Pawan Hans ties-up with HAL to train helicopter pilots

State-run Pawan Hans has joined hands with public sector chopper maker Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) to train helicopter pilots.

"We have just tied-up with HAL to train helicopter pilots. This is a first in the country as there is no training facility for chopper pilots. We will begin the course in Bengaluru in July," Pawan Hans Chairman and Managing Director B P Sharma told PTI.

However, he refused to divulge more details about the commercial side of the plan as well as how many students they will take in to train annually.

Pawan Hans is a joint venture where state-owned ONGC holds 49 per cent.

Sharma said that currently Pawan Hans fully depends on pilots from the Defence forces, especially the Air Force, to operate his fleet of 46 helicopters.

He said none of their 150-odd pilots are from the non-defence background. Most of the pilots are from the Air Force, Army and the Navy. Some are also from the Coast Guard.

The industry also depends on foreign pilots, while private operators and companies also get people trained overseas as there is no facility to train helicopter pilots in the country now, Sharma said.

There are 260 civilian helicopters in the country and so there is a large market for pilots.

"We will tell the students about cent per cent placement," which is easily manageable considering the large demand in the market, he said.

Over the past week, Pawan Hans also tied-up with Mumbai University to offer a Bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering along with a course on aircraft maintenance engineering from the next academic session.

The course will be offered to 60 students and will be imparted by professionals from Pawan Hans Helicopter Training Institute, while it will be monitored by the Garware Institute of Career Education & Development.
Sharma also said after the 'Delhi Darshan' chopper

rides in the national capital, the company will also be launching a similar service in Mumbai.

Asked about the status of the agreement it had inked some years back with the state tourism body MTDC, he said it was suspended by them but now they want to resume it.

"I expect it to happen shortly," he said.

Last Thursday, national chopper operator announced 'Delhi Darshan' chopper rides from next month with a 10-minute sortie costing Rs 2,499 per person.

Besides, the state-owned aviation firm will also offer a 20-minute helicopter ride for Rs 4,999.

Sharma said he also has plans for a helicopter taxi like facility in Mumbai so that different parts of the city can be connected to airport.

The Delhi Darshan ride was inaugurated at its first heliport at Rohini in north Delhi and the commercial service will begin from April 1.

Built at a cost of Rs 100 crore for flying in and out of Delhi to nearby areas in choppers, the Rohini heliport is spread over 25 acres and consists of a terminal building that can house 150 passengers, four hangars with parking capacity for 16 helicopters and nine parking bays.