Juhu aerodrome, was delayed by almost an hour and 30 minutes due to visibility issues and an enthusiastic media contingent, which crowded around the plane clicking photos. ” The Air Traffic Control gave us a ten-minute clearance around 11am but since we couldn’t clear the space, we missed that time slot,” explained Mrs Mansi Shirodkar, who is handling the public relations for Maritime Energy Heli Air Services Pvt Ltd (Mehair), which launched the service along with the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation. While seven passengers boarded the Cessna 208 Amphibian at 11.55am, only three returned around two hours later to a red carpet – or rather, red staircase – welcome. Real estate consultant, Mr Vishesh Verma, described the experience as “superb” and “amazing”. The plane, which flies at a height of about 7,000 ft, gives passengers a bird’s-eye view of the city. “It’s different from flying in a normal aircraft because the clouds are all around you and you can see what you are flying over the entire time,” added Mr Verma. The plane, which landed on Pawana dam in Lonavla, was manned by Captain Priyanka Manuja, who has been flying sea planes for Mehair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for the last three years. After landing on the dam, passengers were whisked to a small boat club via a speed boat. But even while alighting, none of them showed the slightest hint of trepidation though the youngest passenger was only nine. ” Everyone loved it and the nine-year-old was the most excited passenger on board,” said Ms Manuja.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city
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