Two new Pawan hans helicopters for service in Arunachal Pradesh

ITANAGAR: Facing criticism in the aftermath of the April 19 helicopter crash at Tawang, government-run Pawan Hans Helicopter Limited ( PHHL) has announced two new ones would be introduced for service in Arunachal Pradesh.

PHHL Executive Director Sanjiv Bahl said that order for two new 24-seater, MI-172 helicopters have been placed and were expected to be delivered by December.

Four pilots have been selected for training in the new helicopters, GM (operations) RPS Mahal and general manager (engineering) Deepak Kapoor said.

Stating that Pawan Hans was providing air services in the state since December 1995, he said, it airlifted heavy machines for BRO, flew rescue missions, airlifted police personnel and rations in remote areas, besides, men and materials during elections.

On PHHL's corporate social responsibility (CSR), he said that it has signed a MoU with the GoI and allocated Rs 25 lakh for 2011-12 for the Northeast, particularly Arunachal, 50 per cent of which would be meant for providing financial assistance to 70 illiterate women for training in tailoring, computer literacy programme for 70 with 8th pass and training in beauty and health programme for 70 illiterate women through NGOs.

The PHHL intended to sponsor the trip of 10 Arunachalee students to the Pawan Hans Helicopter Training Institute, Mumbai for giving them first hand knowledge on helicopter operations and maintenance and also to tie up with the state government for allocating a few seats for the highly job-oriented institute.