AIR WORKS Group, one of India’s oldest and biggest MRO and aviation services majors, has achieved a unique and historic milestone, completing 75 years of service to the nation. It was on 16th April 1951, that Air Works’ founders – (Late) BG Menon and (Late) PS Menon, laid the foundation of what has today become the “Indian MRO industry” – by commencing operations at the Mumbai International Airport.
Beginning with maintenance of Douglas DC-3s and DC-4s on behalf of leading industrialists and international airlines flying to India, Air Works eventually established a powerful and comprehensive portfolio of aviation Engineering and Maintenance services that spanned over 50 different types of aircraft (General Aviation) at a time, including forging strong and meaningful relationships with several global OEMs such as Dassault, Bombardier, Bell, Leonardo, Gulfstream and others. The founders’ visionary and self-reliant (Atmanirbhar) approach even saw Air Works establishing a specialized Academy that trained and produced highly skilled aircraft maintenance professionals in the early 80s, ahead of time.
After about 50+ years, eyeing the fast-growing global market, Air Works undertook a series of radical steps that included professionalizing its management and ways of working and infusing capital, to set up the country’s first, EASA-approved, private Commercial aircraft maintenance facility at Hosur, Tamil Nadu, turning a new leaf and diversifying its business to include maintenance of Commercial aircraft within Indian shores, boosting indigenous MRO capabilities significantly. In 2011-12, Air Works entered the Defense MRO business by forging a strategic partnership with Boeing for maintaining BBJ aircraft for Heads of State, thereby straddling every customer segment with a rich suite of offerings.
With JVs such as SA Air Works (with Scandinavian Avionics) and Acumen (into asset management services), Engineering and Maintenance excellence at its core, a philosophy of ensuring complete customer satisfaction (Fly Assured) fueled by a legacy of transforming for tomorrow, Air Works Group has become an enterprise success story and a well-respected brand in the Indian Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) industry, with an enviable customer mix that includes leading Indian and regional airlines, lessors, airlines and cargo operators, OEMs and Defense forces such as the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy. In fact, prior to its strategic focus on India beginning 2019, Air Works Group was India’s only MNC in the Aviation sector with interests across the USA, UK, Europe, Middle East, and China.
Over the past several decades and having worked with leading industry chapters, Air Works has played an active role in championing the ‘essential’ role of an Atmanirbhar, self-sustainable MRO sector on which the success of Indian civil aviation so deeply depends. Using Policy inputs to promote standards harmonization at a regional level, commercial success, indigenization, skilling, innovation, with a resolute commitment to quality, excellence and a steadfast focus on customer satisfaction, it is no surprise therefore that >90% of Air Works’ customers are loyal and long-standing ones, having supported the brand during both good and bad times.
“The entire company is thrilled to celebrate this momentous and record-breaking, once-in-a-lifetime milestone,” said D Anand Bhaskar, MD & CEO, Air Works Group. He further added, “Our journey has been one of passion, perseverance, and professionalism, driven by the commitment of our founding fathers’ to continue serving the evolving needs of our customers and those of the overarching aviation industry. None of this would however be possible without the support and dedication of every one of our 1600+ employees, our customers and partners. Turning 75 isn’t just a company achievement – but a collective tribute to the faith and commitment of every member of the Air Works family.”
To mark its Platinum Anniversary – in stark contrast to prevailing practices – Air Works has been hosting a series of inward-oriented pan-India, network-wide engagements focused on rewarding the outstanding efforts of its employees and their families over several years, who have given so much of themselves to uphold commitments towards customers’ while maintaining Company values.
At an exclusive internal event undertaken to commemorate the 75 Year achievement and paying homage to its founding fathers’, Air Works unveiled a glittering, specially curated medallion at a Grand Puja ceremony, befitting its glorious past, and celebrating its scintillating present while offering a confident peek into its promising future, saluting the efforts of all those who’ve worn, continue to wear and shall have the privilege of wearing the Air Works badge in the Years to come, underscoring its values and commitment towards delivering excellence and its Fly Assured promise.
Sharing his experiences with young colleagues, Ravi Menon, Director, Air Works Group, remarked, “We never imagined surviving such a long journey in this dynamic industry, or of ever growing from 50–100-member team to become a family of 1600+ today. Our greatest advantage is our culture and family values that foster collaboration, trust, and transparency, together with the unique opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the finest, most passionate and sought after minds in the field of aviation engineering & maintenance, across our pan-India network. The developments over the past year at Air Works have made us even more agile, and we’re raring to go.”
Echoing Ravi’s sentiments, D Anand Bhaskar said, “Air Works’ ability to continually adapt and transform has been our greatest strength. 75 is an inflection point, and we stand re-vitalized and busy, re-inventing for tomorrow. Even as it has been a personal honor to have led Air Works Group while reaching this groundbreaking milestone, I strongly believe that with the host of initiatives in our pipeline, Air Works will undoubtedly remain at the center of aviation and MRO opportunities for those desirous of being in the thick of action, with many more exciting stories to be told. In closing, and on behalf of every Air Works family member, I remain indebted to everyone who has been part of our exciting yet arduous journey, including our customers, regulators, the government, our partners, and aviation OEMs who’ve believed in us.”
