Foreign companies looking to HAL for composite components

Bangalore, Jan 19 (UNI) Carving a niche in composite aviation components and systems, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is in demand from global aerospace players for sourcing their components.

The Aircraft Research and Design Centre (ARDC) of HAL has become a hub of activity not only because of the huge demand posed by foreign buyers, but also enhanced production of Advanced Light Helicopter (Dhruv) which had over 1,500 components made out of composites.

ARDC General Manager A Mohan told visiting mediapersons at the Complex that over the next three years, composites worth ten million US Dollars would be exported and foreign exchange revenue would double subsequently.

The labour intensive technology and the high quality of products had attracted Airbus, Boeing, engine maker Pratt and Whitney, Eurocopter, Bell Helicopters and Skylark. Firm orders for tail rotor blades from Bell Helicopters, nine types of cowlings from Eurocopter and airframe structures for Skylark have been received, he said, adding that orders in the pipeline included 14 families of composite parts for two engines from Pratt and Whitney, supply of 42 sets of lead edge wing fairings for the F-18 programme from Boeing and supply of wing fairings for A320 family from Airbus. Requirement for Boeing 787 was also expected.

Mr Mohan said the maturity of composite structural technology, confidence gained over the years and heavy demand on performance and fuel efficiency had led to quantum jump in utilisation of composite materials in aircraft structures. Extensive use of composite material in the Light Combat Aircraft-Tejas, about 45 per cent in structural weight and 90 per cent surface, had resulted in net weight saving of 485 kg. The saving in case of Dhruv was around 130 kg.

Composite materials were expected to penetrate to a larger extent in HAL's future projects, including the multi-role transport aircraft, fifth generation fighter and light attack helicopter.

UNI