Hindustan Aeronautics Limited files statement with stock market, says working to handle issues of grounded copters

Public sector giant Hindustan Aeronautics Limited on Friday filed a statement in the stock exchange about the status of the fleet of the Advance Light Helicopters (ALH), saying  it was “working with all its customers”, including the Indian Air Force, and was confident of handling the critical issues.

The fleet of about 300 copters across all armed forces – the Army, IAF, Navy and Coast Guard – has been grounded since January this year.

HAL, in which the Ministry of Defence is a majority stakeholder, filed a statement with the indices saying, “It is working with all its customers, including the Indian Air Force, and is confident of handling the critical issues that are innate to the Defence Aeronautics and complex flying platforms.”

It mentioned how “unwarranted and speculative” information was being made public about the status of the fleet of the ALH. The HAL said it needs to protect interests of all stakeholders from being influenced by unwarranted and speculative stories being floated around on social media, websites and blogs.

HAL, in its statement , said all forms of publications — online, print, websites, blogs, social and digital media platforms — have published speculative and stories with malicious intentions on HAL.

These stories are authored by so-called Defence analysts, former pilots, officers of the Defence Forces and arm-chair critics, HAL said.

“These stories are written without offering HAL’s perspective, and arguments are one-sided and biased. There are inaccuracies and references to outdated issues that have long been resolved by HAL by taking its customers into confidence,” the statement said.