Deccan expands copter operations

Nina Varghese

CHENNAI, Nov. 13

DECCAN Aviation (P) Ltd has expanded its copter operations with two small aircraft -- the Pilatus PC 12-- to cater to the growing charter market in India.

Captain R.S. Rawal, Executive Pilot, Deccan Aviation, said the company's aircraft had been engaged in a number of medical evacuations.

The nine-seater turbo props, which could fly non-stop for eight hours at 30,000 feet, are ideal for medical emergencies when patients had to be airlifted to cities with better medical facilities.

On one occasion, the aircraft has also been utilised to fly an organ from a brain dead patient in Chennai to a patient awaiting transplant in Delhi, he said.

The company is the brainchild of four Army officers who combined their love of flying with a service that a certain segment of the community needed.

Captain Rawal said there was one instance when a wedding ceremony was held in the aircraft and another when `one young sport' decided to show his girl friend the aerial view of Bangalore.

The company has six operational bases across the country, making operations accessible. Besides, regular corporate charters and service to oil rigs, the company's seven helicopters have played a part in creating a niche in heli-tourism.

Like others in the industry, however, the company's plans for heli-tourism came to naught, because of the global scenario, sources said.

The company provides offshore oil field logistic support at Yanam, near Rajahmundry in the Godavari delta.

The charter rates for Pilatus PC 12 are Rs 55,000 per flying hour, day retention charges of Rs 7,500, which will be waived if the aircraft is hired for three flying hours or more in a day and Rs 25,000 for overnight halt charges. There will also be a 15 per cent inland air travel tax (IATT).

The charter rates for the chopper range from Rs 45,000 to Rs 65,000 per flying hour, day retention charges of Rs 5,000 and overnight halt charges of Rs 15,000.