JOIN USDelivering the key-note address at the one day seminar of “Aerofest-2009” organised by Manipal Institute of Technology here on Friday, he informed that NAL has 37 laboratories in the country besides exhibiting 1200 employ strength.
Eccentric activities of aircraft designing programme is the prime initiative. NAL also offers technological solutions to the national space programmes and defence besides contributing to the development of national space programmes. In 1990s the NAL urged to get into the civil aircraft design and development works. It has collaborative pact with all the aerospace organisations in the country besides international bodies. A 25 year collaborative programme with DLR in Germany, a 12 year pact with Chinese aircraft institution and a mutual deal with CRIAQ of Canada, are some of the achievements in the international arena, he said.
Stating that core competence has enabled NAL to contribute in a holistic manner, Upadhyaya said that the NAL has successfully produced fourth generation aircraft like Tejas and LCA besides lending aeronautical support to the space programmes of ISRO. The innovative developments of NAL include manufacturing of fibres and prepregs of strategic importance, national test facility for rolling element bearings, softwares for flight quality assurance and incident and accident analysis for airlines, ‘Verity’, the low cost vacuum enhanced resin infusion technology and nano surface coated mirrors for passive cooling of IR sensors in satellites. NAL pioneered advanced composite technology in the late 1970s on par with the developed countries. Currently NAL has a tie up with Tata Advance Materials Ltd for LCA production. It has successfully produced 50 horse power rotary engine that has been tested in ‘Nishanth’ an unmanned vehicle. Plans are on to produce 100 horse power rotary engine, he informed.
Future plans
Later, speaking to Deccan Herald, Upadhyaya informed that NAL has proposed for the development of regional transport aircraft of 70-90 seater with turboprop fan engines under 11 FYP to promote regional air transportation. The stress is laid on fuel efficiency and cost besides being competent to counter the international competition. We need to have efficient aircraft engine. We have been working on it so that the aircrafts is operational on any ground fields. CSIR is proposed to take up the initiative with joint ventures of public private partnership. Even international partnerships are preferred. There are demands for about 7000 RTAs all over the world and in India it may cross 250 aircrafts, he said.
IAF has sent a demand for 15 Saras aircraft for immediate delivery. HAL has come forward to manufacture and a joint proposal has been submitted. The deal is kept pending with one of Saras aircrafts hitting the ground in the month of March. The accident analysis report is awaited. NAL is working on 5 seater general aviation aircraft with Mahindra Aerospace Limited. Critical design review is completed and the aircraft will be ready by the end of next year. Plans are on to work out for 15 seater aircraft with HAL and RTA will be given major thrust by NAL, he said.
MIT Director Brig Somanath Mishra, NAL Chairman M R Nayak, MIT Joint Director Dr R S Aithal, Student Welfare Assistant Director Dr A M Chincholkar and others were present.