Saras Light Transport Aircraft (LTA)
Named Saras, after the Indian crane known for its grace and beauty in flight, the Light Transport Aircraft (LTA) has the design objective of being able to carry between eight and 14 passengers and extendable to an 18-passenger variant, in multiple modes of operation.
The flight-testing expertise and resources in India have matured adequately to undertake prototype flight-testing. The Light Transport Aircraft (LTA) program, SARAS a turboprop aircraft being developed indigenously by National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) of Government of India, is the first civil aircraft program aimed at certification standard, FAR 25. The program is unique in that the propeller configuration of SARAS is pusher type and it is the first indigenously designed civil transport aircraft in India. In light of its unique configuration and in absence of any precedence for certification of an indigenously designed and developed aircraft against a FAR airworthiness standard in India, the prototype flight-testing of SARAS aircraft becomes critical.
The first flight of SARAS aircraft was flown on 29 May 2004 and the prototype flight-testing is progressing satisfactorily. The first test flight of multirole light transport aircraft ‘Saras’ was scheduled for December 2002. The project of ‘Saras’ was sanctioned on September, 24 1999 with initial schedule of its maiden flight by March 2001. The delay is attributed to technology embargoes and technological complexities.
The SARAS programme is a NAL initiative to create a vibrant Indian civil aviation industry. The programme was the outcome of a series of studies in the late 1980's which pointed to the requirement of a fourth level ("feeder) airline for India.
SARAS is a twin turbo-prop multi-role aircraft with air taxi and commuter services as its primary roles. SARAS will have a seating capacity of up to 14 passengers in the high density version. With a large and pressurised cabin, the aircraft will have a level of comfort comparable to regional aircraft. SARAS will be well-suited to fulfil a variety of other roles such as executive transport, light package carrier, remote sensing and aerial research service, coast guard, border patrol, air ambulance and other community services.
SARAS is powered by two Pratt and Whitney Canada PT6A-66 engines driving 2.16m diameter 5 bladed propellers at 2000 rpm in a pusher configuration. The engines are mounted on stub wings locate at aft fuselage resulting in quieter cabin and undisturbed flow on the wing.
Attention has been given right from the beginning for easy maintenance and thus to increase aircraft availability. Equipment needing inspection / maintenance are provided easy access. The PT6A-66 engine is of modular construction and thus easy to maintain. Furthermore, the cowling is designed in such a way that the front and rear ends are removable and centre section has swinging doors and panels to have full access to servicing points on engine and aircraft accessories. Hot section inspection which is usually carried at mid time between overhauls can be done in-situ by removing rear end of nacelle. The avionics equipment, hydraulic system and the air conditioning system bays, all have large doors for easy access.
