New Delhi. 26 December, 2015. If sources in HAL are to be believed , Hindustan Aeronautics Limited board had approved the decision to invite international bids to develop a passenger aircraft and fulfill its long cherished dream of manufacturing RTA-70.
It may be recalled that HAL in collaboration with National Aerospace Laboratory under Ministry of Science & Technology, had designed the RTA-70 but the project did not go beyond the design stage. In fact it had also decided upon Pratt and Whitney engine for it.
T Suvarna Raju, chairman and managing director of HAL informed journalists in Bangalore that the PSU is expected to float a tender by March inviting global aircraft makers to partner it in the design and development of a 50-70 seat passenger plane to serve small cities across India. The project is estimated to cost Rs 7,000 crore for three prototypes and certification.
There will be a requirement for 200 such aircraft in India in the next five years he stated.
