The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has handed over the first ship-set to RUAG, Germany, at a function held at its Transport Aircraft Division (TAD) at Kanpur recently, as part of export orders for structural assemblies of Do-228-212 NG (New Generation).

“We have manufactured and supplied the ship-set in a record time, ahead of schedule commitment”, says T. Suvarna Raju, Chairman and Managing Director of HAL. This is the first of the four ship-sets for which HAL had received the export order only about four months ago.

RUAG is a Swiss technology company with its headquarters in Bern and it is OEM of Dornier-228-NG aircraft. HAL has manufactured these ship-sets at its Transport Aircraft Division in Kanpur and exported them to the OEM.

Volker Wallrodt, Managing Director of RUAG and his team of senior officials were present at the handing-over programme. Both Raju and Wallrodt felt that the business alliance has been rewarding for both the companies in terms of technological advancement and costs. They stressed on strengthening the ties with continued mutual support and cooperation by exploring more avenues and business opportunities in larger interests of both the companies.

HAL’s Kanpur division has produced more than 120 aircraft for the IAF, Navy, Coast Guard and to other export customers in Mauritius and Seychelles. The company has plans to upgrade these aircraft. HAL Board has sanctioned for manufacture of two civil Dornier aircraft. HAL intends to operate from its own airport at Nasik.

HAL Kanpur has received the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s approval for manufacture of Dornier Do-228 aircraft in civil role in accordance with India’s Civil Aviation Requirement. HAL has achieved an important milestone by becoming a production organisation for Dornier Do-228.