Trial chopper service from Churachandpur in Manipur to Mizoram’s Lengpui airport

In a trial, helicopter service from Lamka (Churachandpur) in trouble-torn Manipur landed at the lone Lengpui airport near Aizawl, Mizoram, at around 11.20 am and again took off for Lamka at 11.30 am on Thursday, Lengpui airport officials said.

The helicopter service in the sector will be run by Global Vectra Helicopter Ltd., which will place the VT-GVA/BELL 412(H) helicopter into service between Lamka and Aizawl if the trial landing and take-off are found to be technically satisfactory, airport officials said.

Capt. Bipin Bonde and Capt. N.S. Panwar were the crew who landed the passenger-less chopper at Lengpui on Thursday.

The Principal Consultant of Mizoram Civil Aviation, Wing Commander Joe Lalhmingliana, said that trial landings for the proposed helicopter service between Kangpokpi and Dimapur will also be undertaken on Friday.

“After submission of the report by the pilots to the Manipur government, and if the flights are found to be satisfactory, arrangements would be made for the launch of the helicopter service. The frequency of flights, on which days, amount of fares, and other logistics have to be decided before launching the service,” Lalhmingliana said.

He said that the helicopter flying between Lamka and Aizawl will land at Lengpui airport, not at a helipad in the Mualpuine neighbourhood of Aizawl, as refuelling has to be done on all the flights.

The duration of the chopper flight between Lamka and Lengpui takes around 45 minutes.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has given permission to commence inter-state helicopter service between Lamka (Churachandpur) and Aizawl on Monday.

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