Pawan Hans needs 100 more helicopters for hub and spoke project

New Delhi: A presentation of Pawan Hans Helicopters was made at the meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to the Ministry of Civil Aviation was held here today.
It was highlighted that that PHHL which currently has 35 helicopters plans to acquire 20 more at a cost of Rs. 496 crores in the year 2007-08(ending September 07) the Company has earned a net profit after tax of Rs. 13.45 crores. A number of new initiatives have been taken by the Company including the Helipad concept in India – it plans a Helipad each in Mumbai and Delhi, setting up a maintenance center in Mumbai, equity participation in the National Flying Training School to be set up in Gondia, promoting religious tourism, air ambulances, highway helipad services, increased off-shore E&P activities etc. Pawan Hans envisages the requirements of at least 100 more helicopters to meet the emerging business opportunities for hub and spoke synergy in India.
The Members called for increased focus on the development of helicopter services in India and emphasized that the potential of business growth of Pawan Hans was considerable in the current scenario of high growth in the aviation sector.
Members cutting across party lines also called for a re-look at the existing Airport Policy of the Government to allow for multiple airports at metropolitan cities. They stressed that, as is the practice world over, with the growth of civil aviation sector more airports would be required in the country and multiple airports would be necessary to address the existing problems in metropolitan airports.
Responding to the concerns expressed by the Members the Chairman of the Committee, the Minister for Civil Aviation, Praful Patel said that the Ministry fully shared the views and the concerns of the members. The issue was raised by the Ministry in the recent meeting on the infrastructure headed by the Prime Minister. A group consisting of the Finance Minister, the Civil Aviation Minister, and the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission had been set up to see how to take this process further. He assured the members that a new Policy for Airport would be in place in the first half of 2008.
14/11/07 Press Information Bureau (press release)

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Categories: General Aviation Nov 2007, New Nov 2007