Union Civil Aviation Minister flags off next-generation helicopter Dhruv NG in Bengaluru
Bengaluru (PTI): Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on Tuesday flagged off the inaugural flight of the next-generation civil helicopter Dhruv NG, designed and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, to meet the requirements of the civil aviation market.
Before take-off from HAL here, the minister joined the pilot in the cockpit to gain firsthand insight into the helicopter's advanced systems and features.
According to HAL officials, Dhruv NG, a sophisticated 5.5-tonne, light twin-engine, multi-role helicopter engineered to master the diverse and demanding requirements of the Indian terrain is specifically upgraded to meet the rigorous demands of the global civil aviation market.
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Addressing a gathering after witnessing the maiden inaugural flight, the minister said the event marked a “very important milestone in Indian aviation history” and congratulated the entire HAL workforce, from designers and engineers to technicians, for the achievement.
He said HAL had long functioned like a bicycle with one dominant wheel—defence—but was now evolving into a balanced organisation riding on two equal wheels: defence and civil aviation.
“This is an especially proud moment for me as the civil aviation minister,” he said, adding that the development reflected India’s growing confidence in indigenous aerospace manufacturing.
He emphasised that the Dhruv-NG was not just a machine but a symbol of India’s capability, confidence and commitment to Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
Naidu recalled inspecting the aircraft at Aero India earlier this year and expressed satisfaction that the long-awaited inaugural flight had been completed within a year.
He also termed the handing over of the type certificate by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for the indigenous Shakti engine as a "defining moment" for the civil aviation sector.
Referring to India’s rapid aviation growth, he said the country had become the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market, driven by the Prime Minister’s vision of making air travel accessible to the common citizen. However, he said, strengthening indigenous manufacturing remained a key challenge.
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"It is estimated that we will add over 1,000 helicopters in the next 10 to 15 years, enabled by the regional connectivity UDAN scheme — Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik — driven by the Prime Minister’s mission to make aviation more inclusive, democratic and impactful," he added.
The HAL officials said Dhruv NG helicopter, which represents a milestone in indigenous rotary-wing capability has been designed for enhanced safety, performance, and passenger comfort.
The helicopter is equipped with twin Shakti 1H1C engines, providing enhanced power ratings and the advantage of internal maintenance capabilities within India.
It features a world-class, civil-certified glass cockpit, compliant with AS4 requirements, and a modern avionics suite for superior situational awareness, they said.
In terms of safety and reliability, Dhruv NG incorporates crashworthy seats, self-sealing fuel tanks, and a proven twin-engine configuration for high redundancy.
In terms of ride quality, the officials said that the helicopter has advanced vibration control systems to ensure a smooth ride, tailored for VIP and medical transport.
Listing its features, the officials said maximum take-off weight of the next-generation civil helicopter is stated to be 5,500 kg, with a maximum speed of around 285 km/h, range of around 630 km (with a 20-minute reserve), endurance of around three hours and 40 minutes, service ceiling of around 6,000 metres (high-altitude capable), and internal payload of around 1,000 kg.
The Dhruv NG features a highly configurable cabin (7.33 cubic metres) adaptable for various civilian roles. For VIP/VVIP transport, it has luxury furnishings for four to six passengers, with a maximum capacity of 14 passengers.
As for its Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (Air Ambulance) role, the helicopter is equipped with a layout for four stretchers along with a doctor and attendant.
Its specialised roles include offshore operations, law enforcement, and disaster relief (SAR).
The Dhruv Civil NG is stated by HAL as a cost-effective, high-performance alternative to imported light twin-engine helicopters.
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Capgemini employee killed, three injured in gas cylinder blast at Bengaluru PG
Bengaluru: A 23-year-old Capgemini employee was killed and three others were injured after a commercial gas cylinder exploded at a paying guest accommodation in Bengaluru’s Kundalahalli on Monday evening, police said.
According to a report published by NDTV, the incident occurred around 6.15 pm at the Seven Hills Sai Co-Living PG, a seven-storey building with 43 rooms. The explosion took place on the ground floor of the building.
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"There was some smoke on the ground floor. The victim and two others, who were on the terrace, came down to check what had happened. It is believed that the blast occurred at that time, killing Aravind. Among the injured, two are employees of private companies, and one works as a helper at the PG," NDTV quoted K Parashurama, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Whitefield) as saying.
Aravind, a native of Ballari district in Karnataka, was working as a senior analyst with Capgemini. Among the injured are 28-year-old Venkatesh from Kurnool, 23-year-old Vishal Verma from Uttarakhand, and 25-year-old CV Goel, a woman from Uttarakhand. Two of the injured are employees of private firms, while one works as a helper at the PG.
As per the report, as soon as fire and smoke were detected, an emergency response was initiated. Fire and police teams rushed to the spot and contained the situation. All the injured were shifted to Brookefield Hospital, where they are undergoing treatment.
Police have registered a case and launched an investigation to ascertain the cause of the explosion. We are examining the building for violations. We have already noticed that there was no setback provided during construction, and we are verifying whether other rules were also defied, Parashurama added.
The PG building is owned by a person named Vishnu from Andhra Pradesh and is locally managed by a woman identified as Roja. Further investigation is underway, police said.
