Pawan Hans has sought the Centre’s approval to purchase 23 more helicopters

The seven-seater Pawan Hans helicopter takes off from the helipad behind VUDA Park on Beach Road in Visakhapatnam. file. | Photo Credit: CV SUBRAHMANYAM

After repeated attempts to privatize the government helicopter company failed, Pawan Hans Limited (PHL) has proposed to the Center to purchase 23 new helicopters to replace the 42 helicopters in its old fleet.

Pawan Hans’ proposal also includes undisclosed capital needed to fill the fleet, said Civil Aviation Ministry Secretary Wumlunmang Wulnam. Hindu. PHL is a joint venture between the Government of India (GoI) and ONGC providing helicopter services. GoI holds 51% stake in the company and ONGC holds the remaining 49%.

The senior official did not disclose the estimate provided by Pawan Hans, but the central public sector undertaking has been asked to review it.

PHL will explore the necessary financing mechanism to raise the necessary funds for the exercise, such as a bank loan, or budgetary support from the government or any other option, the official said.

Last week, Pawan Hans announced a 10-year contract worth over ₹2,000 crore to ONGC to provide four helicopters to transport its employees to off-shore duty locations.

Under the agreement, Pawan Hans will produce four HALs Dhruva N.G Helicopters for ONGC Off-shore Operations. Dhruv NG is the civil version of HAL’s Advanced Light Helicopter Mk-III used by the Defense Forces. The Pawan Hans contract is the first time that an indigenously designed and developed civil helicopter will take to the skies in India.

Expressing support for the revival of the Pawan Hans, Mr Woolnam said: “We are at a stage where the use of helicopters needs to be expanded, including for heli-emergency medical services (HEMS), disaster relief, and other public service roles.”

Pawan Hans has 17 Dauphin NSs of 37 years and two Bell 206s of 29 years on board.

On July 3, 2023, the Center canceled the strategic disinvestment of Pawan Hans after the successful bidding consortium Star9 Mobility Pvt Ltd was disqualified due to a case pending before the national company against one of its consortium members – Almas Global Opportunity Fund SPC. Law Tribunal (NCLT) for sale of entire shareholding of Government of India (51% of shareholding) to Pawan Hans Limited (PHL) and transfer of management control.

This was the fourth attempt to sell the helicopter company after the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in October 2016 approved the strategic divestment of the Indian government’s entire stake. ONGC had earlier decided to give its entire stake to the successful company. GoI identifies bidders in strategic disinvestment transactions, at the same price and terms as GoI.