On Wednesday 06 April 2022, the Transport Aircraft Division (TAD) of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) handed over a new Passenger Variant Dornier (PVD) Aircraft, DO 228 manufactured at HAL, Kanpur to the Government of Mauritius. Mauritius has acquired this new PVD under a line of credit from India.
The symbolic key of the MPCG 5 aircraft was handed over to the Secretary to Cabinet and Head of Civil Service, Government of Mauritius, Mr Nayen Koomar Ballah, GOSK by the Chairman and managing director, HAL, Shri R. Madhavan.
The delegation comprising of Mr. Anil Kumar Dip, CSK, PMSM, Commissioner of Police, MPF, Capt Vipin Gupta Commandant National Coast Guard, Cdr Prashant Kumar Sharma CO MAS and PMO Officials, Mrs Pusmawtee Sohun Deputy Permanent Secretary to PMO, Mrs Asha Dabeesingh Deputy Permanent Secretary Cabinet Office and members of acceptance team and prominent officials from various governmental organisations attended the ceremony at HAL facility.
The Republic of Mauritius is acquiring a state-of-the-art Passenger Variant Dornier Aircraft from HAL under the Line of Credit (LOC) between India and Mauritius. This aircraft is first of its kind, equipped with glass cockpit, dash-10 engines and 5-bladed propellers. Govt of Mauritius has made history by becoming the first customer to order this state-of-the-art technology aircraft.
The necessity for a PVD aircraft was long felt by the Mauritius Police Force for better connection with the Outer Islands. The urgent need for a PVD was even more pronounced when the COVID-19 pandemic impacted Mauritius and volume of sorties to outer islands such as Rodrigues augmented multi-fold. This novel aircraft possesses an increased load carriage capacity and thus enhancing the quality of service.
The aircraft also incorporates an Automatic Information System which will further aid the Mauritian National Coast Guard in increasing its Maritime Surveillance capabilities to ensure safer seas for all.
This acquisition forms part of the vision of the Mauritius Police Force to increase its efficiency and effectiveness overall, whilst upgrading to a modern and technologically advanced fleet.
The aircraft shall be ferried back to Mauritius by the acceptance team of Govt of Mauritius and shall be commissioned into the National Coast Guard, by the Honourable Prime Minister of Mauritius at an early date, post the maiden landing of the aircraft at Mauritius
The new Dornier will be flown to Mauritius shortly. An official ceremony is planned in the presence of Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth to add the aircraft to the existing fleet of the Coast Guard.
