The Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s plan to promote the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) is stuck due to the existing rules of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). DGCA’s comprehensive regulations have so far failed to take off due to the existing guidelines that mandate a 60-minute prior approval of flight path by the nearest Air Traffic Control (ATC) of the Indian Air Force (IAF), and a permission by the local administration — which at times takes up to two days. [related-post] According to sources, the DGCA — the civil aviation regulator in the country — put together the draft regulations 10 days ago. They will now be finalised based on suggestions/ recommendations received from the industry. Government sources added that the regulations make critical equipment requirements, tough training standards, networking and data linking and even night vision goggles as mandatory for HEMS operations. “The existing rules make it mandatory for the chopper’s flight path to be approved 60 minutes in advance before take off. Moreover, the approval from local administration is required , which requires up to two days. Both defeat the purpose of emergency ambulance service using a helicopter,” said a source.
