January 2011
Asia
- Mahindra to launch plane
- 12 January 2011
- By Various
- Mahindra & Mahindra, the tractors and motor vehicles to information technology conglomerate, is set to launch its first indigenously built aircraft before March, at a price at least 20 per cent cheaper than an equivalent aircraft of Cessna, the six-seater, turboprop-engined, Stationaire model which carries a price tag of $533,400 (Rs 2.4 core), according to its website. It is the cheapest model from Cessna.
Mahindra Aerospace, arm of Mahindra Engineering Services, is likely to send the aircraft on its maiden flight by February. The Mumbai-based company has been developing the small NM5-100 in partnership with the Bangalore-based National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL).
In a statement Hemant Luthra, president, Mahindra Systech, said that the aircraft would fly in the first quarter of 2011. "We have to make sure the aircraft is certified to get the FAR Part 23," he said.
FAR or Federal Aviation Regulations Part 23 contains air-worthiness standards for planes in the normal, utility aerobatic and commuter categories. It dictates the standards required for issuance and change of type certificates for airplanes in these categories.
Mahindra Aerospace is developing a five-seater version of their small turboprop plane especially for the Indian market and a larger version, which could seat eight to 10 passengers. It has also been designed for conversion for training or cargo operations purposes.
M&M will commercially produce the aircraft at its facility in Bangalore after NAL flight-tests it and it receives certification. The company had earlier manufactured and delivered 24 five-seater aircraft for Seabird Aviation Jordan. The planes were manufactured by Mahindra at the rate of 3-4 units per month. Each plane cost $400,000.
