Helo EMS Set To Take Off In India with New Policy
Neelam Mathews April 24, 2016 Long overlooked, helicopter emergency medical services ( HEMS ) in India will get a boost through a civil aviation requirement to be issued by the country’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation ( DGCA ) in mid-April. This is the first time separate regulations are being set for the HEMS industry in India. Issues to be addressed include eliminating the requirement for HEMS operators to file a flight plan and allowing helicopters to fly point-to-point without prior air traffic control clearance in airspace below 5,000 feet and outside of prohibited or restricted areas. The Ministry of Civil Aviation is simultaneously working on a plan to coordinate with the National Highways Authority of India, hospitals, insurance companies, on-ground ambulance services and airports to facilitate rapid medical evacuation. “ HEMS is critical for India, which has a poor road infrastructure. There is...