Hurdles in Boeing's taxiway

Mumbai: Aircraft manufacturer Boeing has promised to complete its $100-million maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) facility at Nagpur by 2010-end but the project, which has been delayed by two years, is still not out of the woods.
The company recently signed a lease agreement for 50 acres of land in Nagpur SEZ with its developer, Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC). But it will need a taxiway from the Nagpur International Airport to the MRO site to tow aircraft to and from hangars.
Boeing vice-president (sales) Dr Dinesh Keskar hoped MADC would build the taxiway so that the project is completed on time. The problem, though, is the MADC cannot build the taxiway because the airport is owned by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Aviation sources said the only way is for AAI to build the taxiway from the airport to its boundary and for MADC to then build the taxiway up to the MRO site in the SEZ.
In 2006, Boeing agreed to set up the facility as part of a 68-aircraft deal with Air India. Nagpur was the preferred choice for mainly to suitable climate and central location. All that was needed was land along the airstrip at the airport, but it took two years for the company to get it.
Boeing agreed to alter its original plan and move the MRO facility to the SEZ after MADC decided to set up an international cargo hub at Nagpur. But Boeing insisted on a taxiway to the airstrip, which MADC had promised.
03/02/09 Jaideep Hardikar/Daily News & Analysis

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Categories: Foreign Feb 2009, Indian Aviation- In General Feb 2009