Union Civil Aviation Ministry approved the sale of Mahindra Gipps airplanes in India

Union Ministry of Civil Aviation on 19 November 2014 approved the proposal of Indian conglomerate Mahindra Group’s proposal to sell its Australia-made airplanes named Mahindra Gipps in India.

Mahindra Gipps airplanes are utility planes having seating capacities ranging from 5 to 10 seats.  

The proposal of Mahindra Group was approved after Indian regulator Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) accepted the type certification issued by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the single piston engine aircraft Mahindra Gipps.

The approval for the airplane was stuck due to problems relating to certification for an aircraft to fly nine passengers excluding crew, instead of four according to regulations of India.

Earlier in 2009, Mahindra group had announced to acquire 75.1 percent stake each in two Australian aerospace firms for 175 crore rupees as part of its plan to manufacture aircraft and allied components to service global market.

Since then Mahindra group started selling its aircraft in California, the Middle-East and Australia but unable to do in India due to regulatory issues.