SA Air Works, the joint venture company of the Air Works Group and Scandinavian Avionics Group, has achieved a landmark milestone in the history of the Indian civil aviation and aerospace sector by becoming the country's first avionics organisation to receive the Directorate General of Civil Aviation's Design Organisation Approval under CAR 21.

This avionics design approval is a historic step, especially significant in India's long-awaited journey of becoming Atmanirbhar (self-reliant) in the design domain, given its fast-growing aviation and aerospace market.

As an approved design organisation, SA Air Works now possesses the capability to define or create design procedures including STCs and repair schemes for minor or major changes on both fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft relating to avionics, electrical, navigation and communication systems, including cabin equipment and related structures, under CAR 21 within India. In short, the DOA covers the entire spectrum of aircraft types, right from rotorcraft and helicopters to business jets as well as those meant for commercial air transport.

Managing director and CEO D Anand Bhaskar says: “The DOA is excellent news, not just for SA Air Works but it's a shot in the arm and a matter of pride for the entire Indian civil aviation and aerospace sector. This extremely critical capability puts us on a higher trajectory. With this approval in our portfolio, the whole world could eventually be our market.

“Having design organisation status means that we no longer need to be dependent on third parties for critical work; it can now happen in the country, indigenously, reducing budgets and timelines for an array of avionics-related work.”

This approval will enable SA Air Works and India to market design capabilities in the certified areas to OEMs and operators domestically and overseas. It will also give added benefits to customers in the form of shorter lead times and cost savings for the design, certification and installation process.

CEO Ajay Sharma adds: “The receipt of the design approval fulfils our strategic intent, and dream, of becoming Atmanirbhar in the civil aircraft design space and offering avionics-related design services to operators, aircraft owners, customers and OEMs both in India and abroad. I would like to acknowledge the efforts of our entire team and the support of Scandinavian Avionics, our JV partner, in all these years in making this a reality.

“Being the country's first private enterprise to have been accorded this approval is indeed a proud and gratifying moment. As a first step, we look forward to submitting our very first STC for regulatory approval. The design approval is a stepping stone and will eventually open the floodgates of design into India, helping us not only conserve foreign exchange outflow as a nation but to also begin creating our IPs in the civil aircraft design space, making our business offerings more comprehensive and the Indian civil aviation industry sustainable.”

As a leading avionics systems integrator, designer and a turnkey avionics solution provider to customers, SA Air Works has been a dominant player with a significant market share of the Indian and regional aviation market. Customers include civil and military aviation, leading institutions, individuals and corporate owner/operators of private or business jets and helicopters. It has delivered a significant number of high-quality avionics upgrades and cockpit transitions in India, including customisations, ahead of time and at highly cost-effective prices.

The company already holds the requisite design approvals from the Regional Centre for Military Airworthiness (RCMA/ CEMILAC) to undertake the necessary design tasks including building modification leaflet/certifications, systems integration, avionics installations, electricals for military aircraft (fixed and rotary wing aircraft) and DGCA CAR 145 approval.