Aerospace MRO Forging Supplier India: HAL MRO, Air India Engineering, GMR Aero

August 12, 2026


India’s commercial aviation fleet 700+ aircraft operating for IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air generates continuous demand for structural repair forgings as aircraft undergo scheduled heavy maintenance. HAL’s MRO division (Nashik for Sukhoi-30, Bengaluru for helicopters and Tejas), Air India Engineering Services (AIESL), and GMR Aero Technic are the primary Indian MRO operators. AS9100D certified Indian forging manufacturers approved under DGCA Part 145 requirements can supply structural repair forgings replacing worn or damaged airframe components accessing a growing domestic MRO market targeted at becoming a global top-5 hub by 2030.

MRO OperatorAircraft TypeKey Forging NeedApproval Requirement
HAL MRO (Nashik, Bengaluru)Su-30MKI, Tejas, Dhruv ALHStructural repair forgings, rotor head fittingsAS9100D, CEMILAC, DGQA
Air India Engineering (AIESL)Boeing 787, 777, 737MAXStandard aviation structural repair forgingsAS9100D, DGCA Part 145, Boeing SRM
GMR Aero Technic (Hyderabad)Airbus A320 family, wide-bodyStructural repair forgings, door frame fittingsAS9100D, DGCA Part 145, EASA Part 145
Air Works India (Bengaluru)General aviation, turbopropSmall structural forgings, fittingsDGCA Part 145
IndiGo EngineeringAirbus A320neo, A321XLRStandard parts for line maintenanceDGCA Part 145, OEM approval

India’s DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) Part 145 approval authorises MRO organisations to perform maintenance on DGCA-registered civil aircraft. For structural repair forgings used in DGCA Part 145 MRO operations, the forging must be: produced to the OEM’s structural repair manual (SRM) material specification, released with an EASA Form 1 or FAA Form 8130-3 as authorised release documentation, and traceable to an AS9100D-certified manufacturer. Indian forging manufacturers with AS9100D certification and EASA Form 1-compatible release documentation are qualified to supply structural repair forgings for Indian MRO operations.

AIESL (Air India Engineering Services Limited) performs heavy maintenance (C-checks and D-checks) on Air India’s Boeing 787, 777, and 737 fleet. Structural repair forgings aluminium 7075-T73 and 2024-T4 structural bracket forgings, titanium fitting forgings, and 4340 alloy steel structural pin forgings are used in both scheduled heavy maintenance and unscheduled damage repair. AIESL procures repair parts from Boeing-approved suppliers and from DGCA Part 145-compatible AS9100D suppliers for non-proprietary standard parts.

GMR Aero Technic — operating at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is one of India’s largest independent MRO facilities, certified under EASA Part 145, DGCA Part 145, and multiple airline-specific approvals. GMR performs A320 family heavy maintenance and is expanding into wide-body (A330, 787) maintenance. Structural repair forgings for Airbus A320 family maintenance follow Airbus’s SRM material specifications typically 7075-T73 aluminium for primary structure and 4340 or 17-4PH stainless for structural fittings.

India’s aviation growth — IndiGo has 350+ aircraft operating and 500+ on order; Air India has 200+ aircraft and 470 on order means that Indian MRO capacity and associated structural repair forging demand will grow substantially through 2030. The National Civil Aviation Policy targets making India a top-5 global MRO hub redirecting $1+ billion in annual MRO spending from overseas to India.

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Vinir Capability

  1. AS9100D full scope — the quality management foundation for DGCA Part 145 compatible forging supply.
  2. EASA Form 1 release documentation capability through Bureau Veritas Quality International (BVQI).
  3. 7075-T73 and 2024-T4 aluminium structural forgings per AMS 2770 heat treatment.
  4.  4340 and 17-4PH stainless structural pin and fitting forgings.
  5. Ti-6Al-4V structural repair forgings with alpha case control.
  6.  AMS 2154 immersion UT for aerospace structural repair forgings.
  7.  FPI to AMS 2647.
  8. Material traceability documentation compatible with DGCA Part 145 documentary requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is DGCA Part 145 and how does it affect structural repair forging supply to Indian MRO operators?+–
DGCA Part 145 (Aircraft Maintenance Organisation) regulation authorises MRO organisations to perform maintenance on DGCA-registered aircraft. For structural repair parts supplied to Part 145 MRO operators, the critical requirement is that the parts carry an authorised release certificate either EASA Form 1, FAA Form 8130-3, or a DGCA-recognised equivalent. The AS9100D quality system of the forging manufacturer, combined with the authorised release documentation, satisfies the traceability and conformity requirements that Part 145 MRO operators must verify before using replacement structural parts.
2.What is a Structural Repair Manual (SRM) and how does it specify forging material for aircraft repair?+–
The Structural Repair Manual (SRM) is an OEM-published document that defines approved repair procedures and materials for structural damage to the aircraft airframe. The SRM specifies which alloys are acceptable for repair of each structural area, the temper condition required (7075-T73 for most primary structure, never 7075-T6 which has lower corrosion resistance), the fastener specifications and torque requirements, and the NDT inspection required before and after repair. Structural repair forgings used in Part 145 MRO must match the SRM material specification exactly a repair using 7075-T6 when 7075-T73 is specified is non-compliant and may require re-repair or structural analysis.
3.What is India’s MRO industry growth trajectory and what does it mean for domestic forging supply?+–
India’s aircraft MRO market was valued at approximately $1.7 billion in 2024 and is growing at 8–10% annually. Currently, 30–35% of Indian aircraft MRO spend is captured domestically; the remainder goes to Singapore, Dubai, Bangkok, and European MRO centres. The National Civil Aviation Policy targets 70% domestic MRO capture by 2030 redirecting $1+ billion in annual MRO spending to India. This domestic MRO growth directly creates demand for structural repair forgings from Indian AS9100D manufacturers.
4. What is EASA Form 1 and how does an Indian forging manufacturer support MRO operators in obtaining it?+–
EASA Form 1 (Authorised Release Certificate) confirms that a component or material has been manufactured, tested, and inspected in conformity with approved data. An Indian forging manufacturer cannot directly issue EASA Form 1 it must be issued by a DGCA- or EASA-approved Part 21G Production Organisation or by an EASA Part 145 MRO that accepts the forging manufacturer’s material certification. Practically, Indian aerospace forging manufacturers supply structural repair forgings with AS9100D certificates and full material traceability the MRO operator’s quality system then issues the EASA Form 1 before the part is installed.
5. What does IndiGo’s fleet expansion mean for Indian MRO structural forging demand?+–
IndiGo India’s largest airline with 60%+ domestic market share operates 350+ Airbus A320 family aircraft and has 500+ on order (A320neo, A321XLR, A321neo). Each A320 family aircraft undergoes a C-check approximately every 18 months and a D-check every 8–12 years, during which structural inspection may identify repair requirements using replacement forgings. With IndiGo’s fleet growing from 350 to 850+ aircraft by 2030, the Indian MRO demand from IndiGo alone will support 2–3 large C-check facilities each potentially consuming Indian-sourced structural repair forgings for 200+ aircraft annually.