Airliners-India.com Forum Index Airliners-India.com
Flickr Group & Facebook
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

India's oldest airport Juhu (Bombay) to be decommissioned

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Airliners-India.com Forum Index -> Civil Aviation
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
747-237
Member


Joined: 11 Jun 2007
Posts: 11336
Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom

PostPosted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 7:04 am    Post subject: India's oldest airport Juhu (Bombay) to be decommissioned Reply with quote

http://www.mid-day.com/news/2012/sep/130912-mumbai-Juhu-airport-grounded.htm


Juhu airport grounded!

India's oldest airport will virtually stop operations from September 18 as its beleaguered secondary runway has been ordered to shut down. Main runway can rarely operate as it comes in the approach path of Santacruz airport's secondary runway


September 13, 2012


India’s first civil aviation airport is on its last legs. From September 18, secondary runway 16/34 of Juhu aerodrome will be decommissioned. The decision has been made following a recent safety audit report issued by air safety department of Airports Authority of India (AAI). A pertinent point is that main runway 08/26 of the aerodrome cannot be used whenever Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) —which is less than two kilometres away — operates flights from its secondary runway 14/32 because of problems in alignment.

The audit report (copy with MiD DAY) sent by AAI to all top aviation functionaries reads: “Juhu shall not use runway 16/34 for landings/takeoffs with effect from 18-9-2012.” It goes on to say: “This one week’s time is given to put temporary NOTAM (notices to airmen) in place, intimate operators/other stakeholders including Mumbai ATC, MIAL etc, that Juhu airport will be closed to landings/takeoffs whenever Mumbai uses runway 14/32 and hence, all the helicopters/Juhu-based fixed-wing aircraft that are in the air heading towards Juhu will have to divert and land at CSIA, Mumbai. This temporary NOTAM can be lifted and Juhu airport can revert to normal operations as soon as runway 16/34 is resurfaced. Operators based at Juhu may be advised to make necessary arrangements with MIAL to provision parking space at CSIA for them to cater to the exigency of Juhu airport becoming suddenly unavailable whenever CSIA switches over from runway 09/27 to runway 14/32.”

Permanent?
The report recommends shutting down the derelict runway 16/34 till it’s repaired. However, on May 15, MiD DAY had highlighted (‘AAI officers wanted to shut down Juhu runway to help buildings stand tall’) an unholy nexus between some Airports Authority of India (AAI) bigwigs and the builders’ lobby, endeavouring to shut down to retire this particular runway permanently for furtherance of building projects.

The secondary runway 14/32 of Mumbai airport is frequently used for operations in case there are issues like potholes or ongoing repairs with the main runway. 14/32 is also recurrently used during monsoons. Helicopter pilots from various companies also told this newspaper that it is the wind that decides which strip is feasible for operations, and hence the need for two runways. “Because of the current wind situation, secondary runway 14/32 of Mumbai is regularly employed. So, if secondary runway 16/34 of Juhu aerodrome shuts down, its main runway 08/26 cannot operate either,” said Captain Prashant Oak of aviation company Deccan Charters Limited.

Captain Uday Gelli, president, Rotary Wing Society of India (Western Region), said, “Both runways of Juhu aerodrome are required for operations. If 16/34 shuts down, operations will come to a standstill.” Captain BS Ranade of Pune-based Bharat Forge endorsed these views.

“If runway 16/34 shuts down, Juhu airport will shut down. As per the regulations drawn, no helicopter operation is permitted from Mumbai airport. Where will the choppers go?” asked Captain Ashok Purandare, a very senior pilot who currently flies for the Reliance Group.

The controversy
On February 28, 2011 the appellate committee for NOC under Ministry of Civil Aviation through letter number AV10932/003/2009-AAt pt.t, issued instructions to conduct an aeronautical study for Juhu airport in respect of inner horizontal surface (IHS). A committee under then executive director of Airports Authority of India (AAI) JMS Negi undertook the study and completed the same on May 6, 2011. Interestingly, while alluding to Juhu runway 16/34 in the report, Negi went on to say that it is not feasible to use it for operational purposes in any combination as it directly affects flights at Mumbai airport. One line in the same paragraph of the report reads, “As per airport directory of AAI, 16/34 has not been specified as runway as no declared distances have been provided.”

Since then the AAI headquarters has sent many correspondences to Juhu authorities for decommissioning the runway. To ensure that it shut down no resurfacing was done despite potholes appearing on the runway, making it dangerous for operations. “Despite the intimation by Juhu that the runway is in use and its operational importance apropos to runway 14/32 of Mumbai CSIA, AAI has been issuing NOCs based on Negi’s erroneous report without heeding to Juhu’s concerns. Based on Negi’s report, corporate headquarters (CHQ), AAI is now unwilling to sanction the resurfacing of runway 16/34,” the safety audit report reads.

Pilots including Gelli and Oak too pointed out that such reports and recommendations are made only to benefit developers who want to build high-rises in the vicinity.

When contacted, Juhu airport director M Yadagiri said, “I cannot comment on the issue now.” AAI chairman, VP Aggarwal could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.

400
Area (in acres) of the airport

Rs 14 cr
Annual income of Juhu airport

95
Number of daily operations (can go up to 145 in peak season)

Paying the price
Currently, helicopter operations are not permitted at Mumbai airport. Even if this situation changes, operators will have to pay two to three times more towards parking and landing charges compared to Juhu aerodrome. While Juhu aerodrome charges Rs 12.80 per hour, the rate at Mumbai airport is about Rs 29 per hour. CSIA has introduced a new penalty for non-scheduled operators that starts from Rs 100 per hour. No such rule exists with AAI or Juhu aerodrome. “The cost factor no doubt will impact operators,” Captain Purandare said.

What the rulebook says
NoTAM G0243/10/ 10-12-2010 of AAI (copy with MiD DAY) reads: “All civil and military helicopters shall use Juhu airport operations instead of Mumbai international airport, except helicopters carrying VVIPs, minister in union government, chief ministers, deputy chief ministers, governors, ambulance helicopters, or any person notified as VIP by the government of Maharashtra.” If chopper operations were to be resumed at CSIA, this rule would have to be amended.



Rundown: Runway 16/34 is in a very bad shape with the surface eroded at many spots




This graphic shows how the approach path of Juhu airport’s main runway interferes with operations on Mumbai airport’s secondary runway.
_________________
11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.

Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
sabya99
Member


Joined: 19 Dec 2011
Posts: 1399
Location: New Jersey/CCU

PostPosted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 3:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

They should merge these two airports into one big one. Juhu’s main runway could be extended over Arabian sea and its western approach will be fine; eventually eliminating lot of pressure from BOM . This exactly what happens in LGA here in NYC. Very Happy
_________________
Sabya99
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
himmat01
Member


Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 1392
Location: DEL

PostPosted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 5:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

sabya99 wrote:
They should merge these two airports into one big one. Juhu’s main runway could be extended over Arabian sea and its western approach will be fine; eventually eliminating lot of pressure from BOM . This exactly what happens in LGA here in NYC. Very Happy


Connecting Juhu airport and Mumbai airport would mean razing all the construction in JVPD and Vile Parle. The compensation for to the property owners would be Billions of Rupees. The merger of these two is practically not possible.
_________________
Save Maharashtra!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Yahoo Messenger
sumantra
Member


Joined: 28 Oct 2007
Posts: 4685
Location: New Delhi

PostPosted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 5:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

himmat01 wrote:
Connecting Juhu airport and Mumbai airport would mean razing all the construction in JVPD and Vile Parle. The compensation for to the property owners would be Billions of Rupees. The merger of these two is practically not possible.

...neither is extension of the Juhu main runway over the beach on stilts, quite feasible, as was once a plan to shift small commercial flights such as those on the ATRs, to Juhu. They haven't been able to relocate the sizeable vote bank from the environs of the CSIA yet, these exotic plans are but pipe dreams.
Cheers, Sumantra.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
747-237
Member


Joined: 11 Jun 2007
Posts: 11336
Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom

PostPosted: Thu Jan 10, 2013 7:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Airports-Authority-of-India-wont-shut-Juhu-runway/articleshow/17961243.cms

Airports Authority of India won't shut Juhu runway

Jan 10, 2013

Going against its earlier plan of converting the secondary runway (16-34) at Juhu airport into a taxiway, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) on Wednesday decided to maintain it and keep operations going.

The AAI, which was contemplating relaxing height restrictions for buildings in the area, has now decided that all NOCs given to buildings after 2011 in the vicinity will be reviewed thoroughly.

The secondary runway at Juhu airport came under scrutiny after a special committee report in 2011 said that it was not of much use and could hinder operations at Mumbai airport. After the report, the AAI allowed taller buildings to come up close to the runway approach path. The move had created a furore among pilots and helicopter operators.

"Through various pleas by pilots and other involved parties, it was reiterated that the secondary runway at Juhu was important," said an AAI source. "If the secondary runway at the main Mumbai airport is in use, the main runway at Juhu can't be operational as the two have conflicting paths. In that case, operations at Juhu can continue only on the secondary runway," he added. tnn

In a meeting convened by AAI on Wednesday, it was decided that the runway would be maintained for operations. "The meeting was attended by the AAI chairman, helicopter pilots and agencies operating out of Juhu," an AAI official said. "AAI has also decided to review all height sanctions given to buildings since 2011 and make changes if necessary," he added. AAI chairman could not be reached for a comment.

_________________
11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.

Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
sabya99
Member


Joined: 19 Dec 2011
Posts: 1399
Location: New Jersey/CCU

PostPosted: Fri Jan 11, 2013 12:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think AAI read my earlier post and thought about it. Smile
_________________
Sabya99
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
HAWK21M
Member


Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 8132
Location: Mumbai, INDIA

PostPosted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 3:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I wonder if MIAL can cater to the added load.....
_________________
Think of the Brighter side !!!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website AIM Address Yahoo Messenger MSN Messenger
747-237
Member


Joined: 11 Jun 2007
Posts: 11336
Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom

PostPosted: Thu Sep 19, 2013 5:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Plan-to-cut-Juhu-runways-length-by-half/articleshow/22674498.cms

Plan to cut Juhu runway’s length by half

Sep 18, 2013

In a controversial move that could cripple helicopter operations at Juhu airport, the Airports Authority of India plans to shorten the length of the airport's secondary runway by more than half.

The plan was announced by AAI officials in a safety assessment meeting in Delhi on Tuesday to discuss plans for a helipad at Juhu. But AAI officials came up with a new plan instead. "They want to reduce the length of the secondary runway from 2,400 ft to 984 ft and create parking space for aircraft," said Capt Andrew Manchanda of Pawan Hans. "On a short runway, helicopters will not be able to lift off with maximum payload," he added. They would need to carry fewer passengers and fuel, a non-viable option for commercial oil rig operations to Bombay High. Chopper industry insiders alleged that the move would help builders who were illegally granted height increase permission by AAI for buildings near the Juhu airport.

_________________
11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.

Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
747-237
Member


Joined: 11 Jun 2007
Posts: 11336
Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom

PostPosted: Sat Oct 22, 2016 7:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

http://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mumbai/cover-story/After-high-fliers-Juhu-airport-now-for-the-aam-aadmi/articleshow/54982598.cms

After high-fliers, Juhu airport now for the aam aadmi

Oct 22, 2016

Juhu airport, so far the poorer cousin of the Santacruz airport, is all set to enter the big league. The prime minister’s grand plan of making travel in ‘hawai jahaj’ affordable to those in ‘hawai chappal’ means that the Juhu airport will now become a hub for travel in and out of Maharashtra.

The airport, which has so far been used for helicopter and private aircraft operations, has been notified by the government under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) called Udey Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN), announced yesterday, under which, 30-seater planes can connect to 28 other places in Maharashtra and a total of 394 airports across India.

Under the scheme, airfare on airplanes will range between Rs 1,770 and Rs 4,070 and helicopter rides will cost between Rs 2,500 and Rs 5,000. “We will target the first flights under UDAN to take off by January 2017,” Civil Aviation Minister P Ashok Gajapathi Raju said at the launch event of UDAN scheme in New Delhi.

So, passengers can fly from Juhu to Aamby Valley in Lonavala and Hadapsar in Pune by shelling out the subsidised cheapest fixed air fare of Rs 1,770. These are the only two airports which fall within the 201-225 km range of Juhu for which fares are capped at Rs 1,770. Two other airports in the 500 km band are Karad in Satara district and Kudal in Sindhudurg district. Flying to Karad will cost Rs 1,830 per passenger, while Kudal will cost Rs 2,760 per passenger. By helicopter, Juhu will be connected to Kalyan at Rs 2,500.

AAI chairman Guruprasad Mohapatra confirmed to Mumbai Mirror that the authority had appointed a consultant to study the feasibility of using the Juhu airport runway for non-scheduled flight operations along with rolling out RCS.

The AAI chief added that since runway extension from one side was not possible due to land constraints, various other options including extending the runway into the sea, were under consideration.

Added Juhu airport director M K Bimal, “The development of Juhu airport which includes extension of runway on the beach is still under consideration. Further, the necessary planning for developing the runway is also in process for which a team of consultants has been appointed by the AAI.”

Govt to foot VGF

On the Aamby Valley and Hadapsar flights, the government will pay Rs 1,810 to the participating carrier as Viability Gap Funding (VGF) per seat to make up for the subsidised airfare. VGF will depend on the distance, with a maximum of Rs 4,170 per seat. For regional connectivity, 80 per cent of the VGF would be shared by the Centre and the rest by concerned states. Power, water and other utilities will be provided at substantially concessional rates.

Similarly, interested parties can also fly helicopters on routes that require an hour of flying. The government will pay a VGF ranging from Rs 1,200 for a 15-minute flight to Rs 7,200 for a 60 minute journey. Airports selected in Maharashtra include Ahmednagar, Akola, Amravati, Baramati, Chandrapur, Darna Camp, Deolali, Dhule, Gondia, Kalyan, kawalpur, Kolhapur, Latur, Nanded, Nashik Road, Osmanabad, Ozar, Phaltan, Ratnagiri, Shirpur, Solapur and Waluj.


LEVY MAY PUSH UP NORMAL FARES

Fliers on major domestic routes will soon have to shell out more for flights to fund the government’s Regional Connectivity Scheme. However, the government’s move to impose a “very small” levy on every departure on major routes to fund the scheme seems to have not gone down well with many of the existing airlines as they feel that such a move could push the airfares higher and are of the view that there are other ways for funding the scheme. PTI


NO NIGHT LANDING FACILITY YET

Despite being India’s oldest airport, established in 1928 and having been Mumbai’s only civilian airport till World War II, Juhu s till does not have night landing facility. AAI earlier this year cleared plans to have runway lighting that would allow take-offs and landings during the night.

_________________
11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.

Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Jaysit
Member


Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 4346

PostPosted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 8:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That airport sits on prime real estate. Sell it to the highest bidder for real estate development and use the money for infrastructural developments that Mumbai badly needs.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
The_Goat
Member


Joined: 03 Mar 2007
Posts: 3260
Location: South of France

PostPosted: Mon Oct 24, 2016 2:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jaysit wrote:
That airport sits on prime real estate. Sell it to the highest bidder for real estate development and use the money for infrastructural developments that Mumbai badly needs.


Selling it off to builders would mean that high rises would come up there - a bad idea considering the place is so close to Sahar's active runway.

I think that it should be converted into a museum and a joggers park on the lines of Berlin Tempelhof or London Croydon. Mumbaikars badly need more open spaces.
_________________
I don't know which is the more pampered bunch : AI's widebodies (the aunties) or Jet's widebodies (the planes).
-Jasepl
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
GF1011
Member


Joined: 02 Jan 2015
Posts: 87

PostPosted: Mon Oct 24, 2016 4:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jaysit wrote:
That airport sits on prime real estate. Sell it to the highest bidder for real estate development and use the money for infrastructural developments that Mumbai badly needs.


That Airport is Central government property. It's the only AAI airport that is profitable without a single scheduled commercial flight! They're not handing it over to the State Government in a hurry.. for real estate development or building of parks or whatever..

In any case, the Maharashtra govt is too broke to be able to afford to buy that much land in Juhu for the purpose of constructing a park.. Very Happy
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Jaysit
Member


Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 4346

PostPosted: Mon Oct 24, 2016 7:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

GF1011 wrote:
Jaysit wrote:
That airport sits on prime real estate. Sell it to the highest bidder for real estate development and use the money for infrastructural developments that Mumbai badly needs.


That Airport is Central government property. It's the only AAI airport that is profitable without a single scheduled commercial flight! They're not handing it over to the State Government in a hurry.. for real estate development or building of parks or whatever..

In any case, the Maharashtra govt is too broke to be able to afford to buy that much land in Juhu for the purpose of constructing a park.. Very Happy


Then let the Central govt sell off the land. It's not as if they don't need the money. Or turn it into a national Olympics training center with 50 m pools, tracks, etc. Or a national university. The possibilities are endless.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
GF1011
Member


Joined: 02 Jan 2015
Posts: 87

PostPosted: Mon Oct 24, 2016 8:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jaysit wrote:
GF1011 wrote:
Jaysit wrote:
That airport sits on prime real estate. Sell it to the highest bidder for real estate development and use the money for infrastructural developments that Mumbai badly needs.


That Airport is Central government property. It's the only AAI airport that is profitable without a single scheduled commercial flight! They're not handing it over to the State Government in a hurry.. for real estate development or building of parks or whatever..

In any case, the Maharashtra govt is too broke to be able to afford to buy that much land in Juhu for the purpose of constructing a park.. Very Happy


Then let the Central govt sell off the land. It's not as if they don't need the money. Or turn it into a national Olympics training center with 50 m pools, tracks, etc. Or a national university. The possibilities are endless.


Eh? But WHY sell a cash cow? VAJJ make PROFITS for AAI!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
747-237
Member


Joined: 11 Jun 2007
Posts: 11336
Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom

PostPosted: Tue Oct 25, 2016 10:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

http://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mumbai/other/Govts-UDAN-plan-may-not-take-off-from-Juhu-after-all/articleshow/55043537.cms

Govt’s UDAN plan may not take off from Juhu after all

Oct 25, 2016

Four days after Juhu airport was chosen as part of the government’s UDAN (Udey Desh Aam Nagrik) plan, which aims to make air travel affordable for the masses, it has now come to light that the ambitious project may not take off from Juhu after all. Not unless the Airports Authority of India (AAI) complies with two conditions agreed upon with the aviation regulator when the airport’s license was renewed in June.

According to the letter of renewal, the licence was subject to: one, making a consolidated list of all exemptions with probable date of completion along with applications including an action plan and mitigation measures and two, an ‘action taken’ report on the annual surveillance inspection carried out in February 2016. But four months after the stipulated 30 day time assigned by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the airport is yet to comply.

“AAI has not even appointed a nodal officer to carry out the documentation. It is stuck now,” said a DGCA official. Civil aviation secretary RN Choubey said that he would seek details of the delay in compliance.

The busiest heliport in the country, Juhu airport handles about 100 movements daily, many of them to offshore oil rigs. The development poses a risk to these operations as airports can't have commercial flight operations without a valid licence.

The aviation regulator had earlier pulled up AAI officials for submitting wrong documents and not taking action on maintenance issues.

The airport had remained unlicensed for three months since February 7 and the renewal agreement was signed on June 3 after several letters were exchanged (dated February 7, April 4 and May 3) between the AAI and the DGCA.

A DGCA source said that they found glaring discrepancies in the aerodrome manual submitted as records were not updated. “Such blunders are unacceptable coming from an organisation like AAI,” read an official communication to the AAI.

_________________
11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.

Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
747-237
Member


Joined: 11 Jun 2007
Posts: 11336
Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom

PostPosted: Tue Aug 28, 2018 5:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mumbai/other/aai-finally-gives-up-plan-to-extend-juhu-runway-into-sea/articleshow/65555519.cms

AAI finally gives up plan to extend Juhu runway into sea

Aug 27, 2018

The Airports Authority of India (AAI), which owns the Juhu airport, has given up its long-standing plan to extend the runway into the sea. Until recently, the AAI was talking of extending the runway into the sea – on stilts.

Keshav Sharma, regional executive director of AAI, said that the planning department was the final authority on such matters. An aviation expert and former AAI officer said that the issue of extending the runway into the sea has been discussed for the past many years.

The AAI had appointed consultants and experts for the purpose. “If the plan of extending the runway into the sea was to move forward, the level of Juhu airport would have to be increased by three metres. The raising of the runway level will flood the entire JVPD, SV Road area near the airport.

Besides, an underpass was needed on Juhu Tara Road near the airport. The Juhu beach monitoring committee had also raised objections to the proposal,’’ he said.

If the height of the runway was increased, the taxiways would also need to be raised proportionately. At present, the Juhu airport does not have the instrument landing system (ILS), but it would need one if the runway was to be extended 700 metres into the sea.

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation has planned a Bandra-Versova sealink, and this would have come in the way of the runway.

Captain Firdaus Bativala, a regular flyer at Juhu, said, “If the runway has to be extended, it has to cut the beach in half. There are many establishments which would have needed shifting and it would have been difficult. Besides, the sealink is also coming up, close by, making things difficult.’’

Juhu airport is the first aerodrome in the country and was started by the father of civil aviation in India JRD Tata. The AAI had plans to shift charters, private aircraft and ATR planes here.

_________________
11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.

Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
747-237
Member


Joined: 11 Jun 2007
Posts: 11336
Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom

PostPosted: Wed Dec 09, 2020 9:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mumbai/other/juhu-airport-turns-chopper-graveyard/articleshow/79634955.cms

Juhu airport turns chopper graveyard

Dec 9, 2020

The northern end of the Juhu airport could easily be mistaken for a scrapyard. Twenty-one ramshackle AugustaWestland helicopters have been lying abandoned at its Pawan Hans complex for over 20 years.

The helicopters have fallen into such a state of disrepair that they have turned into breeding grounds for mosquitoes. An employee of the Airports Authority of India, who lives nearby, said when dusk falls and some people go for a jog along the northern end wall, the mosquito menace becomes all the more visible. “Some of our staffers say there are snakes in there as well. These clunkers must be cleared,” he said.

The BMC has alerted the Pawan Hans, the PSU helicopter service company that has been operating out of the Juhu airport for years, several times but nothing has been done as yet.

The government bought these helicopters in 1985 at £65 million against experts’ advice. Debashish Chakraverty, an aviation enthusiast, said when they were procured, they were touted as state-of-the-art choppers. But following two crashes in August 1988 and February 1999 which led to the death of 10 passengers, the fleet was grounded. A Pawan Hans employee said pilots were unwilling to operate them.

Pawan Hans officials acknowledged that the helicopters have been occupying space that could be used for other purposes. Sanjay Kumar, the general manager, said they were supposed to be disposed of, but the plan has been held up owing to a number of issues. While Kumar was tightlipped on what these issues were, sources largely blamed red tape.

Ashok Verma, Juhu airport’s director, shifted responsibility, saying it was Pawan Hans’ job to get the helicopters cleared.



_________________
11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.

Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Airliners-India.com Forum Index -> Civil Aviation All times are GMT + 5.5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group. Hosted by phpBB.BizHat.com