Page 2 - Helicopter

Maldives military to have control of helicopter crew from India: MNDF

The Maldivian defence force on Thursday said it will have operational authority over the helicopter given by India to the island nation and the civilian crew that will pilot it. Addressing a press conference, the Principal Director of Plans, Policy, and Resources Management for the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), Colonel Ahmed Mujuthaba Mohamed said that discussions are underway for withdrawing Indian troops from the Maldives. He emphasised that the government of President Mohamed Muizzu has decided not to permit any foreign troops to remain stationed in the Maldives beyond May 10, PSM News, the state broadcaster reported. Last week, India said its first civilian team of technical experts has reached the Maldives to replace the military personnel operating an advanced light helicopter in the island nation. "The first team of technical personnel to operate the advanced light helicopter has reached the Maldives. It will replace the existing personnel who were operating this .

Airbus gets DGCA approval for new generation H160 helicopter in India

Airbus has received approval from aviation regulator DGCA for its new generation H160 helicopter in India. More than 100 helicopters of Airbus, including the single-engine H125, are being operated by various entities in the country. In a release on Thursday, Airbus said its H160 helicopter has been granted the letter of type acceptance by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) that will pave the way for its entry into the Indian market. A multi-role helicopter, H160 can be used for offshore transportation, emergency medical services, private and business aviation and public services, among others. Sunny Guglani, Head of Airbus Helicopters, Airbus India and South Asia, said the DGCA approval paves the way for the introduction of the world's most modern helicopter in India starting with a corporate customer followed by the potential deployment for other types of missions. "Airbus Helicopters is committed to developing a holistic helicopter ecosystem in India, including ...

Airbus Helicopters, Heligo sign HCare services contract for H145 fleet

Airbus on Friday said it has signed an HCare Initial contract, a comprehensive by-the-hour services deal, with Heligo Charter Private Limited for six Airbus H145 helicopters deployed for offshore and onshore operations in India. A press release from the aircraft maker said under this five-year contract, Heligo will benefit from Airbus's HCare Initial programme, which will give the operator the freedom to replace scheduled and unscheduled components within 24 hours and pay a fixed rate per hour of helicopter flown. This will help Heligo bring down its maintenance costs and do away with the need to keep a regular inventory, thereby providing it with enhanced fleet availability for streamlined operations, it said. "We are proud to be the first operator to offer a fleet of Airbus Helicopters' 5-bladed H145 to ONGC for offshore operations in India. Once these helicopters are delivered this year, Heligo will have the largest H145 fleet in India serving both offshore and onshore missions,

Ram temple: UP govt to start helicopter services to Ayodhya. Check fares

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will inaugurate the helicopter service from Lucknow

Helicopter services from Lucknow to Ayodhya to commence from Jan 19

"The booking schedule and fare rates will be finalised on the evening of January 16 and the distance from Lucknow to Ayodhya can be covered in just 30-40 minutes," it added

Helicopter services for devotees ahead of Ram Temple consecration in UP

The minister, however, did not give a specific date. "The services will start before January 22."

Heliport services in Agra, Mathura to take off soon for tourism boost

UP Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh said the introduction of this epoch-making heliport service would open new vistas of tourism growth and development opportunities

HAL failure to anticipate EASA norms led to longer compliance checks: CAG

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited applied for European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification of Helicopter 1 in 2009 to enhance its export potential to European countries, but failed to anticipate stringent requirements of EASA which took longer time for compliance and a consequential additional fee, a CAG report has found. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG)- Union Government (Public Sector Undertakings Ministry of Defence) for the year ended March 2020 Report No 18 of 2023 was presented in Parliament on Thursday, according to an official statement. "The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) also failed to identify technical experts to avail consultancy services for timely compliance of the stringent requirements of EASA. The expenditure of Rs 108.24 crore incurred was impaired," it said. As on March 31, 2021, there were nine main defence PSUs, six subsidiaries and two joint venture companies under the Ministry of Defence, the CAG has said in the report. On ..

Nepal forms 4-member committee to probe helicopter crash near Mt. Everest

The Nepal government has formed a four-member panel to probe the deadly helicopter crash near Mount Everest in the country's eastern region, authorities said on Wednesday. The Manang Air helicopter 9N-AMV crashed on Tuesday, killing all six people on board, including five members of a Mexican family. The probe committee is headed by Budhisagar Lamichhane, joint secretary at the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation, according to the ministry sources. The helicopter took off from Surke Airport in Solukhumbu district at 10.04 am for Kathmandu and suddenly lost contact at an altitude above 12,000 feet at 10.13 am. The helicopter crashed in the Lamjura area of Likhupike Rural Municipality in the remote mountainous Solukhumbu district. A meeting of the Council of Ministers convened at the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers at Singha Durbar on Tuesday expressed sorrow over the loss of lives in the crash and decided to form a committee to probe it, cabinet source

5 out of 6 bodies recovered from Manang helicopter crash site in Nepal

A Manang Air helicopter with six people aboard went missing near Mount Everest in Nepal on Tuesday, aviation authorities said. According to Tribhuvan International Airport General Manager Pratap Babu Tiwari, the chopper, with call sign 9N-AMV, went contactless 15 minutes into the flight. The chopper had taken off from Surki in Solukhumbu for the capital Kathmandu at 9:45 am, the Kathmandu Post newspaper quoted Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal Information Officer Gyanendra Bhul as saying. According to initial reports, the helicopter was carrying a total of six individuals. It was piloted by Senior Captain Chet Gurung, the Himalayan Times newspaper quoted a source as saying.

CM Mamata's helicopter makes emergency landing near Siliguri due to weather

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's helicopter made an emergency landing at the Sevoke air base near Siliguri on Tuesday afternoon due to bad weather, officials said. Banerjee was on the way to the Bagdogra airport after addressing an election rally in Jalpaiguri when her helicopter ran into bad weather while flying over the Baikunthapur forest, they said. "It was raining very heavily here, and the pilot decided to make an emergency landing," an official told PTI. After the incident, it was decided that Banerjee will travel by road to the Bagdogra airport, and then fly back to Kolkata, he said. The chief minister was touring parts of northern West Bengal to campaign for the panchayat elections, the polling for which will be held on July 8.

India conducts Asia's 1st performance-based helicopter navigation: Scindia

India conducted Asia's first demonstration of performance-based navigation for helicopters for a flight from Juhu to Pune using GAGAN satellite technology. In a tweet on Wednesday, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said it is a fine example of the "Indian aviation sector blazing a trail in innovation!". "India conducts Asia's first demonstration for Performance-Based Navigation for helicopters. "The flight from Juhu to Pune made use of the #GAGAN satellite technology that enhances accuracy, allowing for high quality air traffic management. Congratulations @AAI_Official," the minister said. GAGAN refers to GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation. It is a space-based augmentation system for providing the best possible navigational services over the Indian FIR (Flight Information Region) with the capability of expanding to neighbouring FIRs. It was jointly developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

Aviation regulator DGCA simplifies application process for heliport license

Aviation regulator DGCA has simplified the application process for heliport licenses, and applicants can now seek clearances through a single window on the regulator's portal. Earlier, applicants had to seek NOC (No Objection Certificate)/ clearance from five entities before submitting online applications for heliport licenses. The entities are the home ministry, defence ministry, environment and forest ministry, Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the local administration concerned. Now, the applications for NOC/ clearance can be routed to the five entities through a single window provided on the eGCA portal, an official release said on Tuesday. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) grants heliport license/ operational authorisation to the heliports at the surface level as well as at elevated/rooftop of buildings. Applicants are required to submit an online application through the regulator's eGCA portal.

More than 26,000 pilgrims visit Kedarnath by helicopter in one month

More than 26,000 pilgrims visited Kedarnath by helicopter within a month of the Himalayan temple opening its doors for devotees as part of the annual Char Dham Yatra. Kedarnath opened for pilgrims on April 25. According to a release issued by the Rudraprayag district administration on Wednesday, 26,564 pilgrims reached Kedarnath by air till May 23. Seven helicopter companies are providing air services to the pilgrims from Guptkashi, Phata and Shersi in the district, Nodal Officer for Heli Services Rahul Choubey said. Helicopter services are being provided by Trans Bharat and Aryan from Guptkashi, Pawan Hans, Global Victra and Thambi from Phata and Himalayan and Aero Heli from Shersi, he said. Till Tuesday (May 23), 4.75 lakh devotees have visited Kedarnath since the temple doors opened.

Kedarnath Heli Service: Book tickets through IRCTC's official website

Kedarnath Heli's ticket booking service begins today. The ticket can be booked through IRCTC's official website, i.e., https://heliyatra.irctc.co.in/

Back in action: HAL's ALH Dhruv helicopters begin flying operations

This comes less than a month after the operations of the helicopters were halted by the Indian Navy following an accident off the Mumbai coast

DGCA orders probe as official dies by helicopter rotor blades in Kedarnath

The official added that they have ordered a detailed investigation into the matter. They are coordinating with UCADA members to get more details into the incident, the officials said

HAL hands over advanced light helicopter to Mauritius ahead of schedule

"HAL would provide all the necessary technical, logistic, and maintenance support for ALH helicopter in Mauritius," the PSU said in a statement

India to send utility helicopter unit to UN peacekeeping mission in Mali

India will send a utility helicopter unit to the UN peacekeeping operations in Mali as several countries have withdrawn or announced plans to withdraw from the country, says a UN spokesperson

HAL, Safran sign agreement to create JV to build helicopter engines

HAL and Safran's existing partnerships include the Shakti engine that can propel helicopters to altitudes above 20,000 ft where the Indian Army is deployed.