India’s Strict Regs Stifle Expansion in Helo Sector
Aviation International News » May 2012 by Neelam Mathews Maintaining rotorcraft in India, such as this AgustaWestland AW139, is challenging since maintenance providers are not permitted to own an inventory of parts and customs duties for spares are onerous. May 3, 2012, 4:50 AM Operators flying some 300 helicopters in India say regulatory issues are stifling an industry that has enormous potential for expansion. Suffocating restrictions, say operators, hound them at every step, starting with brutal import taxes. India’s rules require separate certification for every model type, so the lack of commonality and a mix of fleet types creates additional obstacles. For example, “Maintenance providers are not permitted to own a pool of inventory of spares, which could bring in efficiencies,” according to Sanjeev Choudhary, senior v-p of sales...