HAL’s ALH Dhruv Helicopters Resumes Flight Operations

The fleet of ALH Dhruv helicopters has resumed flight operations, according to a press release issued by Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) on Monday. This comes less than a month after the Indian Navy grounded the helicopters following a mishap off the coast of Mumbai.

“In the aftermath of the ALH Dhruv accident off the coast of Mumbai, the Navy halted the operations of ALH Dhruv Helicopters until investigators determine the cause of the incident and precautionary checks are carried out,” the business said at the time.

All three armed forces, including the Army, Navy and Air Force, as well as the Indian Coast Guard, fly the ALH choppers.

HAL’s Advanced Light Helicopter, or ALH-Dhruv, is a twin-engine utility aircraft developed in-house.

Despite the fact that development began in 1984 and was initially designed with Germany’s Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm (MBB), the helicopter first flew in 1992 and entered service following certification in 2002.

The aircraft has been “type-certified” for military operations by the Centre for Military Airworthiness Certification and civil operations by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, according to HAL. Dhruv Mk-I, Mk-II, Mk-III and Mk-IV are the four major Dhruv types.

Over 300 HAL Dhruvs have been produced for domestic and export markets as of 2020.