HAL issues clarification on reports concerning ALH Helicopters

New Delhi: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has issued a clarification regarding recent media reports on the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv, stating that the articles published in Hindustan Times on September 6, presented a “one-sided view with misleading commentary.”

PSU Watch is now on Whatsapp Channels. Click here to join

The state-owned aerospace major said that the One-Time Check (OTC) referred to in the reports is a routine maintenance practice undertaken after a defect is reported, in this case, involving the Tail Drive Shaft (TDS). HAL added that it is working in close coordination with the Indian Army and has deputed expert teams to ascertain the root cause of the issue.

“Maintenance aspects are critical to the continued airworthiness of helicopters, and all maintenance directives must be followed scrupulously,” HAL emphasised.

Highlighting the performance record of its flagship indigenous platform, HAL said the ALH Dhruv fleet has logged over 4.5 lakh flying hours and has been in service for more than two decades with the Indian Armed Forces, Coast Guard, and civil operators. The helicopters have operated in varied terrains, from the Himalayan high altitudes to coastal regions.

Reiterating the trust placed in the platform, HAL pointed out that the Indian Army recently carried out high-risk flood rescue and casualty evacuation missions using ALH helicopters, including the evacuation of stranded civilians and CRPF personnel.

The company urged media outlets to ensure accurate and balanced reporting. “It is important to draw conclusions based on comprehensive information and accurate data, rather than selective inputs,” HAL stated.

(PSU Watch– India's Business News centre that places the spotlight on PSUs, Bureaucracy, Defence and Public Policy is now on Google News. Click here to follow. Also, join PSU Watch Channel in your Telegram. You may also follow us on Twitter here and stay updated.)