Hyderabad: The wait appears to be finally over for the country to flaunt its own made-in-India aircraft to the world. It has been after a long wait of 23 years since the first proposal was floated way back in 1991.
India, which is recognised for its strides in space technology, has still not made a significant leap in the crucial market of civil aerospace.
"The specifications for the prototype of the aircraft will be revealed in three to four months," revealed G. Ashok Kumar, joint secretary for civil aviation, on the sidelines of India Aviation 2014 on Friday.
Unlike the defence projects, he said the government would partner with private sector companies on this venture, including the Tatas and the Mahindras, for the project.
The national civil aircraft development (NCAD) programme, which was started in 1991, took a hit when Russia, which was aiding India with the aircraft design, dropped out of the project.
After an estimated expenditure of at least Rs 1,000 crore over 20 years, the project came to a complete halt after India was hit by US sanctions in 1998 for testing the nuclear bomb.
"The draft has been submitted and will be reviewed by the NCAD high-powered committee and the Cabinet. Then the final report will be released," Mr Kumar said.
The participation of private companies could prove to be a game-changer, giving a major thrust to the project as at least two major business groups - the Mahindras and the Tata - either own an aviation company or have partnered with foreign aerospace firms.
While Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) already own an Australia-based aerospace company, which currently produces small-size civilian aircrafts, Tata Group has interest in aerospace through its subsidiary Hyderabad-based Tata Advanced Systems.
The project aims to produce an aircraft with a price tag of Rs 7.5 crores. Though Mr Kumar said that the final aircraft will not take to the skies before seven to eight years, an indigenous aircraft would announce the arrival of India into a select club of nations, with an ability to manufacture commmercial airliners.
A made-in-India airplane would also cut down the cost of travel for Indians. It is also expected to slash the country's ballooning imports and will add an important item to its exports list.
