India's Ambition Of Becoming Global Hub In Aircraft Manufacturing Needs Minimum 20 Years: Experts

Better late than never. India's aviation history in manufacturing dates back to the 1940s: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) began manufacturing aircraft in 1942 for Indian Air Force (IAF). However, keeping up was a difficult task.

- BY SHRABONA GHOSH

Aircraft manufacturing is an exorbitantly capital-intensive industry with long gestation periods. Recently, civil aviation minister KR Naidu indicated in a conference that India would soon enter into aircraft manufacturing: We would make the nation a global hub for aircraft manufacturing, Naidu said. “India was one of the earliest starters with HAL (defence aircraft) in 1929, which the British and the Americans used to build warplanes. However, Indian aviation development did not keep pace. We also have a few private players, and now the Tatas are getting into the game partnering with the big boys,” said Sanjay Lazar, an aviation expert and CEO Avialaz Consultants.

In order to design, manufacture and export its own aircraft, India has a long journey to take. The country has miles to go before it manufactures civilian aircraft to compete with Boeing and Airbus. “Compare India to China, the Chinese germinated this idea in 1983 and 40 years later, COMAC competes with Boeing and Airbus. Look at Brazil, an idea that began in 1969, is today the world's third largest civilian aircraft manufacturer. In the 1980s, it produced the EMB 120 Brasilia, and today Indian airlines are using the Embraer regional jets. In more than 100 years of civil aviation, we still only have two or three main airplane producers, and four engine makers on the entire planet. It tells you how tough the going is,” Lazar added.