Mumbai : GE Aviation and Air India have signed a GE Branded Services Agreement (GBSA) under which GE Aviation will provide technical support as Air India offers Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services for the GEnx-1B engine and further advances its plans to become a global MRO service provider.

Under the GBSA, Air India will be licensed to perform maintenance and overhaul work on the GEnx-1B engine. GE will provide Air India with assistance on overhaul work and component repair licenses, comprehensive material support and training. The GEnx-1B engine will power Boeing's 787 aircraft. Air India has ordered 27 GEnx-1B-powered Boeing 787 aircraft.

As per the company release, Air India has been overhauling jet engines for more than four decades. During this time, Air India has handled various jet engine models and has acquired expertise in overhauling jet engines at low cost while maintaining high standards of quality. The facility not only caters to the entire wide body aircraft of Air India consistently, but also carries out third party work for customers situated all across the globe.

Arvind Jadhav, Chairman and Managing Director, Air India said, "Air India envisages a state-of-the-art facility catering to GE90 and GEnx engines, including a new engine test facility. Our strong collaboration with GE will enhance the visibility of the facility in the world and will result in India becoming one of the major engine MRO players. Further, advanced repair technology will also come to the country by way of this agreement."