Kalam calls for National Aerospace policy

President A P J Abdul Kalam has emphasized the need for India to formulate a National Aeronautics Policy that seeks to integrate the strengths of civil and military aviation sectors in the country.

Inaugurating a three-day international conference on trends in product life cycle modeling simulation and synthesis (PLMSS) 2006 organized by Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in Bangalore yesterday, Kalam said the synergy such a policy lends to the aviation sector will usher in an era of high technology and high skill industry environment resulting in generation of wealth, assets and employment in the country.

Pointing out that the space systems, missile and aeronautics groups in the country had demonstrated technology excellence in their products through networking with academic institutes, industries and Government, Kalam said there were more than 300,000 engineers and technicians in the country, besides an infrastructure of more than Rs 200 billion.

“With this national strength and opportunity for larger demand in aerospace systems and export potential, a large business for industries is in front of us. It is essential that this strength is integrated into a National Aeronautics Policy”, Kalam said.

Kalam also revealed that the Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Madhavan Nair had informed him that the formulation of the National Aeronautics Policy was in an advanced stage of approval. “I will also try to accelerate it further”, Kalam added.

Kalam called upon the scientists and technologists gathered for the conference to take up missions relating to development and production of various types of aerospace systems like 150-seater passenger jet, Supersonic unmanned combat aircraft, Hypersonic reusable missile, Hyperplane and Planetary missions including manned missions for energy and water.

With the experience of many complex missions and collaborative framework besides human resource expertise, time had come for India to take up these missions, Kalam said. “With such a vast infrastructure and human resource in aerospace sector, India can definitely launch such missions with international partnerships”, he said.

Kalam also emphasized the need for the country to embark upon a mission for creation of a “Virtual Collaborative Platform for Aerospace Systems” with the active participation of ADA, ISRO, Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), National Aeronautics Laboratory (NAL) with other scientific laboratories and academic institutions like Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Indian Institute of Technologies (IITs) to realize the Aerospace Vision for India.