National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) rolled out the first prototype of its Saras 14-seater light twin turboprop pusher transport aircraft in Bangalore last week, before the Aero India 2003 air show. The aircraft, the appearance of which has been delayed several times, could make its first flight by the beginning of the second half of the year and has secured a launch customer.
T S Prahlad, NAL's Saras project supervisor, says the Indian air force has expressed "serious interest" in acquiring six multi-mission variants of the aircraft, and could take delivery by early 2006. Prahlad expects regional airlines and air taxi operators to form the majority of the Rs280 million ($6 million) aircraft's customers, which could lead to demand for around 200 over five years, he says.
NAL has started the certification process with India's airworthiness body - the Indian directorate general of civil aviation - and aims to make the first flight by the end of June. A second prototype is currently being assembled and will fly by early next year, says Prahlad. NAL aims to complete 400h of test flights and attain certification by the end of 2005.
The Saras will enter serial production by early 2006, but NAL expects to deliver early prototypes, configured as light troop transports, to the air force before then. Prahlad says the aircraft can take off from around 90% of India's airstrips, many of which are semi-paved.
"There is a political desire to link smaller communities, especially in the north-east, with regional centres, such as Kolkata. Most of these routes use Boeings, with very inefficient load factors," he says.
The programme suffered a delay of several years after Ilyushin pulled out of the joint venture due to lack of funds following the project launch in 1986 (Flight International, 22-28 May, 2001). Prahlad says that the Saras also suffered a delay of around 18 months as NAL sought to convince US authorities that the US-manufactured propellers and avionics were not to be used for a strategic military aircraft.
The Pratt & Whitney Canada PT-6A-powered twin turboprop is designed to fly 800km (430nm) with a full passenger load at its maximum take-off weight of 6,100kg (13,400lb).
Source: Flight International