(a) whether the Government proposes to provide cheap air services to make health services available in economically backward regions;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government proposes to use air ambulances as Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS), to land at accident and emergency sites;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Jayant Sinha)
(a) to (e): As per National Civil Aviation Policy 2016, helicopters under Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) operations will not require any operational clearance, including landing at accident and emergency sites from any agency except Air Defence Clearance because of the very nature of their operations. No landing charges and Route Navigation Facilitation Charges (RNFC) will be levied for HEMS operations. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) on Operation of Aero Medical Transportation (AMT) and provisions of this CAR is also applicable to HEMS operations. DGCA has issued Operations Circular No. 02/2016 dated 11th February 2016 on HEMS.