EXCLUSIVE: India’s Deepak Basic Trainers To Get Ballistic Recovery System

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) wants to give its troubled HPT-32 Deepak basic propeller trainer aircraft a ballistic recovery system (BRS) — a capability that principally involves a heavy-duty parachute that deploys during an emergency (spins, stalls, etc) and lowers the entire aircraft to the ground with the intention of saving the lives of the crew and limiting mechanical damage to the plane. HAL has received clearance from the Indian Air Force to fit approximately 120 HPT-32s in service — but grounded since August 2009 after a fatal crash — with a BRS developed specifically for the aircraft type. HAL has floated a tender for the system, and is understood to have already begun discussions with American firm BRS Aerospace, which appears to have pioneered the technology for several light aircraft including the Cirrus series and the light Cessnas.

HAL’s tender stipulates that the BRS should be able to recover the HPT-32 in an emergency situation during any phase of its flight envelope including aerobatics. And on deploying, the system should be capable of lowering the aircraft with a rate of descent at touch down not exceeding 8.5 m/sec, and of course, without causing any injury to the crew. The minimum height of deployment for safe recovery of the aircraft has been put at 100-metres AGL or less.

5 thoughts on “EXCLUSIVE: India’s Deepak Basic Trainers To Get Ballistic Recovery System”

  1. instead of attacking the root cause
    of why engine stall takes place randomly or suddenly and crashing likr a stone, BRS system is being proposed!!! if the recovery parachute doesnt openup ? instead IAF/HAL can take an expert consultancy for analysing the root cause111 i was watching history channel, ex red arrow pilots were doing aerobatics on modified piston engine twin seater aircrafts. The aircrafts were modified to with stand +/-10g. Any how we are spending billions for gorshacow, a fraction of that ampount ,ay be bring in good consultant!!!

  2. Well, DRDO could develop the "state of the art" BRS System "indigenously" and "Cheaply"… Why we need to import…hain

  3. Good move! But why just stop at Deepak? CAPS/BRS should be essential part of every aircraft in IAF's inventory. Even the venerable Su-30MKI. Imagine, no more crashes! Well, just controlled ones 😀

  4. till the time BRS will be installed on tne hpt-32 all theaircrafts will become scrap and everybody knows that you can not fly the scraps

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