Wednesday, September 21, 2011

LET 410: Government okays import of jet for Surat-Mumbai air taxi. (India)

SURAT: The Surat-Mumbai air taxi could soon be a reality as the proposal of the Mumbai-based air service company interested in the project to import a 19-seater LET 410 aircraft for non-scheduled air transport services for Gujarat has been approved by the ministry of civil aviation.

A group of diamantaires led by the Lexus group are in talks with Maritime Energy Heli Air Services Private Limited (MEHAIR) to connect Surat and Mumbai and other destinations in Gujarat with a 19-seater aircraft. The move comes after Air India rejected repeated requests by diamantaires and textile tycoons to connect Surat with Mumbai.

MEHAIR is looking for investors for its project to connect Surat-Mumbai and other destinations in Gujarat with a 19-seater aircraft. The company has asked a firm commitment of 100 hours per flying month for a period of 24 months.

Now, that the civil aviation ministry has given the permission to import the aircraft, the company officials have expedited talks with the diamantaires led by Lexus group to sign an agreement at the earliest, so that the Surat-Mumbai air taxi services can be started before Diwali.

In an email communication with Utpal Mistry, CEO of Lexus group, MEHAIR's CEO Siddharth Verma said the civil aviation ministry has approved the import permit for the LET 410 aircraft meant to deploy on the Surat-Mumbai sector as well as other domestic sectors within Gujarat and the two Cessna 208A seaplanes to connect the places of tourist interest with major cities of Gujarat.

"With the receipt of this import permit, we can now launch the Mumbai-Surat flights anytime we want to. Let me know how you want to proceed in the matter from here on," Verma said in his email.

Unlike the recent case with Deccan Charters where a similar service was announced but later shelved, MEHAIR already has an import permit and other necessary licences to import the aircraft and commence immediate services with it. All that is needed for the commencement is a formal agreement between the company and investors, who will underwrite the 100 flight hours a month, said Verma in his proposal.

Utpal Mistry, CEO of Lexus, said, "Things are ready to take off and we are waiting for the investors from the diamond and textile industry to come forward."

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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