Hindustan 228 Aircraft

In News

• Recently, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) approved a new variant of the Hindustan 228-201 LW Aircraft.

About 

• Features: This variant of the Hindustan 228-201 LW aircraft has a maximum take-off weight of 5,695 kg with 19 passengers.
• Developed by: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
• HAL is building civil aircrafts to promote the UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) Scheme. 
• HAL is a public-sector aircraft manufacturing company. It has also made the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Significance

• Operational Benefits:  This variant provides several operational benefits for operators, such as 
  • reduced pilot qualification requirements enabling pilots with Commercial Pilot Licence to fly the aircraft, 
  • enhanced availability of pilot pool for the aircraft
  • reduced operational cost
  • reduced training requirements for flying and ground crew, including aircraft maintenance engineers.
• It will promote the UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) Scheme. 
• UDAN scheme
  • Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) was launched as a regional connectivity scheme under the Ministry of Civil Aviation in 2016. 
  • It is an innovative scheme to develop the regional Aviation market.
  • The central government aims to set up 1,000 new air routes and establish 100 new airports, under the UDAN scheme.

Source: TH