HAL: 68 years of flying high

Bangalore: Aviation major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will celebrate its 68th Foundation Day on Tuesday with an aero show open to employees and their families.
HAL has over 16,000 employees in Bangalore. The event, expected to draw an audience of over 30,000, will showcase HAL's products. MD Ashok Nayak said four Sarang ALHs, six Surya Kiran aircraft, Hawks, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Intermediate Jet Trainers (IJT), etc, will be part of the show.
The event will have unprecedented security measures, including barcoded stickers to identify employees' family members. Each employee has been issued two stickers, which will be inspected and matched with details given on the employee's sticker. The barricaded area will have standby ambulances and fire engines. No vehicles will be allowed. HAL will seek help of 200 policemen, apart from its own security personnel.
Regarding reopening HAL airport, Nayak said it was up to clients and officials to decide. "The airport has all necessary infrastructure in place. We are using it for our exercises, and some private aircraft are also using it. The airport sees around 30 movements every day,'' he added.
Nayak said light utility helicopters, weighing between two and three tonnes, are being evaluated. Delivery of Jaguar aircraft is expected by March 2009 while the limited series production of LCA is also on. The intermediate operational clearance for Tejas is expected in December 2010. The LCA will be equipped with a higher powered engine.
23/12/08 Times of India

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Dec 2008