Source: NDTV
Context: CSIR-NAL has signed its first-ever technology transfer agreement with a private company (Pioneer Clean Amps Pvt. Ltd.) to manufacture HANSA-3 (NG) trainer aircraft.
About HANSA-3 (NG) Trainer Aircraft:
- What is HANSA-3 (NG)?
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- It is a next-generation, two-seater, ab-initio trainer aircraft developed for pilot training.
- Designed and developed indigenously by CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) in Bengaluru.
- Aim & Purpose:
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- To provide a cost-effective alternative to foreign trainer aircraft.
- To train pilots for Private Pilot License (PPL) and Commercial Pilot License (CPL).
- To boost India’s aviation ecosystem in line with the growing demand for trained pilots.
- Key Features:
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- Advanced Glass Cockpit for digital display and enhanced situational awareness.
- Rotax 912 iSc3 Sport Engine – fuel-efficient and digitally controlled.
- Bubble Canopy for panoramic visibility and improved pilot comfort.
- Electrically operated flaps, lightweight composite airframe.
- Costs ₹2 crore, nearly 50% cheaper than imported equivalents.
- Electric variant (E-HANSA) under development to support sustainable aviation.
About CSIR–National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL):
- What is NAL?
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- India’s only civilian aerospace R&D lab, focused on advanced aerospace science and engineering.
- Establishment:
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- Founded: 1 June 1959 (as National Aeronautical Research Laboratory, renamed NAL in 1993).
- Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka.
- Governing Body: Operates under CSIR (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.
- Key Objectives:
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- To design and develop indigenous aircraft and aerospace technologies.
- To support national aerospace missions and collaborate with industry for commercialisation.
- To create aeronautical components, testing, simulation, and manufacturing systems.
