Oil cos hunt for helicopters as Global Vectra loses permit

ONGC has leased eight helicopters from Global Vectra for ferrying its employees to oil and gas installations off both east and west coast, while BG Group has hired two choppers for supporting operations at its western offshore Panna/Mukta and Tapti oil and gas fields.

"We have heard of the suspension... Naturally if their (Global Vectra) helicopters are taken off, we will be impacted," ONGC Chairman and Managing Director Sudhir Vasudeva told PTI here. "We will talk to other helicopter suppliers like Pawan Hans ... Tomorrow."

According to sources, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) today suspended the flying permit of Global Vectra.

On Saturday, the home ministry had withdrawn security clearance granted to Global Vectra, whose promoter Ravi Rishi is being investigated by the CBI for his alleged role in the recent Tatra deal controversy.

He has been repeatedly questioned by the CBI on the allegation of Army Chief V K Singh that Singh was offered Rs 14 crore in bribe for a Tatra deal on behalf of Rishi.

Industry sources said the suspension will lead of grounding of all Global Vectra's fleet of 23 aircraft, including Bell Helicopters, Eurocopters and AgustaWestland Helicopters.

Reliance Industries and Gujarat State Petroleum Corp (GSPC) too have hired Global Vectra helicopters and their operations too may be impacted.

Vasudeva said ONGC had hired 19 helicopters in all, 8 of these came from Global Vectra. State-owned Pawan Hans was the other biggest supplier.

"We will talk to Pawan Hans tomorrow to see how much we can get from them," he said.