Choppers in demand as election nears

Mumbai: Political parties are still forging alliances, drawing up their list of candidates. But the one thing they sealed the deal on months in advance are helicopters for the use for their star campaigners.
In a sellers market, political parties are willing to pay through their nose to ensure their leaders can fly high.
India just has 60 odd choppers up for grabs, and they are all booked.
Political parties are paying between Rs 40000 to Rs 1.4 lakh for a single hour, depending on the type of machine and the number of people it will accommodate.
Industry sources say the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alone are leasing about 40 helicopters, which is more than half the machines available.
Parties have leased choppers for a 45-day period, paying up to Rs three lakh a day whether they fly or not.
The private helicopter charter business was down 25 per cent till the elections came calling. Now they are well out of the red.
19/03/09 Miloni Bhatt/NDTV.com

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Mar 2009