Expensive but essential

The recent Swiss tourist episode highlights the need for a reliable helicopter service

If the government had strictly followed the request for proposals (RFP) for domestic air services, and not done away with the requirement to commence domestic operations with helicopters, Bhutan would today probably have at least one helicopter based at Paro airport. 

Both Drukair and Tashi Air, the winning companies of the domestic air contract, were required, as per the RFP, to commence domestic operations with helicopters prior to moving to fixed wing aircraft.

Apart from highlighting shortcomings in the rescue and evacuation mechanism, the recent incident, where it took more than 24 hours to air-rescue a Swiss couple from Lingzhi, also raised questions on whether the government should own a helicopter, or at least have a more dependable third party arrangement in place.

The couple, who suffered altitude sickness, was eventually air-rescued, and the afflicted tourist recovered in Thimphu.  But the couple, while acknowledging the various levels of assistance they received, pointed out that the air-rescue mechanism required improvement.

Requirement for helicopters was done away with by the government, which raised concerns of “noise pollution” and “hostile terrain”, according to an earlier interview with the former civil aviation director general.

Also, the high costs on both commercial entities, to maintain a helicopter each, that would be used only sporadically, was found to be financially unfeasible, said DCA officiating director, Karma Wangchuk.

Karma Wangchuk, however, pointed out that both companies have been asked to come up with an arrangement that would address search and rescue, and emergency air-rescues.  He said DCA is now awaiting the joint proposal.

Drukair CEO, Tandin Jamso, said that the national airline and Tashi Air were in discussions to jointly operate one helicopter, most likely a leased aircraft. 

But with Tashi Air suspending domestic operations, Tandin Jamso said Drukair would have to wait for the private airline to recommence its domestic services before pursuing the joint venture again. 

Tashi Air is required to recommence domestic air services by October next year.

Tandin Jamso said that any jointly operated helicopter would be based in Paro, with its primary role for medical emergencies, such as evacuations.  To address high costs, the helicopter will also be available for commercial charters, he said.

Drukair has previously experimented with operating a helicopter.  In partnership with a Nepalese company, Drukair operated a helicopter for about six months, but high costs and low demand resulted in the ending of the partnership. 

The rescue mechanism had failed that day, as the emergency fell on a Sunday, when most offices involved in initiating the air-rescue system are closed.  Additionally, the next day revealed a shortcoming in the system’s dependence on Indian army helicopters.  As the Indian army helicopters based in Bagdogra were on another air-rescue mission in Sikkim, the air-rescue in Bhutan could not occur.

Only the chance presence of a privately owned Indian helicopter at Paro allowed for the air-rescue to occur.  But the owner and pilots of the helicopter had to be convinced, as the aircraft’s performance at high altitude was an issue, as were the unfamiliar terrain to the pilots, and the location’s proximity to the sensitive Chinese border.

Observers have also pointed out that, given the government’s tourism objectives, the country’s reputation could suffer, if such incidents were to repeat.

“I think there’s nothing like it if we can have our helicopter services, but we have to consider the economic feasibility of owning a helicopter for occasional emergency services,” tourism council of Bhutan’s media focal person, Damcho Rinzin, said. “I think it would be good to see what we can do to facilitate and support the already existing private company that facilitates such emergency services (Bhutan Air Services), by working closely with relevant stakeholders.”

By Gyalsten K Dorji, Paro