Advanced Light Helicopters airborne again: HAL
NEW DELHI, JAN 19 (PTI)
The Country's indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter 'Dhruv' has started flying again, three weeks after being grounded for emergency safety checks following a crash of a chopper near Hyderabad last month.
"Clearance has been given to the operators to commence flying and helicopters have already started operations", a statement issued here by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, its manufacturer, said here today.
As on cue, ALHs of the IAF are now airborne, taking part in the Republic Day flypast rehearsals. An IAF spokesman said they would be part of the flypast over Rajpath during the Parade.
"The grounding of the helicopters was only a precautionary measure, as a positive step towards safety in the sky," HAL said.
It said that extensive checks had been carried out on all the choppers already inducted into service and those undergoing trials.
The Aviation major said the ALH tail rotor blades were of "very sound design and had been extensively tested. More than 12,000 hours of flying have been carried so far by HAL as well as other users without any incident".
It, however, clarified that blades of a particular batch had some snags, but the problem was not (not) related to any design deficiency and these were "duly addressed".
"Dhruv is an excellent performer in multi-mission, multi-role operations and has proved itself, both in the military and the civilian sector," HAL said. It said that in the recent incident of the tail rotor of an ALH developing a snag near Hyderabad, the pilot had executed a safe landing without injury to any of the passengers.
"In the incident the design characterstics of the ALH were proved beyond doubt as the helicopter descended from 5,000 feet and the crew and passengers came out of the helicopter with a scratch", HAL said, adding there was no fuel leak, fire or any other damage.
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It must be noted that Israel also had grounded the Dhruv, but upon instructions of HAL.
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since the avionics package( which of course will cost a lot) will come from israel..) any day joint production is better than licence.. if the product has a good export value.. ( they are themselves promoting the product as the sole marketing team ..