First Ever “Made In India” Commercial Aircraft To Start Flying Tomorrow
The first-ever “Made in India” commercial aircraft will take to the skies tomorrow, providing air connectivity to Arunachal Pradesh’s remote towns.
This will further boost air connectivity of the North Eastern Region with the rest of the country, marking a watershed moment in Indian aviation history. The first “Made in India” 17-seater dornier aircraft will fly for the first time between five remote towns in Arunachal Pradesh and Dibrugarh, Assam.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has approved a scheme titled “Providing air connectivity and Aviation infrastructure in the North Eastern Region (NER)” to promote air connectivity in the North Eastern Region’s states and, if necessary, to develop air connectivity infrastructure.
Two significant events will take place tomorrow as part of this scheme: the first flight of a Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) – Made in India- Dornier Do-228 from Dibrugarh, Assam, to Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh, by Alliance Air, making it India’s only commercial airline to fly Indian-made aircraft for civil operations, and the inauguration of the first FTO (Flying Training Organization) for the North Eastern Region at Lilabari, Assam.
The Civil Aviation Minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, will be present at both events, as will the Chief Ministers of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, Himanta Biswa Sarma and Pema Khandu. The 17-seater non-pressurized Dornier 228 with an AC cabin is capable of day and night operations, according to HAL sources. The regional connectivity in the northeastern states will be aided by the light transport aircraft. Last Thursday, these two aircraft were handed over to Alliance Air, with one being dispatched to Dibrugarh Airport, Alliance Air’s newest hub.
The development of India’s North Eastern Region (NER) is not only strategic, but also a part of the country’s growth story. North Eastern Region connectivity is critical, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has designated the region as a priority area under the “Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN)” Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS). This has aided the North Eastern Region’s inter- and intra-regional connectivity.
New airports are being built, and existing airports are being upgraded in this regard. Because of the hilly terrain, UDAN helicopter operations have been prioritised for connectivity.
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