India Hosts 7th Helicopter and Small Aircraft Summit 2025 in Pune to Boost Regional Aviation and Aero-Infrastructure.

In June 2025, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), in collaboration with the Government of Maharashtra (GoM), organized the 7th Helicopter & Small Aircraft Summit in Pune. The event, co-hosted by Pawan Hans Limited and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), aimed at strengthening India's low-altitude aviation ecosystem through technological, policy, and operational reforms.

      - The summit was officially inaugurated by Union Minister Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu, Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), while MoS Murlidhar Mohol attended as Guest of Honour. The event focused on improving regional air connectivity and integrating smaller aviation platforms into India’s broader air transport network.

      - A major announcement included the creation of a dedicated Helicopter Directorate under the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to provide a single-window regulatory platform. The directorate aims to improve helicopter safety, certification standards, and streamline regulatory procedures for both public and private operators.

      - More than 20 state governments, along with industry leaders, the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Airport Authority of India (AAI), and Pawan Hans participated in the summit. Experts discussed sustainable growth, safety innovations, and regulatory challenges.

Main Point :-   (i) Key initiatives discussed included the Heli Seva Portal, introduced to digitize rotorcraft operations and improve transparency in route approvals and slot management. The portal is expected to reduce operational delays and improve service standards across helicopter operations.

      (ii) The event featured technical sessions on DGCA’s evolving safety regulations, lease financing models by IFSCA, and the operational hurdles faced by OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers). The summit also emphasized on pilot training expansion and certification systems for small aircraft.

(iii) Additionally, participants discussed new policies to promote UDAN 5.1 routes for helicopters, regional airstrips, and seaplanes under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS). The summit showcased RCS-UDAN helicopter route expansion across India, marking progress in regional mobility and tourism-oriented air access.
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