HAL/NAL Regional Transport Aircraft (RTA) - India's Regional Airliner Programme

[Chanakya's_Chant]

HAL to Go Ahead with Civil Aircraft Development Project​

BENGALURU: State-owned aerospace and defence major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has decided to pursue its civil aircraft development programme despite the lack of success in the project.

HAL plans to put a civil aircraft in the Indian skies by 2022. Even though the company has supplied over 14 Dornier (Do228) and 22 Avro (HS748) to civil customers over the years, their regional transport aircraft plan has not had any major progress.

“The civil aviation business in India indicates emerging requirements for 19-seat, 30-seat, 50-seat and 70-seat aircraft as the traffic grows on regional routes. The company has the strategy to address not only the requirements of this emerging market but also the MRO (maintenance repair and overhaul) opportunities offered by trunk route operators,” RK Tyagi, former chairman and managing director of HAL had earlier told Express.

Though the company aspires to lead the ‘Make in India’ call by the Prime Minister, significant delays in various projects, including the over 30-year old Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) project, are hampering its progress.

The company says that the design is already on ‘drawing board’ stage but failure of the Kaveri engine has increased its dependence on procuring an engine from a global Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).

Officials said that this is being done to ensure that the aircraft is globally competitive in terms of cost per passenger kilometer.

National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) is the other public sector agency HAL is working with for the civil aircraft programme. The initial funding of the project was Rs 20 crore (Rs 10 crore each). The two units also want to partner with private sector in various stages of development. But undue delays may not interest private players who have to sustain their businesses based on these partnerships.

In the year 2000, India had only 225 aircraft but currently has over 1,100 aircraft (both scheduled and non scheduled), according to aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

Aircraft major Airbus says that India needs over 1,000 aircraft in the next 20 years. Though HAL seems to have (for the moment) missed out billions of dollars of opportunities, the company could turn into a major player if it can get its act together at the earliest.

Source:- HAL to Go Ahead with Civil Aircraft Development Project -The New Indian Express

 

[Chanakya's_Chant]

​

 

[Agent Smith]

cool.. will it be used for military aviation as well?

 

[Chanakya's_Chant]

cool.. will it be used for military aviation as well?

It will purely be Civilian Aircraft. For military use the UAC/HAL Il-214 Multi-role Transport Aircraft (MTA), a medium-lift military transport aircraft is being developed as a joint venture of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) of Russia and Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) of India.

UAC/HAL Il-214 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia​

 

[Otocal]

So Saras is scrapped

 

[Chanakya's_Chant]

So Saras is scrapped

No, NAL Saras is entirely a different project. It is just a 14 seater "Light Transport Aircraft" compared to this 70 seater RTA.

 

[Otocal]

No, NAL Saras is entirely a different project. It is just a 14 seater "Light Transport Aircraft" compared to this 70 seater RTA.

Ok

them how will they make 70 seater rta if they can't make 14 seater lta?

 

[Chanakya's_Chant]

Ok

them how will they make 70 seater rta if they can't make 14 seater lta?

Two prototype aircraft have logged 140 hours of flying. Certification expected soon under FAR 23. The IAF has signed up with National Aerospace Laboratories, Bangalore for the purchase of 15 Saras aircraft.

IAF to induct 15 indigenously-built Saras aircraft

 

[Otocal]

Two prototype aircraft have logged 140 hours of flying. Certification expected soon under FAR 23. The IAF has signed up with National Aerospace Laboratories, Bangalore for the purchase of 15 Saras aircraft.

IAF to induct 15 indigenously-built Saras aircraft

2? Only 1 Saras is left. The other crashed killing everyone on board

 

[Chanakya's_Chant]

2? Only 1 Saras is left. The other crashed killing everyone on board

The one that crashed didn't crash in it's first flight - Together the two prototypes logged 140 hours of flying until 2011 as per the data available in the public domain.

http://www.nal.res.in/pdf/saras-2011.pdf

Subsequently the Saras PT1 was being upgraded to PT1N standard which includes modified stubwing and rear fuselage, larger area rudder, new nacelle and an autopilot.

 

[Echo_419]

So Saras is scrapped

Different projects

It will purely be Civilian Aircraft. For military use the UAC/HAL Il-214 Multi-role Transport Aircraft (MTA), a medium-lift military transport aircraft is being developed as a joint venture of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) of Russia and Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) of India.

UAC/HAL Il-214 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia​

Now that the Avro tender is scrapped & the MTA will be purchased to replace them,i hope that they start the work on this thing ASAP

 

[anant_s]

Government is promoting Tier 2 airports in smaller towns, these airplanes have a great potential including North eastern states and other hilly areas where short length airstrips exist. A cargo version of these planes can also be pursued for increasing the sales. with e-commerce spreading its wings, cheap air transport (freight) demand is likely to increase and products like these will capture the market segment.
Now i hope HAL delivers the product on time.

 

[sancho]

Government is promoting Tier 2 airports in smaller towns, these airplanes have a great potential including North eastern states and other hilly areas where short length airstrips exist. A cargo version of these planes can also be pursued for increasing the sales. with e-commerce spreading its wings, cheap air transport (freight) demand is likely to increase and products like these will capture the market segment.
Now i hope HAL delivers the product on time.

Will try to post something on that note later tonight, which shows how short sighted Indian defence and aviation development planning is.

Now it's time for soccer!

 

[anant_s]

Will try to post something on that note later tonight, which shows how short sighted Indian defence and aviation development planning is.

Now it's time for soccer!

Will wait sir.
both post and final score

 

[Abingdonboy]

@sancho, this plane seems far more suited to the Avro replacement then the MTA doesn't it? From what I understand the Avros in the IAF is not used for military airlift missions really but more as a transport for senior personnel and such. Thus the C-295/C-27J with a rear cargo door was always overkill. If it's just about flying personnel around then the RTA seems ideal.