India's civil helicopter fleet is poised to explode over the next few years as existing charter operators look to augment their fleets and several new sectors begin to open up.
There are fewer than 150 helicopters in civil operation in India today, with about 30 dedicated to offshore oil flights and the remaining aircraft used mainly for transport. Manufacturers and operators expect steady growth in both of these sectors, driven by India's booming oil industry and an increasing reliance on helicopters by VIPs looking to circumvent traffic and poor road infrastructure. They say new demand is also being created by several government agencies looking to improve disaster relief capabilities following last December's tsunami, by local police forces to improve their surveillance capabilities and by the privatisation of medical insurance. Currently there are few or no helicopters in India for firefighting, disaster relief, policing, traffic control, news gathering and medical evacuations. Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) and foreign manufacturers, in particular Bell and Eurocopter, stand to benefit from the anticipated growth.
Eurocopter has 43 helicopters operating in the country and seeks to open an Indian subsidiary within the next two years to support the fast-growing fleet.
"Our plan is to open a subsidiary in India and we're thinking about a joint venture with HAL," says Eurocopter regional sales director Rainer Farid. "The policy of Eurocopter is that when the market justifies, we should be here to support our customers. India is growing fast, but until recently the growth had been slow."
The subsidiary would provide maintenance and become the fifth Eurocopter facility with a full spare parts depot, joining France, Hong Kong, Singapore and the USA. Indian operators currently rely mainly on Eurocopter Singapore to provide maintenance and spares.
Bell is not in the maintenance business, but late last year appointed Bangalore-based Deccan Technical Services as India's second customer service facility, joining Mumbai-based Air Works. Regional marketing manager Leon Lui says Bell has 53 helicopters operating in India and last month sold its 16th 407 into the country, to VSL Mining. "The problem is that we're sold out and cannot keep up with the demand," says Lui.
Start-up Vikram Aviation says it bought a secondhand 407 earlier this year to support the launch of corporate charters next month, and is looking to acquire more aircraft. India's largest helicopter operator, government-owned Pawan Hans, added two Eurocopter AS365N3s and one 407 last year. It has an option for another 407 this year and plans to acquire two medium twin-engine helicopters from Bell, Eurocopter or HAL.
Sikorsky is a relative newcomer to the market, having placed its first civil helicopters, two Sikorsky S-76Cs at United Heli Charters, in India only last year. United managing director Uday Gelli says the aircraft, supported by Canadian operator CHC, are being used to serve oil sites further offshore than those served by its fleet of Bell 212s and 412s. He says if current offshore exploration efforts in India are successful, more S-76s and even S-92s may be required.
Sikorsky's Indian agent, AeroStar Aviation, says it is also trying to sell the new S-92 in India's fast-growing heli-tourism sector. AgustaWestland is also trying to expands its presence in the Indian civilian market, having so far sold just one A109 Power to the Rajasthan government.
Pawan Hans, United and Global Vectra are the major offshore operators, flying mainly from Mumbai's Juhu airport on behalf of state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and private oil companies. Deccan also has one offshore helicopter and plans to expand. These four are India's major helicopter operators, each operating at least seven aircraft, but there are more than 25 other charter and corporate operators. Several of them are now vying for an 18-aircraft contract from ONGC and hope to tap into the expansion at private oil companies and the onshore sectors.
"The helicopter industry will expand in India and the major driver of this growth will be the offshore oil industry," says Gelli.
But there are barriers to this planned expansion. Some operators say it is increasingly difficult to find pilots, and that there is no room for growth at Juhu and other key airports.
BRENDAN SOBIE / BANGALORE AND MUMBAI
Source: Flight International
