Date : 05 February 2024
Time: 1000 Hrs (IST)
Speaker: AVM Surya Narayana Murti VSM , Former Commandant Software Development Institute (SDI) , Airforce, Bangalore.
Topic: Civil Aviation Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Companies as Strategic Assets
Chair: Air Mshl VPS Rana PVSM AVSM Anchor: Rishi Athreya
Event Partners: CASS, CENJOWS, STRIVE, USI
Abstract: Airpower plays a major role in a war and achieving the goals of war is unthinkable without having Air superiority over the adversary. In case of a prolonged conflict sustaining Air Superiority will depend on maintaining required number of Combat aircraft at all times. In an event of hostilities, the resources of Commercial Airlines and Railways are used for movement of men and material. However, using civil aircraft Maintenance and Repair organizations (MRO) during the war is not a case of ‘form fit and function’. To ensure availability of combat aircraft in required numbers, maximum permissible latitude in terms of flying hours and landings is used. In case of a prolonged conflict indiscriminate use of latitude will lead to sudden bunching of aircraft and any advantage gained till then can be lost. It is therefore essential that the resources of civil MRO are pooled in to reduce the turnaround time (TAT) and ensure that the minimum required aircraft are available in combat ready state. Civil-Military Co-operation in Aircraft MRO sector during peace time is essential to develop expertise and parallel facility that can fill up the capacity gap. GOI has given required push in its policies and approach for making India as an MRO Hub. A synergy amongst civil aircraft MRO and Military services is necessary. Both entities should interleave their annual task of maintenance in such a manner that in case of hostilities the Civil MROs add up to the required capacity. Close co-ordination between MoD and MoCA can help in laying down the policies and MROs can be used in times of National Security needs.
Speaker Bio: Air Vice Marshal Surya Narayana Murti, VSM superannuated from the Indian Air Force. He has nearly 37 years of experience in Maintenance of Aircraft. AVM Murti was lastly Commandant (Two Star), Software Development Institute, Bangalore. This role involved managing all software development for Avionics and Weapon integration, Testing, Mission Planning and Simulators. Prior to this he was Principal Director & Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Engineering) at Air Headquarters, wherein he extended maintenance assistance to UN Missions at Congo & Sudan. Following retirement AVM Murti served as Executive Director of a private sector CR 145 MRO Organisation.
AVM Murti has been decorated with the Vishishit Seva Medal in 2005. He has received commendation from the Vice Chief of Air Staff in 1993 and Air Officer Commanding in Chief in 1996. AVM Murti is an M.Tech. (Computer Science & Engineering) from IIT, Madras. He has undergone formal training at Air Force Technical Training Centre, Saint Petersburg, USSR. He has undergone Technical Staff Course from Institute of Armament Technology, Pune, and System Engineering Course from Air Force Technical College, Bangalore.
Chair :
Air Marshal VPS Rana, PVSM VSM , had an illustrious career in the Indian Air Force and retired as the ‘Air Force Officer in Charge Administration’ (AOA) after serving for nearly 37 years in the IAF . During service he held many important operational as well as administrative appointments. He commanded a Radar unit during Op Kargil and contributed immensely during Op Parakram. He is post graduate in Defense & Strategic Studies and Plant Breeding & Genetics. He also has Post Graduate diplomas in Public Administration & Business Administration. He underwent the prestigious “Advance Professional programme in Public Administration” (APPPA) at Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA). An avid reader and academician, he had been the instructor at prestigious Defence Services staff colleges at Wellington and also at Lusaka Zambia, where he helped many defence officers undertake research in various fields as part of their curriculum. Apart from the security and strategic matters , Air Mshl Rana has special interest in the field of water security and disaster management an area that he had handled extensively at the helm of administration in IAF.
