Martin-Baker, RCA open ejection seat servicing centre in Maha

Pune, Feb 28 () Mumbai-based Right Choice Aviationhas partnered with leading ejection seat manufacturer Martin-Baker Aircraft to set up an ejection seat servicing centre atChakan near Pune.

Martin-Baker seats are fitted in Rafale, Mirage,Jaguar, Kiran, Pilatus and Hawk (AJT) aircraft in India,company officials told reporters at Chakan on Friday.

The UK-based company has been the world's leadingmanufacturer of ejection and crashworthy seats for nearly 70years, offering unprecedented life-saving capabilities, saidChris Davies, Vice President (Commercial) of Martin-Baker.

Davies said Right Choice Aviation (ESSD) is known forits ethos, work culture and commitment to quality. ESSD standsfor Engineering Services and Supplies Division.

"For Martin-Baker, Indian market is the second largestmarket and currently over 1,000 ejection seats are installedin the aircraft of Indian armed forces, which have helped savelives of 230 Indian pilots," he said.

He said the facility at Chakan will significantlyimprove Martin-Baker's ability to provide timely and world-class support for the company's ejection seats installed inaircraft of Indian armed forces aircraft.

"The Chakan centre will significantly improve ourability to provide timely and world-class support of MBAejection seats installed in Indian armed forces aircraft,"Davies said.

Saumil Shah, RCAs chairman and managing director,said the objective to set up this plant was to bridge the gapbetween Martin-Baker and Indian armed forces.

"With this facility, the procurement time betweenIndian defence system and Martin-Baker will cut down and thecompany's ability to service will improve," he said.

Shah said around a million dollar investment has beenmade in the Chakan plant and the firm is envisaging to startmanufacturing of the ejection seats here in the near future.

The centre has been set up to support the Indian armedforces under the governments 'Make in India' banner, he said.

Tom Mottershead, Deputy Director for Trade andInnovation, British Deputy High Commission and GraemeThompson, Head, Business Development of RCA were present. SPK VTVT VT