Delivering Reliability

Setting new axioms for Aviation logistics industry, Tentacle Aerologistix Pvt Ltd

Liberalization among the Indian Aviation sector emerged out as the usher guiding transformation among the aviation logistics industry. Which was once a government-owned industry, become the cultivating ground for privately owned full-service airlines and low-cost carriers. In face of being a burgeoning market, Aviation logistics still angles as the most complex across the Indian industry carrying a number of hurdles to its realization. This sphere demands aviation logistics to dish out their expertise in a different way to let their input bring a lot of value to the vertical.  Among this fast-growing spectrum, Tentacle Aerologistix Pvt Ltd (Tentacles) holds ambitious plans to capitalize on the abundance of skilled manpower and low overheads in India and enter into JVs to have extended manufacturing and services facilities in-house. Its Commercial Director, Mr. Eldo Iype, details how Tentacles intends to grow its capabilities and wing with unmatched delivery time and technical expertise to its clientele.

A pep talk with Mr.Iype

Pooja: Under the hat of Indian Aviation logistics Industry, it has been witnessed that the local players lose their competitive advantage to the international players because of the issues relating to import and stocking of spare parts, policies on the import of unserviceable spare parts etc.. Yet, Tentacles has established an outstanding reputation in various industry verticals in India and neighboring countries. How?

Mr. Iype: Aviation logistics in India is a critical part of the smooth functioning of an aviation company as 90% of the spares and consumables are to be imported from the US and Europe. This demands an efficient aviation logistics system and there comes the role of Tentacles. We are proud to be India's Integrated Aviation, Aerospace, Marine, Defense and Engineering Procurement and MRO Solution provider assimilating products and services into a total customer logistical support program. We give utmost importance to Quality and we are an ISO9001-2015 certified company by TUV SUD. Our DGR Training Division helps business and general aviation pilots & operations staff to complete their regulatory trainings in Bangalore instead of traveling to Mumbai or Delhi.

Pooja: Speaking of today's scenario, Tentacles supplies to more than 75% of General & Business Aviation market in India and more than 90% of MROs. What factors contributed to keeping the organization ahead of the pack?

Mr. Iype: Tentacles is a team of techno-commercial experts with decades of industry experience to capitalize on.  Our customer-centric approach and technical expertise have taken care of our value proposition to the Industry. More than 70% of our team hails from Aircraft Maintenance or Aeronautical Engineering background, making it unique for an aviation logistics organization. Our wider supplier network locates 'hard to find' parts easier than anybody else. Since our inception in 2008, we have been the leading aviation supply chain management company in South East Asia, known for the time defined, cost-effective, and personalized repair & procurement solutions.

Pooja: How has been Tentacles' journey?

Mr.Iype: We have penetrated to more than 40% of commercial aviation customers. In the past one decade, the company has shown an average growth of 20% every year. We always believe on multi-industry focus to avoid the direct impact of any reflections to one industry on our revenue model. We cater to different market segments as mentioned earlier and also to different geographical verticals outside India. We are happy that our international business is also doing its best to elevate us from the Indian aviation partner to a Global supply source.

Pooja: What are the plans ahead?     

Mr.Iype: The Indian aviation and aerospace manufacturing is expected to increase its market share in the Global market by multiple folds with the internal and external policies and scenarios complimenting this. All the support systems to this growth have a larger role to play.  We see this as a large opportunity for our company to come up with new dimensions of business. As a first initiative, we have started an MRO which is expected to be fully operational from Q1 of 2018. Now adding more portfolios to this is our immediate target.  We have been fortunate to get engaged with the right OEMs overseas to support this market. We see a clear visibility and consistent business opportunity in this space for the next few decades.  This involves a larger capital infusion, technology transfer, and the right partners. As an organization, we are working towards this.

Tentacles at a glance

Product Portfolio

Tentacles serves clients from various disciplines like Marine, Aviation, Aerospace, Automobile, Oil & Gas, Research Centre's, Heavy Engineering Industries, Public Sector Companies etc. Tentacles is also the distributor for few leading OEMs in Europe and USA for India and the neighboring countries. Tentacles are stocking distributor of Aeroshell for Maldives and Indian Defence Aviation.

The timeline: Mapping milestones, reaching new heights

2008 – Inception

2009 – Commenced USA Operations

2010 – Diversified to Aerospace and Engineering Verticals and expansion of business to neighboring countries

2011 – Commenced Tentacle Aviation Academy (DGCA Approved DGR Training Establishment)

2013 – Penetrated into the Defence Market

2014 – Awarded Aeroshell Distributorship

2015 – One of the preferred Vendors for Indian Defence Labs

2016 – Awarded Distributorship for Device & Services USA

2017-Receiver of Aviation & Aerospace Excellence Award from Aeronautical Society of India& Hindustan University

With every recognition, Tentacles is keeping the expectations of its customers to the next level, striving to see more smiling faces in its clientele, supplier base, and service providers. The organization was crowned by "Aviation and Aerospace Excellence Award "by the Aeronautical Society of India and Hindustan University. Tentacles is the only Indian company shortlisted for Hazardous Material handling of few Global Organizations in India. The organization successfully handled 5000+ Hazardous Chemicals relocation for Shell India with 100% Compliance on Shell Global requirements.

What customers speak about Tentacles:

"They are very responsive the way they meet our requirements, supporting spares and especially finding hard to find items were the manufacturer is out of business. We have a very effective relationship with tentacles for the past 5 years." Head  Aviation  – Private charter company , India

"I am proud to be associated with Tentacles. Whenever we have a parts supply requirement we tell them and it is at our doorstep within 24-48 hours. There is a factor which involves feelings in business, relationship in business, understanding in business and trustworthiness in business. Tentacles has done fantastic in that and this is quite different than the other competitors."President –Aircraft Maintenance and Management Company

Visionaries behind Tentacles

Capt K.J.Samuel – Mentor

Capt. K.J.Samuel has played a key role in setting up successful business ventures in Indian Aviation. He was a Flying Instructor with Army Aviation and an Examiner on Helicopters in Civil Aviation. He was the founder Director of the first Indian low-cost airline Air Deccan.

Eldo T.Iype, Commercial Director

As a qualified aircraft engineer he started his aviation career in 1996 in helicopter maintenance. With 2 decades of experience in various aviation engineering procurement functions, he heads the commercial functioning of the company. He is also a qualified DGCA and IATA approved DGR Instructor, delivering Aviation safety trainings in multiple countries.    He is a certified IMDG& 49CFR professional as well.