NAL set to make Saras at HAL, Kanpur

Project may resume after DGCA-appointed committee submits report on recent crash.

Though the inquiry commission appointed by the director general of civil aviation (DGCA) is yet to give its report on the Saras crash that happened earlier this year, National Aerospace Laboratory (NAL) spearheading the project is understood to have identified HAL Kanpur as its production partner for the 14-seater aircraft.

Sources close to the development said that NAL has decided to produce the aircraft from HAL-Kanpur based on the expertise of the centre in manufacturing similar aircraft in the past. “The production of the aircraft is expected to happen at HAL-Kanpur which has expertise in manufacturing Dornier (Do) 228, a similar aircraft which is presently used by the Indian Air Force for a variety of roles,” sources told Business Standard.

The sources added that though the project is on a standstill pending DGCA report on the Saras flight that crashed in March this year, NAL is expecting a clearance from the government next month. “We expect a technology transfer from NAL to HAL Kanpur for the commercial production of the aircraft soon,” the sources added.

NAL officials had earlier announced that they are expecting the Indian Air Force (IAF) as their launch customer. Unofficial sources say that the IAF is planning to place an order for as many as 15 Saras aircraft. The IAF is looking for an aircraft that will supplement or even replace its 23-strong Dornier (Do) 228 fleet used for a variety of roles, including transporting men and material and para dropping.

Named after the Indian crane, Saras is a multi-role aircraft ideal for executive transport, light package carrier, remote sensing and aerial research service, Coast Guard, border patrolling, air ambulance and other community services. Capable of carrying a weight on 1,200 kgs which can be extended upto 1,500 kg, the Saras aircraft is equipped with two rear-mounted turbo-prop Pratt and Whitney engines.

The government has so far spent about Rs 200 crore on the project which was launched as early as 1991. From the very beginning, the Saras project had been plagued by its excess weight problem. When the first prototype (PT1) of Saras made its maiden flight in May 2004, the prototype was overweight by about 900 kg, which was feared to affect the fuel economy and carrying capacity of the aircraft. This continued during the test flight of the second prototype (PT2) in 2008.

Trouble started in March this year when the second prototype (PT2) of the 14-seater aircraft crashed, killing all three test pilots on board. The project has been on the ice since then though the government has reposed faith in the project. In a recent visit to NAL Bangalore campus a few days ago, Minister of State for Science and Technology Prithviraj Chavan promised NAL officials that the Saras project won’t be scrapped.