As campaign for Karnataka Assembly elections kicks in, demand for helicopters soars
The Hindu
With the election campaign in Karnataka gathering steam ahead of the Assembly polls next month, helicopter rental firms and charter flight operators are in demand for their air assets.
With the election campaign in the State gathering steam ahead of the polls next month, helicopter rental firms and charter flight operators are in demand for their air assets.
As candidates and star campaigners are expected to crisscross across the state, helicopters and charter flights are the preferred mode of transport.
Helicopter rental firms said that they are already receiving queries from political parties and individual politicians who are in the fray.
“Three main political parties the BJP, Congress and the JD(S) have approached us and their leaders are already using our helicopters. We expect the demand for our services will increase as campaigning intensifies in the next few days,” said Jees George, director, Golden Eagle Aviation.
Urban Air Mobility company, BLADE India said they have been getting queries and would be providing their services in the coming days. “As a helicopter service, BLADE gets queries from time to time for campaigns. Being an asset light company, we use Bell 407, Airbus H125 and H130 for our services. Our helicopters typically have a capacity of 4-5 passengers,” said an official from BLADE India.
Apart from Bengaluru-based companies, operators from other states too are likely to fly charter flights and helicopters during the campaign.
Typically, a single engine helicopter can be hired for ₹1.5 lakh for one hour and a twin engine chopper can be hired for ₹2.75 lakh per hour. The operators have to follow rules laid down by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). There are do’s and don’ts which they have to follow during the election season.
“We are judges and therefore, cannot act like Mughals of a bygone era ... the writ courts in the guise of doing justice cannot transcend the barriers of law,” the High Court of Karnataka observed while setting aside an order of a single judge, who in 2016 had extended the lease of a public premises allotted to a physically challenged person to 20 years contrary to 12-year period stipulated in the law.
The High Court of Karnataka on Monday declined to interfere, at present, in the investigation against a Bharatiya Janata Party worker, who is among the accused persons facing charges of circulating obscene clips, related to “morphed” images and videos clips related to Prajwal Revanna, former Hassan MP, in public domain through pen drives and other modes.
The 16th edition of Bhoomi Habba was held on June 8, at the Visthar campus. The festival drew a vibrant crowd who came together to celebrate eco-consciousness through a variety of engaging activities, creative workshops, panel discussions, interactive exhibits and performances, all centered around this year’s theme: “Save Water, Save Lives.”