Thumby Aviation has started heli-taxi services from Kempegowda International Airport {KIAL} and Electronic City Phase-1. This means you can cover 50 odd kilometres, in under 15 minutes. Oh, yes you can!
The Heli-Taxi Gets You From The Airport To Electronic City In 15 Minutes And We Tried It Out!
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Flying High
Right now, you can avail the service at KIAL and Electronic City Phase-1. I came to know that HAL will be added as the next destination within two weeks. Other places that could be added include – ITC Gardenia, Ritz Carlton, Whitefield and more. On their maiden flight, I was picked by Thumby Aviation to experience the heli-taxi ride which is now a regular service from KIAL to Electronic City. The chopper can accommodate four passengers as it is a Bell 407 craft, in addition to one pilot and a navigator, which means it’s ideal to share with friends and family, as the ride is priced at approximately INR 3,500 per person. After a quick briefing on safety features and procedures, we took off for the first ever flight!
Bird's Eye View
Within a minute, you’ll be cruising at about 4,000 feet above ground, so make sure to take in the birds’ eye view of Bangalore, and if you can, take a snapshot or two. You can see landmarks such as the KR Puram Hanging Bridge, the Outer Ring Road, NICE Road and of course Electronic City itself, while close to the airport, lakes, little forested areas and other helicopter and aeroplanes can be spotted. But since it’s a short flight, you’ll very soon begin your descent. The helicopter lands and takes off at the Thumby Helipad in Electronic City, and you can watch as the traffic below you remains practically stationary as you fly by. So if you thought that the price for the ride was too steep, then think about the time you’re saving! Especially since the cab ride itself would be about INR 2,800.
Fly To Your Flight
The service will operate in two shifts during peak business hours – 6.30am to 9.30 am and 3pm to 6.15pm, so don’t expect to ride it all through the day to catch a flight. Those living in the HAL area, the old airport will soon also be added to the list of service zones. Plus, ITC Gardenia, Ritz Carlton, Whitefield and a few more hotels and neighbourhood which have approval for landings on their helipads. You can only take 15 kilos of baggage on it, so travel light. In case of add-on baggage, they do have tie-ups with other ground-transport. The baggage will take the normal journey via road and delivered in four hours.
This first appeared on Fodyssey. Check out the entire post here.
