For the past two weeks, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has been touring districts in a newly-inducted Airbus H-160 helicopter, brought into service with security considerations in mind.
Until recently, Naidu had been using a Bell-manufactured helicopter, but as it had become outdated, it has now been replaced with the advanced Airbus model, equipped with modern features.
Aviation experts selected the H-160 because it is suitable for safe travel even under adverse conditions.
The earlier helicopter was not fit for long-distance travel. Whenever the Chief Minister had to visit a district, he would take off from his Undavalli residence to reach Gannavaram airport, then board a special aircraft to the nearest airport to his destination, and finally travel further by road to the event venue.
With the new helicopter, Naidu can now fly directly from his residence to districts, saving considerable time.
The Airbus H-160 can accommodate six passengers in addition to the pilots and comes with enhanced safety features.
The opposition YSR Congress Party accused Naidu of “wasting public money” on an ultra-modern helicopter to suit his personal luxuries. However, the state government on Friday dismissed these allegations.
In an official statement, the government clarified that the new helicopter was taken on lease, not purchased outright, and is meant not only for the Chief Minister but also for other VVIPs.
Officials pointed out that the previous helicopter had suffered frequent malfunctions.
On one occasion during Naidu’s tour and another during Union Minister Piyush Goyal’s visit, technical snags disrupted flights. In fact, Goyal’s scheduled trip from Tirupati to Krishnapatnam Port had to be cancelled due to a fault.
Over time, recurring technical glitches and delays in take-off raised safety concerns. After thorough inspection, security officials recommended that the Bell helicopter be retired.
The government therefore opted for a leased Airbus H-160 instead of purchasing a new one, dismissing rumours of extravagant spending.
According to sources, the rental costs for the new helicopter are nearly the same as those for the old one but with far greater efficiency.
Unlike earlier, when long journeys required flying first to Visakhapatnam, Tirupati, Kadapa, or Kurnool by airplane before switching to a helicopter, the H-160 can now fly directly from Amaravati to even the remotest corners of the state — from Srikakulam in the north to Chittoor in the south.
Officials say the change will save both time and money, with overall touring expenditure expected to reduce by nearly 70 percent, thanks to reduced dependence on government convoys and connecting flights.
