Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) made Dornier 228 aircrafts can now be utilized for commercial regional flights in Europe. The news has come as a major boost in Make in India Program. The approval of DGCA certification from European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is for the Dornier 228 Civilian aircrafts, which has been manufactured at HAL’s unit in Kanpur.
On 30th August, DGCA through its official Twitter Handle @GDCA India announced the news, “Happy to inform that HAL Civil Dornier 228 aircraft will have an Indian Type Certificate (TC). After an extensive interaction between DGCA & EASA at Cologne on the 26 August 2019, EASA supported DGCA for issuance of TC. Indeed a step forward towards ‘Make in India’ initiative.” The aircraft Dornier 228 has given type certification (TC) from DGCA making it eligible as multi-purpose light civil flights by regional operators in India. Now the Dornier can be used for commercial use in Europe also.
The aircraft was made eligible to fly commercial flights in Europe after the European Aviation Safety Agency accepted the Directorate General of Civil Aviation certification for the aircraft on 30 August 2019.
Dornier 228 aircraft is a twin turboprop utility aircraft manufactured by German Company, Dornier GmbH. HAL stepped into the production of 125 aircrafts after buying the production license in 1983. The aircrafts are highly versatile and multi-purpose light transport units with short take-off and landing features. The uniqueness offers the aircraft to operate from rough runways and in hot climates. The maximum cruise speed of the unit is 428 kmph with a range of 700 km.
