Hal Lobbying For Pawan Hans Order

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has started lobbying with civil aviation minister Ananth Kumar to secure a 25-machine order from Pawan Hans for the civil variant of its advanced light helicopter (ALH).

While HAL has firm orders from the Services and the coast guard for over 100 machines worth Rs 1,500 crore, no civil user has so far shown interest in the first fully indigenous chopper which can seat 15 persons.

The chopper is likely to be priced between Rs 13 crore to Rs 15 crore a piece, about 25 per cent below the prevailing international price for a comparable machine.

 

Official sources said HAL had made a presentation to Kumar in Bangalore during mid-April to get the public sector helicopter services operator, Pawan Hans, to place an order for its machines.

HAL is due to soon begin production of eight machines -- two each for the army, air force, navy and the coast guard -- so that actual users get to test the machines in their own environment. Their feedback will be incorporated while setting up the full-scale production run.

If it secures the Pawan Hans order, then it will complete the multi-user philosophy of the ALH -- one machine for defence and civilian users.

Pawan Hans operates helicopters for the Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC), leases out machines to public and private users and makes brisk business during elections. It wants to refurbish its fleet by atleast 10 new machines and ALH could suit its ONGC requirements and VIP transport jobs.

Interestingly, the ALH is yet to receive design-freeze certificate from the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (Cemilac) for the three defence versions in spite of four years of intensive testing.

HAL is, however, confident of receiving the certification as all tests held, with active involvement of the users, have been declared successful.

Early this year HAL successfully completed sea trials of the naval version of the chopper. Before that the army variant was flown in the high altitude region of Ladakh and performed well in spite of the very low air pressure.

Before HAL can sell its civil variant to Pawan Hans, it will have to seek certification from the Director General of Civil Aviation.

Sources said the chopper equipped with two engine variants -- French made Turbomeca TM-335 for the army and the air force version and Allied Signal T-800 engine for the naval and coast guard versions -- will be flying with the respective users within the next six months.

A third engine, the powerful MTR-390 made by Daimler-Benz Aerospace, will be considered if demand arises.

Banking upon its Indian defence orders which exceed 100 machines, HAL wants to enter the export market as well and has made presentations to defence and civil aviation officials in the south-east Asian countries.

The ALH has already been noticed by air forces around the world and HAL was invited to participate in a tender for supplying attack helicopters to the Australian air force.

However, the company could not participate as it could not commit to a production schedule.