 2047.
14:15 – 14:45
Auditorium
[FS-02] Fireside Chat
Speakers:
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Shri. Aman Johri, Chief Executive Officer, Jatayu Unmanned Systems
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Lt. Mahaboob M, Assistant Professor – ECE, Associate NCC Officer, Sri Eshwar College of Engineering Coimbatore; Accountable Manager - Sri Eshwar Drone Tech Private Limited
Upskilling future MRO Workforce
The Panel discussion on Upskilling Future MRO Workforce will focus on the need to align the practical industrial training with that of the policy framework. As India’s MRO industry is expanding rapidly, with global players increasing their presence, there is an estimated demand for 34,000 new AMEs by 2042. The efficient policy formulation for the sustainable growth of the industry is the need of the hour. Despite efforts by NSDC and training institutes, gaps in regulatory governance, standardized curricula framework, training infrastructure, and visible disconnect in the industry’s practical needs & policy formulation persist. Advanced technologies like AI, IoT, robotics, and digital twins are being introduced in AME training, but the lack of recognition at the university and higher education levels limits career progression for aviation industry professionals for participation in policy formulation, which is critical for the efficient growth of the industry. This panel will deliberate on bridging the talent gap, enhancing training infrastructure, implementing skill-centric regulatory reforms, and strengthening industry-academia partnerships.
Key questions include: How can regulations align with industry needs? How can the gap between industry skills and policy formulation be bridged? What role does technology play in AME training? How can India create a sustainable talent pipeline? Should India establish a dedicated MRO Skill Council, and how should it be structured?
14:45 – 15:45
Auditorium
[PA-06] Panel Discussion
Moderator:
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Shri. Ashwani Sharma, Chairman, Aeronautical Society of India (Mumbai)
Panellists:
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Shri. Armel Jezequel, Chief Executive Officer, Aircraft Academy, France
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Shri. Ashwani Acharya, Managing Director, i-Rise Foundation
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Shri. Rajendra Mane, Training Manager, School for Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (Interglobe Education)
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Capt. Ravinder Sehrawat, Director, Institution for Aviators