HAL must become the market leader: Kalam

 President Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam said that HAL must become the market leader in one or two aircraft programmes and wanted the Company to venture into making unmanned supersonic fighters, remote-piloted vehicles, space systems and their derivatives. “Working through a full cycle of design, development, production and marketing of the total aircraft systems indigenously will enable HAL to become a world leader in aviation,” Dr Kalam said.

     In an exclusive interview to HAL’s yet-to-be-released official mouthpiece -- The Plane -- Dr Kalam said that HAL needs creative leaders. “Creative leadership means exercising the vision to change the traditional role from the commander to the coach, manager to the mentor, from director to delegator and from who demands respect to one who facilitates self-respect,” the President said.

    He said HAL must introduce a lot of inspiring leaders in the organisation. “This will facilitate young engineers and designers to mingle with performers, seek their guidance and get inspired to excel in their tasks,” Dr Kalam said.

     Emphasising that success comes to an institution only when it has the culture of taking risks and succeeding, Dr Kalam said: “When you are in sensitive missions, you will definitely encounter certain failures. In such situations, you should not allow failures to become your master. Instead, you should become master of the problems and succeed.”

     Terming the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas as an excellent combat machine, Dr Kalam said: “We should persevere and ensure that it graduates for Squadron service before 2010.” On HAL’s star product the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv, Dr Kalam wanted HAL to design new-generation Dhruvs which can cater to civilian and Service requirements.

     When asked about the marketing mantra for HAL, Dr Kalam said the customer must get the best performance at the most competitive cost. “Customer is the king and he should get the product at the right time and in the right place. HAL must become the market leader in one or two aircraft products,” he said.

    The Plane ready for take-off

     After running into rough weather due to last-minute technical glitches, the official mouthpiece of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) -- The Plane -- is ready for take-off.

     The maiden flight of The Plane is now slated for December 23^rd when Mr A.K. Saxena, Managing Director, Bangalore Complex, HAL, hands over the first copy to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal S.P. Tyagi, at a function in Bangalore. With the launch-theme of My Dreams on HAL -- The Plane -- a quarterly, is packed with invited articles and high-quality photographs.

     Apart from President Dr Kalam, The Plane has onboard thought-provoking interviews from Chief of Air Staff, HAL Chairman Mr Ashok K. Baweja and a battery of Directors. The Plane has got a seating capacity of 56 pages.