HELICOPTER DESIGN, ASSEMBLY AND MANUFACTURING
Currently, the helicopter market includes major players Airbus Helicopters SAS (France), Bell Helicopters (US), The Boeing Company (US) and Leonardo S.p.A. (Italy). With potential for helicopters increasing in India, in both military and general aviation sector, and them finding multiple uses in both government assistance and as well as recreational purposes, the market for helicopters has increased. With military helicopters having a specific set of purposes predefined, civil helicopters extend the reach and expand the capabilities of businesses, state governments and security agencies. However, there aren’t many private manufacturers in the field of helicopter design and manufacture in India other than government owned HAL.
Helicopter manufacturing requires huge investments from building up of the infrastructure to manufacturing, assembling, testing, training and simulation facilities. The key activities that are to be undertaken includes design, construction and testing of prototypes. Followed by, mass production, certification, upgrading, supervision and support of helicopter operations of civil and military applications. It needs to provide systems design, development, production and integration capabilities, along with in-depth training and customer support, to military and commercial operators.
AAL is committed to develop its own designs, manufacture them and introduce them into this international market by option for a joint venture with foreign OEM, Boguslaev/ Motor Sich. “Motor Sich”, is a Ukrainian aero-engine manufacturing facility established in 1907, for airplanes and helicopters as well as industrial gas turbine installations with its history that extends back over 100 years and applications in more than 100 countries worldwide The company works on its own designs and is also the main supplier of helicopter engines in Russian market. They have developed their own helicopter engineering program, and created its own science and technology base for design, manufacturing, testing and certifying of helicopters.
AAL hopes to enter into this helicopter market and mark its step in minimizing the vast gap between supply and demand for civil helicopters in India.
