HYDERABAD: The VVIP chopper Augusta Westland-139 (AW-139), procured by the Andhra Pradesh government at a cost of nearly Rs 60 crore, has now become a white elephant for the state exchequer. The administration is spending approximately Rs 1.25 crore per month (Rs 15 crore per annum) to keep it airworthy.
The state government, headed by then chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, had purchased the sophisticated Italian chopper as the BELL-430 helicopter was suffering frequent technical snags. It was then decided that the state-of-the-art aircraft could be pressed into service for search-and-rescue operations as well as for anti-Naxal operations.
The late chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy had logged less than 100 flying hours on the August, while former chief minister K Rosaiah travelled nearly 150 flying hours. The present chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy so far logged nearly 100 flying hours. The government had used the helicopter during the floods in Kurnool, while police used the chopper several times in the anti-Maoist operations in the Andhra-Orissa Border (AOB) region.
"It is mandatory for a detailed inspection after every 25 hours of flying time. The government has engaged a Delhi-based firm OSS Air Management Pvt Ltd for this purpose, to submit a report on the helicopter maintenance and its status to us. This firm was recommended by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). For every round of inspection, we have to pay Rs 30 lakhs," a senior official of Andhra Pradesh Aviation Corporation Limited (APACL), which maintains the VVIP helicopters, told TOI.
Though the finance department had allocated Rs 15 crore per annum to APACL for maintenance and expenditure of the VVIP helicopter, it has not released the entire amount due to the government's financial crunch.
"Apart from the Rs 60-70 lakh maintenance cost, irrespective of whether the helicopter is used or not, the APACL pays nearly Rs one crore premium to the insurance company per annum," an official said.
Other cost overheads like aviation turbine fuel (ATF) bill and transportation charges to oil companies were adding the woes of APACL. "We spend nearly Rs 15 crore on the helicopter annually, but the finance department has been delaying release of money. It has not released budget of the last two quarters," APACL sources said.
The government is mulling on a proposal to either purchase or wet lease another aircraft to lessen the burden on the Augusta helicopter. "The government is keen to implement the proposal soon," a general administration department (GAD) official added.
On one hand, the government allows its present chopper to rust by not releasing enough money, while on the other, it makes grand plans to buy a jet for the VVIPs
The state government, headed by then chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, had purchased the sophisticated Italian chopper as the BELL-430 helicopter was suffering frequent technical snags. It was then decided that the state-of-the-art aircraft could be pressed into service for search-and-rescue operations as well as for anti-Naxal operations.
The late chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy had logged less than 100 flying hours on the August, while former chief minister K Rosaiah travelled nearly 150 flying hours. The present chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy so far logged nearly 100 flying hours. The government had used the helicopter during the floods in Kurnool, while police used the chopper several times in the anti-Maoist operations in the Andhra-Orissa Border (AOB) region.
"It is mandatory for a detailed inspection after every 25 hours of flying time. The government has engaged a Delhi-based firm OSS Air Management Pvt Ltd for this purpose, to submit a report on the helicopter maintenance and its status to us. This firm was recommended by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). For every round of inspection, we have to pay Rs 30 lakhs," a senior official of Andhra Pradesh Aviation Corporation Limited (APACL), which maintains the VVIP helicopters, told TOI.
Though the finance department had allocated Rs 15 crore per annum to APACL for maintenance and expenditure of the VVIP helicopter, it has not released the entire amount due to the government's financial crunch.
"Apart from the Rs 60-70 lakh maintenance cost, irrespective of whether the helicopter is used or not, the APACL pays nearly Rs one crore premium to the insurance company per annum," an official said.
Other cost overheads like aviation turbine fuel (ATF) bill and transportation charges to oil companies were adding the woes of APACL. "We spend nearly Rs 15 crore on the helicopter annually, but the finance department has been delaying release of money. It has not released budget of the last two quarters," APACL sources said.
The government is mulling on a proposal to either purchase or wet lease another aircraft to lessen the burden on the Augusta helicopter. "The government is keen to implement the proposal soon," a general administration department (GAD) official added.
On one hand, the government allows its present chopper to rust by not releasing enough money, while on the other, it makes grand plans to buy a jet for the VVIPs
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