HAL to make India’s first passenger aeroplane

Bangalore: State-run military plane maker Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, or HAL, will produce India’s first passenger aircraft, after the Indian Air Force, or IAF, chose HAL over private sector companies such as Mahindra Aerospace and Larsen and Toubro Ltd (L&T).
IAF will be the first customer for the 14-seater, multi-role aircraft called Saras, which will be the first passenger plane to be designed and manufactured in the country.
Most of the planes so far designed in the country by HAL and the Defence Research and Development Organisation, or DRDO, are for military use.
National Aerospace Laboratories, or NAL, the state-run agency for civil aircraft design, was to choose between Mahindra Aerospace and L&T, which had been shortlisted as a manufacturing partner for Saras following a tender in February.
But IAF last month insisted that HAL should make the planes to replace its ageing fleet of German-designed Dornier aircraft, people familiar with the development said on condition of anonymity. HAL had backed out of the Saras project after initial work following differences with NAL.
IAF has expressed interest in placing an order for 15 of the 35 Saras aircraft it requires for roles such as transporting VIPs and conducting aerial surveys.
HAL, which would make the Saras planes at its transport aircraft division in Kanpur, would sign a pact with NAL soon, said an HAL executive who did not want to be named. The executive said private industry would be involved in manufacturing parts and systems, but HAL would be the assembler of the plane.
15/08/08 K. Raghu/Livemint

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Aug 2008, New Aug 2008