To have an on the spot reality check on the capabilities and expertise of HAL in designing, production, repair, overhaul and upgrade of Aircraft, Helicopters, Aero-engines, Accessories, Avionics and Systems, a fifteen member delegation of parliamentary consultative committee consisting MPs of both houses, have paid a visit to HAL on 10th & 11th April 2012.

A warm reception at Akash Conference Hall, HAL BC, followed by a presentation on the strategies of HAL was given to the committee. Then, the convoy of MPs headed to technical area of HAL Airport to witness the flight demo of Light Combat Aircraft, Hawk, Kiran Mk-II and Advanced Light Helicopter. After watching the enthralling demo of HAL’s flying machines, they were taken to Hawk final assembly of Aircraft Division to have a closer look of Hawk, IJT, LCA, Mirage & Jaguar aircraft, where most of them had the first experience of sitting in a cockpit of fighter aircraft.

While entering the hangars of Aerospace division, it was a different feeling altogether to the committee and felt like moving in a spacecraft. Most of the members had a closer view of the cryogenic tank used in PSLV/GSLV and were thoroughly briefed about it apart from L-40 stage integration and HAL’s contributions to ISRO’s space program by the General Manager, Dr Jeyakar Vedamanickam.

On the second day, the committee members headed to Adour assembly hangar of Engine Division. The hangar was nicely packed with various engines viz. Shakti, Artouste IIIB, TM 333 2B2, DART 533-2 & 536-2T, Adour Mk 811 & 741-07, Orpheus 70105 and GTSU-110 currently produced by the division and under future engine programmes, GE-404 IN 20 for LCA Mk1, Kaveri (K-10) being co-developped with DRDO for LCA, F-125 IN for Jaguar, M-88 for MMRCA, GE-F414 for LCA Mk 2 were on display. Added attractions were Creep Feed Grinding Cell and Broaching machines. The committee members were spellbound to see the live demo of Adour-811 engine on the test bed and the General Manager, Shri V Balakrishnan explained the parameters and limits of engine test bed.

The committee was explained the salient features of Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) at Helicopter final assembly hangar from Managing Director (Helicopter Complex) Mr P Soundara Rajan alongwith Test Pilot Gp Capt SHK Nair. Besides LCH, ALH in various roles were on display at the hangar like – ALH with Shakti engine, ALH with slithering platform, ALH With troop seats and noise reduction blanket, etc. Finally, they were shown the demo of an ALH soaked in rain water at the Rain Water Test Rig.

Just before concluding their visit, they were totally impressed by the capability of HAL and inked their impressions, which reads :

“Excellent facilities, very innovative things are being done at HAL. I feel very proud of the achievements here. I wish all the very best”.  Shri Naveen Jindal

“Wonderful visit, remarkable people. Assure HAL of my fullest support”. Shri Kalikesh N. Singh Deo

“Greatly enjoyed the visit to HAL. It was very educative, morale and motivation of the leaders and their men are very high. We can have pride in them and will hope for the company to emerge as a major aviation power of the 21st century”.  Shri H.K Dua

“A memorable visit wonderful work and very good team work”. Shri Shivaji Adhalrao Patil