National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) is India’s largest and high technology oriented aerospace firm which was established by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) on 1st June, 1959. National Aerospace Laboratories focus on advancement to aerospace technologies to coordinate with national aerospace programmes. Initially it was called as National Aeronautical Laboratory but later it was renamed as National Aerospace Laboratories in order to highlight its engagement in National Space Programmes along with multidisciplinary activities and global positioning. With its headquarters being shifted from Delhi to Bangalore in the year 1960, primary objective of NAL is to develop civilian aircrafts in our country.
On 31st March 2021, Wednesday at aircraft hangar located at Belur Campus CSIR-NAL launched its made in India (Swadesi) trainer aircraft named as HANSA-NG which is an upgraded version of HANSA two-seater aircraft. It took around 18 years for HANSA to reach this point as it was certified in the year 2000 by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) under JAR-VLA category though its first flight was in the year. The project was sanctioned by the government towards the end of the year 2018. Then in the year 2020 during September month manufacturing of HANSA-NG aircraft was initiated after obtaining approvals from DGCA. This new generation trainer aircraft was manufactured within the budget of one crore. Hence the cost factor itself has gained demand for the aircraft in the national and international market. Even before the flight tests they have received around 35 letters of intent (LoI) from flying clubs in order to purchase the new aircraft. According to the reports the Director of NAL Jitendra J. Jadhav has mentioned that they have scheduled the upgraded trainer’s flight test trials later this month.
In the Swadesi HANSA-NG trainer aircraft multi – functional displays are installed, runs on Rotax 912 ISC engine which can be controlled digitally, its technologically well equipped with IFR- complaint avionics, its design includes a glass cockpit and a bubble canopy. This aircraft will be used to train commercial pilots along with it now the aircraft is also attracting flying clubs and manufacturers.
As per the sources, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation Amber Dubey stated that, Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA) will pick up first five aircraft as they have signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories being a launch customer of HANSA-NG for pilot training.
