Maya to spend Rs 54 cr for new set of wings

The Government is now looking at a Bell 430 helicopter costing Rs 24 crore, besides a 10-seater Beech Craft Premier 1A costing Rs 30 crore. It has two choppers, a Bell 230 and a Chetak, but both of 80s vintage. The last of its four propeller-run aircraft is a 2002 make.

“Each part of an aircraft requires overhauling or new parts after it completes 2,000 flying hours. Once that part goes for an overhaul or change, the aircraft is grounded. Since all aircraft owned by the Government are old, they require regular overhauling. We need at least two aircraft ready at any point of time and this purchase was necessary,” a senior officer of Civil Aviation Department said.

The Mulayam Singh Yadav Government, too, had tried to finalise the purchase of new aircraft, but the deal fell through.