Sky is the limit for B'lore's aero profile

 Bangalore’s aerospace profile is growing sharply with the City now offering multiple solutions in aircraft development like re-engineering, manufacturing, software designing, production of varied electronic systems and development of an array of technologies for the world’s largest commercial airplane maker Boeing.

Bangalore has just begun, via BEL, manufacturing deck cockpit panels for America’s frontline military fighter F/A-18, which was flown during the City’s air shows at Yelahanka, a Boeing India spokesperson told Deccan Herald.

BEL has also delivered the identification friend or foe interrogator and a battle management system that will enable the P-8I aircraft to distinguish friendly aircraft and forces. The India-designed Data Link II system, by BEL, is for the P-8I communications system that will enable exchange of tactical data and messages between the Indian Navy aircraft, ships and shore establishments. The Electronics Corporation of India supplies the speech secrecy systems for the P-8I.

HAL too has had strong ties with Boeing, say Boeing officials. HAL had become the single-source producer of 757 aircraft overwing exit doors. Later, it began to manufacture the 777 uplock boxes, 777 flaperons, F/A-18 gun bay doors and wire harnesses, P8I weapons bay doors, tailcones and transponders.

Veterans in the company say that Boeing embarked on a relationship with IT companies in the mid-90s and began collaboration with HCL, Infosys, WIPRO and TCS on IT projects, systems re-engineering and development, web-enabling, e-business applications and long-term applications maintenance.

In 2005, Boeing again worked with Infosys and TCS on a wide variety of knowledge-based engineering services and data analysis projects.

Other than software, Dynamatic Technologies and Tata Advanced Materials Limited have already delivered P-8I power and mission equipment cabinets. TAML is now on contract to provide P-8I auxiliary power unit door fairings. Dynamatic Technologies will also supply aft pylon and cargo ramp assemblies for Boeing’s CH-47F Chinook. Avantel delivers the mobile satellite systems for the P-8I. Maini and TAL Manufacturing Solutions will also be providing C-17 ground support equipment.

Boeing also has research partnerships with institutions in Bangalore, Boeing India officials told Deccan Herald.

“We have a strategic research partnership with IISc focused on research in materials sciences, structural alloys, smart materials and structures, process modelling and simulation. IISc is one of the only 10 universities worldwide which has a special relationship with Boeing. The aircraft manufacturer also has helped set up a consortium called the Aerospace Network Research Consortium, which has IISc, HCL and WIPRO as partners. This open collaboration forum conducts research and co-development in technologies related to aerospace networks,” officials said. Boeing has set up the Boeing Research and Technology India Centre, the Indian counterpart of Boeing’s US wing. The India facility conducts research in areas such as flight sciences, materials and processes, structures and software with Indian research partners.

Yet another facility is the Boeing Strategic Development and Experimentation Centre, which provides defence experimentation and decision-support services to understand the future needs of the Indian armed forces.