HAL Plans to Make Ilyushin IL-114s for Regional Flights

NEW DELHI: Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) is eyeing to assemble the famed Russian Ilyushin IL-114 aircraft in India and offer it in the 70-seater turboprop category to airlines here for regional commercial flights. The PSU has tied up with Public Joint Stock Company (PJSC, or Ilyushin) and is planning to start offering maintenance service for this aircraft in India and later move over to assembling the same here.

“PJSC is working on civil certification of this aircraft, that is likely to come by 2021. After that they get European (aviation regulator) certification also for using this aircraft in civilian space. We signed a non-disclosure agreement with Ilyushin for doing maintenance of this aircraft in India for its customers from India and nearby countries,” HAL chairman R Madhavan told TOI.

“This aircraft is an ideal replacement of a (popular turboprop used by airlines in India for regional routes). It comes at three-fourth of that price. The Ilyushin IL-114-300 has engines of Pratt & Whitney, contemporary interiors and avionics from the west. While we plan to begin with maintenance of this aircraft, we plan to make it here if it gets a good market. We will know that (if it gets orders from Indian carriers for Udan or regional flights) in 3 to 4 years,” Madhavan said.

The CMD said the IL-114 will come at a list price of about $17-18 million, as opposed to $ 22 million of the alternative currently being used in India by airlines. “This aircraft can be used both in the regional cargo and passenger market,” he said.

Madhavan had met PJSC general-director Yury Slusar in Moscow on August 28 under the business programme of the international aviation and space salon or Moscow Air Show-2019.

Source: ET

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