NEWS
India is working on developing its own 90-seater aircraft with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) stating, “The strategy for its production has already been evolved” with the design “planned to have unique features like enhanced fuel efficiency, use of biofuel with low carbon footprint, short- to long-range haul, shorter airstrip requirements and ultra modern avionics”. A design bureau has been set up to undertake design and development of the plane, called the National Civil Aircraft (NCA-90). A total of seven prototypes are proposed to be developed to prove the design and demonstrate compliance with respect to airworthiness requirements and certification.

VIEWS
From the news, it is evident that the CSIR is embarked upon an idea to produce India’s own home-made aircraft for its regional aviation market. Earlier reports had suggested the aircraft to be a 70-seater called, ‘Regional Transport Aircraft’ (RTA-70). The task of design and development has been entrusted to the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) at Bangalore, one of the 41 CSIR-controlled institutions located in different parts of the country. Confirming the news, Planning Commission said the aircraft will be tailored to suit market requirements.

It is not the first time that NAL indulged in the design and development of a civil transport aircraft. Saras, a 14-seater aircraft, had been under development for more than a decade by NAL; but the programme went into disarray when on March 6, 2009, two IAF test pilots along with a flight test engineer were killed when the second prototype crashed near Bangalore. It is quite apparent therefore that NAL on its own does not have the requisite expertise to try and develop an aircraft of the size envisaged. Sensing this, CSIR has rightly decided to follow a publicprivate partnership (PPP) route to ensure success of the venture. It has created two separate committees—one for a joint development that is looking for a corporate group or groups who will participate in jointly developing the aircraft from scratch followed by its commercial production—and the second for overseeing the entire project of developing the aircraft.

Besides NAL, the other public sector undertakings (PSUs) participating in the project are the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA). Names being thrown up from the private sector include HCL, Quest, Infosys, Mahindra, L&T and Tata Group. NAL was also reportedly in discussions with global engine manufacturers such as Pratt & Whitney of Canada and General Electric of US and avionics firms like Rockwell Collins and Diehl Aerospace.

However, what is really baffling is the news that NAL would produce seven prototypes with not only different airframe designs but also with different power plants including turboprops and turbofans. While multiple doodling employing computer aided design (CAD) as design tools may be carried out in full, it would indeed be foolhardy to actually produce so many prototypes for final selection. It may also be remembered that India is already engaged in a joint venture with Russia to produce a multi-role, jet-powered, military transport aircraft which would be able to carry 88 to 100 paratroops/passengers or up to 20 tonnes of cargo with a design range suitably configured up to 2,500 km. The aircraft will have inherent characteristics to be used for civil application if required.