♦ Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh launched the production version of India’s indigenous Hansa-3 NG pilot trainer aircraft at CSIR–National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) in Bengaluru. 

♦ The Hansa-3 NG, India’s first all-composite two-seat trainer, has been designed to meet rising demand for pilot training as India is projected to need nearly 30,000 pilots over the next two decades. Industry partner Pioneer Clean Amps is setting up a Rs.150-crore manufacturing facility in Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, with a capacity to produce up to 100 aircraft annually.

♦ Singh also launched the NAviMet aviation weather system at HAL Airport. Over 175 DRISHTI, AWOS and NAviMet systems developed by CSIR-NAL are currently operational at civil and defence airfields.