The Hindu : Front Page : New helicopter for Chief Minister

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Sunday, Jul 20, 2008
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New helicopter for Chief Minister

M. Malleswara Rao

HYDERABAD: The recently established Andhra Pradesh Aviation Corporation (APAC) will start commercial activity with one helicopter, Bell 430, which Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy will stop using on arrival of a new chopper - the Agusta AW 139 from Italy.

The Bell 430, which has a price tag Rs. 25 crore, is being taken out of service of the Chief Minister due to its limited seating capacity and lack of night-landing capability. In its place, the more spacious Agusta 139 has been purchased for Rs. 58 crore from AgustaWestland, Italy, for his use.

The interior of the new chopper is being modified to accommodate eight seats, including two in the cockpit for pilots, to provide drawing room-like space to Dr. Reddy with a tea-poy in front and chairs around.

Bell 430 will be placed at the disposal of the Corporation which will hire it out when there is no indent by police and others for use in anti-naxalite or rescue/relief operations.

The APAC plans to purchase a jet plane too for Chief Minister to enable him to reach distant places like Visakhapatnam faster and at less cost, and one or two smaller planes for its own business. A jet plane can cover the distance between Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam in 45 minutes as compared to two hours taken by a helicopter.

Speaking to this correspondent here on Saturday, G. Kishen, MD, APAC, said a new hangar to house APAC’s aircraft would be constructed with Rs. 5 crores on two acres close to the cargo complex at Begumpet Airport. The hangar will have an aircraft maintenance complex, administrative blocks and a VVIP lounge.

At present, APCA is sharing the old hangar located on the Bowenpally side along with AP Aviation Academy which is buying four new planes, adding to its present strength of four.

Meanwhile, the arrival of Agusta AW-139 has been postponed due to unfavourable weather in Italy. Government pilot Capt. M. Jagan Mohan, now in Italy, could complete only 90 flying hours on the chopper as against 110 hours prescribed by the company. He is likely to meet the 110-hour requirement by July 23.

A sum of Rs. 1.5 crores has been remitted to an agency towards transport charges to bring the copter by a cargo aircraft on July 25 to Delhi in parts.

After re-assembling, it will fly to Hyderabad before August 15.

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