Private helicopter and air ambulance service have emerged as one of the potential investment areas in the country as businessmen and other skilled professionals now prefer the chopper service to avoid long travels and wastage of time, industry insiders said.
People have even booked helicopters in advance before and after the festivals like Eid-ul Fitr or business purposes to meet emergencies, they said.
According to the operators, annual turnover of the sector, which was hardly Tk 50.0 million in 2005, now reached Tk 5.0 billion thanks to the country" poor road condition.
South Asian Airlines Ltd (SAAL), for the first time, commercially introduced a helicopter manufactured by Robinson R-44 of the USA taking nagging traffic congestion in the country's major highways into their consideration 15 years ago and since then they never had to look back because of growing popularity of the aviation business.
Encouraged by the success of South Asian Airlines Ltd, six more local companies joined the aviation business over the last several years to carry increased number of passengers.
"Yes, private helicopter service is gaining popularity here as a means of fast and convenient transportation," Shamsher Ali, Managing Director of SAAL told the FE.
He said a large number of local people and foreigners, have now been travelling various corners of the country through helicopter for business, recreation and emergency medicare purposes.
"Helicopter can go to almost any place easily within a short time as it has no fixed route and as a result helicopter and air ambulance business is booming", he said.
He also pointed out that the seven companies which have introduced helicopter service, have other businesses.
"The service is also required now for our foreign delegates or partners", he said.
"After meeting the in-house demand, we give helicopter on rent," he said.
In recent times some of the leading local private companies have introduced helicopter service and invested about ten billion taka in this business.
"Now we get clients almost every day as in recent times many affluent people are turning to helicopter and air ambulance services who seek safe and comfortable journey", Kaium Sarker, Marketing Executive of Square Air Limited, one of the premier helicopter service providers in the country, said.
He said the wealthy including VIPs, CIPs, corporate heads, travel agents, tour operators prefer helicopter journey.
He said Square Air Limited has two (Bell-404 and Robinson R-66) helicopters and air charges are Tk 115000 (excluding 15 per cent VAT) for each hour of flight for seven persons, while for a four-seated Robinson helicopter the companies charge Tk 72,000 (excluding 15 per cent VAT) per hour.
Faruk Hassan, managing director of Giant Group, one of the leading export-oriented apparel business houses said the conglomerates, corporate executives, foreign business partners prefer helicopter services to visit factories or projects outside capital to avoid traffic congestion and time consuming journey by road.
He said following the development of economy the percentage of travelling people by helicopters has been increasing significantly.
Flight operation officer of Megna Aviation Ltd said a traveller can visit several locations in the country in one day by a helicopter.
He said the travellers enjoy total privacy. Conduct business as they fly, or relax in comfort and prepare for the next meeting.
He said they are providing highest safety and security to their customers.
Wealthy customers are renting helicopters for many purposes including marriage ceremony, political campaign, film shoot and advertisement, visiting branches of big companies outside capital and quick movement of patients.
The helicopter companies also maintain the highest standards of professionalism, safety, aircrew training and aircraft maintenance on the ground or in the air.
Square Air Ltd, a sister concern of Square Group, Meghna Aviation Limited, an enterprise of Meghna Group of Industries, BRB Air Limited, South Asian-airlines, Bangla International Airlines Limited, Impress Aviation Limited and R&R Aviation have been providing helicopter services. Nearly 14 helicopters of these companies are carrying people.
The Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh (CAAB) must be informed 48 hours before the flight as the helicopter has no definite route, the flight control tower must be prepared before the flight to communicate easily. But, in emergency cases, the permission is given in 5 to 60 minutes also.
An official at the CAAB said that competition in the sector is helping the consumers as they have now the option of bargaining.
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