Boeing and Bangalore based Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signed an agreement recently for the production of flaperons for use on Boeing’s 777 series commercial jetliner. The work will be performed in HAL’s Bangalore complex.
The 777 flaperons, a highly complex composite assembly is instrumental in controlling the airplane’s maneuverability in flight. Referred to as a “control surface” flaperons work both as an aileron to control roll and as a flap to control lift.
Aerospace majors across the globe are increasing their sourcing from India mostly driven by costs but also driven by off-sets. For every commercial or military aircraft procured by the Government of India, there is an element of off-sets wherein the seller commits to procuring and exporting from India a certain percentage of the sale value typically between 30%~50%.
Air India’s mammoth order on both Boeing and Airbus as well as the Indian armed forces procurement of the Boeing P-8I, and other aircraft have produced a bonanza for the Indian aviation industry. The upcoming and much anticipated $10+ billion MMRCA (medium multi role combat aircraft) procurement by the Indian Air Force is expected to catapult aviation sourcing from India.
Orders from private airlines though, do not produce off-sets since they prefer to obtain a lower buy price for their aircraft.
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