HAL To Replace Aluminium Control Rods of Dhruv Helicopters With Ones Made Of Steel

[NG Missile Vessels]

New Delhi: An implement weighing a few kilograms (and also, not very expensive) in a 5 ton helicopter does not sound like much, but the control rod of the Advanced Light Helicopter or ALH has been causing problems in recent months.

A Navy ALH ditched into the sea in March this year and a Coast Guard version also went down soon after that. Then, there was an Army ALH crash in Kishtwar this month. Many of the problems appear to be traced to the control rod of the chopper and the metal that is used to manufacture it. So far, the ALHs the armed forces have (about 140 with the Army, 70 with the Air Force and 20 with the Navy) have had aluminium control rods. But now, Hindustan Aeronautics, the original manufacturer of the helicopter, after discussions with the armed forces officials have decided to replace the aluminium control rods with ones made of steel.

The ALH was largely grounded after the Navy chopper went down and tests revealed that there were control rod problems in many of the choppers. Then, after further investigations, it was decided that they could fly for 100 hours, and then be tested again.

Now, HAL officials said that the replacement programme will begin shortly. A steel control rod, they said, would be easier for maintenance. The replacement will take about one year. The chopper, otherwise, entirely acceptable by the armed forces has been problematic because of the control rod. With the new steel rods in place, the old problems can become a thing of the past.

HAL To Replace Aluminium Control Rods Of Advanced Light Helicopters With Ones Made Of Steel

Hindustan Aeronautics, the original manufacturer of the helicopter, after discussions with the armed forces officials have decided to replace the aluminium control rods with ones made of steel., India News - Times Now

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