Software Challenger.

It comes as no surprise that in India, where the software industry is challenging â€" and supporting â€" information technology companies worldwide, maintenance, repair and overhaul tools are beginning to emerge.

Attention to Indian IT comes as a flurry of new entrants begin flying. Ramco Systems, part of the $300-million Ramco Group that has 7,000 employees in 16 offices in nine countries, has aligned with Sabre Airline Solutions to begin offering an Internet-based asset management system, including traditional enterprise resource planning functionalities such as financials, human resources and inventory management. It is replacing Maxi-Merlin software.

The asset management tool covers planning and scheduling, and hangar, line and component shop maintenance. It also manages aircraft configurations, tracks technical bulletins and engineering change orders, and administers repair ordering, including exchanges and warranty orders. Inventory, procurement and parts shipping are other management functions.

It entered the market initially with an order from a South Korean startup â€" Jeju Air â€" flying Bombardier Q400s. Virgin America, the startup now seeking regulatory approval to operate domestic routes from San Francisco, is to use Ramco's software to automate its maintenance and engineering processes and integrate IT systems with partner organizations.

Virgin America Senior Vice President for Technical Operations Gary Borowski said Virgin selected the Ramco tools because of their flexibility for mapping the airline's business processes, including FAA reporting and control requirements.

Ramco's clients include Saudi Arabian Al Salam Aircraft and Qatar's Gulf Helicopters and Petroleum Helicopter in the U.S.

The surge in Indian low-cost carriers hasn't led to home-market business. "Indian budget carriers are not focusing on engineering and maintenance as yet," says Upali Aparajita Patnaik, a company official. "Most are outsourcing those requirements."

The software is also applicable to manufacturing, Patnaik says, noting Ramco is in talks with state-owned aircraft maker China Aviation Industries Corp. 1 (AVIC 1) about applying it to engineering functions. Winning an AVIC contract is seen as a stepping-stone into China's airline market.

Ramco is working with U.S.-based Loftware on templates for applying radio frequency identification parts tracking chips to the MRO function.

Ramco is talking with AVIC 1 about applying the software to engineering functions

PHOTO (COLOR): South Korean's Jeju Air, which flies Bombardier Q400s, is Ramco's first Asian customer.

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By Neelam Mathews, New Delhi