India’s light transport aircraft Saras completes second test-flight

India's indigenous light transport aircraft `Saras' has been successfully flight-tested for a second time today, thus completing the second of 20 test-flights planned before finalising the production version.

The flight commanded by Wing Commander UP Singh, Group Captain RV Panicker and Group Captain KP Bhat of Indian Air Force- Aircraft and System Testing Establishment, took off from HAL's airport in Bengaluru for a textbook flight, says a science and technology ministry release.

Saras PT1N was first successfully test-flown on 24 January, this year. The aircraft has been designed and developed by CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL).

According to NAL, the production model design is expected to be ready by June-July this year.

Congratulating the CSIR-NAL scientists and the commanders of Indian Air Force,  science and technology minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said the flight commanders deserve special appreciation for their courage to fly an aircraft, which was rejected earlier.

The minister also announced commendation award for the commandant and the test crew of ASTE.

''The project was dumped by the previous government, after an accident during test flight in 2009. Though the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had exonerated the aircraft from any design flaw or poor-quality production, no effort was made to revive the project,'' said Dr Harsh Vardhan, who was present during the second test flight today. ''The credit for reviving the indigenous project goes to the present government headed by Narendra Modiji, who had given a thrust to 'Make in India' mission. It is the culmination of joint team efforts of ASTE, DGAQA, CEMILAC and HAL'', the minister said.

After the project was revived by the present government, NAL has incorporated design modifications and improvements on the Saras PT 1 model, like 2x1200 HP engines and 104-inch diameter propeller assembles to cater to second segment climb gradient requirements, improved flight control system, rudder area, main wheel and brakes to cater to 7100 kg AUV, indigenously developed stall warning system, etc.

Dr Vardhan said, CSIR-NAL proposes to get the Saras-Mk 2 version certified initially for military and subsequently for civil version. He said, Saras will be 20-25 per cent cheaper than any imported aircraft in the same category. The improved version will be a 19-seater aircraft instead of 14-seater.

''The unit cost of the aircraft, with more than 70 per cent indigenous content, will be around Rs40-45 crore as against Rs60-70 crore for imported ones and has far more benefits than what the imported aircraft offer,'' said Dr Harsh Vardhan.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, HAL has been identified as the production agency for the military version of SARAS, while the production of civil version will be given to identified private industries. India needs 120-160 aircraft in this genre – both civil and military versions – in the next 10 years.

''SARAS Mk 2 will be ideal for commuter connectivity under government of India's UDAAN scheme for variety of applications like air taxi, aerial search/survey, executive transport, disaster management, border patrol, coast guard, ambulance and other community services,'' said Dr Vardhan. ''Its successful development will be one of the game changers in the history of civil aviation in India,'' he added.

The aircrafts currently available in the international market are of 1970's technology, such as Beechcraft 19000D. Dornier-228, Embraer EMB 110.

They have higher fuel consumption, lower speeds, unpressurised cabin, high operating cost and unsuitable for operations from hot and high-altitude airfields. After India began its light transport aircraft project, countries like Russia, China, USA, Indonesia and Poland have launched new programmes for development of next generation 19-seater aircraft.

On the other hand, the upgraded Saras Mk2 version has considerable drag / weight reduction with unique features like high cruise speed, lower fuel consumption, short landing and take-off distance, low cabin noise, operable from high and hot airfield, with pressurised cabin, operable from semi prepared airfield and low acquisition and maintenance cost.

Director General of CSIR Dr Girish Sahni said the cost of development and certification of Saras Mk2 will be around Rs600 crore with a time period of about 2 to 3 years.

''IAF is committed to test and thereafter induct the first indigenously designed and manufactured Light Transport Aircraft. IAF is fully supporting this programme and the design and configuration of the new version of Saras would be frozen soon,'' said Air Vice Marshal Sandeep Singh.

Earlier, Dr Harsh Vardhan inaugurated the Airport Instrumentation Facility and visited an exhibition organized on the Fast Track Translational Projects of CSIR-NAL. He further dedicated this unique facility where flight control and avionics integration of civil aircrafts can be carried out at single point and also visited the Wind Solar Hybrid System of CSIR-NAL.