LCH packs a punch with induction at striking distance

By Anantha Krishnan M 

Bengaluru: The Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) is at striking distance from being inducted into the Services. The designers and test crew at the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (LTD) vouch for the chopper’s might with four prototypes having completed the pre-induction trials as mandated by the users – the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Army. 

During a recent visit to the Rotary Wing Research and Design Centre (RWRDC) of HAL, Onmanorama was briefed by the officials about the future flightpath of the combat chopper programme. 

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) had cleared the proposal to induct initial batch of 15 LCHs. Notwithstanding the final orders to formally come, HAL had gone ahead and began the process of manufacturing the limited series production (LSP) platforms. 

Of the 15 LSPs, 10 are for the IAF and the remaining five for the Indian Army. There’s an additional projection of 65 LCHs for the IAF and 97 for the Indian Army. The LSP of LCHs was launched in August 2017 by Arun Jaitley, when he was holding the additional portfolio of Defence. 

Post completion of all trials, HAL officials now say that they are confident of LCH becoming one of the most resourceful and potent chopper for high-altitude missions. The programme has already got the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC). 

The officials said that during firing trials, the chopper performed excellently meeting accuracy requirements. 

“This is the first attack helicopter with us which has aerial combat capabilities. A moving UAV can be taken on easily with an air-to-air missile or with the front gun. This was a capability gap the Services had and LCH will fill it now,” an official said. 

Seven LSP platforms are at various stages of manufacturing at the assembly hangars of HAL now.

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AFS Yelahanka offers plug-and-play options for Aero India

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Aero India 2017: Training activities fly out to nearby bases from AFS Yelahanka

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Aero India 2017: One month for plane carnival; security top priority

By Anantha Krishnan M

Bengaluru, Jan 14: Devotees chasing ‘things with wings’ will descend on Aeronautical Capital of India soon for the ‘11th International Show on Aerospace, Defence, Civil Aviation, Airport Infrastructure and Defence Engineering’ a.k.a. Aero India 2017. 

Exactly one month from today, from February 14 to 18, all roads will lead to Air Force Station (AFS) Yelahanka, which has been hosting all editions of Aero India since 1996. 

While the 10th edition, in 2015, saw a record participation of exhibitors, the organisers say a new benchmark will be set this time. With the extended Christmas and New Year Holidays finally getting over, more foreign companies are expected to make a last-minute pitch in the next 15 days.

“As of now, we have sold out 100 per cent of the space allotted for exhibitors. There will be now another set of booking till the end of January, with the holiday season getting over,” says an official. 

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Pilatus: Wonderful wings for perfect pilots

  Photos: B Sateesh

By SKM/Sanjeev Sharma

With induction of Pilatus PC-7 Mark-II trainer aircraft, the Indian Air Force trainee pilots will now get a new set of wings to learn their basic flying skills. Swiss made Pilatus also knows as ‘Astra’ would fill the void in basic flying training after indigenous HPT-32 Deepak was grounded around two years back.

Pilatus would also draw a lot of attraction during Aero India-2013, Asia’s premier Air Show being held at Air Force Station, Yelhanka, Bangalore between February 6-10, 2013. “It is an excellent training aircraft. Flying in new aircraft is always a fine experience. I enjoyed my flight from Hyderabad to Yelhanka ”, said squadron leader Sushant Mitra of Indian Air Force after landing at Yelhanka in the Pilatus. His co-pilot Stefan Greub, who came from Switzerland as a test pilot described Pilatus as a superior training aircraft. He said that “safety, instruments, controls systems and flexibility of avionics configuration are key features of the Pilatus” 

Pilatus named after a mountain in central Switzerland is an improved version of the PC-9's airframe and avionics, fitted with the PC-7's smaller turbine ensures lower operating and maintenance costs. “It would provide Stage-I flying training and also help streamline flying training of Stages II and III which had to be modified earlier in absence of the basic trainer.” said a Senior Officer of IAF during interaction on condition of anonymity. He said that “Pilatus would provide even better preparation during Stage-I flying training so that training for operational pilots can take place in quicker time frame.” 

Pilatus would thus lay the foundation for future generations of Indian Air Force pilots. While being the smallest aircraft in the IAF inventory, the Pilatus would shoulder a much heavier responsibility in building future generation of the IAF pilots. (Press Release)

IAF gears up to make Aero India better, safer

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore: Preparations for the 9^th edition of International Exhibition on Aerospace, Defence and Civil Aviation (Aero India 2013) have entered the last phase at the Indian Air Force (IAF) base in Yelahanka, Bangalore. In an interview to Express, Air Marshal Rajinder Singh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Training Command, IAF, said that with barely three weeks left for the show, over 500 air warriors are ready to make the show bigger and better. “More than 27 countries are participating in the show. In addition, official delegations from 78 countries are expected during the 5-day show, starting on February 6. Our preparations began in September 2012 and the activity levels are at its peak now,” Rajinder Singh said.

Air Marshal Rajinder Singh

The show-stoppers include the Global 6000; Pilatus PC-7 (IAF's new Basic Trainer Aircraft), the C-130J and the Mi-17 V5 chopper. “The Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft, Chinook and AW-101 helicopters are also participating in the show. This time we have a space pavilion and we are expecting the footfalls to increase , “ he said.

The Air Marshal said that based on his past experience of handling the show, the IAF has refined every SOP (Standard Operating Procedure), including disaster management, fire and aerospace safety. “The co-ordination meetings with stakeholders have been held to further streamline procedures and professional conduct of the show,” he said.

He said the IAF would also be showcasing the rapid strides made not only in modernisation of its combat fleet, but its transition from the antique bi-plane -- Tiger Moth (the first trainer aircraft) -- to the ultramodern Pilatus PC-7 Mk II.

Bird menace: With safety being the top priority for IAF, Rajinder Singh said that all out efforts have been made to contain bird activity, creating a conducive flying environment. “The Karnataka government has taken steps to contain catfish farming in the areas surrounding Yelahanka. We will also undertake bird reconnaissance sorties and have regular inputs from the Ornithology Cell, that studies bird habitats on airfields and surrounding areas to further reduce the bird menace,” he said.

Security: He said the anti-hijack, anti-terror and mass casualty evacuation are already place. “The security grid will be bolstered with Special Forces. Personnel from the NDRF, CISF, RAF and Karnataka government are closely associated with the plans. Various SOPs will be tested for their efficacy prior to show,” Rajinder Singh said.

Copyright@The New Indian Express

Day-1 snapshots from shutterbug Rahul's kitty

 Photos: Rahul Devnath

From Avia India to Aero India: Winco Singha goes on a solo

By Wg Cdr T.K. Singha, IAF PRO

The present-day version of Aero-India deemed the biggest air show in Asia began as a modest display of a few aviation assets as Avia-India in 1993. The biennial air show, renamed Aero-India since 1998, has only become bigger and more popular that must rank among one of the largest attended air shows around the world.

According to the statistics given by the organizers - Department of Defence Production (DDP) under the Ministry of Defence, the online request for registration of the general visitors this year has already exceeded the 1.75 lakh mark, a lakh more than the official 75,000 footfalls in 2009. The organisers are expecting the figure to reach 2.75 lakh. With enquiries and requests not showing any signs of abating, clearly Aero-India 2011 is on its way to top the charts.

Discounting Avia-India 1993, the growth in Aero-India since 1998 to 2005 was marginal. It began showing a quantum increase in the gross exhibition area only from the 2007 edition. While it hovered between the 7,000-18,000 sq mts mark from 1998 to 2005, it sharply rose to 30,000 sq mts in 2007 and 44,000 sq mts in 2009. This year, the organizers have increased the gross area to 75,000 sq mts, a significant 70 percent increase over 2009. 

There are 675 exhibitors in this edition registering a 16 percent increase over the last edition that had 581 in all. As with all previous editions, this time around also international exhibitors score over the domestic ones in terms of participation. In 2009, the gap was marginal, 303 against 289. This time, the figure is 380 and 295, a growth of 25 percent for the international exhibitors against a mere five, for the domestic exhibitors. 

With 30 countries set to participate this year including India, official representation from 60 countries number 350, a three-fold plus increase in the number of delegates, both official and business, with USA leading with 250, Germany-35, Italy-10, and 35 from remaining countries. Based on the online request for business passes, 70,000 business visitors and delegates will throng the venue, a figure twice that of 2009.

There are eight country pavilions and 63 chalets at the venue. While exhibition, air show, static display are integral to the air show, the concurrent events that will take place include media briefings and press conferences by Defence Minister, Chief of the Air Staff and exhibitors, business-to-business (B2B) meetings, product launches, technical presentations, workshops on defence acquisition procedures and offsets including industry roundtable meetings.

With a 62 percent increase growth in flight, static and flight-cum-static display by civil and military aircraft over 2009 this time, aviation aficionados await a visual treat of fighters, helicopters and transport aircraft both from the military aerospace sector as well as from the civil aviation sector from across the world. 

Significantly, with 27 aircraft belonging to the civil aviation sector, it is a 54 percent representation in relation to the military component, making Aero-India 2011 truly an all-encompassing air show. In all, over 100 aircraft would be involved at Aero-India 2011.