Page 26 - AAA JULY - AUGUST 2016 Online Magazine

FEATURE AIRCRAFt MANUFACtURING

Commuter Aspirations

Hindustan Aeronautics’ is targeting India’s regional transport sector
By Atul Chandra

INdIA’S STATE OWNEd AIRFRAMER configured for civilian use. The metal cut for
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has the first aircraft took place in March and both
commenced work on a civilian variant of aircraft will be ready for developmental and
the Do-228 which it produces under license configuration trials in 2017.
in India for the military. Asian Airlines & HAL aims to cater for an expected
Aerospace received an exclusive update on surge in demand for low cost small capacity
the program and HAL’s plans for a civilian regional commuters brought about by India’s
variant of the show at the India Aviation Air new civil aviation policy that proposes that
Indian airframer HAL is looking at Show held in Hyderabad, India a few months the Government underwrite of a proportion
positioning the commuter variant
of the Do-228 as a low-cost, ago. The formal approval to proceed with a of the costs incurred by airlines operating
reliable and economical offering Do-228 variant for commuter operations, was on smaller regional sectors. The Indian
for operation on short distance made by the HAL board in February this year. state of Uttar Pradesh has already offered
regional routes. HAL has extensive The airframer has committed an in-house Government support for regional commuter
experience with the Do-228, as it
has been producing the type under funding of approximately US$ 15 million (Rs operations. Indian state owned aircraft
license since the mid-eighties 100 Crore), to produce two Do-228 aircraft services operator Pawan Hans is also being
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