NST notifies on revised schedule for chopper service in Nagaland

September 9, 2024 296 Views No Comment

Dimapur, September 9 (MExN): The Nagaland State Transport (NST), on September 7, announced a new weekly schedule for State Helicopter service.

The revised schedule, which comes into force with immediate effect, is more or less the same as the one issued in January this year, but it includes additional contact details for regular as well as medical evacuation or charter services.

Chopper services are available from Dimapur to 20 districts and other administrative headquarters in Nagaland (see table).
For medical emergencies and charter services, the contact numbers are 9774329903 and 986237022.

However, for medical services, a fit-to-fly certificate of the patient, duly certified by a registered medical practitioner, is mandatory, stated a circular issued by NST GM Shikaho P Yeptho.

For chartering, requisitions must be submitted to the NST GM office at least 48 hours ahead of the intended schedule sortie. Additionally, an extra 10 minutes of flying time will be added for flying from the Hangar to the Apron and vice versa for chartering cases.

The carrying capacity for every sector will depend on the load/weight of the passengers, with a maximum baggage allowance of 5 kilos per passenger, the circular added.

Operation of the chopper service is subject to weather and technical conditions, an availability of at least an 80% load factor on both ways, and the availability of a safe landing helipad in each sector.

According to the revised chart, fares range from as low as Rs 1625 (Dimapur-Peren, Wokha & Tseminyu) with a 25-minute flying time to Rs 3900 (Dimapur–Tizit, & Mon), with a one-hour duration. The fare is charged at 25% of the total fare per adult passenger after a 75% subsidy, while infants (0-2 years) are charged 10%.

Likewise, charges for medical evacuation also depend on flying time and range from Rs 30,000 (Dimapur-Peren, Wokha & Tseminyu) to Rs 65,000 (Mon and Tizit). Chartering to the same locations respectively costs Rs 120,000 and Rs 260,000.