B'lore may soon get a heliport

Bangalore, according to Pawan Hans Helicopters Limited Executive Director Sanjiv Bahl, may house a heliport, the third such in the country.

The company’s first heliport — airport exclusively meant for helicopters — being built at Rohini, New Delhi, on a 25-acre area, is expected be functional in two years’ time. The second is planned at Hadapsar in Pune.

Talking to Deccan Herald, Bahl said the tender process for various construction components for the first integrated heliport in New Delhi is currently on. So also the process for clearances from different government agencies.

While the Pune heliport will cater to the needs of 13 helicopter owners in that city, and many more in Mumbai, Bangalore may have one soon after. “The Centre’s strategic plan for overall development of the sector calls for at least four heliports, including Bangalore,” Bahl said. Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai are also in line to get their own heliports.

Why heliports? “In normal airports, helicopters have to wait for Air Traffic Control (ATC) clearance and for fixed wing aircraft to land. This defeats the very purpose of a helicopter, which quickly takes off and lands,” explained a helicopter specialist.
However, the emergence of heliport culture is unlikely to happen soon as land acquisition process rests with the government.

Besides, helicopters and helicopter movements are governed by rules generally applied for fixed wing aircraft by Director General Civil Aviation (DGCA).

That is one reason why helipads are not approved by DGCA. A city like Bangalore might have several high-end apartments and gated communities that boast of helipads. But none have DGCA approval. Sources said DGCA has initiated review of rules on infrastructure for helicopters.

For the record, DGCA has laid down requirements for heliports covering all aspects of planning, infrastructure including taxiways, aprons, markings, aeronautical lightings, emergency services, maintenance standards, physical characteristics and obstacle limitation surfaces to be provided for a heliport.