India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is receiving export queries for Indian-built Dornier 228 aircraft from Sri Lanka, Mauritius and the Philippines.
The aircraft is now rechristened as Hindustan 228. In an interview with the Times of India on Tuesday, R Madhavan, HAL’s CMD, said the aircraft could be exported to the two interested countries.
“Alliance Air will start using two of these plans in Arunachal (state in India). We are getting queries from Sri lanka and the Philippines from commercial operators. Mauritius is looking at it for its police. This 19-seater aircraft (not pressurized but AC) can be reconfigured to have a lav by removing three seats if the operator wants.” He said.
The Dornier 228 is a twin-turboprop STOL utility aircraft, designed and first manufactured by Germany’s Dornier GmbH from 1981 until 1998. In 1983, HAL bought a production licence to produce the aircraft. It has been developed specifically to meet the manifold requirements of utility and commuter transport, third level services and air-taxi operations, coast guard duties and maritime surveillance.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation in 2017 issued a type certificate to the Hindustan 228. The aircraft was so far being manufactured under licence from RUAG for Indian defence forces and European markets would now be allowed to operate in India for commercial purposes.
