About HAL Helicopters & Fuel Consumption
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) designs and manufactures helicopters for military, utility, and combat missions. From the versatile Dhruv ALH to the advanced Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), HAL helicopters are a backbone of Indian aviation.
Factors Influencing Fuel Consumption:
- Model: Lighter helicopters like the LUH consume less compared to combat helicopters like the LCH.
- Payload: Weapons, sensors, and additional cargo increase burn rate.
- Flight Profile: Hovering, mountain flying, and combat maneuvers demand more fuel than level cruising.
- Fuel Type: HAL helicopters are optimized for Jet-A, Jet-A1, or JP-8 fuels.
Formulas Used:
- Fuel Used = Burn Rate (L/hr) × Flight Hours
- Total Cost = Fuel Used × Price per Liter
- CO₂ Emissions = Fuel Used × Emission Factor (kg CO₂/L)
Example:
A HAL Dhruv ALH flying for 2 hours on Jet-A1 fuel at ₹90/liter:
- Fuel Used = 400 × 2 = 800 liters
- Total Cost = 800 × 90 = ₹72,000
- CO₂ Emissions = 800 × 2.45 = 1960 kg
Note: Figures are averages for planning. Actual fuel burn depends on weather, altitude, payload, and mission profile.
