Newstrack

Pawan Hans to play a bigger role in 2008

Anupama Sushil - New Delhi

Looking at the growing potential of helicopter industry in India, the role of the national helicopter company, Pawan Hans Helicopters Limited (PHHL) is set to expand. As the government has realised that the helicopter operations are most suited to the country because of its diverse land forms there is now a new direct focus on this segment of aviation.

Speaking to Express AviationWorld, Munish Bhargava, manager marketing, PHHL said "With the current fleet of helicopters at 35, we are now looking at inducting about 20 more helicopters soon under a five year plan and the tender for the same will be brought out by the middle of the year. The increase in helicopter fleet will help serve inter- and intra-city circuits enabling faster travelling."

Looking at the fast growth, Bhargava mentioned that PHHL is aiming at taking the fleet size to 100 helicopters within the next three years. "As the demand and purposes of hiring helicopters is rapidly diversifying into civil areas of marriages, flower dropping and even for religious tourism certainly more demand will be seen in the future," he said.

With the increasing fleet size, PHHL has a memorandum of understanding with the Indian Air Force (IAF) allowing IAF pilots opting for premature retirement to join PHHL and fly helicopters. PHHL will soon recruit about 125 pilots into its system and according to Bhargava, the helicopter company is exploring the possibility of having similar arrangements with the Indian Naval Force.

The company lately has also been authorised to develop and manage a heliport in the national capital city of Delhi scheduled to be completed by the year 2010 keeping in mind the Commonwealth Games to be held in the city year. While, land has still not been identified, it would be located somewhere in Delhi or Gurgaon. The air traffic control and other clearances will be managed by Pawan Hans itself.