Arunachal gets new air service

Itanagar, July 14 (UNI) Arunachal Pradesh has earned another distinction among the Northeastern states in civil aviation sector, with the introduction of a new chopper service.

Jagson Airline, a Delhi-based airline operator, has introduced the MI 172 helicopter, which took off its first flight to Dambuk, Roing and Pasighat on July 11 last to evacuate stranded passengers following heavy landslides, according to Civil Aviation secretary Tape Bagra.

The chopper with its bright blue and white colour along with new holster look, on its second flight yesterday took Chief Minister Gegong Apang to East and Upper Siang districts.

Mr Bagra further informed that another MI 172 aircraft of the airline would be made operational in the state soon. It would be basically for ration sortie, he added.

''With the addition of another chopper, larger numbers of people can avail flights to their desired destinations along with large numbers of ration sorties to various inaccessible areas of the state,'' he observed, adding daupline aircraft of Pawan Hans would also operate simultaneously in the state.

The pilots of the new chopper, Captain Vijay Prakash and Captain V P S Parmar, who have been in the region earlier, informed that the brand new aircraft has capacity of carrying 26 passengers and could, carry goods up to three tons.

''It is a work horse and a good machine, which can carry more loads, cover longer distance in high altitude region,'' they added.

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