Aerospace

Each Airbus aircraft partly made in India..!

India’s preference for Airbus aircraft was further consolidated in 2015 with 250 new firm orders, lifting market share of orders and the in-service fleet to over 70 per cent. Today some 56 per cent of India’s in service fleet are Airbus aircraft operated by most leading Indian carriers. This includes India’s first A320neo, the first to be delivered in the Asia region.

Air traffic growth is driven by such factors as urbanisation, the growth in wealth, as seen by the growing middle classes, tourism and trade. India’s population is set to surpass China’s by 2025, and according to Oxford Economics, the number of Indian middle classes will top 600 million people, more than double that of the USA. By 2034, Indian passengers on average will each make four times as many flights as they do today.

As a result, traffic serving the Indian market is set to grow at 8.4 per cent per year over the next 20 years, well above the world average 4.6 per cent. Domestic Indian traffic will grow more quickly at 9.3 percent – making India the world’s leading emerging aviation market.

“Aviation in India has a bright future. As India’s industrial might grows along with it comes economic development, wealth generation and a rise in the number of regular and first time flyers. Airbus offers the most comprehensive aircraft product range from 100 to over 600 passengers to serve the Indian public and this growing demand,” said Dr. Kiran Rao, Airbus EVP Marketing and Strategy.

According to Airbus’ latest global Market Forecast in the 20 years from 2015 to 2034, India will require over 1,600 new passenger and freighter aircraft to help meet growth in demand. Valued at US$224 billion, these will include 1,230 new single aisle aircraft and 380 wide-body passenger and freighter aircraft. By 2035, the number of Indian cities with over one million monthly air passengers will more than triple.

The complete Airbus product line comprises the best-selling A320 Family in the single aisle market, the popular A330 and all-new A350 XWB in the mid-size widebody category and the flagship A380 in the very large aircraft segment. In the freight market Airbus currently offers the new-build A330-200F and the A330 Passenger-to-Freighter (A330P2F) programme.
India 20 year highlights

Over 70% of in-service fleet and backlog orders, 56% of in-service fleet
8.4% annual growth in passenger traffic (global average 4.6%)
New aircraft needs: 1,200+ single aisle, nearly 400 wide-bodies / US$224 billion
Number of Indian middle classes increasing by 50% to over 600 million by 2024
Population rising to 1.4 billion by 2024 – overtaking China as the most populous nation

General messages

We employ some 400 skilled engineers and support 6,000 Indian jobs
Cumulative procurement total to reach US$2 billion by 2020
Every Airbus aircraft from our assembly line is partly ‘Made in India’

Source : Airbus press.

Aerospace

Boeing’s Aurora Flight Sciences Expands Columbus Plant by 50,000 Sqft

Credit:Aurora Flight Sciences

Aurora Flight Sciences, a subsidiary of Boeing, has launched a significant expansion of its manufacturing facility near the Golden Triangle Regional Airport in Columbus, Mississippi.

This ambitious project will add 50,000 square feet of new space, renovate 40,000 square feet of the existing facility, and introduce advanced automation equipment, robotics, and non-destructive inspection technologies. mcas boeing enhancements will support the growing demand for Aurora’s aerospace systems business.

Since its establishment, Aurora Mississippi has specialized in the production of advanced composite components and assemblies for both military and commercial aircraft. The company first opened in 2005 at Mississippi State University’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory in Starkville before relocating to its current site in Columbus two years later.

Initially occupying 21,000 square feet, the facility has since grown to encompass over 120,000 square feet, featuring cutting-edge manufacturing technologies such as automated fiber placement. Aurora’s latest expansion is a strategic investment aimed at increasing production capacity for composite components like boeing titanium used in executive jets and the MQ-25TM Stingray composite skins, a key project for its parent company, Boeing.

Additionally, the facility will produce components for NASA’s X-66 sustainable flight demonstrator aircraft, further diversifying its portfolio. Currently employing around 100 full-time staff in Mississippi, Aurora plans to hire more than 60 additional team members by the end of 2025.

Aurora’s expansion project underscores its commitment to Mississippi’s growing aerospace and advanced manufacturing sector. The company maintains strong partnerships with Mississippi State University (MSU) and East Mississippi Community College (EMCC), contributing to research, higher education, and workforce development in advanced manufacturing.

Additionally, Aurora actively supports local K-12 STEM education through summer camps and collaborates with high school vocational education programs. The expansion and renovation project will be carried out in phases over the next two years, with completion expected by 2026. This development marks a significant milestone in Aurora’s ongoing growth and its role in advancing aerospace manufacturing in Mississippi.