Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) is developing a seaplane based on the Dornier 228 and expects orders to come from the military and commercial sectors.
HAL management has assigned its transport aircraft division in the northern city of Kanpur to develop the Dornier 228 seaplane. In March 2021, HAL’s Transport Aircraft Division (TAD Kanpur) had made an announcement to develop an amphibian/seaplane variant of the Do-228. The development is to augment the service of both in defence & civil role.
This division has already developed and is testing the floats, it says. The Kanpur factory is where HAL manufactures the Dornier 228 under license from General Atomics Europe which bought the program last year from Switzerland’s RUAG MRO International.
HAL’s division in Kanpur also plans to strengthen the fuselage midsection in case of hard landings at sea or on rivers, says the news website.
HAL management expects orders for 25-30 aircraft to come from the military and civilian sector, the report says. But it adds sales will be a challenge, because De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Twin Otter seaplane can be cheaper and are often preferred by Indian operators.
The ministry in charge of civil aviation and waterways reportedly plans to develop 14 water aerodromes by the end of 2024.
The Dornier 228 and Twin Otter are both 19-seat aircraft, but the Twin Otter is powered by the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 whereas the Dornier 228 is powered by the Honeywell TPE331. The Dornier 228 was originally made in India for military operators, but the aircraft is now certified in India for commercial use.
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