Accelerated growth!

India's growing domestic airlines have led to emergence of the country as a major commercial aviation market. The joint GE/Safran engineering team has laid out a comprehensive technology roadmap including composite fan blades, heat-resistant metal alloys, ceramic matrix composites (CMCs), hybrid electric capability and additive manufacturing. Both GE and Safran are to begin testing a demonstrator engine at their facilities around the middle of this decade with flight testing to begin soon thereafter. Hydrogen combustion capability is also one of the foundational technologies being developed and matured as part of the CFM RISE programme. India is poised to evolve as a major aero-engine manufacturing hub. A report

India's commercial aviation market is emerging as an important market for airframers and aeroengine manufacturers, with growing orders from Indian carriers. India's continued economic growth and young demographic which is taking to air travel like never before makes it an important commercial aviation market. According to various studies, India will require more than 2300 new commercial aircraft valued at approximately $330 billion over the next 20 years.

While IndiGo and new entrant Akasa Air have made sizeable aircraft and aeroengine orders in recent years; a revitalised Air India under the ownership of Tata Group is due to make one of the largest Indian commercial aircraft orders ever made. Air India is thought to be nearing a large order for new-generation jetliners powered with modern and highly fuelefficient engines. According to a Reuters report in January, Air India is looking to order a large number of single-aisle and twin-aisle jetliners from Boeing and Airbus, totalling nearly 500 jetliners. With the addition of Air India's expected order, the number of single-aisle jetliners on order from Indian carriers will increase to almost 1,200 aircraft.