New Delhi: Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has displayed its proficiency in the demanding field of helicopter design by successfully testing its indigenously developed Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) to an altitude of six kilometres (almost 20,000 feet).
In an organisation where engineers and technicians still smart over Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's recent statement that HAL was not competent to manufacture the Rafale fighter under licence, there is quiet vindication.
HAL stated on Monday that breaking the six-kilometre barrier was "a critical requirement towards the certification of LUH... With the completion of this milestone, LUH can now undertake high altitude, cold weather trials planned in January 2019".
This will involve operating the LUH in winter from helipads on the Saltoro Ridge that towers above the Siachen Glacier. At present, with the decades-old Chetak and Cheetah fleets nearly obsolete, HAL's twin-engine Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) services the Army's Himalayan posts. Once the LUH is certified for operations, it will take on many of these tasks.
Both the Dhruv and LUH are designed to operate at altitudes up to 6.5 kilometres (21,325 feet), a capability that few helicopters have. While selecting a VVIP chopper, the government brought down the altitude requirement to 4.5 kilometres because there was just one chopper that could fly up to even six kilometres.
11/12/18 Ajay Shukla/Business Standard
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In an organisation where engineers and technicians still smart over Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's recent statement that HAL was not competent to manufacture the Rafale fighter under licence, there is quiet vindication.
HAL stated on Monday that breaking the six-kilometre barrier was "a critical requirement towards the certification of LUH... With the completion of this milestone, LUH can now undertake high altitude, cold weather trials planned in January 2019".
This will involve operating the LUH in winter from helipads on the Saltoro Ridge that towers above the Siachen Glacier. At present, with the decades-old Chetak and Cheetah fleets nearly obsolete, HAL's twin-engine Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) services the Army's Himalayan posts. Once the LUH is certified for operations, it will take on many of these tasks.
Both the Dhruv and LUH are designed to operate at altitudes up to 6.5 kilometres (21,325 feet), a capability that few helicopters have. While selecting a VVIP chopper, the government brought down the altitude requirement to 4.5 kilometres because there was just one chopper that could fly up to even six kilometres.
11/12/18 Ajay Shukla/Business Standard
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