U.S. aids Pakistan airline

U.S. aids Pakistan airline    The U.S. Trade and Development Agency has awarded a $864,000 grant to Pakistan International Airlines to help it enter the growing aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul market.
   The grant will support a feasibility study designed to assist the airline developing a facility to service engines, landing gear, airframes and aircraft components for domestic and foreign carriers. USTDA said the study is expected to include a market assessment, business plan, a set of technical requirements and training needs, and cost estimates to expand the repair facility.
   The study is part of the Regional Infrastructure and Trade Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding that USTDA signed with Pakistan and Afghanistan in 2009.
   The global aviation maintenance and overhaul market exceeds $50 billion, including $15 billion in equipment and services provided by U.S. companies to these facilities worldwide. This business in Asia is expected to exceed $9 billion.
   The opportunity to conduct the USTDA-funded technical assistance will be competed on the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) Web site. A link to the FBO announcement will be posted to USTDA’s Web site.