Aviation regulatory probe report seeks design changes in Saras

Bangalore/New Delhi: Finding fault with the management of the country’s first civil aeroplane project Saras, India’s aviation regulator has recommended key design changes to the 14-seater plane.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), in a probe report on the crash of a Saras prototype during a test flight in March 2009, has asked the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), the agency developing the aircraft, to not employ private contractors in designing the plane.
In the report, reviewed by Mint, DGCA has suggested that NAL consult other aircraft makers for flight trials.
Implementing DGCA’s recommendations and getting them certified could delay the Saras project by another two years, said an NAL official, who did not want to be named.
The aircraft was to be certified this year.
The regulator has said private contractors be engaged only for supplying parts and appliances. “The contracting system followed by NAL is to be reviewed by competent authority,” it said in its report.
NAL is the aerospace arm of India’s biggest public research agency, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). NAL director A.R. Upadhya said he had not seen the DGCA report.
“We’ve asked for the report,” he said. “Whatever are the DGCA recommendations, we will study and implement it.”
A top government official familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the report has been approved by the civil aviation ministry and it would be made public soon.
21/04/10 K. Raghu and Tarun Shukla/Live Mint

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Apr 2010, New Apr 2010