A CAMO Perspective: Taking Distressed Aircraft Out of India
Aircraft Supported
15
Tailored Workscopes
535
Ferry Flights
54
About Go First
Go First Airlines, formerly GoAir, was an Indian low‑cost carrier that ceased operations in May 2023. Several aircraft were stranded in India pending repossession and transition.
India is a key growth market
India is now the third largest aviation market and passenger volumes are forecast to triple in the next two decades. Transitions in and out of India will become more frequent, so preparation and experience are essential.
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From grounded to delivered
Overview:
Shannon Technical Services’ CAMO team led the safe extraction and redelivery pathway for a fleet of Go First A320 aircraft, delivering speed, compliance and value for lessors in a complex Indian repossession scenario.
From grounded to delivered, our practical, solution focused CAMO moved 15 aircraft from long‑term ground to market ready status, with zero major findings at ARC or CofA and assets already back in airline service. At a glance: 15 aircraft across A320 NEO and CEO, 17 MROs in 10+ countries, 54 repositional ferry flights under STS CAMO control, 535+ tailored workscopes, and 30+ aircraft airworthiness recommendations submitted for ARC and conditional CofA.
Key Challenges Faced:
Operating in India meant navigating multiple interdependent constraints that could stall or derail repossession:
- Regulatory and legal complexity: customs and tax across multiple agencies. We mapped approvals and built tax‑aware movement plans.
- Records and engine history gaps: partial tech logs and LLP traceability. Evidence rebuilt from MRO releases and OEM data to close gaps.
- Hangar access and on-site constraints: limited space, passes and manpower at busy bases. Work sequenced by airport with mobile tooling to maintain progress.
- Limited local spares and tooling: AOG shipments and pooled parts arranged. Donor engines used where required to meet ferry configuration.
- Time-sensitive logistics: risk of customs resets, parking and handling charges. Integrated permits, crew, maintenance and slots to meet windows.
Strategy For Extraction Flights
- Authority and lessor coordination: enabled safe ferry flights out of India and onward transition.
- Conditional CofA (CAACI): used a conditional Certificate of Airworthiness with the Cayman Islands regulator to legally and safely move aircraft.
- Data-led gap analysis: identified non-critical items and justified short, controlled deferrals.
- Crew-only ferry flights: applied where systems history required additional caution.
- Physical inspections and records reviews: deep checks completed prior to movement.
- Pratt & Whitney 5-cycle concession: applied for stored engines, supported by checks, idle runs and high-power runs.
- Donor engine pairing:: used where required to meet airworthiness and schedule.
- Tax-aware logistics planning: tight plans to avoid customs resets and unnecessary costs.
Results Achieved
To date, we have extracted 14 of 15 aircraft from India, with 6 already in airline service and a further 3 in transition. ARC and CofA reviews returned zero major findings, and the combined current market value of the 15 assets stands at USD $540M+.
STS Approach and Differentiators
STS’s solution focused CAMO removed friction for lessors, underpinned by early engagement with a regulator experienced in transitions. We built tailored workscopes rather than templates and managed risk proactively across records, engines and logistics. Clear ownership from a compact, fast‑moving team kept momentum high and decisions tight. The key takeaway is to choose partners wisely: the right CAMO, MROs and authority turn a high‑risk repossession into a controlled, value‑adding transition.
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