Madhya Pradesh government has firmed up plans to buy a new twin-engine helicoptor to fly ministers and VIPs though it could take a year's time to receive the delivery of the copter.
Following directions from the director general of civil aviation (DGCA),the Madhya Pradesh government has firmed up plans to buy a new twin-engine helicoptor to fly ministers and VIPs though it could take a year's time to receive the delivery of the copter.
"Though all procedural formalities have been completed, it will take another year for the Madhya Pradesh aviation department (MPAD) to receive the new double-engine helicopter-- Eurocopter's EC 155 B1," official sources said here today.
Following the death of Andhra Pradesh chief minister, YS Rajasekhara Reddy in a helicoper crash in the Nallamala forest ranges near Kurnool last September, the DGCA had asked all State governments not to use single engine helicopters for flying VIPs, they said.
Soon after the DGCA directives, the Madhya Pradesh government had initiated measures to buy a new chopper by replacing the old one and selected Eurocopter's EC 155 B1 model after undertaking analysis of different helicopters, sources said.
A four-member committee comprising principal secretary (finance), principal secretary (home), principal secretary
(aviation) and director aviation was set up to purchase the new twin-engine helicopter and arrangements were made for selling the state's old helcopter Bel 407 having single engine, they said.
The state government has floated a global tender for selling Bell 407 with October 20 being the last date for submitting the tender form, sources said.
So far six applications have been received for the sale of Bell 407 and officials expressed confidence about getting a good price.
At present, the Madhya Pradesh government owns one plane and two helicopters.
The plane is seven-seater Super King B 200 double-engine aircraft while the helicopters are Bell 407 (single engine) purchased in 2003 and the Bell 430 purchased in 1998, sources said.
The Bell 430 has also completed its lifespan as per guidelines but no decision has been taken to dispose it so far, they said.
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