Page 13 - AAA SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2014 Online Magazine

AVIONICS

Shylesh Krishnan, co-founder and In the coming years, a lot more new technology will come about in the tracking of
Executive Director, ThoughtFocus aircraft itself, and tracking of cargo and people.

Excerpts of the interview: globally awakened the aerospace to-end software solutions. The advantage
community with regard to seeking we have over our competitors is that we
AAA: How big is the Avionics answers to aviation safety concerns. We have ready framework across 40 solution
industry in India? are positive that, in the coming years, a lot areas in the industry. This framework
SHYLESH KRISHNAN: India continues more new technology will come about in addresses the urgency to go to the market
to be one of the leaders in providing the tracking of aircraft itself, and tracking versus building something from scratch.
technology services to the aerospace of cargo & people. The technological ThoughtFocus also has the experience
industry. In particular with the talent pool advancements that might come about due in Verification and Validation across
availability in Bangalore, it’s becoming to this incident will get institutionalized standards, being– DO178B, DO178C,
the avionics capital of India. The global across the industry. DO160E, DO254. Software development
industry is approximately US$6.3 billion standards for airborne systems need to
annually, and we believe it will continue to AAA: ICAO and IATA are trying to follow DO178B and there are very few
grow. get airlines to adopt technologies experts in India following this standard.
after MH370 incident? Is Besides this, there is a global standard,
AAA: What kind of work is ThoughtFocus Aviation going to AS9100, the product development
happening in Avionics in India? work with its customers on this? standard for aerospace. It can take
SK: In India, today there are R&D labs SK: ICAO, in association with IATA, is eight to twelve months to be able to get
under Government of India which spear planning to roll out the global aircraft certified. It is a rigorous process to get
heads Avionics related to Military and tracking system. The challenge is that this qualification which makes it a high
Defense activity. In the private sector, not all the aircrafts carry the same entry barrier to service this industry.
there are companies who provide various equipment. The basic parameters that ThoughtFocus has this expertise in
kinds of subsystems and software to all will be tracked and stored are position, device level programming. There may be
major aircraft manufactures. Additionally, altitude and speed. yes, we are planning to other players doing product development
India is planning to build a commercial jet approach the firms who are going to play a in Avionics in India. The Indian based
in the near future, a 90-seater aircraft. major role in this initiative. Service Providers provide low-end
The estimated spend is $2B USD on this services like testing which is not high in
program. AAA: Tell us something about the value chain. We need to change that
We will be partnering with existing ThoughtFocus Avionics and its USP perception and progressively go up the
domestic players in the design and from its competitors in India. value chain.
development of some of the major SK: It was in 2011- 2012 that ThoughtFocus
electronics systems. started looking at the Avionics industry
closely. ThoughtFocus’ Avionics vertical
AAA: The escapade with MH370 – how is fastest growing, and is contributing
can situations like that be avoided? 20% to its overall revenue. In Avionics,
SK: The disappearance of MH370 has ThoughtFocus provides cutting edge end-
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