| Chhabria turns to designing jet interiors, yachts For almost two decades, Pune-based Dilip Chhabria, founder and proprietor of DC Design Pvt. 5-25 crore), he said. The firms plan to start with refurbishment, graduating to undertake interior jobs. "Airlines in India are moving towards low-fare and no-frills mode, but India's high growth story in recent years has created a market segment with increasing disposable incomes and a need to travel more efficiently within India," said Vinit Phatak, founder and managing director at private jet company Invision Air Services Pvt. Ltd. According to him, the experience the firm has drawn through the years from designing cars, coaches and caravans will come in handy. "To me, the car represents the ultimate in limitation of design, creativity and size. If you can master that, you can master anything in the world," he said. Refurbishing an aircraft overseas typically costs $1-5 million (Rs. With interior jobs being labour-intensive and accounting for additional than half the cost, India is well positioned in this regard, said Gour. The challenge has always been how to go to the next level," said Chhabria. The Air Works network, which includes regulatory and safety authorities, can certainly help in targeting clients. DC will offer infrastructure support and soft skills in design and aesthetics. "As the DC studio has been catering to the same high net-worth individuals with their premium design offerings, they are well familiar with their tastes. The two plan to showcase their capabilities at various air shows in India and abroad, starting with the one at Hyderabad that begins on 15 March. Chhabria added that India has top-quality craftsmanship in leather, wood work and upholstery. There are as many as 157 executive jets and 125 executive helicopters in India currently, according to Gour. DC is entering the aviation segment after a hiatus of six years. In 2004, it had designed interiors for Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd's eight-seater helicopters. DC expects to get its first order for the yacht design in another three months. Ltd, India's leading aircraft maintenance firm, for the aircraft venture. Both the firms hope to finalize their plans in a month's time. Six of the larger Phenom 300s are also on order, with the first of them planned for delivery in mid-2012. Meanwhile, encouraged by the response it got for its locally designed and developed two-door sports car Avanti at the auto expo in New Delhi in January, DC Design, for the first time, is planning to mass produce the car, and has outlined an investment of Rs. The venture with DC plans to target conglomerates—including the Tata group, Reliance Industries, Reliance Group, JK Industries—most of which already own planes and helicopters, apart from overseas clients. This can certainly help us," Gour said. With all of the refurbishment and interior jobs for the jets and helicopters being currently undertaken by firms in the US, Europe and Australia, the segment offers immense potential to an Indian company, which can do the same job at two-thirds over the cost and offer international quality, said Vivek Gour, managing director of Air Works. And there is a perfect opportunity for private jet business. "Every organization has to grow, look for newer opportunities. |
Tuesday 6 March 2012
Chhabria turns to designing jet interiors, yachts
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