Mehair defers seaplane services launch to Mula, Pawna dams

The proposed maiden sea plane services by Mehair from Mumbai hit yet another air pocket after the operator failed to secure necessary regulatory approvals from the state government.
Maritime Energy Heli Air Services or Mehair put off its maiden service from the mainland, which was scheduled to commence from March 10 from the Juhu airport to Aamby Valley City, in the wake of Sahara Chief Subrata Roy's arrest orders by the Supreme Court, sources said today.
Now, the company has deferred its proposed seaplane services to Mula Dam in Shirdi and Pawna dam in Pune, which were to commence from tomorrow, too for want of approvals from the state Irrigation department, they told PTI.

Mehair has, however, already secured aviation regulator DGCA's nod for these services, they said adding, "the irrigation department is ready to accord permission for the Dhoom dam in Panchgani in Mahabaleshwar, which is yet to (receive) aviation regulator's approval".
"We had planned to launch only Aamby Valley Lake (service) in March but we had to defer it for some reasons. So we decided to advance Mula dam and Pawna dam services to this month instead of April.
"However, due to regulatory approvals not being in place, we have been forced to postpone these services as well," a company official who did not wish to be named said.

The date for launch will now be announced only after the signing of the Irrigation agreement, he said.
According to sources, the company will now have to take approval for launching services on all the proposed dam sites, including Mula dam, Dhoom dam, Varasgaon dam in Pune, Gangapur dam in Nashik at one time.
The company had initially planned to connect the three dams -Dhoom, Varasgaon and Gangapur in phases post the trial flights and the subsequent DGCA clearances.