In what comes as a major milestone in decentralising aircraft production and expanding the country's strategic aerospace capabilities, the Office of the Additional Director General (OADG), Nashik—a field establishment of Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DGAQA)—accorded flight clearance to India's indigenously-manufactured Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A from the Nashik division of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
Flight clearance for fighter jets involves both mandatory technical certification and real-time operational permissions, safeguarding both the aircraft and airspace integrity. The flight clearance document was handed over to the executive director, HAL Nashik Division by ADG, AQA.
“Nashik, renowned for its legacy in manufacturing and sustaining fighter fleets, has now evolved into a key hub for indigenous aircraft production. Hosting the third LCA production line outside Bengaluru, this decentralised set-up enhances operational flexibility and aligns with India’s broader defence preparedness and strategic autonomy goals,” the defence ministry said in a release.
OADG in Nashik played a major role in the successful absorption of the transfer of technology for LCA manufacturing. The office led the redesign and modification of tools and fixtures, transformed legacy work centres, and facilitated a cultural and technical shift in aerospace philosophies.
“Upholding stringent quality assurance standards, the team ensured the production of over 5,000 high-precision components, in-house loom manufacturing, Line Replacement Units testing, and exhaustive pre-installation and assembly checks. Round-the-clock support was extended to mission-critical operations, including Right-First-Time ground runs, snag rectification, and final system readiness, culminating in the successful flight clearance,” the statement from the defence ministry added.