Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) introduced Hindustan 228

State-owned Aeronautics company of India- Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), achieved a phenomenal feat. It has introduced a new aircraft called Hindustan 228. Hindustan 228 is a small civil transport aircraft. It has a passenger capacity of 19 persons. One remarkable feature of this newly launched aircraft is that it can be operated on semi-prepared and unpaved airstrips. This is state-owned aeronautics company’s first-ever attempt to develop or manufacture a small civil transport aircraft. While explaining about the newly introduced aircraft, Apurba Roy, General Manager of HAL said: "Hindustan 228, The design has been transferred to us from Dornier GmbH. This particular aircraft is under type certification and will have it in the name of Hindustan 228. All the testing parameters have been completed. There is a huge potential for these kinds of aircraft in the market. There are few aircraft in India and across the world that are designed for short-haul travel and can operate on a semi-prepared runway. This aircraft can have many utilities. They can be used as an ambulance, cargo, parajam or para drop, etc. It is a multi-utility aircraft." He later went on to inform that Hindustan Aeronautics Limited will manufacture six more aircraft like Hindustan 228. The engine of the newly launched aircraft is, however, not made in India. HAL is going to deploy this aircraft under the Udaan scheme. Under this scheme, the government aims to make air travel affordable and accessible to all. It also aims to boost regional air connectivity.