Aerospace Diary

AIN NEWS LIVE FROM AEROINDIA  »  2013 by    NEELAM MATHEWS February 5, 2013, 7:27 AM India’s bid to design and develop its own indigenous civil aircraft is once again under discussion. According to government sources, a new policy decision is expected on the civil aircraft program by February 12. “We would like the model to be a public private partnership [ PPP ] under a special purpose vehicle. We are also looking for a foreign partner,” an official with the country’s National Aerospace Laboratories told   AIN . When queried whether Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd ( HAL ) could handle another program when it is already weighed down by 12 projects he said, “Not all units of HAL  are occupied.” Meanwhile,  NAL ’s twin-turboprop Saras, the first Indian multi-purpose civil aircraft in the light transport aircraft category, is finally set to fly in the next two months. The certification basis for the n...

EXCLUSIVE Filed at- 12:30pm IST April 8, 2011 Neelam Mathews Bangalore-based SATTVA Aero Accessories and Systems is entering into indigenous design, development and production of electrical motors, electrical generators, hydraulic systems and actuators for the aerospace industry. Set up three former HAL executives , AASPL has delivered certified Main and Nose Landing Gear Actuators for the Light Transport Aircraft SARAS, FFF electrical generators of 5 kW and 20 kW for military aviation, 12 kW starter motor for civil aviation and Electro Mechanical Linear Actuator (EMLA) for surface actuation system designed and developed by the company. “Our USP is development of line-replaceable units for the aerospace industry in India..We can also overhaul and maintain them,” says founder S.K.B Parekh who headed Quality, Design and Independent Business Unit of HAL Aircraft Accessories. LRUs improve maintenance operations, because they can be stocked and replaced quickly from on-site inventor...

Safety Aviation Daily Apr 26 , 2010 , p. 17 Neelam Mathews Findings released by the Indian Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) following the crash 13 months ago of a National Aerospace Laboratories-designed (NAL),14-seat light transport aircraft have revealed several safety lapses. The report found that “there is no meaningful and effective supervision and control on the Saras project by DGCA.” The findings make it increasingly clear that the design and development of the Saras, intended for domestic use by commercial passenger and cargo operators, will be delayed. The crash killed three Indian air force pilots.The aircraft was powered by two turboprop engines from Pratt & Whitney. While there was no evidence of any defect or malfunction in the aircraft due to maintenance procedures, there were general controllability issues in the accident. The report says an incorrect engine relight procedure devised by the designer, and adopted by the crew at insufficient altitud...