Kineco Aerospace has successfully achieved First Article Inspection (FAI) approval from GKN Aerospace for complex, high-precision aerospace components to be delivered under a prestigious aircraft engine work package, marking a significant milestone in its global aerospace journey.
When the Long-Term Supply Agreement was signed at JEC World 2025 in Paris, Kineco Limited – World of Composites Founder Shekhar Sardessai had described the partnership as a strategic opportunity to demonstrate Kineco’s commitment to delivering premium-quality aerospace composite components to globally renowned customers. The recent FAI approval validates that vision and reinforces Kineco Aerospace’s growing presence in the international aerospace manufacturing ecosystem.
The successful completion of First Article Inspection, with formal customer approval from GKN Aerospace in compliance with AS9102 standards, reflects Kineco Aerospace’s readiness to support global aerospace programs at scale. Achieving FAI approval in a Tier-1 aerospace program requires exceptional precision, process discipline, and unwavering quality assurance across every stage of manufacturing.
The milestone highlights several key achievements, including first-pass success across critical parameters, the establishment of robust and repeatable manufacturing processes, and a strong foundation for production ramp-up. Delivering FAI clearance on the first attempt is widely regarded as a challenging benchmark in the aerospace industry, and the Kineco Aerospace team in Goa demonstrated its capabilities by achieving a ‘First Time Right’ outcome with strong collaboration and support from the GKN Aerospace team.
What began as a handshake at one of the world’s premier composites exhibitions in Paris has now evolved into a qualified, production-ready supply relationship. The journey from contract signing to FAI clearance reflects not only technical excellence but also the strength of collaboration, trust, and shared commitment between the two organisations.
Kineco Aerospace acknowledged the exceptional support and guidance received from the GKN Aerospace team, expressing gratitude to key team members including Chris Hawkins, Toby Allen, Chris Evans, Steve Colebrook, Joseph Madden, Joey Chapa, Robin Kirby, Ronald Kamphorst, Patrick St. Germain, Wendy Adams, and several others who played a crucial role in enabling this achievement. Special recognition was also given to Ross Bradley FRAES for his consistent support and encouragement throughout the journey.
The company also recognised the contributions of its internal leadership and technical teams, including Shekhar Sardessai, Vivek Srivastava, Sudhi Ranjan Mukherjee, Mahesh Gudal, Nagaraj Jantli, Bhagwant Chimulkar, Siddhesh Korgaonkar, Swapnil Mane, Mahoday Tamankar, Harshad Khade, Aaron Cabral, Viraj Dhawalikar, Adarsh Roy, Govind Sawant, and many others whose collective effort made this historic milestone possible.
This achievement marks an important step in Kineco Aerospace’s long-term strategy to strengthen its position in global aerospace supply chains, particularly in advanced composite manufacturing and aerostructures. With FAI clearance now secured, the company is well-positioned to scale production and contribute to high-value aerospace programs while maintaining its focus on quality, precision, and industrial excellence.
As Kineco Aerospace continues to expand its global footprint, this milestone stands as a testament to its commitment to quality-first manufacturing, strong international partnerships, and world-class aerospace engineering capabilities.
More milestones are expected as the partnership progresses and new opportunities emerge in the global aerospace sector.
