Panasonic Avionics opens software design facility in Pune, India
Panasonic Avionics' new facility in Pune, India
Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic Avionics) has opened a new software design and development facility in Pune, India. The new facility in Pune was opened in the presence of Chief Guest, the Honorable Minister of State for Civil Aviation & Cooperation, Shri. Murlidhar Mohol.
The new facility is the first in India dedicated to supporting the development and delivery of IFEC solutions. More than 200 engineers have been employed at the point of launch, with growth plans in place to scale the software engineering talent at the facility to support the increasing demand from airlines for IFEC solutions that will deliver personalized experiences for their passengers.
Panasonic Avionics’ new software design and development facility is integral to the company’s strategy of enabling airlines to realize their passenger digital engagement visions by using the most innovative IFEC solutions, supported by best-in-class enterprise software tools that are self-service and designed to lower IFEC solution lifecycle costs, the press release said.
A range of software will be developed, tested and sustained in state-of-the-art laboratories throughout the facility to deliver passenger experiences for narrowbody and widebody aircraft that meet airlines’ needs. These include the X Series in-flight entertainment system, and digital solutions including airline interactives which enable airlines to create unique seatback passenger experiences, IFEC development support via SDKs (software development kits) and mobile companion apps.
“Innovative, future-focused and proven software is at the heart of every IFEC solution that Panasonic Avionics develops, creating a digital channel that enables our airline customers to engage with their passengers more effectively than ever before,” said Ken Sain, Chief Executive Officer of Panasonic Avionics Corporation.
He added, “With its huge number of skilled engineers, and fast-growing aviation sector, India is a natural location for us to invest in for the future of our business, and we look forward to accelerating our software innovation and design capabilities from our new Pune facility.”
Satyen Yadav, Chief Technology Officer of Panasonic Avionics Corporation also commented: "Today marks a significant milestone as we embark on a journey to accelerate the delivery of personalized digital experiences for airline passengers. We look forward to delivering cutting-edge software solutions that delight customers both in the region and globally, and to growing our software talent in Pune.”
Manish Sharma, Chairman of Panasonic Life Solutions India and South Asia, and Director, Panasonic Avionics India, said: “India has become synonymous with ‘Capability, when it comes to software talent’. Today, India is providing IT support and IT services to the world and Panasonic has invested in setting up innovation centers and global capability centers to provide high-quality services to our other subsidiaries across the world. Panasonic Avionics’ facility in Pune is the latest in our series of investments in India and we are looking to cater to multiple markets and airlines with innovative solutions for in-flight engagement and communication (IFEC).”
The facility in Pune will accelerate Panasonic Avionics’ software development capabilities, and help improve the time to market of IFEC and digital solutions.
To accelerate the growth of the facility, Panasonic Avionics is developing partnerships with universities in the state of Maharashtra and across India, to nurture and develop skilled engineering graduates.
The Pune facility has been developed through a “build-operate-transfer” (BOT) operation. It was initiated in 2021 with investment from Panasonic Avionics and has resulted in the creation of a team of engineers who will drive the company’s software design and development from Pune.
