New Delhi: Civil Aviation Minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain on June 29 asked Indian Airlines to substantially improve its workforce standards for complete overhaul of aircraft, including jet engines, to make it world class.

Hussain, who visited the airline's aircraft maintenance facilities located adjacent to the Indira Gandhi International Airport, inspected the work of IA engineers and assured all possible help to them.

"In a country like India, being the best in Asia is not enough. You should strive to become the best in the world," Hussain told the engineers.

The minister was accompanied by senior officials, including Indian Airlines chairman and managing director Sunil Arora and Alliance Air managing director Manet Paes.

Hussain was highly impressed by the airline's expertise in handling complex works like "LAP joint modification" and various other maintenance checks being currently undertaken on a Boeing 737 and an Airbus 320 aircraft.

The minister also visited IA's Jet Engine Overhaul Complex (JEOC), where he was shown the overhauls being done on various aircraft engines.

The Complex started work in 1995 and has rectified or overhauled about 50 engines last year.

Hussain told IA officials to showcase the splendid work done by the engineers through various means like house journals and inflight magazines.

PTI