Hosur-based Air Works received EASA repair station certification today, making it the first airframe MRO company in India to gain the EASA approval. It has held India's Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) approval to service Indian aircraft since November 2008. (See my colleague Neelam Mathews' analysis on its start-up here.)

EASA certification covers airframe and component maintenance on ATR 42/72-500 and Boeing 737 Classic and next generation aircraft. Air Works says it aims to add Airbus A320 capabilities soon.

About 500 737 aircraft and 100 ATR aircraft currently are operating in India and in neighboring countries, Air Works says.

Air Works' current hangar can house two ATR 72-sized aircraft or one narrowbody aircraft, and it plans to invest $40 million in building another widebody hangar by the end of 2010 and in adding to its capabilities.