Hyderabad. Marking a milestone in the ‘Make in India’ C295 programme, the Airbus Defence and Space Quality Management System (QMS) for the C295 aircraft has received approval from the Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DGAQA), the Indian regulatory authority, to produce detailed parts and sub-assemblies in India.
As per the approval, the certificate for which was formally handed over on February 12, 2024, Airbus Defence and Space is working with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) to produce detailed parts and sub-assemblies at various locations in India. The certificate of approval was presented by Sanjay Chawla, Director General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance, to Michael Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, and Masood Hussainy, Head, Aerostructures and Aeroengines, Tata Advanced Systems Limited, at the C295 Main Components Assembly facility in Hyderabad. This is a significant step of a comprehensive quality assurance roadmap agreed between Airbus Defence and Space and DGAQA for the C295 ‘Make in India’ programme, in close collaboration with TASL.
“This certification demonstrates the continuing trust and confidence of DGAQA in Airbus quality standards. All detailed parts for the C295 will be manufactured in India under exacting Airbus quality standards. We continue to work in strong partnership with Tata Advanced Systems Limited to apply a robust and comprehensive quality framework for successful aircraft manufacturing in India for the C295 ‘Make in India’ programme under the policy of Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” said Jorge Tamarit Degenhardt, VP – Head of C295 India Programme, Airbus Defence and Space.
India formalised the acquisition of 56 Airbus C295 aircraft to replace the Indian Air Force (IAF) legacy AVRO fleet, in September 2021. Under the contractual agreement, Airbus will deliver the first 16 aircraft in ‘fly-away’ condition from its final assembly line in Seville, Spain. The remaining 40 aircraft will be manufactured and assembled by Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) in India as part of an industrial partnership between the two companies. The first C295 aircraft was delivered to the Indian Air Force in September 2023. This certification is part of this programme, which involves the full development of a complete industrial ecosystem: from the production of detailed parts to assembly, test, delivery and maintenance of the complete lifecycle of the aircraft.
