Zomato-Backed LAT Aerospace to Develop Low-Cost, 24-Seater STOL Commercial Planes, Challenging HAL's Hindustan 228 and NAL's Saras

LAT Aerospace, a startup backed by Zomato founder and CEO Deepinder Goyal, is entering the Indian aviation market with plans to develop affordable, 24-seater Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) aircraft.

This move positions the company as a direct competitor to established public sector projects, including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's (HAL) Hindustan 228 and the National Aerospace Laboratories' (NAL) Saras MkII.

Goyal has invested $20 million in LAT Aerospace, signaling a significant shift from his established role in the food technology sector. The company's primary goal is to improve regional air connectivity across India, particularly in areas with limited or no existing airport infrastructure.

LAT Aerospace aims to design and build STOL aircraft capable of operating from very short runways, potentially no larger than a parking lot. This capability eliminates the need for large, traditional airports, complete with baggage handling and extensive security systems. The result is expected to be more affordable and accessible air travel for smaller cities and towns.

The company's aircraft are designed for intercity travel, with a projected range of up to 1,500 kilometers. This contrasts with intra-city air taxi services, which typically use Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) technology.

LAT Aerospace envisions a network of "air-stops," connecting major cities with hundreds of smaller, underserved locations, creating a comprehensive regional air travel system.

LAT Aerospace's entry into the market brings a private-sector approach to an industry largely dominated by government-backed entities.

HAL's Hindustan 228, a 19-seater aircraft, is a key component of the Indian government's UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme, which promotes regional air connectivity.

The Hindustan 228 is designed to operate from semi-prepared airstrips, facilitating connections to remote areas. The UDAN scheme, launched in 2016, aims to stimulate regional connectivity by providing viability gap funding and concessions to airlines, making air travel more affordable.

Similarly, NAL's Saras MkII, a planned 19-seater multi-role aircraft, has been in development for over a decade. Intended for both civilian and military use, the project has encountered delays due to funding, technical issues, and changing priorities. The extended development timeline has raised concerns about its ability to address India's immediate regional connectivity needs.

With its 24-passenger capacity, LAT Aerospace's STOL aircraft could offer a potential economic advantage over the 19-seater Hindustan 228 and Saras MkII. A larger aircraft can potentially lead to lower per-seat operating costs.

Additionally, the company's private-sector backing and Goyal's experience in scaling businesses may provide benefits in terms of innovation, speed to market, and cost-effectiveness.

The successful development of LAT Aerospace's STOL aircraft could significantly impact regional connectivity in India. By providing a lower-cost option, air travel could become a realistic option for smaller communities currently lacking the infrastructure for larger aircraft.

The company's emphasis on fuel-efficient and lightweight designs could further reduce operational expenses, making it an attractive option for regional airlines.

However, LAT Aerospace faces substantial challenges. The aviation industry is known for its high capital requirements, strict regulations, and complex certification processes. Developing a new aircraft requires substantial technical expertise, rigorous testing, and significant financial investment. LAT Aerospace will need to navigate these rigorous processes to bring its aircraft to market.

Competition with established entities like HAL, which benefits from government support and extensive experience, will also be a major hurdle.

 

[Surfer]

As if HAL and NAL made hundreds of passenger jets.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

A 24-seater is too small; it may not provide economies of scale. Plan something bigger, like a 60-100 seating capacity. BTW, from where are they getting engines, power systems, electronics, etc.?

 

[The Presence]

A 24-seater is too small; it may not provide economies of scale. Plan something bigger, like a 60-100 seating capacity. BTW, from where are they getting engines, power systems, electronics, etc.?

60-100 seater will be too big for the small airstrips they're targetting.

 

[Leo red]

Govt should give tax-free offers to aircraft mfg companies in India. Minimum 100 seats required. You will not get too much money from so few people. India is in quantity, Bhai.

 

[Strongman]

A 24-seater is too small; it may not provide economies of scale. Plan something bigger, like a 60-100 seating capacity. BTW, from where are they getting engines, power systems, electronics, etc.?

Yes and no. Once they have success in the 20-seater aircraft, they can move on to bigger ones. Although, 20 million is a very small amount in the aviation space, my guess is that they will only be working on the fuselage and controls. The engine part will be bought from an existing manufacturer (US or European). Or maybe they can somehow work around it and wait for the Kaveri dry, civilian version, to be certified and be used on this. Engines (land, sea, or air) are the main issue for India... Unless there is private participation, nothing will be easy.

 

[Bhishma]

This is a good and needed step. As the salaries are rising, more and more people are preferring to fly, clogging the airports. Our air infrastructure will face crisis making it difficult for everyone. Dedicated small airstrips serving small routes would be a great boon.

 

[Abs29]

60-100 seater will be too big for the small airstrips they're targetting.

Its enough for business aviation. For that segment starts from 5-7 seaters and goes to full scale Boeing Business Jet a B707 size aircraft with capacity of 80-100. For most corporate travel companies teams rarely exceed 10-15 people. So in that sense its good enough.

 

[Pankaj]

A wonderful initiative by the private firm. Congratulations for the visionary step.

 

[Sandeep]

This is really good news. They need to make sure that they succeed and start doing it very quickly and get into the market now before it becomes saturated with Boeing and Airbus with their planes.

 

[beencensured]

As if HAL and NAL made hundreds of passenger jets.

Agreed, They will be in field by themselves if successful. NAL is developing, and HAL is screw driving and so to make a new jet of such class then very good work to do and an achievement for India.

 

[Suresh Kumar Singh Singh]

Paper tigers like BHEL, Mahindra Aerospace, and Taneja Aerospace. Projects coming and vanishing.

 

[Chand Ashok]

Considering India's 1.40 billion population & rapid urbanization, India's aviation market will outgrow even the combined USA + European markets in the next 30 years. Hence, India may require 50,000+ aircraft over this period. We can't allow to miss out on this opportunity, letting such a quantum of funds (approx. $1.00 trillion) flow to foreign companies for the purchase of Boeing/Airbus aircraft. It's high time that the Govt. of India takes bold initiatives for manufacturing commercial 50-seater & 100-seater aircraft in India under a time-bound initiative. This can be initiated with the development of airframes & avionics indigenously, powering aircraft with foreign engines from Pratt & Whitney or Rolls Royce, ensuring timely development since the engine is an entirely different, high-tech endeavor. Once GTRE successfully develops the Kaveri high-thrust engine, the manufacturing may be tasked to private giants, and GTRE may be tasked with a project for developing these classes of engines. Benefitting from economies of scale, India can position itself as a cost-effective manufacturing hub and supplier of commercial aircraft for the Global South in Africa, Latin America, Asia & Eastern Europe.