Civil Aviation Ministry is specializing in making a community of heliports, the secretary mentioned. (File)
New Delhi:
The rules governing civilian helicopters in India are very restrictive and so they make operation unviable at instances, mentioned Civil Aviation Secretary PS Kharola on Friday, including that the federal government is working to ease these rules in order that the frequent man is benefitted.
“In some way, what has occurred is that the rules which had been meant for fixed-wing planes have simply been utilized with little modifications to the helicopters,” he mentioned throughout a webinar at 2nd Helicopter Summit-2020 organised by trade physique FICCI.
“Because of which, these rules are very restrictive and at instances, they even make the operation of helicopters unviable. So the second sector we’re engaged on is easing out these rules in order that the helicopters can be utilized for the advantage of the frequent man,” he added.
In an effort to enhance helicopter operations in India, the primary sector that the Civil Aviation Ministry is specializing in is making a community of heliports, the secretary mentioned.
“There are particular locations in South India too the place motion with helicopters may be very fascinating and it’s doable. So, the very first thing we’re concentrating on is making a community of heliports. On this, we’re getting full help from the state governments,” Mr Kharola mentioned.
The three different elements on which the ministry is working is to make helicopter operations viable in a approach that it turns into reasonably priced for passengers, cut back taxes on air turbine gasoline (ATF) that’s taxed at very excessive charges, and enhance manufacturing and upkeep, restore and overhaul (MRO) actions for helicopters in India, Mr Kharola mentioned.
“In some way helicopters haven’t seen the expansion now we have seen in fixed-wing planes in our nation,” he mentioned.
“On the fastened planes facet, the site visitors has been rising 15-16 per cent over the past 10 years. However helicopters in some way didn’t get to the suitable place in order that they may develop,” he mentioned.
Helicopters are versatile machines and they’re concerned in varied features like rescue operations, emergency operations or medical evacuation operations, Mr Kharola mentioned.
Even now, helicopters are getting used to struggle the locust swarms which have come into the western a part of the nation, he added.
The federal government-owned Pawan Hans is presently the biggest participant in civil helicopter aviation in India. It has a fleet of 43 helicopters, as per its web site.
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