The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has recently announced that it has successfully carried out the Ground Run and Low-Speed Taxi Trials (LSTT) of the Hindustan-228 (VT-KNR) aircraft for the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ‘Type Certification’.
In a statement on August 16, Monday, the Bengaluru-headquartered HAL said that the major milestone was achieved at HAL’s Kanpur facility on Sunday, August 15, at an Independence Day celebrations event.
“This is a major milestone for the first fixed wing Made-in-India civil aircraft in India. It is a step forward towards strengthening regional air connectivity,” Sajal Prakash, CEO of HAL’s Accessories Complex, was quoted as saying.
According to DGCA Director Indranil Chakraborty, the type certification will allow HAL to get the international certificate for the aircraft, which complies with the FAR 23 certification requirements.
In Kanpur, HAL’s Transport Aircraft Division has been responsible for the business of transport and trainer aircraft for defence customers, a Division that manufactured the Hindustan-228 aircraft to support the Regional Connectivity Scheme (UDAN) of the Government of India. The 228, a multirole utility aircraft, has been built for several applications like VIP transport, passenger transport, air ambulance, flight inspection roles, cloud seeding, and recreational activities like Para jumping, aerial surveillance, photography, and cargo applications
“This aircraft could be utilised successfully by civil operators and state governments for their intra and inter-state connectivity with seamless support towards training, maintenance and logistics,” the HAL said in the statement.
According to HAL’s website, “The Company which had its origin as Hindustan Aircraft Limited was incorporated on December 23 1940 at Bangalore by Shri Walchand Hirachand, a farsighted visionary, in association with the then Government of Mysore, with the aim of manufacturing aircraft in India. In March 1941, the Government of India became one of the shareholders in the Company and subsequently took over its management in 1942. In collaboration with the Inter Continental Aircraft Company of USA, the Company commenced its business of manufacturing of Harlow Trainer, Curtiss Hawk Fighter and Vultee Bomber Aircraft.”
HAL was placed under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, in January 1951.
“The Company had built aircraft and engines of foreign design under licence, such as Prentice, Vampire & Gnat. It also undertook the design and development of aircraft indigenously. In August 1951, the HT-2 Trainer aircraft, designed and produced by the company under the able leadership of Dr. V.M.Ghatge flew for the first time. Over 150 Trainers were manufactured and supplied to the Indian Air Force and other customers. With the gradual building up of its design capability, the company successfully designed and developed four other aircraft i.e. two seater ‘Pushpak’ suitable for flying clubs, ‘Krishak’ for Air Observatory Post (AOP) role, HF-24 Jet Fighter ‘(Marut)’ and the HJT-16 Basic Jet Trainer ‘(Kiran)’,” the website said.
