The Maharashtra government is sending three pilots from the Directorate of Aviation for training of a New H-145 Helicopter to be procured for the Anti-Naxal operation. The pilots would be provided training in Dallas, United States.
The state government had decided to purchase H-145 multipurpose helicopter from France-based manufacturing company Airbus Helicopters to deploy in Nagpur for the anti-naxal operations.
"As per the terms and conditions mentioned in the tender and as per the provisions of the agreement with the company, government pilots approved by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) or European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) will be provided training by the company. The decision to send DGCA pilots abroad for training purposes was under consideration by the government," said a government official.
Those pilots who have been selected for the training are Captain Sanjay Karve (chief pilot), Captain Mahendra Dalvi (senior pilot) and Captain Mohit Sharma (assistant pilot). The three would be receiving 15-day training starting from July 8 at Dallas. The total expenditure of Rs 26.32 lakh for training has been sanctioned by the state government.
Last month, in a bid to ensure unhindered aerial surveillance, providing emergency medical assistance, food supplies and ferrying injured jawans in the naxal areas, the Maharashtra government had given an extension of one year to the use of a rented helicopter of a Mumbai based private company. The extension period ends in May 2022, said a government official. This year, the police in Maharashtra have killed 22 naxals.
