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HAL to foray into MRO business

 Bangalore, Aug 31 (UNI) Public sector aviation giant Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is gearing up for a foray into the MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) business for civil aircraft and their engines, a top HAL official said.

‘‘We see a lot of potential in the MRO area and are trying our best to get into MRO business for civil aircraft and their engines,’’ HAL Managing Director A K Saxena told PTI today.

 He said ‘‘good progress’’ has been made in Advanced Light Helicopter and HAL has recently bagged an order to deliver 20 LCAs to Indian Air Force, under limited series production.

‘‘Service production of LCA has already begun and the delivery of aircraft under service production is expected to be made by 2010,’’ Saxena said.

 Sounding extremely upbeat about the Jaguars, he said these had been successfully upgraded with ‘‘total indigenous efforts.’’

 He said HAL is looking at countries like Chile, Bolivia, Venezuela,Peru, Mauritius, Turkey and Malaysia for marketing ALH and is ‘‘very optimistic about Bolivia, Chile and Venezuela.’’