Aerospace

IndiGo to buy 50 ATR planes; eyes regional aviation market

Airline major IndiGo is all set to introduce 50 turboprop planes to its fleet in a bid to increase more regional operations. InterGlobe Aviation, which runs IndiGo, informed the Bombay Stock Exchange on Tuesday that the company has signed a deal with French aircraft manufacturer Avions de Transport Regional GIE for buying 50 ATR 72-600 aircraft.

Introduction of the aircraft will help IndiGo increase its regional presence by starting more services connecting smaller towns in the country. Indigo aims to start turboprop operations in the third quarter of this financial year. In a period of two years, the company will induct 20 such aircraft to its fleet.

Currently, Indigo has a marketshare of close to 40 percent in the Indian domestic aviation sector and operates 133 Airbus A320 planes connecting 46 destinations.

“IndiGo is likely to be a 177 aircraft airline by March. We are looking to build a nation-wide regional network and connect cities that have not benefitted the aviation sector growth in India,” IndiGo president Aditya Ghosh said in the statement.

Indigo has reported a profit of Rs 1,659 crore for 2016-17 from Rs 1,986 crore in the previous year. Total revenue rose to Rs 19,369.57 crore for year ended 31 March compared to Rs 16,655.03 crore the year before. It also announced a divided of Rs 34 per share. Shares of InterGlobe rose almost 2% to close the day at Rs 1141.1 on Tuesday on BSE.

Courtesy : Corporate Ethos

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.