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Interview:
For over 75 years, Boeing commercial aircraft have flown the Indian skies. Tata Airlines operated a DC-3 aircraft in India and since then, with the 707, 747, 757Freighter, 777, 737 and the game-changing 787 Dreamliner, Boeing has been the mainstay of India’s commercial aviation sector with airlines such as Air India, Jet Airways and SpiceJet.
Boeing’s relationship with India on the defense front goes back to the 1940s, when the Indian Air Force enlisted two Boeing aircraft — the T-6 Texan or Harvard Advanced Trainer made by North American Aviation, and the C-47 Skytrain military transport, a military variant of the DC-3, made by McDonnell Douglas. Presently, with 10 C-17 Globemaster strategic airlifters and seven P-8I maritime surveillance and anti-submarime aircraft delivered, Boeing is playing an important role in the mission-readiness and modernization of India’s defense forces.
“During the April 2015 Nepal earthquake, the C-17s were actively used and in the Yemen evacuation C-17s were deployed to bring back over 2,000 Indians, clocking 150 hours,” says Mr Pratyush Kumar, the president of Boeing India headquartered in Delhi.
Boeing’s India operations include an office and a Boeing Research and Technology Center in Bangalore, field service offices in Mumbai, Hindan, Rajali and New Delhi.
“Boeing subsidiary, Jeppesen, provides flight navigation solutions from Hyderabad. Another subsidiary, Continental Data Graphics (CDG) in Chennai, is also expanding footprint in the country,” he said in an interview with fii-news.com.
Boeing in India has around 500 employees with more than 2000 employees working on dedicated Boeing supply–chain jobs with its 18 suppliers across manufacturing, engineering and IT sectors.
“The company continues to increase its footprint as tier-1, tier-2 suppliers and sourcing activities continue to grow rapidly,” stressed Mr Kumar.
“During the April 2015 Nepal earthquake, the C-17s were actively used and in the Yemen evacuation C-17s were deployed to bring back over 2,000 Indians, clocking 150 hours,” says Mr Pratyush Kumar, the president of Boeing India headquartered in Delhi.
Boeing’s India operations include an office and a Boeing Research and Technology Center in Bangalore, field service offices in Mumbai, Hindan, Rajali and New Delhi.
“Boeing subsidiary, Jeppesen, provides flight navigation solutions from Hyderabad. Another subsidiary, Continental Data Graphics (CDG) in Chennai, is also expanding footprint in the country,” he said in an interview with fii-news.com.
Boeing in India has around 500 employees with more than 2000 employees working on dedicated Boeing supply–chain jobs with its 18 suppliers across manufacturing, engineering and IT sectors.
“The company continues to increase its footprint as tier-1, tier-2 suppliers and sourcing activities continue to grow rapidly,” stressed Mr Kumar.
Building an Aerospace Ecosystem
As India’s long-term strategic partner, Boeing is accelerating the development of an indigenous aerospace and defense ecosystem by contributing to the “Make in India” initiative.
“Boeing has developed collaborations with Indian suppliers including public sector companies like Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), as well as major private sector companies such as the Tata Group, Bharat Forge, Larsen & Toubro, Dynamatic Technologies, Wipro, Infosys, HCL Technologies, and Infotech Enterprises,” Mr Kumar pointed out.
Soon after, Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi launched the “Make-in-India” initiative in September 2014, Dynamatic Technolgies and Boeing inaugurated a plant to manufacture critical parts for the Chinook Heavy Lift Helicopters.
In a state-of-the-art facility with TAL Manufacturing Solutions Ltd, Boeing supports manufacture of complex floor beams for the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, one of the most advanced airplanes in the world.
As India’s long-term strategic partner, Boeing is accelerating the development of an indigenous aerospace and defense ecosystem by contributing to the “Make in India” initiative.
“Boeing has developed collaborations with Indian suppliers including public sector companies like Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), as well as major private sector companies such as the Tata Group, Bharat Forge, Larsen & Toubro, Dynamatic Technologies, Wipro, Infosys, HCL Technologies, and Infotech Enterprises,” Mr Kumar pointed out.
Soon after, Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi launched the “Make-in-India” initiative in September 2014, Dynamatic Technolgies and Boeing inaugurated a plant to manufacture critical parts for the Chinook Heavy Lift Helicopters.
In a state-of-the-art facility with TAL Manufacturing Solutions Ltd, Boeing supports manufacture of complex floor beams for the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, one of the most advanced airplanes in the world.
Recently Boeing signed a framework agreement with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) to collaborate in aerospace and defense manufacturing and potential integrated systems development opportunities, including unmanned aerial vehicles.
Similarly, Boeing is collaborating with other industrial partners and suppliers to help raise their bar to deliver to world-class quality standards underscored by efficiency and productivity to develop a strong supply-chain for Boeing in India, Mr Kumar listed out.
“Boeing is also bringing expertise in engineering design to India through its subsidiaries Jeppesen and Continental Data Graphics. For example, Airports Authority of India has selected to implement Jeppesen’s TAAM (Total Airspace and Airport Modeler) simulation software that has helped modernize India’s air traffic management infrastructure,” he disclosed.
Similarly, Boeing is collaborating with other industrial partners and suppliers to help raise their bar to deliver to world-class quality standards underscored by efficiency and productivity to develop a strong supply-chain for Boeing in India, Mr Kumar listed out.
“Boeing is also bringing expertise in engineering design to India through its subsidiaries Jeppesen and Continental Data Graphics. For example, Airports Authority of India has selected to implement Jeppesen’s TAAM (Total Airspace and Airport Modeler) simulation software that has helped modernize India’s air traffic management infrastructure,” he disclosed.
Collaboration with University Partners
The company has had a long-standing Research & Development presence in India since 1995, when collaborative research in aerodynamics was established with the National Aerospace Labs (NAL) in Bangalore.
This has developed into a series of projects in aerodynamics and advanced analysis methods at NAL and Indian Institute of Science and Indian Institute of Technology (IISC), Kanpur.
“In 2009, Boeing further expanded its R&D footprint by establishing the Boeing Research & Technology India Center (BR&T), an Indian counterpart of Boeing’s Research and Technology organization in the United States,” said Mr Kumar.
BR&T India conducts research in areas such as Flight Sciences, Materials & Processes, Structures and Software; and works with Indian researchers in academia, research labs and industry to address technical challenges.
In collaboration with IIT Bombay and Department of Science and Technology (DST), Boeing conceptualized the National Centre for Aerospace Innovation and Research (NCAIR) in 2009 to support world-class research and manufacturing development in aerospace with the objective of applying this capability to the aerospace industry in India.
“The work at NCAIR has led to 20 patents and technology breakthroughs and over 30 specialists have been trained and developed by the NCAIR,” he pointed out. Recently NCAIR inaugurated an Advanced Machining Excellence Cell on its campus.
In addition to research activities, Boeing has established a Boeing Test & Evaluation Center of Excellence at HCL Technologies in Chennai. Boeing is also working with Cyient in Hyderabad on structural engineering analysis, design and related activities.
The Aerospace Network Research Consortium (ANRC) with IISc Bangalore, is another open collaboration that conducts strategic research and co-development in technologies related to aerospace networks. This consortium has conducted research and co-developed technologies related to wireless aerospace networks.
The company has had a long-standing Research & Development presence in India since 1995, when collaborative research in aerodynamics was established with the National Aerospace Labs (NAL) in Bangalore.
This has developed into a series of projects in aerodynamics and advanced analysis methods at NAL and Indian Institute of Science and Indian Institute of Technology (IISC), Kanpur.
“In 2009, Boeing further expanded its R&D footprint by establishing the Boeing Research & Technology India Center (BR&T), an Indian counterpart of Boeing’s Research and Technology organization in the United States,” said Mr Kumar.
BR&T India conducts research in areas such as Flight Sciences, Materials & Processes, Structures and Software; and works with Indian researchers in academia, research labs and industry to address technical challenges.
In collaboration with IIT Bombay and Department of Science and Technology (DST), Boeing conceptualized the National Centre for Aerospace Innovation and Research (NCAIR) in 2009 to support world-class research and manufacturing development in aerospace with the objective of applying this capability to the aerospace industry in India.
“The work at NCAIR has led to 20 patents and technology breakthroughs and over 30 specialists have been trained and developed by the NCAIR,” he pointed out. Recently NCAIR inaugurated an Advanced Machining Excellence Cell on its campus.
In addition to research activities, Boeing has established a Boeing Test & Evaluation Center of Excellence at HCL Technologies in Chennai. Boeing is also working with Cyient in Hyderabad on structural engineering analysis, design and related activities.
The Aerospace Network Research Consortium (ANRC) with IISc Bangalore, is another open collaboration that conducts strategic research and co-development in technologies related to aerospace networks. This consortium has conducted research and co-developed technologies related to wireless aerospace networks.
Creating an Aerospace Talent Pipeline
Boeing invests in an externship program with IITs and other top engineering colleges every year to select 12 students to work with our industry partner Cyient, introducing students to world-class aerospace engineering projects and related best practices, thus resulting in high-tech career paths for talented students.
Boeing also provides funding and opportunity to students at selected universities to work in teams to design, build and demonstrate advanced concept vehicles such as autonomous navigation vehicles (at IIT Kanpur), solar-power-assisted airplanes (at IIT Kharagpur) and nanosatellites (at IIT Bombay).
Boeing launched a national aeromodeling competition for engineering universities across India in 2013. “This annual competition is now organized in the form of four zonal events, with a grand finale culminating in Delhi,” said Mr Kumar. During the events, Boeing provides training to students and helps them design, build and fly their airplanes, encouraging them to take to aerospace careers.
In a recent effort to address the critical and growing need for skills development in the Indian aerospace sector, Boeing is partnering with the National Skill Development Corporation India (NSDC) and the Nettur Technical Training Foundation (NTTF) to provide vocational training to Indian students and industry.
Boeing-funded curriculums and initiatives have already been launched along with relevant aerospace partners like Rossell Techys. This fills the gap in “industry training” and helps in increasing the employability skills of prospective candidates resulting in an “All India council of technical education” (AICTE) accredited “post diploma in aerospace inter-connect solutions” (PDAIS).
Boeing invests in an externship program with IITs and other top engineering colleges every year to select 12 students to work with our industry partner Cyient, introducing students to world-class aerospace engineering projects and related best practices, thus resulting in high-tech career paths for talented students.
Boeing also provides funding and opportunity to students at selected universities to work in teams to design, build and demonstrate advanced concept vehicles such as autonomous navigation vehicles (at IIT Kanpur), solar-power-assisted airplanes (at IIT Kharagpur) and nanosatellites (at IIT Bombay).
Boeing launched a national aeromodeling competition for engineering universities across India in 2013. “This annual competition is now organized in the form of four zonal events, with a grand finale culminating in Delhi,” said Mr Kumar. During the events, Boeing provides training to students and helps them design, build and fly their airplanes, encouraging them to take to aerospace careers.
In a recent effort to address the critical and growing need for skills development in the Indian aerospace sector, Boeing is partnering with the National Skill Development Corporation India (NSDC) and the Nettur Technical Training Foundation (NTTF) to provide vocational training to Indian students and industry.
Boeing-funded curriculums and initiatives have already been launched along with relevant aerospace partners like Rossell Techys. This fills the gap in “industry training” and helps in increasing the employability skills of prospective candidates resulting in an “All India council of technical education” (AICTE) accredited “post diploma in aerospace inter-connect solutions” (PDAIS).
Boeing – A Responsible Business Leader
As a responsible business leader, Boeing is committed to improving the quality of life in the communities where it operates. “The company and its employees have been supporting and continue to be actively involved in various education and health programs and services in India,” he underlined the importance community service.
A major initiative has been the support of cancer patients along with CanSupport, an NGO that has been serving the neglected, under privileged cancer patients and encouraging them to lead a normal life.
fii-news.com
As a responsible business leader, Boeing is committed to improving the quality of life in the communities where it operates. “The company and its employees have been supporting and continue to be actively involved in various education and health programs and services in India,” he underlined the importance community service.
A major initiative has been the support of cancer patients along with CanSupport, an NGO that has been serving the neglected, under privileged cancer patients and encouraging them to lead a normal life.
fii-news.com
