Pawan Hans join hands with Airbus Helicopters for fleet upkeep

State-run chopper services provider Pawan Hans has partnered with Airbus Helicopters for up keep of the European aviation major's helicopter fleet in the SAARC region.
The partnership was announced at the 11th edition of the Asia's largest air show, which began here yesterday.
Pawana Hans has maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility for Dauphin helicopters in Mumbai. The Domestic aviation entity is setting up its second MRO facility in the national capital.
Under the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Pawan Hans Limited and Airbus Helicopters, the former would act as the latter's approved maintenance centre for the Dauphin and Ecureuil rotorcraft, according to a statement.

"We have enjoyed a great partnership with Airbus Helicopters. We would like to take our partnership a notch higher by extending our maintenance services portfolio to more Airbus helicopter types and increase our geographical coverage to SAARC countries," Pawan Hans Chairman and Managing Director BP Sharma said in the statement.
The tie-up also has the provision to enlarge Pawan Hans' scope of maintenance services in the future to include other Airbus helicopter types, it said.

Pawan Hans is a joint venture between the Central Government and ONGC with the former holding 51 per cent stake and the latter rest 49 per cent.

Set up in 1985, Pawan Hans, the world's largest operator of the civil Dauphin fleet, has 34 Airbus helicopters of which 32 are Dauphin while two are Ecureuil.
The government has already announced its plans to sell its stake in the firm and transfer the management control of the helicopter service operator.
"Pawan Hans has built unparalleled expertise in operation and maintenance of the Dauphin. Our legacy partnership offers opportunities to equip Pawan Hans with newer Airbus helicopter models," Airbus Helicopter's Senior Vice President of South East Asia Pacific Zone Philippe Monteux said.