Aerospace Diary

Neelam Mathews Nov 5, 2012 Defense Minister A.K Antony has told a consultative committee that included the IAF to complete all pending Court of Inquiry proceedings into air accidents especially for category-I aircraft accident as early as possible. Category-I accidents are those in which the aircraft is destroyed, damaged beyond economical repair, missing or if the cost of repair, excluding damage to aero-engines, exceeds 50% of the total cost.  Antony said an inspection of helicopters detachments was carried as there was “an unusually high number of accidents and incidents on helicopters,”, while operating away from their parent base.  The inspections resulted in highlighting several shortcomings for which “action is being taken on these shortcomings on a priority basis.” Training standards of the younger fighter aircrew, is a focus, said Antony. The basic flying training is being shifted from HPT-32 to Kiran aircraft.  “To make up for the deficiencies of ...

Neelam Mathews Oct 5, 2012 The delay in production of India’s intermediate jet trainer (IJT) by government-owned defense manufacturer, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has the Indian air force worried as these are to  replace the present ageing trainers Kirans Mk II retiring by 2015, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal N.A.K.Browne  said in an exclusive interview. The IJT, a stage-II trainer is used for training before pilots advance to the final BAE Hawk Advanced jet trainers- 123 were ordered under two contracts- and another 20 are in the offing to replace the Kiran acrobatic team being by rookie pilots. India recently ordered 75 Pilatus PC-7 MkII basic trainers as its indigenous obsolescent, single piston-engine HPT-32 basic trainers were grounded. “The loss of 17 aircraft and 19 pilots had resulted in pilots losing confidence in the safety and performance of the aircraft,” a defense official said on condition of anonymity. HPT-32 trainers had a take-off spee...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Aug 28, 2012 Defense Minister replies to questions in Parliament on- TRAINER AIRCRAFT IN IAF The HPT-32 aircraft being used as Basic Trainer Aircraft since 1986 were grounded in July 2009 due to safety reasons. Thereafter, the basic training has been shifted to Kiran Mk 1/1A aircraft earlier utilized for Intermediate training A contract for procurement of 75 Basic Trainer Aircraft was signed with Pilatus Aircraft Ltd, Switzerland on 24 th  May 2012. The procurement of the Basic Trainer Aircraft was processed through a multi-vendor procurement as per DPP-2008 and the Swiss company, Pilatus Aircraft Ltd, emerged as the L1 vendor. The delivery of these 75 aircraft is scheduled from February 2013 to August 2015 TATRA TRUCKS DEAL The matter is under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). It has also registered a regular case, on 30.3.2012, against one of the owners and unknown persons of a UK based company, unknown of...

Aerospace Daily & Defense Report April 20, 2010 PROGRAMS NEW DELHI — Industry hopefuls last week submitted bids to build 75 basic trainer aircraft for the Indian air force, at a cost of roughly $6 million each. Contenders include the Embraer 312 Tocano, PZL 130 Orlik, Grob 120, Hawker Beechcraft, Pilatus PC-7A, Korea’s KT-1 and EADS Socata TB30 — with the last three having the same basic platform and engine. Once a decision is made, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) will float a bid for the design of 104 aircraft. The tender comes with a 30% offsets clause, which one original equipment manufacturer (OEM) says will not be difficult to fulfill in India. However,the ejection seat is a distinct requirement,and those that do not have built-in may be disqualified, a senior official told Aviation Week. “An ejection seat is not easy to fit as it requires structural strengthening,” the official adds. The urgent requirement comes with the grounding of a fleet of more than 100 Hindust...