The state government has decided to engage a fixed-wing aircraft on ‘wet lease’ basis for use by Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy. Though it was earlier proposed to buy a new aircraft at a cost of more than Rs 100 crore, the government is considering hiring the aircraft as a more economically viable option. The lease will cost Rs 13.89 crore, which is less than the annual maintenance charges of a state-owned aircraft, sources said.
Under the ‘wet lease’ model, the state will enter into an agreement with the aircraft owner to utilise the plane’s services for a fixed number of hours every month. “We are likely to use it for 30-40 hours every month,” a senior official said. A decision to hire the aircraft was taken since the CM travels frequently across the state to attend Indiramma Baata programmes. The chief ministers who succeeded late Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy reduced travel by choppers and preferred regular flights to distant places like Visakhapatnam, Rajahmundry and Tirupati.
The officials said it cost the government heavily to engage private aircraft in case of emergencies or unscheduled trips. Another reason the government prefers lease is because it is costly to maintain a large staff on a permanent basis. The DGCA has issued new guidelines, according to which it is mandatory to have two pilots, an operation manager, safety manager, flight dispatcher and a cabin attendant.