In News
- Recently, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) approved a new variant of the Hindustan 228-201 LW Aircraft.
About
- Features: This variant of the Hindustan 228-201 LW aircraft has a maximum take-off weight of 5,695 kg with 19 passengers.
- Developed by: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
- HAL is building civil aircrafts to promote the UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) Scheme.
- HAL is a public-sector aircraft manufacturing company. It has also made the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Significance
- Operational Benefits: This variant provides several operational benefits for operators, such as
- reduced pilot qualification requirements enabling pilots with Commercial Pilot Licence to fly the aircraft,
- enhanced availability of pilot pool for the aircraft
- reduced operational cost
- reduced training requirements for flying and ground crew, including aircraft maintenance engineers.
- It will promote the UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) Scheme.
- UDAN scheme
- Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) was launched as a regional connectivity scheme under the Ministry of Civil Aviation in 2016.
- It is an innovative scheme to develop the regional Aviation market.
- The central government aims to set up 1,000 new air routes and establish 100 new airports, under the UDAN scheme.
Source: TH
