100 seat airliner aimed at India's growing airliner market (480 words)

Published: 1/15/2001

Ilyushin and HAL (India's Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd) have reached a principle agreement following a considerable period of negotiations, which date back to March 1999; the subject of which is the development and production of the Il-214, a 100-seat airliner. The agreement, covers the setting-up of a $300m joint venture aimed at producing the Il-214, for the Indian market, and also the development of a cargo version, for the Indian Air Force. It is to be finalised in February 2001-having been delayed on three occasions over the last three months due to the merger of the export agencies- with the possible inclusion, for the joint venture, of the rights to export the aircraft to third parties. The joint venture's proposed aircraft is viewed as having considerable potential in a market which, while dominated by Airbus and Boeing, is reported to be worth $20 billion in aircraft sales over the next 15 years. The Indian Government is very keen to develop its own aerospace industry in answer to this demand, at least in part. HAL, which recently celebrated its 60th anniversary, has ambitions to boost its revenues from the $500m achieved in 1999-2000 to $2.2 billion by 2007. It has been planning to introduce two airliners in the 50- and 100-seat class since 1996 (when the government announced its approval for such programmes for the state-owned enterprise), with a $250m commitment to the two programmes. Progress has been slow, due to reports of Indian Airline's objections to a 50-seat turboprop, the ATR-42-500, being selected for licensed production in 1998; an aircraft they regard as inappropriate. This leaves the senior management of HAL focussed on the military, who although equally opposed to the turboprop, has become the prime customer for the larger of the two aircraft, the Il-214T. This version is powered by Pratt & Whitney PW6000 turbofans (or alternately, an appropriate Russian engine if available). Sources close to P & W say they still consider the programme to be in its infancy and are conscious that the final decision on the engine has not yet been made.Other foreign engine reported to have been considered include the BR-715 and the CFM-56. The so-designated Tactical Transport Aircraft (TTA), will be a replacement for the Air Force' ageing fleet of An-32s. HAL, for their part, see the development of military transport as the first step in creating a flexible 100-seat airliner, once the company has met the Air Force's need for an estimated 100 aircraft. The relative attraction of such an airliner for the soon-to-be-privatised Indian Airlines, after the initial problems over the 50-seat aircraft, remains the subject of some debate in India; particularly as foreign carriers are expected to take major stakes. If the Air Force follows its current specification requirements, the Il-214T will be a high-winged, rear-loading aircraft, capable of lifting between 15-20 tonnes from short, semi-prepared airstrips; well within the capabilities of the Il-214T's specifications. It can, for instance, lift 15 tonnes over 2000 kms and carry 82 fully equipped soldiers.

Article ID: 2290