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Aviation History
2003
2003 - 0311.PDF
INTERNATIONAL AEROSPACE EXHIBITION - AERO INDIA 2003 SHOW REPORT Aero India The fourth Aero India show took place at Yelahanka air base at Bangalore last week. Organisers pointed to a record 251 exhibitors from 23 countries, with 68 aircraft on static display. This year's show marked the return of around a dozen US companies following the lifting of an arms embargo. Nicholas lonides and Justin Wastnage report. PROPULSION Turbomeca and HAL strengthen ties Three-part agreement includes purchase by India of "several hundred" engines for the Dhruv light helicopter Turbomeca has signed its single largest engine order with Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) as part of a contract that includes a co-development deal. French manufacturer Snecma's helicopter engine subsidiary will deliver "several hundred" each of the TM333-2B2and its higher- power successor, the Ardiden, to be co-developed with India. Emeric d'Arcimoles, Turbomeca president, says the three-part deal constitutes the company's "biggest ever single order" in unit terms and dollar value. HAL will have a "substantial share" of development work on the MANUFACTURING R-R and Snecma place civil engine production contracts Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) has secured contracts from Rolls-Royce and Snecma to produce civil engine parts. It will supply to R-R ring forgings worth $5 million over the next three years. The deal with Snecma will see HAL supplying ring and precision blade forgings for the CFM56 engine produced by CFM International, in which Snecma has a 50% stake, for at least three years. Separately, Snecma and HAL have signed a memorandum of under standing (MoU) to set up a joint venture to manufacture engine compo nents in India. A feasibility study should be ready by the end of June. Meanwhile, HAL chairman N R Mohanty says the company is bid ding for a contract from Airbus to supply nose undercarriage bay doors for the A380. HAL already has deals to supply A320-f am i ly doors. new 900kW (l,200shp) Ardiden 1H Shakti turboshaft used to power the second-generation HAL Dhruv advanced light helicopter (Flight International, 2-8 July 2002). HAL will also supply around one-tenth of the components for the Ardiden 1A variant to be used in Western- built 6,000-6,500kg-class (13,200- 14,3001b) class helicopters, such as the Bell-Agusta Aerospace AB139. Deliveries against Turbomeca's existing order for 82 TM333-2B2s are almost complete, says d'Arcimoles, and the first engines from last week's order for more than 400 units will be delivered from early next year, he adds. An order The second-generation ALH will be powered by the Ardiden 1H turboshaft for "several hundred additional" Shaktis is expected after the comple tion of the development phase in around 2006, according to Francois Courtot, Turbomeca vice-president aero engines. HAL is also to become a regional Turbomeca authorised mainte nance centre and the pair will jointly market the Dhruv in sur rounding countries. D'Arcimoles says that the joint development is "a way to recognise the high skill level at HAL". Turbomeca was "confident from day one" that the initial order for 82 engines would be followed by such a joint devel opment phase, says Courtot. The Ardiden, which is derated to l,070k\V, was developed to provide a higher power replacement for the TM333, which has powered the Dhruv since 1992, and which is also derated (from 800kW to 765kW) to suit "hot and high" operations in India. • HAL has unveiled a new variant of the Dhruv advanced light helicopter family. The 5,500kg Light Combat Helicopter has a narrow fuselage with pilot and co-pilot/gunner in tandem configuration and is to be equipped with light armament including air- to-air missiles. The helicopter, which will include stealth features and crashworthy landing gear, will begin testing by the end of next year and has the "firm commit ment" of the Indian air force, says S Krishnaswamy, head of India's armed forces. AIRLINES Carriers add services to remote areas with regional aircraft Turboprop and regional jet manu facturers are stepping up their mar keting efforts in India as the coun try's carriers show more interest in operating smaller aircraft. The government has for years been calling on airlines to boost services to remote areas, but until now the pleas have been ignored. Jet Airways, the largest private air line in India, has since 1999 been operating ATR 72s in addition to its Boeing 737s, and has eight of the type. In July 2002 it signed a letter of intent to purchase 10 Embraer 175s and take 10 options, for deliv ery from next year. Embraer says "a final agreement is expected to be ready soon". Rival 737 operator Air Sahara, meanwhile, is preparing to take delivery of the first regional jets that will be flying in India. The air line says it expects Bombardier CRJ200s to be put into service this month. Sahara has leased three ex- Midway Airlines CRJs through Bombardier to operate alongside the carrier's 11 737s on new and existing routes. Indian Airlines subsidiary Alliance Air has just started operat ing ATR 42s in the northeast of the country. It signed a lease agree ment with ATR in December for four aircraft after years of delays. Privately held Indian air charter company Deccan Aviation is, meanwhile, pressing ahead with plans to move into scheduled operations using Bombardier Dash 8-lOOs. Managing director Capt G R Gopinath says Deccan won approval from the country's aircraft acquisition committee last month to operate Dash 8s and services will begin in May or June. 20 11-17 FEBRUARY 2003 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
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