Considering the recent development, many can see how the Indian government is taking significant steps towards establishing itself as a self-reliant player in the global aviation industry.
India Planning On Production Of Home Grown Aircraft
The Indian government is in the process of setting up a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) aimed at manufacturing regional transport aircraft, said Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu on Monday.
Moving ahead, Naidu assured that India is ready to embark on manufacturing its own aircraft, alongside designing and maintaining them, during a session in the Rajya Sabha.
To make it possible, the necessary policies are already in place to make this vision a reality, Naidu highlighted.
He further added, “We have changed the thought process that we have when it comes to manufacturing of aircraft. We are saying that India is at the stage right now where we can manufacture, we can design and we can maintain an aircraft.”
Government Enhancing The Ecosystem
When it comes to India, its aviation market is one of the fastest-growing in the world presently.
Besides this, the country’s domestic airlines have already placed orders for over 1,500 aircraft considering the surging demand for air travel.
From the government side, they are now focused on building a local manufacturing ecosystem that can support this growth.
In its approach, the government is comprehensive, having an emphasis on collaboration across multiple stakeholders, including state governments.
Further, Naidu detailed plans for a five-year timeline for the creation of SPV completely focusing on the manufacturing of regional transport aircraft.
Moreover, he explained, “We have a plan to create an SPV for five years, which is going to bring in all the necessary stakeholders… study the existing picture in the country and create a road map.”
With this initiative, they aim to commence the production within this five-year period further aligning with the government’s broader “Make in India” initiative.
Naidu also stressed the importance of developing skills within the workforce to meet the demands of this growing industry.
Coming to India, the country already has 58 Flying Training Organisations (FTOs) working to prepare future aviation professionals, he pointed out.
Now, the centre is looking to enhance this ecosystem as this would ensure that all aspects of aircraft manufacturing, including components and MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) activities, are well-supported.
During the session, Naidu provided an update on the progress of the Saras Mk2, a 19-seater Light Transport Aircraft under development by CSIR-NAL, in partnership with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
This is part of the effort to promote indigenous aviation technologies.
When it comes to the development of such aircraft, it is not only a step forward for India’s aerospace industry but also a part of a larger strategy to bolster domestic civil aircraft component manufacturing.
