Bangalore-based National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) will soon set up an exclusive ‘aircraft design bureau’ in their premises to look into the design of India’s newly proposed Regional Transport Aircraft-70 (RTA-70). Russia has the bureau concept with its Sukhoi Design Bureau being a very popular one in the world.
The design bureau will initially have as its core members experts from NAL but will in due course invite experts from Aircraft Research and Design Centre (ARDC), HAL. It will also invite private aircraft designers if they can demonstrate design capability. If the private players bring in international aircraft designers, they too will be taken into the bureau after evaluation.
“The bureau will effectively function as a national aircraft design bureau and will be a major reference point for the country in any aircraft design venture,” NAL scientists told TOI.
The bureau’s first project will be the RTA-70. It has to submit to the Centre within one year an assessment of the project and what needs it will meet for the country. The assessment will include the design of the aircraft itself, how it compares with aircraft in its class from other countries, the cost-benefit ratio and how the country’s civil aviation will gain. Based on the feasibility report, the Centre will take a decision on the aircraft.
The bureau will look at design of structure/airframe, systems, propulsion, engine, avionics, flight control, electricals, hydraulics, environmental control system and cabin pressure control system among other aspects in the overall design of the RTA-70. NAL will be the focal point for the design of the aircraft though the bureau will incorporate private Indian and international teams. The RTA-70 is a turboprop regional airline offering to Indian aviation and to the rest of the world. It is expected to be in the class of or better than theATR 42/72, Q400, ERJ170 and CRJ 200/700 all of the smallto medium-aircraft.
NAL’s RTA-70 is projecting 25% to 50% lower acquisition, direct operation and maintenance costs compared to these regional aircraft.
