HAL Conducts First Flight of Dhruv NG Helicopter, Steps into Civil Aviation Market.

Defence public sector undertaking Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) recently successfully conducted the inaugural flight of the Dhruv New Generation (NG) helicopter, marking its formal entry into the civil aviation helicopter segment.

The maiden flight was flagged off by Union Minister of Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu. Calling the event a significant milestone, the minister said the achievement reflected India’s growing capabilities in aviation manufacturing. “This flight marks an important milestone in Indian aviation. I can see the sankalp of a Viksit Bharat taking wings. HAL has successfully conducted the inaugural flight within a year of showcasing the demo. Dhruv NG has emerged as a platform for several operators, and Make in India is now a seal of global quality,” he said.

Senior officials from the aviation sector were present at the event, including HAL Chairman and Managing Director D K Sunil, Joint Director General of DGCA Maneesh Kumar, Pawan Hans Ltd CMD Sanjeev Razdan, and senior HAL officials from the Helicopter Division in Bengaluru.

Speaking on the occasion, HAL CMD D K Sunil said the Dhruv NG helicopter would play a key role in the company’s civil aviation expansion. “Dhruv ‘New Gen’ helicopter is the cornerstone of HAL’s civil expansion. The Dhruv Mk 1 civil platform has already clocked over 24,000 flying hours and has been specifically upgraded to meet the rigorous demands of the global civil aviation market,” he said.