Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will supply two Civil Do-228 aircraft to Alliance Air Aviation for regional operations in Arunachal Pradesh under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS).
The lease deal marks the maiden commercial foray for HAL’s modernised Civil Do-228, and the airframer remains keen to market the type for regional air services. The 19-seat aircraft is touted by HAL as being well suited for operations in the hilly North-East where its Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) capability allows it to operate from semi-prepared runways.
HAL’s Transport Aircraft Division, Kanpur, has already manufactured two aircraft and successfully carried out the Ground Run and Low-Speed Taxi Trials of one of the aircraft (VT-KNR) in August and has obtained Type Certification from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
HAL has upgraded the aircraft with a glass cockpit, TPE 331-10 engine with a five-bladed composite propellor and a digital autopilot.