Flight testing of SARAS aircraft in mid airThe flight-testing expertise and resources in India have matured adequately to undertake
prototype flight-testing. The Light Transport Aircraft (LTA) program, SARAS a turboprop
aircraft being developed indigenously by National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) of
Government of India, is the first civil aircraft program aimed at certification standard, FAR 25 . The program is unique in that the propeller configuration of SARAS is pusher type and it is
the first indigenously designed civil transport aircraft in India. In light of its unique configuration
and in absence of any precedence for certification of an indigenously designed and developed
aircraft against a FAR airworthiness standard in India, the prototype flight-testing of SARAS
aircraft becomes critical. The first flight of SARAS aircraft was flown on 29 May 2004 and the
prototype flight-testing is progressing satisfactorily.
prototype flight-testing. The Light Transport Aircraft (LTA) program, SARAS a turboprop
aircraft being developed indigenously by National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) of
Government of India, is the first civil aircraft program aimed at certification standard, FAR 25 . The program is unique in that the propeller configuration of SARAS is pusher type and it is
the first indigenously designed civil transport aircraft in India. In light of its unique configuration
and in absence of any precedence for certification of an indigenously designed and developed
aircraft against a FAR airworthiness standard in India, the prototype flight-testing of SARAS
aircraft becomes critical. The first flight of SARAS aircraft was flown on 29 May 2004 and the
prototype flight-testing is progressing satisfactorily.
The LTA being first aircraft being flight tested and aimed to be certified against FAR 25,
the certification agency in India was also in learning mode. The certification agency needed to
acquire adequate skills in inspection and approval leading to prototype aircraft flight-testing and
certification. The roles and responsibilities of various constituents of the flight test organization
were required to be defined. Besides, the prototype flightesting of the SARAS ac was entrusted
to Indian Air Force (IAF). Towards this, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between
IAF and the NAL.
The flight-testing and safety structure was evolved. The flight test instrumentation, which
includes an elaborate ground telemetry station that received and displayed 328 parameters of the aircraft in real time using Pulse Code Modulation technology, was established. Experiments were conducted to improve the telemetry reception that did not restrict the test flying area. The test monitoring and direction setup was evolved. A clear hierarchy of team of system specialists that monitored parameters in real time and directed flight test point also advised the flight test crew on board the prototype aircraft
the certification agency in India was also in learning mode. The certification agency needed to
acquire adequate skills in inspection and approval leading to prototype aircraft flight-testing and
certification. The roles and responsibilities of various constituents of the flight test organization
were required to be defined. Besides, the prototype flightesting of the SARAS ac was entrusted
to Indian Air Force (IAF). Towards this, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between
IAF and the NAL.
The flight-testing and safety structure was evolved. The flight test instrumentation, which
includes an elaborate ground telemetry station that received and displayed 328 parameters of the aircraft in real time using Pulse Code Modulation technology, was established. Experiments were conducted to improve the telemetry reception that did not restrict the test flying area. The test monitoring and direction setup was evolved. A clear hierarchy of team of system specialists that monitored parameters in real time and directed flight test point also advised the flight test crew on board the prototype aircraft
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