HAL to foray into civil aviation, aero-engine making biz

Bangalore, Feb 7 (PTI) Hindustan Aeronautics Limited would foray into the civil aviation sector and aero-engine making business where it sees huge opportunities, besides designing, developing and manufacturing of unmanned aerial vehicles, its Chairman R K Tyagi said today. He said the Director General of Civil Aviation had yesterday handed over civil certification to HAL Ozar airport, Nashik, which means it has been declared as an "alternate" airport to Mumbai. Ahmedabad airport was the case till now. With this, he noted, flights coming to Mumbai, both domestic and international, can carry that much less fuel and more load, saving a lot of money, adding, with Mumbai airport getting congested, HAL is also eyeing the cargo business. Addressing a press meet at Aero India 2013 here, Tyagi said, "Concerned authorities" have told HAL to take the role of a lead partner in the proposed Rs 7,500 crore national civil aircraft programme to develop a regional transport aircraft. Officials said the goal is to build a 90-seater regional aircraft with private participation under a joint venture model. He also announced that HAL would design and develop a 20 kN aero-engine. "It will be a great emerging market to come because in a few years aero-engine market in India is expected to the tune of Rs 2,50,000 crore". HAL's Director (Design & Development) T Suvarna Raju said Bangalore-headquartered defence PSU has the expertise of manufacturing engines under licence agreements and knows the technology involved. "HAL is venturing into creating a mig-segment engine which will be used either on trainers what we have or regional jets (aircraft) we are looking at", he said.(MORE) PTI RS BN DV