Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur to offer a helicopter ferry service

Updated on: Thursday, May 30, 2013

The Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur (IIT-K) will on June 1 become the country's first academic institution to offer a helicopter ferry service. To be run by Pawan Hans from the institute's runway, the facility would initially offer flights to Lucknow. It would be extremely handy for IIT guests, faculty, academicians, students, local industrialists and others willing to fly to Lucknow.

The first flight would take off from the IIT-Kanpur runway on June 1 and the seven-seater helicopter will have a capacity to carry five passengers at a time.

Merchant's Chamber of Uttar Pradesh, which is the driving force behind the launch of the helicopter service, has termed it as "an epic moment in the history of the IIT-K and the industrial city".

Anita Jha, Secretary General, Merchant's Chamber of Uttar Pradesh, said: "IIT-K is launching this service in association with Pawan Hans Limited. Though initially the service would be between Kanpur and Lucknow, it would be later extended to New Delhi."

"Presently there is no air connectivity between Kanpur and Lucknow and the flight between Kanpur and Delhi is not reliable. Many a times this flight gets cancelled due to various reasons. The new service will end this uncertainty," said Jha.

Talking about the glitches in the way of operations of more flights from Kanpur to other destinations, Anita said: "The local Chakeri airport runway requires carpeting so that it is 'smooth' enough to handle bigger planes.

The runway length also needs to be extended. Due to these constraints, presently only a 70-seater plane flies between Kanpur and Delhi. The helicopter service can go a long way in improving the air connectivity between Kanpur and Delhi till the time Chakeri facilities are upgraded," she added.

Asked how will the people of the industrial city benefit with the launch of the helicopter service, Jha said: "IIT-K people and local industrialists will be at an advantage as they will not have to spend two and a half hours reaching Lucknow airport via road. Now, in much less time they will be able to reach Lucknow and board a flight."

Anita added that "air connectivity from Kanpur is very important because the number of passengers flying to different destinations from Lucknow airport is very high. "Over 40% of the total passenger rush at Lucknow's Amausi airport is from Kanpur. This shows the dire need of operating more flights to several destinations from Chakeri airport. But as this is not possible at the moment, the helicopter service will prove to be of great help till the Chakeri airport is expanded," she said.

"Air India is ready to launch an Airbus from the city, but the wait is only for the upgradation of the Chakeri airport including installation of Night Landing System.

When questioned about the role of the Chamber in the launch of the service, Jha said: "Merchants Chamber of Uttar Pradesh has partnered with IIT-Kanpur in the development of the industrial city and this step is like putting another step forward."

The helicopter facility will be inaugurated on Thursday by joint director general, DGCA, Anil Srivastava, who is also the Chairman-Cum-Managing Director of Pawan Hans Limited, and Prof Indranil Manna, IIT-K director. Also present will be some leading industrialist of Kanpur. Civil aviation minister will also deliver an address on the inaugural ceremony through video link.

Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur to offer a helicopter ferry service

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