New Delhi. India might fly its own indigenously built 70-seater civilian aircraft in another seven to eight years, the programme director of the country’s first self-built aircraft SARAS has said.

“We are in the planning stages for a 70-seater aircraft. In another seven to eight years, we should be flying our own big aircraft,” SARAS programme director MS Chidananda told IANS.

The National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Banaglore, has already come up with two 14-seater SARAS planes built with Indian technology.

“The first SARAS prototype has undertaken over 120 test flights, while the second prototype, developed in April this year, has gone for 12 test flights,” Chidananda said.

“We are working hard on the third aircraft now. It is expected to be ready by December 2008. The third plane will be equipped with a more powerful engine and will be lighter,” he said.

Chidananda said India could start production of these planes on a commercial scale after 2009.

“We are discussing the commercial prospects with many companies in the private sector. We will zero in on a production agency soon,” he said.

Due to the progress of the SARAS and other projects, India’s aviation growth has been featured in a television series on Discovery channel. The six-episode series celebrates the scientific strides made by India in the last 60 years.

The SARAS director said the thrust of projects undertaken by the NAL is to develop indigenous aviation technology that would contribute to the development of the sector not only in India but also in other parts of the world.

“We are trying to come out with new technology that would contribute to aviation growth globally,” he said.

Chidananda said it was a good opportunity for the country to become a major player in the world aviation market.

“Definitely, there are only five to six nations in the world which manufacture aircraft. If we enter the market, we can become a major player.”

He also said the progress of aviation technology in India was crucial as the country is experiencing a boom in the sector with massive increase in passenger and cargo traffic.