NAL to finalise production partner for trainer aircraft by November
National Aerospace Laboratories expects to finalise the production partner for its two-seater trainer aircraft HANSA-New Generation, in a month, a top NAL official said. A market study done by Bengaluru-based NAL has shown there is a potential demand for about 400-500 such aircraft in India in the next 5-10 years, Program Director of Civil Aircrafts at NAL, C M Anand, told PTI.
The NAL-developed HANSA-NG features a state-of-the-art-glass cockpit, a Rotax-912iSc sport engine and a steerable nose wheel.
Manufactured using advanced processes, the aircraft is Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) compliant, has superior aerodynamic features and handling qualities, enhanced range and endurance, its officials said.
Anand said the NAL, a constituent of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), is presently in the process of finalising the production partner for manufacturing the aircraft.
Discussions are going on with the identified potential partners about the production capabilities and other parameters.
In another month, a decision will be made and the partner will be finalised, he said.
«Production companies also have a lot of questions and queries which are being addressed. For the last six months, we have been on the job.
More or less things are done. Therefore, we are confident. In another month, we will be finalising the partner.
We are planning to announce the partner in 'Wings India-2024' event (to be held in Hyderabad in January) which is apt for the occasion,» he said.
«Currently, we are manufacturing our second aircraft of the HANSA new generation which will be ready by January and we are planning to fly the new aircraft at the 'Wings India 2024' event,» he added.
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