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‘Today, we Have the Best Line Up of Products in the Helicopter Industry’

Justin Joseph

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‘Today, we Have the Best Line Up of Products in the Helicopter Industry’



Chief Executive Officer, AgustaWestland, Giuseppe Orsi


You had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Tata Sons during Aero India 2009 in Bangalore. Is the signing of a joint venture agreement a culmination of that MoU?

Yes. In February 2009, we had signed a MoU with Tata envisaging a joint venture. During DefExpo 2010 that agreement has been fulfilled. We have finally formed a JV with Tata for the assembly and delivery of AW119 Koala helicopters. However, the scope of the joint venture is much larger. We are looking at the future. As and when our business grows in India, this joint venture will take care of it. India has a large market for helicopters, both in the military as well as the commercial sector.
Therefore, it is strategically important for us to be present here. We decided to join forces with Tata Sons because it is a very important company with international management and Ratan Tata is a dynamic person with a vision. We sense growth in the commercial helicopter market here and if AW119 Koala wins some contracts, it will add substance to the joint venture.

Where will production facilities for this JV come up in India?

We are looking at space in Hyderabad’s Economic Free Zone. Hyderabad is becoming a centre for civil aviation and from that perspective it is an ideal location for us.

In what time frame do you see this joint venture getting operationalised?

The signing ceremony was the go ahead. There are a few formalities which will be completed shortly, but as far as I am concerned, the clock has started. I am hopeful that in our facility will come up in Hyderabad in a few months.

Will this joint venture cater only to the Indian market or your operations worldwide?

For AW119 Koala, the JV will cater to our customers worldwide. In addition to that, whenever there will be an Indian requirement which AW119 Koala meets, the JV will compete for that.

During Aero India, it was said that one of the motivators for the JV was the Indian armed forces requirement for Reconnaissance and Surveillance Helicopter (RSH) for which AgustaWestland has fielded AW119. If you do not win this contract, will this JV still hold?

Yes, it will. But, first of all, let me say this: we hope to win this contract. Just in case we do not, the JV will continue to work, because AW119 is a versatile helicopter and can be used for commercial purposes as well as police and other homeland security forces. We have a vision and Ratan Tata shares this vision that the helicopter market is only going to grow in this country. Commercial uses apart, there are other roles for helicopters like homeland and border security, emergency medical services, police patrolling and so on.
 
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