Global engine makers have evinced keen interest to take part in India’s proposed Rs 7,555 crore national civil aircraft development (NCAD) programme, expected to give a major boost to civil aviation industry.
Bangalore-based National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), under the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), has already completed a feasibility study on the design and development of a national civil aircraft for regional connectivity under the guidance of a High Powered Committee (HPC).
“Many of the engine manufacturers came and talked to us. They have made presentations about their products”, Chairman of the HPC, G Madhavan Nair, told PTI.
“We had detailed discussions with engine manufacturers”, he said. Based on detailed market studies, configuration definition of a baseline 90 seat, twin turbofan engine powered aircraft has been completed under the oversight of the HPC, which submitted the feasibility study report to Government in May this year.
Nair, a former Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), expects formal Cabinet approval for the project in two-three months and said he does not anticipate any problem in its clearance as the programme has been welcomed by all government quarters. According to officials, the aircraft would help connect tier-II and tier-III cities with major metros, thereby boosting inclusive economic growth.
The feasibility study concluded that there is a market potential for a 70-to-100 seat regional transport aircraft. The baseline design is a 90-seat twin turbofan engine powered aircraft. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 7,555 crore (design and development phase amounting to Rs 4,355 crore, and series production phase totalling Rs 3,200 crore).
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The development phase is expected to be completed in six years with certification of the aircraft. The series production would run concurrently commencing at three years after launch with the delivery of first batch of five aircraft in seven years after the launch.
Nair said the project team, which is currently 80-member strong, is going ahead with detailed engineering and design of the aircraft so that the programme can be started when the formal approval is in place.
“What we have finalised (now) is an overall configuration. Now, each of the subsystems we have to go into the detail and how to put it together...What the interfaces...These things have to be done. We are going ahead with work on that,” he said.