HAL preparing road map for development of 70-100 seater Indian Regional Jet
05 Sep 2008
India's state-owned aerospace and defence manufacturing giant, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), is now working out the modalities of producing the country's first indigenously developed civilian passenger aircraft, the Indian Regional Jet (IRJ). Senior officials of the organisation have described it as their "dream project."
According to officials, a final road map for the implementation of the project is being prepared to enable quick commencement of work. If successful, the project would not only come as a major boon for the country's civil aviation sector but also catapult Bangalore-based HAL into the same league as other global aerospace manufacturers.
Officials said that the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) will also play an active role in the ambitious project.
HAL is set to develop a new 70-100 seater civil aircraft, the IRJ, which it says will be a purely indigenous product. (Government go-ahead for 70-140 seater Indian Regional Jet )
It has also said that it may seek cooperation from Canada's Bombardier or Brazil's Embraer in certain areas.
According to officials, HAL may also involve renowned design houses from abroad to design the aircraft.