Article Posted on : - Feb 10, 2011

BANGALORE (PTI): National Aerospace Laboratory has received approval from Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for the manufacture of "improved" civil transport aircraft SARAS.

"DGCA has given its approval for the conversion of SARAS PT1 to PT2 standards with higher power engine and with some improvements in the flight control and flap operation systems under which NAL can commence assembly and manufacture of the aircraft," NAL Director A R Upadhya said.

“Indian Air Force had already specified its need for 15 aircraft which would be manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and an MoU to this effect is already before the HAL board and we expect it to be cleared tomorrow,” he said.

The required components for this conversion activity are ready and will be implemented as soon as NAL receives the Production Organisation Approval under the new CAR (Civil Aviation Regulations)-21 regulations.

The SARAS Production Standard Aircraft (PSA) is currently under production at NAL. Most of the components required have been fabricated and this aircraft is expected to fly by last quarter of 2011, Upadhya said.

NAL has approached CSIR for additional funding for manufacture of PSA2.

The CSIR approval process is in "an advanced stage" and this aircraft is expected to fly by 2012, he said, adding the SARAS aircraft is expected to be certified by mid 2013, initially under FAR-23 regulations.