K`taka aviation hub signs pact with UK`s Marshall Aerospace

An executive from Jupiter Aviation said it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Marshall.

Marshall Aerospace has wide experience in conversion, modification and maintenance of military, corporate and civil aircraft. It also provides design, manufacturing, testing, certification and logistic support over an 800-acre site and operates the local airport in Cambridge, England.

S Ravi Narayanan, CEO & MD, Jupiter Aviation, said the MoU would help the company replicate the infrastructure and customer base of Marshall. "This is a major step for Jupiter Aviation towards fulfilling its objective to make Hassan a world-class aviation lifecycle support centre," he said.

The airport at Hassan is expected to be ready by early 2009. The airport complex would be built over 2,500 acres at a cost of Rs 3,000 crore. In the first phase Rs 600 crore will be invested.

According to industry information, this complex, in addition to the airport (to be built at a cost of Rs 1,200 crore), would have a pilot training institute, an aeroplane maintenance centre, a hi-tech hospital, a golf club and a swimming pool. The airport will have a 5,000-metre runway.

A training hub will be set up in Hassan to supplement the functioning of the airport. VimanaVidhya, the aerospace academy promoted by Jupiter Aviation, will train over 600 pilots and related staff at various levels.

The Karnataka government has released Rs 60 crore for the project so far and is in the process of handing over 950 acres to Jupiter Aviation on a rental basis through the Airports Authority of India on a build, operate, own and transfer (BOOT) basis.

The company will collect tax from national and international airlines that use the facility for a period of 30 years.

Hassan airport will have a passenger handling capacity of two million in the first year. This is expected to increase to 10 million in 30 years.

The airport aims to handle 60,000 tonnes cargo per year, besides handling heavy checks and modifications of over 60 aircraft per year. It will be equipped with two MRO hangars that will be able to house two A380 or eight A320 aircraft, besides aprons with a capacity of five parked transit passenger aircraft.