Jyotiraditya M Scindia inaugurates Heli Summit 2023 and UDAN 5.2 in Khajuraho

The Heli Summit 2023, the 5th edition of the Helicopter & Small Aircraft Summit, was collaboratively hosted by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Government of Madhya Pradesh, Pawan Hans Ltd., and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) with the theme “Reaching the Last Mile: Regional Connectivity through Helicopters & Small Aircraft“

Objectives of The Heli Summit 2023

The Summit aimed to achieve the following objectives:

Establishing a common platform for industry stakeholders and policymakers to discuss the growth prospects of the Indian Helicopter and Small Aircraft industry
Expanding the scope of the UDAN Scheme in remote and hilly regions, thereby improving rural-to-urban connectivity across the country.
Enhancing Helicopter & Small Aircraft connectivity to areas with existing and potential tourism hotspots, ensuring uninterrupted services for travelers.

UDAN 5.2 Expands to Helicopters, Boosts Connectivity to Remote Areas

Shri Jyotiraditya M Scindia launched UDAN 5.2, extending its benefits to helicopters as well. This latest version incorporates enhancements such as increased VGF (Viability Gap Funding) and a reduced fare cap for small aircraft under the UDAN scheme.

The notable highlight of this launch is the allocation of 22 new routes, a testament to the government’s commitment, led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, to provide air travel accessibility to residents in remote regions.”

Heli-Sewa Mobile Application to Foster Collaboration in Aviation Sector

Shri Scindia also launched the Heli-Sewa mobile application. This application is a part of the HeliSewa Portal, an initiative by the Ministry of Civil Aviation under Digital India.

Its primary purpose is to establish a common platform that fosters collaboration between helicopter operators and district authorities. The mobile application aims to enhance user experience, content loading, and the usability of functions, providing greater convenience for users.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Pawan Hans and Jetserve, signifying a crucial step towards advancing the Helicopter and Small Aircraft sector in India.

Growth of India’s Civil Aviation Sector

Over the past nine years, the civil aviation sector in the country has witnessed a significant democratization. This transformation is evident in the substantial growth of airports, aircraft numbers, and the overall market size.

This expansion encompasses not only big metropolitan airports and large airlines but also recognizes the crucial role played by small town airports, small airlines, and helicopters in the industry.

About Pawan Hans

Pawan Hans Limited, a central public sector undertaking headquartered in Noida, Delhi NCR, India, operates as a transport service. Established on 15th October 1985, it falls under the ownership of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India.

While its primary function revolves around providing helicopter services for offshore exploration operations in the oil sector, this government-owned helicopter service provider is also actively involved in catering to the requirements of various state governments across India.