Civil Aviation Minister Naidu Sets Special Purpose Vehicle For Transport Aircraft Manufacturing

The centre is gearing up to set a special purpose vehicle to make a regional transport aircraft, according to a statement from Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu on Monday.

The minister spoke about steps taken by the government to push for aircraft component manufacturing and maintenance, repair and overhaul activities while replying to questions in the Rajya Sabha.

He said that India is one of the world's fastest-growing civil aviation markets and domestic carriers have placed orders for more than 1,500 planes in order to expand their fleets and accommodate increasing air traffic demand.

'We have changed the thought process that we have when it comes to the 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," Naidu said.

The aviation minister added that the centre has taken a holistic approach to aircraft manufacturing and is currently in the process of setting a special purpose vehicle for manufacturing regional transport aircraft.

"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...," he said.

Naidu also said that their focus is on creating an ecosystem for manufacturing aircraft components, that there are 38 functioning flying training organisations.

In a written reply, Naidu said the development of the indigenous 19-seater Light Transport Aircraft Saras Mk2 is under progress at CSIR-NAL.

"The Saras Mk2 initiative has a collaboration and partnership with HAL. The aircraft has significant indigenous components and technologies like advanced composite wing, composite and light weight material airframe, avionics, display and communication system," he added.

Further, the minister said the production and manufacturing activities of aircraft with its indigenous content envisaged to promote indigenous civil aircraft component manufacturing in the country.

(With Inputs From PTI)