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#Helicopter

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Flying to the Divine: Online Booking for Helicopter Services to Kedarnath Dham now Open!

Get ready for an exciting pilgrimage to Kedarnath Dham as the gates are set to open on 25 April. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is all set to start online booking of helicopter services for the temple. According to a recent report by TOI, the trial run of the services was completed by 31 March and bookings will likely open from 1 April. The DGCA has issued guidelines for respective Shrine Boards and District Administration to ensure safe and smooth helicopter operations. IRCTC recently signed an MoU with Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) for a period of 5 years to provide helicopter ticket booking services to pilgrims of Shri Kedarnath Dham. As per the official website notice, "Helicopter services for 2023 Shri Kedarnath Dham Yatra will be booked through IRCTC heliyatra website." However, before booking the helicopter services, pilgrims must first register with the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board to visit the holy shrine of Kedarnath. Registration can be done through the Tourist Care Uttarakhand App or via WhatsApp by typing Yatra and sending it to the mobile number 91 8394833833. The Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand is one of India's most popular Hindu pilgrimages, encompassing four holy sites - Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri - nestled high up in the Himalayas. The doors of Kedarnath Dham will open on April 25, Badrinath Dham on April 27, and the Gangotri Temple Committee will open the temple doors from Akshaya Tritiya on April 22. According to the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Council, a total of 6.34 lakh devotees have registered for the Char Dham Yatra, with 2.41 lakh registrations for Kedarnath Dham. So, get ready to embark on a divine journey to Kedarnath Dham and book your helicopter services through IRCTC heliyatra website.

1 Apr 2023
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New Helicopter connectivity connects Assam’s major cities in minutes!

Traveling within Assam just got more exciting with its major cities now connected in minutes with a new helicopter service.  The new connectivity is aimed at improving trade and tourism in Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Tezpur, and Guwahati. Assam's routes are included in the first phase of the Regional Connectivity Scheme, under which Pawan Hans, a national PSU, will operate 86 routes across six states. This new means of transportation will change the game for travelers. No more long flights, connecting bus and train journeys. Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Tezpur, and Guwahati are a few of Assam's most significant tourist destinations. It is now possible for travelers to reach these locations easily and quickly, thanks to the helicopter service.  Dibrugarh, also known as the "Tea City of India," serves as the entry point to Assam's three primary tea-growing regions. From Jorhat, one can easily reach  Majuli, the largest river island in the world. It is also a significant tea town where research on tea is conducted.  The helicopter service has made it simpler to get to Tezpur, providing access to the Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Last but not least, Guwahati is the entrance to Northeast India and a city that is continually evolving. Thanks to its easy connectivity, both locals and visitors from other countries have more travel and vacation alternatives. With the new helicopter connectivity, traveling within Assam just got a lot more fun and easy. So pack your bags and get ready to explore the beauty of Assam.

10 Feb 2023
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi Dedicates Asia's Largest Helicopter Factory to the Nation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) helicopter facility in Tumakuru, Karnataka, to the country on March 6, 2021. In 2016, Prime Minister Modi laid the facility's foundation stone for a brand-new, greenfield helicopter plant. This facility will greatly enhance India's ability to produce helicopters creating employment opportunities for about 6,000 people in the region. The facility, which is now officially open, will initially produce the Light Utility Helicopters (LUH), a 3-tonne class, single-engine multipurpose utility helicopter with the unique feature of high maneuverability. As India's first indigenously designed and developed helicopter, the LUH is intended to replace the Cheetah and Chetak helicopters currently in operation by the Indian Armed forces. Additionally, it has a single turbo shaft engine with enough power margin to handle challenging high-altitude missions as well as a glass cockpit with multi-function displays. The LUH has a range of 350 km with a 500 kg payload, a service ceiling of 6.5 km, and a top speed of 220 kmph. Future plans for the Tumakuru facility include the production of Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) and Indian Multirole Helicopters (IMRH), as well as the maintenance and repair of LCH, LUH, Civil ALH, and IMRH. Additionally, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) believes that the facility will enable India to meet its entire requirement of helicopters indigenously, attaining the distinction of enabling self-reliance in helicopter design, development and manufacture within the nation. Over the next 20 years, HAL intends to construct more than 1000 helicopters in the 3-15 tonne class from Tumakuru using a production setup that adheres to Industry 4.0 norms. With its dedication, the PMO has high expectations that the Tumakuru Helicopters Factory will boost India's status in the field of aviation and help India become self-reliant in the aerospace industry.

8 Feb 2023
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The Indian Coast Guard Gets a Boost With the Induction of This Advanced Super Machine

An Indian Coast Guard Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Mk-III squadron was commissioned by D G V S Pathania at ICG Air Station, Chennai on November 30, providing a significant boost to further reinforce the Coast Guard Region East. The helicopter will give the Indian Coast Guard a much-needed boost in the security-sensitive waters around Tamil Nadu and the Andhra region. The unique thing about this helicopter is that it can transform from an offensive platform with a powerful machine gun to a benign one that is carrying an intensive care unit to assist in the transport of critically ill patients. One thing that makes us proud is the fact that this super-advanced machine with state-of-the-art features has been indigenously manufactured. The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) company manufactures the ALH Mk-III helicopters, which are equipped with cutting-edge technology such as advanced radar and electro-optical sensors, Shakti engines, high-intensity searchlights, and advanced communication systems. With the help of these functions, the helicopter can operate from ships during the day and at night, conducting maritime surveillance and long-range search and rescue missions. A total of 16 ALH Mk-III planes have been gradually added to the Indian Coast Guard and four of them are currently stationed in Chennai. The commissioning of this cutting-edge aircraft is a sign of the helicopter manufacturing industry's breakthrough toward self-reliance

2 Dec 2022
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A Major Boost to Indian Air Force As It Inducts Eight World’s Most Advanced Attack Helicopters

The Indian AirForce got a major boost on Tuesday when it inducted eight Apache AH-64E Guardian attack helicopters into its fleet. Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa termed the Apache as the most fierce attack helicopter and said that it will replace the aging Mi-35 fleet of the Indian Air Force. Apache – A Deadly Platform The Apache AH-64E has a speed of 279 km/hour and can carry a payload of six tons. Its strength lies in the fact that it can integrate the cyber-centric warfare scenario with the dynamic situations on the battlefield making it very lethal. Its manufacturer Boeing Defense, Space &Security (US) stated that the Indian version is equipped with enhanced performance, joint digital operability, improved survivability and cognitive decision aiding. Modern technology The helicopter is built with modern technology which enables the pilot to control unmanned aerial platforms and fly them from their own aircraft. The Apache is equipped with sophisticated sensors that can spot enemies even at night. The advanced technology enables the pilot to respond to enemy positions on the ground and also to transmit information to ground soldiers so that they can attack the enemy positions. The Apaches inducted in the Indian fleet is custom made to suit Indian conditions and can be operated in mountainous regions. The Apaches are a boon to the Indian Air Force as they will facilitate operations in hostile airspace with ground threats.   

3 Sep 2019
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Shaliza Dhami Becomes India’s First Female Flight Commander

Shaliza Dhami accomplished a milestone and became a source of inspiration for many young girls when she became India’s first female flight commander. Achievements Shaliza Dhami is a Wing Commander who has clocked over 23,000 flying hours. She has been serving in the Air Force for 15 years. She is the first woman officer to become the Flight Commander of a flying unit. Flight Commander is second in command of the unit. She also became the first female Qualified Flying Instructor and is also first woman officer to get a permanent commission of the flying branch after the Supreme Court gave women officers this legal right in March 2019. Commendable Feat Shaliza has been constantly shattering the glass ceiling to achieve great heights in her career. Dhami took over as Flight Commander of a Chetak helicopter unit at Hindon airbase in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. The helicopter is used for commuting, transporting cargo/material, for casualty evacuation, Search and Rescue (SAR), Aerial Survey and Patrolling, Emergency Medical Services, Off-shore operations and Underslung operations. As a young girl growing up in Ludhiana, Shaliza dreamed of joining the air force. Shaliza, who is also the mother of a nine-year-old girl was not only able to realize her dream but also paved the way for many ambitious women to think big and achieve their dreams. Image Source: iDiva

28 Aug 2019
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