Jammu and Kashmir’s Air Connectivity to Get Boosted

The announcements made during the 4th Heli India Summit with the theme Helicopters for last Mile Connectivity bring a significant boost to the air connectivity of the Jammu and Kashmir region.

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Jammu and Kashmir's Air Connectivity to Get Boosted

We have shared earlier about the recent developments happening with Jammu and Srinagar Airports. The announcements made during the 4th Heli India Summit with the theme Helicopters for last Mile Connectivity bring a significant boost to the air connectivity of the region. Let us read about the complete developments in this story.

Jammu and Srinagar Airports:

A civil enclave will be built in Jammu at Rs 861 crores, and Srinagar's present terminal will be expanded three times from 20,000 square meters to 60,000 square meters at Rs 1500 crores.

Also Read: Pawan Hans Launches Helicopter Services to Almora under RCS UDAN

Decrease in VAT on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF):

During the summit, Sh. Scindia stated that the decrease in VAT on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) from 26.5 percent to one percent by the Jammu and Kashmir government has set new dawn for air connectivity in the Union territory with a 360 percent increase in refuelling, thus increasing the air connectivity. Now more than 100 flights are being operated from the region, thereby increasing the air connectivity of J&K.

Civil Aviation, an Economic Multiplier:

Civil Aviation has now become the need of the hour not only for India but for humankind across the world as it always brings with it two essential multipliers, the economic multiplier and the employment multiplier. The sector has a huge impact with an economic multiplier of 3.1 and employment multiplier of 6, the Minister informed.

Role of Helicopters:

The role played by Helicopters in mountainous terrain to provide connectivity services is enormous. Helicopter services play a significant role, especially in emergency medical services and disaster management during floods, rescue operations etc.

Jammu & Kashmir has set an example of the best use of helicopter service when it erected transmission lines and towers using heli-cranes (sky cranes) on the Peer Panjal mountain range.

Fractional Ownership Model:

During the 4th Heli India Summit, Shri Scindia announced that the guidelines on the Fractional Ownership Model have been released to help grow the non-scheduled operations. Fractional ownership will lower the barrier to the cost of the acquisition of helicopters and aeroplanes through pooled capital by multiple owners.

This model will allow companies and individuals to minimise capital outflow by sharing the purchase cost, reducing exposure to risks and making it financially easier to run an NSOP (Non-Scheduled Operation Permit) business.

The helicopter industry should be recognised for its social service. It is not a transportation vehicle but a transformation tool, it can be used not only for economic development but could also transform lives.” Scindia added.

Project Sanjeevani:

The Civil Aviation Ministry has also decided to incubate a HEMS pilot called Project Sanjeevani by deploying a helicopter to provide emergency medical services at AIIMS Rishikesh, Uttarakhand.

The helicopter will be based at the hospital at 20 minutes' notice and will have a service cover to an area of 150 km radius. The learnings from the project will be studied to articulate a national policy on HEMS before committing larger resources.

3rd Heli India Summit Progress:

The Sankalps taken during the 3rd Heli-India Summit at Dehradun were taken to their logical end, ensuring progress. Below are a few updates about the same.

1. Heli-Sewa Portal

HeliSewa portal is fully online and being used by all operators for obtaining landing permissions to helipads, and it also is creating a database of helipads in the country.

2. Heli-Disha

HeliDisha, the guidance material on helicopter operations for State administration has been distributed to 780 districts.

3. Helicopter Accelerator Cell

The Helicopter Accelerator Cell is fully active in resolving helicopter issues, and the advisory group of industry representatives is helping identify problematic areas.

4. Doing away with the landing and parking charges for helicopter service

The landing and parking charges for helicopters at airports were waived off, and helicopter sensitization training of ATC officers for speedier helicopter traffic handling has begun.

5. Creation of specific helicopter corridors

Three helicopter corridors from Mumbai-Pune, Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar, and Shamshabad-Begumpet have been created, and new IFR corridors are being planned.

6. Helipads

Helipads are to be given priority while framing DPR (Detailed Project Report) for all new highways. Working with Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the Civil Aviation Ministry has been able to allot helipad spaces from the design stage for all future expressways and major highways so that they can be used for the evacuation of accident victims.

7. Upgradation of Juhu airbase:

Work on the upgradation of Juhu Helibase, the largest in the country, to accommodate night operations and helicopter IFR routes using GAGAN has already commenced.

Also Read: Rampur Heliport’s New Terminal Building Gets Inaugurated

These progressive moves will boost the utilization and deployment of Helicopter services in areas typically challenging to be served by other modes while focusing on safety.

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