Naval LCA carries out ‘HOT REFUELLING’

Anantha Krishnan M has tweeted last image of Naval LCA carrying out ‘Hot refuelling’ in HAL premises in Bengaluru . Meaning of ‘hot refuelling’ means Fueling With Engines Operating. Hot refueling is performed only when operations require rapid turnaround of aircraft, since hot refuel-ing is significantly more dangerous and costly interms of fuel and manpower expenditures. Only pres-sure hot refueling is performed.

A minimum of three ground crew personnel are required for each hot-refueling operation. ‘Hot refuelling’ becomes necessary in case of missing Aerial mid air refuellers in active combat patrol zone .

The Indian Navy might order up to 40 single-seaters to replace its Sea Harrier FRS.51

and Harrier T.60. In December 2014 the LCA Navy successfully conducted ski-jump trials at SBTF Goa. The navy variant has a special flight control law mode which allows hands-free take-off relieving the pilot workload, as the aircraft leaps from the ramp and automatically puts the aircraft in an ascending trajectory.

The naval Tejas will also have a strengthened spine, a longer and stronger undercarriage, and powered nose wheel steering for deck manoeuvrability. The Tejas trainer variant will have “aerodynamic commonality” with the two-seat naval aircraft design.