Hansa-3 NG Aircraft and Technology Transfer Agreement
The Hansa-3 NG aircraft, a two-seater plane, is the latest version of the HANSA planes developed by the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) since 1998. Historically, 14 Hansa planes have been produced and utilized by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Indian Institutes of Technology.
Technology Transfer Agreement
- The NAL, a body under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), has entered into a technology transfer agreement with a private company for domestic manufacturing of trainer airplanes.
- This initiative marks the first instance of aircraft manufacturing in India based on indigenously designed and developed technology.
Partnership with Pioneer Clean AMPS Pvt Limited
- Pioneer Clean AMPS Pvt Limited, a newly set up company for aircraft manufacturing, will establish production facilities and manage marketing, servicing, and after-sales.
- CSIR-NAL will collaborate closely with Pioneer Clean AMPS in the initial years to support manufacturing and operations.
Benefits and Cost Efficiency
- The aviation sector's growth is driving demand for trained pilots, making locally manufactured aircraft trainers potentially more cost-effective and valuable, particularly in terms of maintenance turnaround times compared to foreign planes.
- Over the aircraft’s lifecycle, Hansa planes are projected to cost around ₹3 crore, nearly half the price of comparable imported planes.
India's Aviation Market and Future Prospects
- India is the third-largest domestic aviation market, with needs doubling in the last decade, necessitating at least 750 trainer aircraft.
- The Hansa-3 NG offers advancements like a composite lightweight airframe, glass cockpit, panoramic view canopy, and electrically operated flaps.
Manufacturing Capabilities and Goals
- The entire airframe of the Hansa-3 NG can be manufactured in India, with future aspirations to produce engines and avionics instrumentation domestically.
