COMMENTARY
INTERVIEWS
SPECIALS
CHAT
ARCHIVES

India enters civilian aircraft industry club

India has made a quiet entry into the world of civilian aircraft manufacture with the indigenously designed all-composite trainer the 'Hansa-3', Union Science and Technology Minister Murli Manohar Joshi announced in New Delhi today.

The Hansa-3 will cost Rs 3.5 million (US $90,000) which is far cheaper than comparable international models that are sold at over $110,000. Additional savings can be made by operators because of indigenously available service and spares.

Test flights for the Hansa-3 are to be inaugurated on May 11 by Dr Joshi, who is also vice-president of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research when its certification process by the director general of civil aviation will begin.

The designers, the National Aeronautical Laboratories under the CSIR, will be aiming for certification for Hansa-3 under the joint air worthiness requirements for very light aircraft (JAR-VLA) of Europe both for daytime flying as well as instrumented night flying.

Certification under stringent international regulations will go a long way towards ensuring safety as well as build an export potential for the aircraft.

The weight of the Hansa-3 has been kept below 750 kilogram, which is an essential requirement for JAR-VLA certification through optimal design and lightweight material including a modern lightweight engine.

As a future programme, a stretched version of the Hansa-3 capable of carrying 4-5 passengers is also being designed by NAL to meet the lower end requirements of air taxi/air charter/commuter and executive aircraft.

Enquiries have already come in from Europe, Australia, and Latin America which are seen as potential markets for the aircraft so long as it retains its price advantage.

Preliminary marketing efforts have already been started by NAL and the manufacturer Taneja Aerospace and Aeronautical Limited.

NAL and TAAL are also developing a 14-seater multirole light transport aircraft 'Saras' for which there is a perceived demand of 250 pieces over the next fifteen years.

Saras is expected to meet the demands of feeder airlines, air charter and air taxi services, executive aircraft and also meet social needs such as air ambulance, disaster and relief support, surveillance, floriculture development, and the opening up of remote areas.

The success of the project would go a long way in building up a vibrant civil aviation industry in the country and in enhancing the role of CSIR in nation-building through industrial research and development.

UNI