Thaindian News

New Delhi, March 9 (IANS) Delhi and Mumbai airports will soon get dedicated chopper corridors that would lessen aerial congestion, aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said Tuesday.
“We have already asked the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to design the Visual Flight Rules (VFR) for helicopter routes for Delhi and Mumbai airports,” the DGCA said in a statement.

Delhi and Mumbai have the highest density of chopper operations.

DGCA chief S.N.A Zaidi had talked about the exclusive chopper corridors during the international aviation conference at Hyderabad March 4.

The civil chopper industry has for long been demanding separation of helicopter and aircraft traffic to lessen aerial congestion.

“A large number of helicopters operate within the control zone of Delhi and Mumbai airports and also from Juhu airfield (Mumbai), where they carry out oil exploration, tourism, corporate and business purposes,” the DGCA said.

“The chopper operations get delayed due to air traffic congestion at these airports. Dedicated chopper routes will help in overcoming these problems,” it added.

The need to introduce dedicated chopper corridors at the two metro cities was also recommended by the R.N. Kaw Committee, set up to strengthen the DGCA.

The aviation regulator has already conducted flying trials with the help of helicopter operators. “The routes were further modified wherever required and were scrutinized and approved by us,” it said.