Thiruvananthapuram: The state is all set to have an air ambulance of its own, not just to airlift organs but also to rush to the aid of critically ill patients. The health department and the Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology have agreed in principle to utilize two aircraft of the latter for the purpose.
"The academy is preparing a commercial proposal which will be submitted to the health department. We have agreed in principle to operate the aircraft as chartered flights for the health department," said M Sivasankar, KSEB chairman and secretary of the academy's governing body .
The health department had invited proposals from private airlines for operating chartered flights. But they had demanded Rs 1-2 lakh per hour of flight and wanted an assurance from the government that a minimum of 40 hours of flying would be ensured every month. "Even charging half of it for one hour of flying is okay with us since the academy and aircraft belong to the government. We only need to cover the operational cost and can, hence, offer flights to the health department at cheaper rates," Sivasankar said.
21/01/16 ET Healthworld.com
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"The academy is preparing a commercial proposal which will be submitted to the health department. We have agreed in principle to operate the aircraft as chartered flights for the health department," said M Sivasankar, KSEB chairman and secretary of the academy's governing body .
The health department had invited proposals from private airlines for operating chartered flights. But they had demanded Rs 1-2 lakh per hour of flight and wanted an assurance from the government that a minimum of 40 hours of flying would be ensured every month. "Even charging half of it for one hour of flying is okay with us since the academy and aircraft belong to the government. We only need to cover the operational cost and can, hence, offer flights to the health department at cheaper rates," Sivasankar said.
21/01/16 ET Healthworld.com
