Growing demand makes Deccan Aviation order new twin engine helicopter

Wednesday, 31 August 2011 02:21 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Minister Yapa and Tourism team fly in Deccan helicopter to inspect arrangements for Pro Surf 2011

In response to growing demand for its services Deccan Aviation Lanka Ltd has placed an order for an additional twin engine helicopter for delivery early next year.

The Company currently operates a Bell helicopter in addition to recently deploying a brand new Airvan aircraft.

Among slew of VIPs to use its services was Deputy Minister of Economic Development Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena who along with a team from Sri Lanka Tourism flew to Arugam Bay to inspect and to attend a coordination meeting for Pro Surf 2011 which began on Tuesday.

The Deputy Minister, who arrived in a helicopter belonging to Deccan Aviation, was joined by Jauffer, Managing Director of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and Dileep Mudadeniya of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority.

After landing at 10 a.m. at the Arugam Bay helipad adjoining the new bridge, the coordination meeting for ‘Pro Surf 2011’ was held between the Deputy Minister, representatives of Sri Lanka Tourism, SriLankan Airlines, Zonal Director Education, the police, military and local government authorities. The meeting was to educate the industry stakeholders in and around Arugam Bay about the event and resolve any logistical issues they were facing. The Deputy Minister and others were flown back to Colombo the same day.

During the course of the meeting, the helicopter was used for a quick aerial survey of the area and to capture pictures of the landscape that will be used for future tourism promotion activities.

“It was important for the Minister to see for himself how with domestic aviation options, one can access even frontier destinations like Arugam Bay by using aeroplanes or helicopters, in addition to the traditional road transport. Aviation is likely to play a leading role in the opening up of places such as Arugam Bay to tourism and development,” Dileep Mudadeniya said on the sidelines of the Ministers visit.

“Helicopters are the preferred mode of travel for corporate transfers and our helicopters can land guests directly at their site and we have years of experience handling complex multiday flights for corporates and VIPs. Guests have the ability to get much closer to their destination than flying in a plane to an airport or water drome and then taking a drive,” Deccan Aviation Lanka’s CEO/Director Denham Schokman said.

“Flights to Arugam Bay are not something new. We have been doing it for years now, and with lots of new competition from start up airlines anticipated, it is important we maintain our position as market leader and to this end our guests can expect a lot more from Deccan in the months ahead.”