DGCA allows commercial flight nod to HAL-manufactured Dornier 228

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has allowed Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL)-manufactured Dornier 228 to be used for civilian flights. Till now, the 19-seater aircraft has been used by defense forces and is the first plane to be made in the country for commercial flights. With a maximum cruise speed of 428 kmph, the non-pressurised plane has a range of 700 km and is also capable of night flying. Now, HAL can sell this plane to airlines in India and it can be used for regional flights under the Government of India (GoI)’s ambitious UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik) scheme. The DGCA is the regulatory body for civil aviation under the Ministry of Civil Aviation and is headquartered at New Delhi.