Pub Focus 4 visages 2018 - 210 x 297 mm A4_Mise en page 1 30/01/18 19:46 Page1 <<EDITORIAL>> Our Deep Gratitude to 2021 Should Augur Well for CORPORATE MEMBERS the Industry Alliance Insurance Brokers (P) Ltd. Dear Reader, Aman Aviation & Aerospace Solutions (P) Ltd. Wishing you and your family Happy New Year 2021. Andhra Pradesh Aviation Corporation This March, the outbreak of COVID-19 sent our aviation Air Works India Engg. (P) Ltd. industry into a tailspin, as airports were shut down and most Airbus Helicopters fleets were grounded. However, the helicopters involved in Arki Aviation (P) Ltd. energy sector continued to provide logistic air support to Exploration and Arrow Aircraft Sales & Charters Pvt. Ltd Production agencies in oil and gas. The Non-Scheduled Operators were among AON Global Insurance Brokers (P) Ltd. the worst hit by the pandemic. AVI-Oil India Ltd. The situation resulted in a serious liquidity problem for the Helicopter Industry with no revenues and salaries to be paid each month. As a result, the Bell Helicopter India Inc. payment of rentals/lease related to office space, Hangar, Porta Cabin imposed a BG Shirke Construction Technology (P) Ltd. tremendous financial burden threatening the very survival of our Commercial Bharat Forge Limited Helicopter Operators. RWSI continued its requests to MOCA & AAI for waiver Bharat Stars Services (Delhi) (P) Ltd. of the Hangar and Office rentals / Porta Cabin charges / Royalties/ Interest for Boeing International Corporation the duration of the lockdown. Regrettably, the Operators did not get any relief. Cairn India Ltd. In respect of op, fiscal and Regulatory issues affecting the Helicopter Operators, Chemplast Sanmar Ltd RWSI held meetings with Smt Usha Padhee IAS Joint Secretary, MOCA on 24 Deccan Charters Ltd. Aug 20 and 30 Sep 20. Hopefully, progress of our request will provide the much- Delhi Institute of Aeronautical Sciences needed stimulus to survive and revive as a business. DG Civil Aviation Govt of U.P. Civil Helicopter Ops. Today, the civil helicopter fleet strength in non- Dhillon Aviation (P) Ltd. scheduled operator’s category is just 183, while it was 222 on 31 Dec 12. There Directorate of Civil Avn Govt of Maharashtra has been a negative growth of the civil helicopter fleet since FY 2011-12. Besides, Directorate of Aviation Govt of Gujarat high operational costs aggravated by a depreciated rupee, exorbitant Aeronautical Directorate of Aviation Govt of Chhattisgarh & Non-Aeronautical charges levied on helicopter operations under various Donaldson Filters India heads have pushed the cost of operations to an unaffordable limit. While the Dynamatic Technologies Ltd MOCA vide Para 16 of its National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) in 2016, came Elbit Systems out with key policies to promote Helicopters to play a key role in remote area connectivity, intra-city movement, tourism, law enforcement, emergency medical Essar Power Ltd. evacuation, little progress has been made in implementing the policies. We Executive Airways (P) Ltd. therefore urge the MOCA to implement the assurances given in the NCAP 2016 Epsilon Aerospace Pvt Ltd related to the Industry. Fishtail Air (P) Ltd. (Nepal) Military Helicopter Ops. Unlike the Civil Helicopter operators, the induction Garuda Aerospace (P) Ltd of heavy lift chinook CH 47 helicopters and Apache AH 64 Attack helicopters in Global Vectra Helicorp Ltd. the IAF during the year 2019-20 has added strength to the combat support Globe Aviation capabilities of the IAF. However, it is despairing that the acquisition of light Garware-Wall Ropes Ltd. observation helicopters to replace the existing obsolete Chetak/Cheetah fleet Ghodawat Enterprises (P) Ltd. for Army Aviation Corps is still to be resolved. Any further delay will severely Govt. of Aviation Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh impact on the National Security. The induction of MH-60R Romeo in Indian Grandslam Developers (P) Ltd. Navy in 2021 will provide the service with a tremendous capability that is ready HATSOFF for operations immediately upon delivery. Heligo Charters (P) Ltd. Notwithstanding the gloomy picture related to the civil helicopter fleet, we Heritage Aviation (P) Ltd. in RWSI are hopeful that some firm steps will be taken by concerned Authorities Himalayan Heli Services (P) Ltd. to bring down high cost of civil helicopter operations and help boosting domestic Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. demand. Hindustan Construction Co. Ltd. VTOL RPAVs - RWSI has recently amended its objective to include the growth VTOL Remotely Piloted Aerial Vehicles (RPAVs) for use in civil in India. Hitech Insurance Broking Services Ltd. Already, very highly qualified RPAV professionals have joined the RWSI Drone Honeywell International Inc. Group. Indocopters (P) Ltd. Contribution of RWSI. RWSI is proud of being a nodal agency in promoting India Metals & Ferro Alloys Ltd. efficient and safe Conduct of Civil Helicopter Op in India. Its contribution in India Flysafe Aviation Ltd. 2020 are detailed at page 5. Indra Air (P) Ltd. On behalf of Editorial Team, let me thank the Readers for supporting us in ITC The Royal Gardenia, Bengaluru bringing out this publication. Yours sincerely Jaiprakash Group JK Risk Managers and Insurance Brokers Ltd. With warm regards, JMD Consultant (P) Ltd. Jubilant Enpro India Ltd. Jupiter Aviations (P) Ltd. AVM K Sridharan VM (G) Editor-in-Chief 2 ROTOR INDIA - QE 31 DECEMBER - 2020 <<LETTERS TO THE EDITOR>> Dear Sir, Distance from BBB, even though these navigation points are also known by Our Deep Gratitude to Helicopter Pilots flying between their names, and precious VHF channel CORPORATE MEMBERS Pune and Mumbai and in Maharashtra time can be saved by just mentioning experience many operational the name of the place such as Powai, difficulties. One of them is RCP, DAKC or Panvel or Race Course Kestrel Aviation (P) Ltd. communication. etc. For that Air Traffic Controllers in Kiaan Airways (P) Ltd The K routes are still being flown Mumbai and Juhu ATC have to have a Leonardo-Finmeccanica at 500 ft and 700 ft AMSL. Even though visual picture of the routes available to Lord India Pvt Ltd they are supposed to be flown AGL, all them, which it appears they presently L-3Harris helicopters operating on ‘On-shore K do not have. Mak Airways (P) Ltd. routes’ fly with reference to local QNH, Many times Juhu controllers pass Martin Consulting thereby invariably below the minimum traffic information not relevant to the Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. stipulated vertical separation from route being flown. One gets an terrain and obstructions. Flying at 500 Merlinhawk Associates (P) Ltd. impression that Juhu ATC is not aware Mesco Airlines ft altitude in area with hill features and of flight path being followed by a tall buildings and obstructions is helicopter, thereby advising the pilot Navayuga Engineering Co Ltd. unsafe, firstly due to inadequate about other helicopter traffic, even Navnit Aviation (P) Ltd. vertical separation from terrain and though the other traffic has no potential Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. secondly, there are many points on the for conflict. OSS Aviation (P) Ltd. route when it is impossible to have VHF OSS Air Management (P) Ltd. contact with Juhu, due to obstructions. Helicopterspilots operating on ‘On- shore K routes around Mumbai’ must Orient Flight School For last over three years,it has watch out as, ‘there is an accident Orbit Aviation (P) Ltd. been discussed in Regional Operators’ waiting to happen’ unless VHF Oxford Enterprises (P) Ltd. Conferences held at at AAI office repeaters are installed at vantage points Offshore Aviation Consultants India (P)Ltd. Mumbaithat the altitudes for K-Routes and RTcommunication is streamlined. will be revised upwards to 700 ft and Pawan Hans Ltd. 900 ft AGL. But there has been no Single engine, single pilot operation Prabhatam Aviation (P) Ltd. change in the decade old AIP is most affected by the above Ramco Systems Ltd. (AIPS_2010_09.pdf (aai.aero). Due to mentioned factors as the lone pilot has Raymond Aviation Ltd. its line of sight nature, VHF to change frequency and talk to 5 Reliance Commercial Dealers Ltd. communication with Juhu is not different Air Traffic Controllers, talk to Reliance Transport & Travels Ltd. possible in many segments of On- other traffic and also look out for birds and other traffic. RITES Ltd. shore K routes and on Pune-Mumbai Right Choice Aviation Pvt. Ltd flights. Helicopters at or below 1500 ft May I request you to kindly attract altitude between 15 NMs and 25 NMs the attention of General Manager ATM Rolls-Royce India Ltd. from BBB VOR are not able to get (WR) to this very critical problem. Royal Bhutan Helicopter Services Ltd.(Bhutan) through to Juhu, and on occasions, Another important issue is the Russian Helicopters, Joint Stock Company even to Mumbai Radar, especially on mind-set of the local administration in Sandriver Technologies Pvt. Ltd in-bound flights from North, South and Maharashtra that any helicopter flying SAR Aviation Services (P) Ltd. East of Mumbai. Of all the ATCCs, in Maharashtra needs the permission Sakhanpur Farm communication with Indian Naval Air of the District Collector and Senior Shree Airlines (P) Ltd. (Nepal) Station, Shikrais the best as Naval ATC Superintendent of Police before Sikorsky-United Technologies Ltd. has good transmission and reception undertaking the flight. While state range. Simm Samm Airways (P) Ltd. government helicopter has no such Skyone Airways (P) Ltd. In addition, there is a lot of un- requirement, all other helicopters are Span Air (P) Ltd. important information being conveyed expected to give a week’s notice to the or sought by Juhu ATC. Even though District Head Quarters. The letter from SRK Aviacom (I) (P) Ltd. planned flights in IMC are co-ordinated SecyMOCA that helicopters do not Survival Systems India (P) Ltd. with Juhu ATC and Pune ATC prior to require to obtain permission of the local Silver Jubilee Traveller Ltd.