India's HAL Seeks Partners for New Regional Aircraft
By Neelam Mathews , March 15, 2016 India’s HAL builds Do 228s under license by Germany’s Ruag, mainly for the Indian military. It also recently finished the first of four Do 228 subassemblies for which Ruag issued an export order some four months ago. (Photo: HAL) India's Hindustan Aeronautics ( HAL ) has assumed the mantle of responsibility for designing a regional transport aircraft ( RTA ) after nine years of failed attempts by Bangalore-based National Aerospace Laboratory ( NAL ). HAL has released a request for information ( RFI ) for collaboration with another airframer to build a 50- to 80-seat “medium-sized twin turbofan/turboprop” in India. The RFI calls for responses by April 11. Plans call for the first prototype to take off in five years. The project would cost approximately $1 billion for three prototypes and certification. “We are looking to the government for support and have submitted a proposal,” said HAL chairm...