R. S. Thakur

Founder & Managing Principal, Sophic Primo

R. S. Thakur is a senior aviation professional with more than three decades of experience spanning airline engineering, continuing airworthiness, MRO, quality and safety, regulatory oversight and aviation strategy.

He previously served as Executive Director, AI Engineering Services Limited (AIESL), the largest civil aviation MRO in India, before setting up Sophic Primo Ltd, an aviation and aerospace advisory firm. He advises clients on strategic issues across the aviation and aerospace ecosystem, drawing on extensive operational, regulatory, commercial and institutional experience.

His experience extends across the wider aviation ecosystem, including work with DGCA, EASA and FAA, aircraft OEMs, lessors, airlines and government stakeholders. His areas of expertise include airline and MRO strategy, fleet planning and aircraft leasing, aviation policy and ecosystem development, regulatory and certification strategy, and operational transformation.

He is a graduate of IIT Delhi and attended the Aviation MBA Program at the John Molson School of Business, Concordia University, Montreal, with a focus on airline marketing, revenue management, fleet planning, airport operations and aircraft leasing.