Bengaluru-based Aviators Air Rescue is planning to launch air ambulance services from Bengaluru in the last quarter of 2015. This comes after two earlier attempts in Bengaluru, one by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and another by Deccan Aviation. However, they could not take off as a dedicated air ambulance service for various reasons.
“For this air ambulance service, we have partnered Turbomeca (Safran), Airbus Helicopters (Airbus Group), Air Medical Group Holdings Inc. to develop the planned air-ambulance service in India,” Arun Sharma, Managing Director, Aviators Air Rescue said.
The company has made an initial investment of Rs 75 crore in this venture. To begin with, three helicopters will be pressed into service, he said.
Aviators is currently in discussions with GVK EMRI and state governments to promote and provide the air ambulance services as an extension to the existing 108 services.
The company has selected EC135 T3 helicopters made by Airbus Helicopters. It plans to start services in the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. More EC135 T3s are expected to be phased in during 2016 to expand the coverage.
To ensure affordability, they have tied up insurance companies to provide affordable packages.
But, all these plans hinge on what the DGCA will do with the rules. Currently, the DGCA rules mandate that the flying routes have to be planned two days in advance. But in cases of emergencies there is no possibility of giving an advance notice to fly.
“We have made a presentation to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) asking them to amend some of its rules so that we can operate our air ambulances,” Sharma said.
According to Devesh Agarwal, an aviation analyst, an operator has to ready a flight plan 48 hours in advance to be allowed to fly. “So, if you are having a heart attack, you should know at least 48 hours in advance, and so also in case of accidents, you should know of it 48 hours in advance,” he quipped.
