The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas which is racing against time to be introduced into the Indian Air Force on Sunday crossed a significant milestone as the last aircraft in the Limited Series Production program of LCA-Tejas (LSP-08) made its maiden flight here on Sunday. According to the defence PSU, with this the Initial Operation Clearance (IOC) for the aircraft can be expected soon.

Moreover, the performance of the aircraft was faultless as it was flown covering a flight envelope at supersonic speeds at an angle of attack of 20 degrees. This angle of attack is the current maximum limit cleared for the present design of the aircraft while the aircraft with a build standard akin to the Initial Operation Clearance standard, underwent a series of rigorous checks by the certifying and inspecting agencies during the last fortnight with a few taxi checks to assess the aircraft’s performance and that the flight clearance for the aircraft was accorded by the certifying agencies on Sunday.

According to Hindustan Aeronautical Ltd HAL until now, the aircraft underwent high-speed taxi trials prior to the first flight. But with the confidence gained by the flight crew and the certifying agencies during the various checks, a decision was taken to proceed with the LSP-08’s maiden flight without going through a separate high-speed taxi trial.

As a conclusion, the LCA programme has been in development for over two decades and before the aircraft is introduced into the IAF it will have to attain the Final Operational Clearance.

(AW:Samrat Biswas)