Himachal Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has this weekend launched the much-awaited helicopter services to cater for high-end tourists.  He ceremonially sent off the first helicopter flight for Kullu from Annandale helipad on Saturday, operated by an MD600N from the Simm-Samm Company.  Two other operators Shiva Heli Services and Mesco Airlines are also involved.

The Chief Minister told the assembled media that the helicopter service would both boost adventure tourism in the state, but also facilitate tourists enjoying the snow-clad mountains during the winters. He said that due to the lack of rail and regular air services, the helicopter offering should attract foreign as well as domestic tourists, keen to visit hitherto unexplored and lesser-known destinations.  There is a network of 56 helipads in the region, including six in tribal areas.

The three companies with whom agreements have been signed for starting heli-taxi services are, Simm Samm, Airways Pvt. Ltd., Shiva Heli Services and Mesco Airlines Ltd, said Arun Sharma, director tourism Himachal.  All ticketing will be done by the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation from their offices and hotels within and outside the state

Simm Samm Airways Pvt. Ltd. will operate the following routes

Kullu-Manali-Koksar
Manali-Sissu-Manali-Tandi
Tandi-Udaipur
Udaipur-Killar routes.

Shiva Heli Services would operate between

Manali-Bhuntar-Manali
Manali-Rohtang Pass-Manali
Manali Valley Ferry (Joyride) from SASE BASE routes

MESCO Airlines Ltd. had proposed to operate between

Shimla (Annadale)-Chandigarh Airport
Chandigarh Airport-Dharamsala (Police Ground)
Dharamsala (Police Ground)-Chandigarh Airport
Chandigarh Airport-Shimla (Annadale)
Shimla (Annadale)-Kullu Airport
Kullu Airport-Tandi
Tandi -Udaipur
Udaipur-Killar
Killar-Udaipur
Udaipur-Tandi
Tandi – Kullu Airport
Kullu Airport-Shimla (Annadale)
Shimla (Annadale)-Tabo
Shimla (Annadale)-Kaza
Tabo-Kaza
Kaza-Tabo
Tabo-Shimla(Annadale)
Shimla (Annadale)-Reckong Peo
Reckong Peo-Shimla (Annadale).

All the Heli taxi operators would be based at Annadale Helipad Shimla and Manali simultaneously and ticketing would be done by the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) from their offices and hotels within and outside the state, said Sharma.