India Government OKs Plan to Build Passenger Aircraft

[Major Shaitan Singh]

NEW DELHI--India's ambition to build its own passenger planes received a boost after the government gave the go-ahead for a project to develop initially a 70-100 seat aircraft.
The plan, approved at a high-level committee meeting on manufacturing headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and comprising ministers and government officials, will include the setting up of a special company that would utilize the design skills of the National Aerospace Laboratories, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. and other state-run organizations.
"This [the civilian passenger aircraft industry] is a strategic sector where there is a need to have a presence in the long term, particularly in view of the rapid growth of our aviation sector," a statement issued late Tuesday by the Prime Minister's office said, adding that a group headed by V. Krishnamurthy, chairman of the National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council would work out the modalities of this program.


Offsets in India's defense sector would also be leveraged to build high-precision equipment and avionics for the passenger aircraft project. Under the Indian government's so-called offset policy, companies that received Indian defense contracts exceeding 3.0 billion rupees ($50 million) need to either locally manufacture the products or parts worth 30% of the contract's value, or make an equivalent investment in the country.

India Government OKs Plan to Build Passenger Aircraft

 

[Manindra]

Wish this project complete in fixed timeframe

 

[jpsingh]

Preliminary investigation into alleged design flaws shows that the aircraft might be aerodynamically unstable. The Indian government has, however, reassured the public that the aircraft will incorporate the very latest in aviation technology.

A mock-up on display at Palika Bazaar, New Delhi.

Better to Try and Fail Than Fail to Try.

 

[IND151]

India Government OKs Plan to Build Passenger Aircraft | idrw.org

 

[Iggy]

BTW who is in charge of this project?? I suggest DRDO.. Since they have plenty of project in hand, in head and every where, they do not mind having another one

 

[Parul]

BTW who is in charge of this project?? I suggest DRDO.. Since they have plenty of project in hand, in head and every where, they do not mind having another one

Yenna Rascala!!! I Mind it DRDO

 

[SRP]

Best of luck India. God knows when it will fly!

 

[janon]

Better to Try and Fail Than Fail to Try.

Not if trying mindlessly wastes taxpayers' money, as well as human and other resources (scientists' time, trained manpower, labs etc).

I'm very pessimistic about this endeavor. I don't think India has the necessary expertise or ecosystem to build such a large aircraft profitably, cheaper than so many companies around the world. This seems like another attempt to bite off more than they can chew. The better thing to do at this point is to become a manufacturing hub for companies like boeing, and also enter into JVs with experienced players for new ventures. For example, partner with embraer to develop this particular aircraft, to offer a low cost alternative to private airlines. Identify who else in the world has a need for this category, and team up with them.

If not, I don't see (1) private airliners buying HAL/NAL aircrafts when so many proven companies are making proven designs, and (2) India being able to develop a cheaper aircraft than global majors at this stage.

 

[jpsingh]

Not if trying mindlessly wastes taxpayers' money, as well as human and other resources (scientists' time, trained manpower, labs etc).

I'm very pessimistic about this endeavor. I don't think India has the necessary expertise or ecosystem to build such a large aircraft profitably, cheaper than so many companies around the world. This seems like another attempt to bite off more than they can chew. The better thing to do at this point is to become a manufacturing hub for companies like boeing, and also enter into JVs with experienced players for new ventures. For example, partner with embraer to develop this particular aircraft, to offer a low cost alternative to private airlines. Identify who else in the world has a need for this category, and team up with them.

If not, I don't see (1) private airliners buying HAL/NAL aircrafts when so many proven companies are making proven designs, and (2) India being able to develop a cheaper aircraft than global majors at this stage.

same thing was told when we were trying to develope Dhruva.
you can not develope technology overnight, it takes time, money and dedication.
look at our initial failure in space technology.

 

[Brahmos_2]

Best of luck India. God knows when it will fly!

Even he is helpless here

 

[janon]

same thing was told when we were trying to develope Dhruva.
you can not develope technology overnight, it takes time, money and dedication.
look at our initial failure in space technology.

Umm..are you really aware of the history of our space program? Do YOU know the so called failures? Care to elaborate?

Anyway...Dhruv did not come out of the blue. HAL had been assembling and manufacturing cheetahs and chetaks for eons, before taking on the Dhruv. And that's what I said we need to do - gain experience before making grand attempts bound to disappoint.

Also, note something else - dhuv, LCA and other such military aircrafts have an assured buyer - the indian armed forces. The laws of supply and demand, or of free markets don't apply for those. If HAL develops something, the IAF is more or less sure to buy it. The developer as well as maker as well as buyer is the GoI. GoI (HAL) spends money to develop a military aircraft, GoI (IAF) later buys it.

But this regional transport aircraft is supposed to be bought by private airliners, to be a profitable undertaking. And private players will not buy an unproven aircraft from an unproven manufacturer, when there are tried and tested plantforms available on the world marked, probably for cheaper. They just won't take the risk.

 

[President]

Best of luck India. God knows when it will fly!

it has already flown on paper!

 

[Dandpatta]

Am sure a TATA would be able to make a jet of this size if they really set their sights on it. But gaurment outfits ? Everytime they make tall claims about reaching deadlines, it feels a case between diarrhea and constipation.

Diarrhea of postponements
Constipation of true deadlines

 

[patentneer]

Israeli firm plans to build passenger aircraft in India

Y. Mallikarjun

HYDERABAD: Tel Aviv-based Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Limited, a leading supplier of defence and aerospace products in the world, is proposing to build a 60-80 seater passenger aircraft and different types of executive jets in India. It is looking for partners to establish joint ventures for both projects.

The 60-80 seater would be a “regional jet” for meeting air travel needs in the country and neighbouring nations. “Most of it will be built here while the designing will be done by IAI. We are talking with an Indian company,” said IAI president and CEO Itzhak Nissan.

He told The Hindu that the company had also firmed up proposals to set up software and aeronautical engineering companies in Bangalore this year for undertaking research and development activities in military and civil aviation sect ors. It is also planning an MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) facility for converting phased-out passenger aircraft into cargo planes which would have a life of 15 years.

Mr. Nissan said the software and engineering companies would be fully owned by IAI and the final plan was awaiting the IAI board’s approval. The companies would involve “heavy investment”, he indicated while declining to give details of the actual funding.

They would require a large number of software and aeronautical engineers.

Describing India as a “big customer” of IAI, he said it was trying to establish joint ventures with both pubic and private sector institutions.

The Hindu : National : Israeli firm plans to build passenger aircraft in India

 

[Alphacharlie]

In 1984, I saw Prototype Design of Tejas at HAL......

Still it s under Development. But am Happy this has lead to massive learnings in Aeronautics and Infrastructure being Built in Nation. No wonder we could churn projects like IJT, Dhruv, UAVs etc..