KATE SARSFIELD / LONDON
India's Pawan Hans Helicopters (PHHL) has made its first foray into the police aviation arena. The New Delhi-based company has begun a two-week trial with the capital's police force deploying a Bell 206L LongRanger to co-ordinate a range of security-related operations covering traffic and crisis management, as well as law enforcement and anti-terrorism surveillance.
"This is the first time a police force in India has used a helicopter," says PHHL general manager Mandip Singh. He suggests the success of the trial could lead to a long-term contract with the Delhi police and trigger interest from other forces around the country, where it is becoming increasingly difficult to co-ordinate day-to-day police operations on the ground. "The Indian government, which funds the nation's police forces, will have to be persuaded that air support is an effective and worthwhile expense," Singh says.
The LongRanger, which is being supplied free by PHHL, Singh says, is fitted with a forward-looking infrared camera and helicopter movements are monitored from the police control room.
Police helicopter work will be a vital extension to PHHL's operation which accounts for 35% of its business. Mandip says: "We are involved in government transport, tourism and commercial transport between the islands and the north-east states where the road network is poor." PHHL operates a growing fleet of 31 helicopters, the bulk of which are used to service its thriving operation, which accounts for the remaining share of its business. "We will take delivery of two Eurocopter AS365 Dauphins in August and September, bringing the Dauphin fleet to 21," Singh says.
PHHL is also seeking to grow its light and medium helicopter fleets and is evaluating up to two new machines in each category. Ownership of PHHL is split between the Indian government and the country's Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, with a 78.5% and 21.5% share respectively.
Source: Flight International
