Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen has stated that preparations to resume helicopter services in the Maldives will begin very soon. The government decided to start helicopter services after discussing a paper submitted to the Cabinet regarding the introduction of helicopter flight services. The government announced this on January 28th. Speaking on the Dhivehi Raajjeyge Adu’s “Ahaa Bunaanan” program, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen said that when they advertised for parties interested in providing helicopter services, various international companies expressed interest. However, the Minister said that there were challenges in meeting the standards required for providing this service.
The Minister said that helicopter services in the Maldives were discontinued many years ago due to tragic incidents. As such, when restarting this service, they want to do so with a UK CAA assessment study to ensure a high-quality and safe service, the Minister said.
Minister Ameen said that the last time they halted the process of starting helicopter services was to do it in a way that would benefit the people and the country’s tourism. However, he said that preparations to start the service again will begin very soon. “A very unfortunate incident occurred in the Maldives’ helicopter service about 25 years ago. We now want to start that service with a UK CAA assessment study. Because such unfortunate incidents have occurred in the Maldives. Due to additional matters that need to be considered and to start this service in a way that benefits the people and the tourism sector, that process was halted at that time. However, that process will resume without much delay,” Minister Ameen said.
Minister of Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen has previously stated that the helicopters used in the helicopter service planned to be started in the Maldives will be of the highest safety standards. The Minister said that while the government has decided to provide helicopter services in the Maldives, the main focus will be on the safety and security of the people. As such, the Minister said that the most secure “twin-engine” helicopters will be used in this service. From the early 1990s until 1999, helicopter services were being provided in the Maldives. The helicopter service, which was then operating under the name Hummingbird, was discontinued due to tragic incidents that occurred at that time.
