Addressing a press conference at the inauguration of the Aircraft Update Research and Design Centre at HAL's Nashik division, and a national seminar on aircraft update jointly organised by HAL, Nashik, and the Nashik branch of the Aeronautical Society of India, he said efforts are underway to expedite the manufacture of the aircraft in the country. However, he pointed out that joint production would be preferable to licensed production as the latter entails payment of royalty to the overseas manufacturer. In joint production, assets and liabilities are shared, which is mutually beneficial.

He said a policy decision had been taken not to purchase any more Su-30 aircraft after the delivery of 40 aircraft. Negotiations are on for production of the aircraft in the countryby HAL, he said. He pointed out that aluminium lithium alloy inserts made by HAL are already being used in Indian satellites. Besides, a test platform will be erected in Cochin for the Indian Navy in collaboration with Rolls Royce.

Four prototypes of the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) are already flying and the fifth version (of a 12-seater passenger helicopter) is on the production line, he said.

He said a military version, `Lancer', has been planned and the low cost attack helicopter would be demonstrated at the air show in Bangalore in December. The new chopper could be used by civilian authorities as well for patrolling and counter-insurgency operations. A new jet trainer will be built, to replace the Kiran jet trainer, which will be phased out. The new jet trainer (HJT-36) will not be an alternative to the advanced jet trainer and would fly in the next four years. A pilotless helicopter is also being designed and HAL and National Aeronautical Laboratories will provide a replacement for the Dornieraircraft in three years, Nair added.

Inaugurating the Aircraft Update seminar, Air Marshal S S Gupta, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Headquarters, Maintenance Command, stressed the need for collective efforts at indigenisation by national laboratories and industries in the public and private sectors. He pointed out that even developed countries are upgrading their ageing fleets instead of buying expensive new aircraft.

He stressed the need for introduction of modern electronic systems, especially threat warning systems and radar jammers, and anti-radiation weaponry, while upgrading combat aircraft of the Indian Air Force. Director General of Civil Aviation and President of the Aeronautical Society of India, H S Khola, said accidents involving civilian aircraft have dropped to 30 per cent of earlier records.

He said a safety review of accidents over the last 15 years has proved that over 60 per cent were due to human failure and over 50 per cent of them could have been controlled.

Digital flightrecorders have been made compulsory along with modus transponder secondary surveillance radars and airborne collision avoidance systems, Khola said. Equipment like the Global Positioning System is essential but an indigenous system is preferable to an imported one. Safety aspects could not be compromised while upgrading aircraft, he pointed out.