38 | BOEING FRONTIERS 7 India is seeking improvements for more than 100 of its airports over the next decade. — With the steady increase in air travel, government leaders acknowledge that the country’s aviation infrastructure, commercially and militarily, needs upgrading and expanding. Boeing tracks airport needs countrywide and offers its expertise in facilities, maintenance and air traffic flow, according to Boeing officials in India. Jeppesen, a Boeing subsidiary, has provided software upgrades to three major airports in southern India. “People, like me, want to fly,” said Tithi Paul, an office administrator in New Delhi with Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “More and more people are taking vacations. They might be traveling for the first time, and traveling with an entire family. It’s a growth phenomenon.” 5 India was among the first countries to order the 787 Dreamliner. — Air India, the country’s national carrier and one of the early 787 customers, operates 21 Dreamliners and is scheduled to take delivery of six more. The airline first flew the twin-aisle jet on international routes to Frankfurt, London and Paris, and recently announced it will begin using the 787 domestically as well. Jet Airways also has 10 Dreamliners on order. 6 The 787-9 floor beam is built in India, supporting the “Make in India” initiative. — Local supplier TAL Manufacturing Solutions produces composite 787-9 floor beams in Nagpur in central India. Overall, Boeing sources key components from 30 companies in India, supporting 3,500 local jobs, according to Ashwani Bhargava, Boeing director of India supplier management. The country introduced the “Make in India” campaign in 2014, encouraging overseas collaborations with India manufacturing firms, Bhargava said. The 787-9 floor beam is an example of the accelerated sourcing in the country, he said, adding: “We are closely connected with the suppliers here and the India supplier base is evolving.”
Frontiers April 2016 Issue
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