GMR Aero Technic ties up with France's UUDS Aero for Hyderabad cabin centre
The joint facility will handle end-to-end cabin design, manufacturing, and retrofits, boosting India's aviation engineering base.
GMR Aero Technic has signed a memorandum of understanding with French aviation firm UUDS Aero to set up an Integrated Cabin Excellence Centre at its Hyderabad facility.
The partnership will build domestic capabilities in aircraft cabin design, modification, retrofitting, manufacturing, and interior repairs. The initiative is aimed at serving commercial airlines and aircraft operators both within India and across overseas markets, strengthening the country's push to establish a self-reliant aerospace engineering and maintenance base.
What the Hyderabad centre will do
The planned centre brings together UUDS Aero’s engineering, certification, and cabin design operations with GMR Aero Technic’s existing maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) infrastructure.
Work at the facility will cover the complete lifecycle of passenger cabin upkeep, from structural engineering through to final installation. France-based UUDS Aero holds European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Part 21J Design Organisation Approval and Part 21G Production Organisation Approval, covering aircraft interior design and manufacturing compliance.
| Facility focus | Key capabilities | Certification backing |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering & design | Modifications, retrofits, and bespoke cabin architecture | EASA Part 21J (DOA) |
| Manufacturing | Component production and interior fabrication | EASA Part 21G (POA) |
| Maintenance & install | Heavy cabin refurbishment, overhaul, and line installation | GMR Aero Technic MRO |
Expanding India's aerospace footprint
Indian carriers have placed record aircraft orders over the past two years, significantly expanding the national fleet. Establishing advanced cabin overhaul facilities at home helps domestic operators avoid sending planes abroad for routine interior redesigns and heavy maintenance work, reducing aircraft downtime and keeping high-value technical work within the domestic economy.
Ashok Gopinath, president and accountable manager at GMR Aero Technic, said the venture aims to blend UUDS Aero's certification background with local maintenance expertise to deliver integrated interior services.
Ashane Gunaratne, group chief technology officer and managing director for the Middle East at UUDS Aero, described the agreement as a long-term commitment to the Indian sector, pointing to the mutual growth of engineering and manufacturing capabilities.
The companies have not disclosed the commercial terms or a completion timeline for the new facility.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Design Organisation Approval held by UUDS Aero | EASA Part 21J | Company statement |
| Production Organisation Approval held by UUDS Aero | EASA Part 21G | Company statement |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| UUDS Aero | French aircraft interior design, engineering, and manufacturing company partnering in the venture |
| Hyderabad | Location of the MRO facility hosting the new cabin excellence centre |
| GMR Aero Technic | Hyderabad-based aviation maintenance provider setting up the cabin facility |
