Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Mr Harsh Vardhan said he has sought a white paper from the National Aerospace Laboratories regarding the development of Civil Aircraft. “Let’s have a new process of brainstorming started to march ahead in a faster phase from where we stand today and I’m sure that when we start deliberating on issues we will certainly find out what we have to do and what we have to do to accomplish what we want to do,” Mr Vardhan said. Speaking at an event organised by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, National Aerospace Laboratories, Bangalore, he said, “I have requested my Director General CSIR and Director (NAL) to produce a white paper. You see, there is so much talk about having our own civil aircraft.” “We have done few things in this direction, our Defence department is also doing quite a bit, but this subject I think needs a lot of further discussion and deliberations.” he said. The government has mandated HAL and NAL for jointly taking up design, development and manufacture of 70-100 seater regional Civil Aircraft through a Special Purpose Vehicle. Later speaking to reporters on the matter, Mr Vardhan said, “In the morning I had discussions with all the Head of the Departments (at NAL) about what they were doing. There were number of issues that came up like – should we have our own manufacturing of civil aircraft etc…” He said questions also came up regarding who should make them? Who should take the lead? Who should start the process of coordination, along with the role that Science and Technology Ministry will have to play, adding, “What I have told them is that…Let them think afresh with an objective mind.” Stating that he has asked Director General CSIR and Director NAL to discuss among their colleagues about “what do we do next”, Mr Vardhan said, “We have achieved a status; after all we have to move forward. Achieving a status and a reputation should not be enough cause for our satisfaction level.” “…What I said is that try and study the best in the world what has been achieved till now and try to become better than that; what has to be done for that, how to we proceed and then what has to be done by the government. For that they have to give suggestions and bring about a white paper,” he said.
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