<p>Asia’s biggest aviation gathering kicked off in Singapore, on Tuesday (Feb 20), where the Sarang Helicopter Display Team of the Indian Air Force (IAF) showcased India’s Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv for the first time. China’s C919 airliner, a potential rival to Western-made Boeing and Airbus planes, also staged a fly-by at the Singapore Airshow on its first trip outside Chinese territory.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>About the aviation gathering in Singapore</strong></h2>

<p>The biennial commercial and defence-focussed Singapore Airshow witnessed the participation of company executives and high-ranking government officials of more than 1,000 companies from over 50 countries.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Indian Army to convert Uttar Bharat (UB) area into full-fledged Operational Corps</strong></p>

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<p>The event was led by Western aviation giants, Airbus, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin and Chinese competitors such as state-owned entities Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) and Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).&nbsp;</p>

<p>Countries like Singapore, Australia, India, Indonesia, South Korea and the United States, showcased their military aircraft. The air show also saw the participation of China’s COMAC C919 single-aisle commercial jet and an Airbus A350-1000 powered by 35 per cent aviation fuel.</p>

<h2><strong>HAL’s Dhruv to lead India’s charge in Singapore</strong></h2>

<p>The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)&nbsp;manufactured Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv operated by the IAF’s Sarang team was a part of the Singapore Airshow for the first time.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The display is designed to highlight the ALH Dhruv’s agility and manoeuvrability, as well as the high degree of skills of the IAF pilots flying these machines,” said India’s ministry of defence in a statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/chinas-c919-airliner-makes-historic-international-debut-at-singapore-airshow-691593">China's C919 airliner makes historic international debut at Singapore Airshow</a></strong></p>

<p>The indigenously manufactured ALH and its variants have successfully been inducted and are currently being operated by all the military services of India as a part of the Indian government’s ‘Aatmanirbhar (self-reliant) Bharat’ initiative.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>China’s first homegrown airliner</strong></h2>

<p>China’s C919 airliner made its international debut, on Sunday (Feb 18) by staging a flyby at the Singapore Airshow. The aircraft, manufactured by the state-owned COMAC took to the skies last May and is seen as a prominent symbol of Beijing’s “Made in China” plan aimed at reducing reliance on foreign manufacturers.</p>

<p>COMAC also posted its first aircraft orders, on Tuesday morning, with China’s Tibet Airlines finalising an order for 40 C919 single-aisle planes and 10 ARJ21 regional jets. Additionally, China’s Henan Civil Aviation Development and Investment Group ordered 6 ARJ21s.</p>

<h2><strong>Russia out, Israel in</strong></h2>

<p>Russian companies such as Russian Helicopters and Irkut which had attended past airshows were not participating this year amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-drones-may-deliver-medicines-if-caa-proposal-goes-through-692006">UK: Drones may deliver medicines if CAA proposal goes through</a></strong></p>

<p>On the other hand, Israeli companies Israel Aerospace Industries and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems which had opted out of the Dubai Airshow in November amid the war between Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, attended the event in Singapore.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>‘Real return to normal’</strong></h2>

<p>“We see 2024 as a real return to normal,” said Steven Townend, the CEO of Singapore-based aircraft lessor BOC Aviation. He added, “The industry is growing, airlines are making money again on a global basis. For 2024, we’re really positive.”</p>

<p>Notably, the airshow was the first one in six years unaffected by COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions as the industry continued to grapple with a rebound in post-pandemic travel demand amid persistent supply chain issues.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>


Asia’s biggest aviation gathering kicked off in Singapore, on Tuesday (Feb 20), where the Sarang Helicopter Display Team of the Indian Air Force (IAF) showcased India’s Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv for the first time.

Asia’s biggest aviation gathering kicked off in Singapore, on Tuesday (Feb 20), where the Sarang Helicopter Display Team of the Indian Air Force (IAF) showcased India’s Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv for the first time. China’s C919 airliner, a potential rival to Western-made Boeing and Airbus planes, also staged a fly-by at the Singapore Airshow on its first trip outside Chinese territory. About the aviation gathering in Singapore The biennial commercial and defence-focussed Singapore Airshow witnessed the participation of company executives and high-ranking government officials of more than 1,000 companies from over 50 countries. WATCH | Indian Army to convert Uttar Bharat (UB) area into full-fledged Operational Corps The event was led by Western aviation giants, Airbus, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin and Chinese competitors such as state-owned entities Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) and Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). Countries like Singapore, Australia, India, Indonesia, South Korea and the United States, showcased their military aircraft. The air show also saw the participation of China’s COMAC C919 single-aisle commercial jet and an Airbus A350-1000 powered by 35 per cent aviation fuel. HAL’s Dhruv to lead India’s charge in Singapore The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) manufactured Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv operated by the IAF’s Sarang team was a part of the Singapore Airshow for the first time. “The display is designed to highlight the ALH Dhruv’s agility and manoeuvrability, as well as the high degree of skills of the IAF pilots flying these machines,” said India’s ministry of defence in a statement. Also Read | China's C919 airliner makes historic international debut at Singapore Airshow The indigenously manufactured ALH and its variants have successfully been inducted and are currently being operated by all the military services of India as a part of the Indian government’s ‘Aatmanirbhar (self-reliant) Bharat’ initiative. China’s first homegrown airliner China’s C919 airliner made its international debut, on Sunday (Feb 18) by staging a flyby at the Singapore Airshow. The aircraft, manufactured by the state-owned COMAC took to the skies last May and is seen as a prominent symbol of Beijing’s “Made in China” plan aimed at reducing reliance on foreign manufacturers. COMAC also posted its first aircraft orders, on Tuesday morning, with China’s Tibet Airlines finalising an order for 40 C919 single-aisle planes and 10 ARJ21 regional jets. Additionally, China’s Henan Civil Aviation Development and Investment Group ordered 6 ARJ21s. Russia out, Israel in Russian companies such as Russian Helicopters and Irkut which had attended past airshows were not participating this year amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. Also Read | UK: Drones may deliver medicines if CAA proposal goes through On the other hand, Israeli companies Israel Aerospace Industries and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems which had opted out of the Dubai Airshow in November amid the war between Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, attended the event in Singapore. ‘Real return to normal’ “We see 2024 as a real return to normal,” said Steven Townend, the CEO of Singapore-based aircraft lessor BOC Aviation. He added, “The industry is growing, airlines are making money again on a global basis. For 2024, we’re really positive.” Notably, the airshow was the first one in six years unaffected by COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions as the industry continued to grapple with a rebound in post-pandemic travel demand amid persistent supply chain issues. (With inputs from agencies)

Singapore Airshow: India’s Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv participates in Asia’s biggest aviation event

<p>Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), which faced scrutiny due to a series of accidents earlier this year, has identified and addressed its flaws to prioritise flight safety, senior officials with knowledge of the matter revealed on Wednesday, media reports said.</p>

<p>The indigenously designed and developed Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH-DHRUV) is a twin-engine, multi-role, multi-mission new-generation helicopter in the 5.5-tonne weight class.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reports said that the process of fixing the flaws is underway.&nbsp;While investigating recent incidents involving the Indian-made helicopter, certain design and metallurgy issues came to light.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The ALH is operated by the Indian army, air force, navy, and coast guard, with over 330 helicopters in service.&nbsp;Following safety concerns and a series of accidents, the helicopter was temporarily grounded and then cleared for flying, only to be grounded again between March and May.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-okinawa-port-awash-in-blood-red-hue-after-beer-factory-leak-in-japan-609645">Okinawa port awash in blood-red hue after beer factory leak in Japan</a></p>

<p>Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, a state-owned company, is responsible for designing and developing these helicopters. They are now being cleared for urgent missions in batches after comprehensive checks.</p>

<h2><strong>12 accidents in the past five years</strong></h2>

<p>In the past five years, the ALH has been involved in 12 accidents, including a crash-landing in Jammu &amp; Kashmir's Kishtwar on 4 May, resulting in the death of a soldier and injuries to two pilots.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sweden-police-allow-quran-burning-protest-outside-stockholms-main-mosque-609615">Sweden police allow Quran burning protest outside Stockholm’s main mosque</a></p>

<p>Prior to that, a coast guard ALH made a forced landing in Kochi on 26 March, and a navy ALH performed an emergency landing in the Arabian Sea on March 8.</p>

<h2><strong>Government's measures for resumption of flights</strong></h2>

<p>According to a government letter dated May 22, urgent flights were allowed to resume after conducting an independent maintenance flight safety audit and ensuring compliance with safety-related technical instructions and alert notices, as per media reports.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The letter specified that critical items and systems had undergone satisfactory checks.</p>

<h2><strong>Design review of safety-critical system</strong></h2>

<p>Dhruv is certified for military operations by the Centre for Military Airworthiness Certification (CEMILAC) and civil operations by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). CEMILAC, a government regulatory body responsible for certifying the airworthiness of military aircraft, suggested a design review of a safety-critical system on the ALH.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Concert economics explained: The craze for high-profile concerts</strong></p>

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<p>CEMILAC, a part of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), ordered the review of booster control rods to enhance the ALH's airworthiness.&nbsp;</p>

<p>An expert committee formed after the navy ALH incident on 8 March found that the failure in the assembly of serrated washers in the booster control rods was the most probable cause of the incident. These rods are crucial for controlling the helicopter's motion, and any failure can lead to accidents.&nbsp;</p>

<p>CEMILAC recommended short-term and long-term measures to improve the ALH's safety.</p>

<h2><strong>Expedited design, development, and qualification</strong></h2>

<p>CEMILAC emphasised the need for expedited design, development, and qualification of steel booster control rods that are tolerant to assembly errors.&nbsp;The new design should aim to be implemented within six months to one year. In a letter dated April 23, CEMILAC instructed HAL, the three services, and the coast guard to focus on these safety measures.</p>

<h2><strong>Prescribed measures for resumption of operations</strong></h2>

<p>CEMILAC provided specific measures for the resumption of operations of the ALH, Rudra (the armed version of ALH), and the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH).&nbsp;</p>

<p>It mandated inspections before granting clearance for these platforms, with a limit of 100 flight hours each. Further clearance for up to 500 flight hours or one year, whichever is earlier, would be contingent upon the successful completion of two critical tests conducted by HAL.&nbsp;</p>

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Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), which faced scrutiny due to a series of accidents earlier this year, has identified and addressed its flaws to prioritise flight safety, senior officials with knowledge of the matter revealed on Wednesday, media reports said.

Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), which faced scrutiny due to a series of accidents earlier this year, has identified and addressed its flaws to prioritise flight safety, senior officials with knowledge of the matter revealed on Wednesday, media reports said. The indigenously designed and developed Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH-DHRUV) is a twin-engine, multi-role, multi-mission new-generation helicopter in the 5.5-tonne weight class. Reports said that the process of fixing the flaws is underway. While investigating recent incidents involving the Indian-made helicopter, certain design and metallurgy issues came to light. The ALH is operated by the Indian army, air force, navy, and coast guard, with over 330 helicopters in service. Following safety concerns and a series of accidents, the helicopter was temporarily grounded and then cleared for flying, only to be grounded again between March and May. Also Read | Okinawa port awash in blood-red hue after beer factory leak in Japan Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, a state-owned company, is responsible for designing and developing these helicopters. They are now being cleared for urgent missions in batches after comprehensive checks. 12 accidents in the past five years In the past five years, the ALH has been involved in 12 accidents, including a crash-landing in Jammu & Kashmir's Kishtwar on 4 May, resulting in the death of a soldier and injuries to two pilots. Also Read | Sweden police allow Quran burning protest outside Stockholm’s main mosque Prior to that, a coast guard ALH made a forced landing in Kochi on 26 March, and a navy ALH performed an emergency landing in the Arabian Sea on March 8. Government's measures for resumption of flights According to a government letter dated May 22, urgent flights were allowed to resume after conducting an independent maintenance flight safety audit and ensuring compliance with safety-related technical instructions and alert notices, as per media reports. The letter specified that critical items and systems had undergone satisfactory checks. Design review of safety-critical system Dhruv is certified for military operations by the Centre for Military Airworthiness Certification (CEMILAC) and civil operations by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). CEMILAC, a government regulatory body responsible for certifying the airworthiness of military aircraft, suggested a design review of a safety-critical system on the ALH. Watch | Concert economics explained: The craze for high-profile concerts × CEMILAC, a part of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), ordered the review of booster control rods to enhance the ALH's airworthiness. An expert committee formed after the navy ALH incident on 8 March found that the failure in the assembly of serrated washers in the booster control rods was the most probable cause of the incident. These rods are crucial for controlling the helicopter's motion, and any failure can lead to accidents. CEMILAC recommended short-term and long-term measures to improve the ALH's safety. Expedited design, development, and qualification CEMILAC emphasised the need for expedited design, development, and qualification of steel booster control rods that are tolerant to assembly errors. The new design should aim to be implemented within six months to one year. In a letter dated April 23, CEMILAC instructed HAL, the three services, and the coast guard to focus on these safety measures. Prescribed measures for resumption of operations CEMILAC provided specific measures for the resumption of operations of the ALH, Rudra (the armed version of ALH), and the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH). It mandated inspections before granting clearance for these platforms, with a limit of 100 flight hours each. Further clearance for up to 500 flight hours or one year, whichever is earlier, would be contingent upon the successful completion of two critical tests conducted by HAL. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

India: Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter safety flaws identified, being addressed, says report

In a major boost to further strengthen the Coast Guard Region East, an Indian Coast Guard Advanced Light Helicopter Mk-III squadron was commissioned in Chennai on November 30. Indian Coast Guard Director General VS Pathania speaks to WION on the same.

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