HAL arm delivers ALH structures'1st batch

State-owned aviation major, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's helicopter division here on Thursday received the first batch of Advanced Light Helicopter (Dhruv)'s structures and sub-assemblies manufactured by HAL subsidiary Naini Aerospace Limited (NAeL), Prayagraj.

The 'Certificate of Conformity' of sub-assemblies and bottom structure assembly was formally handed over at a function in Naini. HAL chairman and managing director R Madhavan had recently launched the state-of-the-art structural assembly shop for the production of helicopter structures.

V M Chamola, director (HR) HAL and Chairman (NAeL), said with the handing over of the helicopter structures, NAeL has now developed capabilities in the field of aero-structures, apart from aircraft loom manufacturing. Currently, NAeL is executing the HAL order for five sets of ALH (Dhruv) structural assemblies.

The Naini unit of sick Hindustan Cables Limited was closed for nearly 15 years before being taken over by NaeL on February 1, 2017. The ageing manpower of HCL was absorbed in the company and was provided extensive training for acquiring necessary skills in the aerospace sector.

The repair, renovation and infrastructure for aero-structures and aircraft loom manufacturing was created in one year. Factory licence, statutory taxation, labour and EPFO registrations required for production and business operations came later.

The company commenced production of wire harnesses of helicopter and aircraft in July 2017 within a time frame of five months. The company had earlier made its maiden delivery of aircraft looms to HAL on March 27, 2018. It has so far manufactured over 600 aircraft looms for ALH Dhruv and LCA Tejas aircraft.