Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's (HAL) Bengaluru complex and its Transport Aircraft Division (TAD) in Kanpur have completed the ground run and Low Speed Taxi Trials (LSTT) for the Hindustan-228 civil aircraft.
The Hindustan-228 prototype aircraft (VT-KNR) will now complete a series of trials before obtaining Type Certification from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), enabling commercial flights in India. HAL is seeking to offer the Hindustan-228 support Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) for interested customers seeking to operate the type on intra and inter-state sectors.
Hindustan-228 is offered in various configurations, such as commuter with 19 seats or 17 seats with a toilet; VIP/Executive with up to 11 seats, worktables, a galley and toilet and air ambulance with two stretchers with portable oxygen and additional seats for paramedical staff. The empty aircraft weighs around 3.8 tonne and has a Max Take-Off Weight (MTOW) of 6.2 tonne, including 610 kg of fuel.
Sajal Prakash, CEO, HAL's Accessories Complex, said, 'This is a major milestone for the first fixed-wing Made-in-India civil aircraft in India and a step towards strengthening regional air connectivity.'
Since the mid-eighties, HAL's Transport Aircraft Division, Kanpur, has been manufacturing the Do-228 under license from the now defunct German aviation firm Dornier. The Do-228 is used by the Indian armed and paramilitary forces, and its commercial variant has been renamed as Hindustan-228. The aircraft is powered by a Honeywell TPE331-10 turboprop engine fitted with an upgraded five-bladed composite propeller.