Context:

• On August 15, the public sector aircraft manufacturing company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) carried out a successful ground run and low speed taxi trials of a commercial aircraft – Hindustan-228 – for ‘Type Certification’ by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

About Hindustan-228:

• The 19-seater Hindustan-228 or the Do-228 is the first major attempt in India to develop a small civil transport aircraft after the 14-seater Saras aircraft development program at the National Aeronautics Laboratory was shelved in 2009 on account of multiple problems in its development.
• The type certification by the DGCA will enable HAL to get an international certification for the aircraft.

Why is HAL building a civil aircraft?

• Small civilian aircrafts are considered to be an essential element of the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) scheme that the central government is attempting to put in place for regional connectivity.
• Hindustan-228 can be utilized by civil operators and state governments for intra and inter-state connectivity with training, maintenance and logistics support from HAL.
• The Hindustan-228 aircraft is built on the existing frame of the German Dornier 228 defence transport aircraft used by the defence forces.
• HAL Do-228-201(Upgraded) civil aircraft is equipped with a digital cockpit which will ensure more accurate readings, precise information and ergonomic data displays with feedback loops and capability for self-check to alert pilots in emergencies.

What are the roles envisaged for the civilian Hindustan 228 aircraft?

• The Hindustan-228 is conceived to be a multirole utility aircraft capable of being used for VIP transport, passenger transport, air ambulance, flight inspection roles, cloud seeding, recreational activities like para jumping, aerial surveillance, photography, remote sensing and cargo transport.
• With a maximum cruise speed of 428 kmph and a range of 700 kmph the aircraft is capable of night flying.
• HAL is looking forward to exporting the aircraft as well to countries like Nepal.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/why-defence-aircraft-manufacturer-hal-is-building-a-civilian-aircraft-for-use-in-india-7463170/

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