'Process for certification of Tejas on right track'

Bangalore, Feb 8: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited today said that it had taken over project management of the multirole Light Combat Aircraft Tejas and the process for getting the aircraft for certification in 2008 was on right track.

Informing this at a press conference at 'Aero India 2007' at the Yelahanka IAF air base, HAL Chairman Ashok K Baweja said the first of the eight limited series production will fly this month and four more would roll out this year. Admitting that there was a slippage in the development of LCA, he said more number of aircraft would be put on flying mode to hasten the certification process.

Already five LCAs were flying and they have logged over 300 hrs of flight.

He said development of such aircraft was a complex one and some countries had abandoned such projects. However India was committed to having its own LCA and the process was on. ''If not in 2008, the certification would come through in 2009'', he added.

Commenting on HAL's future programs, he said that the company would shortly sign up with the Ilushyn Design Bureau and Irkut Aircraft Corporation of Russia for 60 tonne multirole transport aircraft with an investment of around 600 million US dollars.

Similarly HAL was also conceptualising the fifth generation fighter aircraft to be taken up at a five billion dollar budget.

Mr Baweja said that this would not affect the fifth generation fighter which would fly in 2018-19. He said the Light Combat Helicopter, whose mock up was displayed at the Aero India by the company would be flying by the next Air Show. It was expected to take to the skies for the first time by September/October next year.

On existing programmes, he said that the Sukhoi MKI 30 programme was being hastened and HAL would complete the licensed production by 2014-15.

He said HAL had also signed up with Canadian Pratt and Whitney for making aeroengine components worth 500 million US dollars.

Replying to another question, he said that the tail rotor problem of Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter had been addressed and the Company was progressing well in its production schedule. The requirement of the Country was more than 200 choppers and the company was simultaneously addressing the export market for the aircraft.

On the brain drain from the company, Mr Baweja said that the inflow of a number of aerospace majors who see big prospect in India have come in large number and have taken some of its staff. However HAL was addressing the problem effectively by inducting more people and also through various other initiatives.

UNI

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