ALH clears key noise test for Europe export

Home-grown advanced light helicopter (ALH) ‘Dhruv’ has just cleared a crucial European-standard noise-level test as part of a bid to enlarge its export market to the West, according to an official press release.

Dhruv’s maker, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., said the helicopter underwent the mandated noise measurement flight trials at the Mysuru airport recently.

“Representatives of EASA [the European Aviation Safety Agency] witnessed the entire flight test. Preliminary analysis of the recorded noise data, weather parameters and aircraft parameters shows that the noise levels are within the acceptable limits specified for ALH by the International Civil Aviation Organization,” the release quoted HAL Chairman and Managing Director T. Suvarna Raju as saying.

With this and many earlier tests, ALH completes nearly 70 per cent of assessment required for a European certification and the noise test is a vital one, HAL’s spokesman told

The Hindu . Along with the price advantage in its class, a certification enables the multipurpose light helicopter to be exported to anywhere in the world except the U.S., he added.

‘Dhruv’ has completed 70 % of assessment required for a European certification