The Government of Nagaland has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) Thumby Aviation Pvt Ltd for another four years under MHA. At the flagging off of the helicopter service at Dimapur Airport on Wednesday, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio urged the company to provide good services and also reminded them of the regular distribution of schedules, DIPR informed.
Rio underscored the need for two choppers to be operational so that one could be kept for regularly catering to the needs and welfare of the people especially the sick and the elderly. We also need chopper service during VVIP visits and also for the movement of VIP/official visits in far-flung areas, Rio said.
The CM also advised that chopper services should be available especially during the Hornbill Festival so that tourists get the opportunity for visiting the famed and beautiful Dzükou valley.
General Manager, Nagaland State Transport, Shikaho P Yepthomi while highlighting the operation of helicopter services in the state informed that the chopper service was introduced way back in 1988 which however was discontinued due to the unfortunate crash in 1989 February. Yepthomi further informed that helicopter services were re-introduced in Nagaland again in 2007 under the personal initiative of Neiphiu Rio and since then it has been rendering services.
Due to the heavy demand of the service, the Government has taken initiative with the MHA and now flying hours have been increased from 480 hours to 600 hours per annum, for the benefit of the people, the GM added.
CMD of Thumby Aviation Pvt Ltd, Captain KNG Nair informed they will be operating with two Bell 412 Helicopters and another chopper, Augusta 109, will be kept on standby. The aircraft has a sitting capacity of 13 passengers plus two pilots while the baggage compartment can carry around 400 pounds of cargo, Nair informed.
The Company has been operating in Nagaland since 2010 on a 2-year term contract basis, initially with one helicopter but since 2010, services are being rendered with two choppers with the increase in demand. This time the Thumby Aviation Pvt Ltd has signed an MoU with GoN for a period of four years (26th June 2023 to 26th June 2027).
Advisor Transport, GoN, Temjenmemba, Airport Director Geetha Sahu, OSD Transport and Aviation, Ababe Ezung, officials from NST Department, and others attended the flagging-off ceremony.
