Neelam Mathews

India’s Business Aircraft Operators Association (BAOA) is pushing for regulatory harmonization with global standards and reflecting the sector’s role in the national economy. At a conference in Hyderabad last week, the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) committed to supporting the group’s efforts.
IBAC director general Kurt Edwards told AIN&nbsp;that the ICAO-affiliated organization will work closely with BAOA to accelerate India’s adoption of sustainable aviation fuel, as well as ADS-B and GNSS navigation systems. He said rationalized rules could unlock industry growth to allow business aviation to scale up safely and sustainably.
In particular, IBAC is making the case for modernizing India’s approach to fractional ownership. After four years of negotiations, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has drafted a long‑awaited revised policy on this business model.
According to BAOA managing director R.K. Bali, the regulations are due to be released in April and take effect from June. The reforms introduce a dedicated fractional aircraft operator designation with defined ownership structures, rationalized taxation, and stronger and more transparent oversight.
“The aim is to reduce the cost of ownership,” Bali said. “We have proposed that the service provider be responsible for operations and management.”
Fractional ownership providers in India are currently required to operate under a non‑scheduled operator permit (NSOP), under legal structures developed for on-demand charter services. According to BAOA, this approach has resulted in ambiguity around liability, operational control, and safety oversight. The group has found that a failure to standardize contractual terms has further undermined confidence among prospective fractional owners.
<h2>Helicopter Growth</h2>
BAOA’s lobbying has led to the creation of a helicopter unit within the Ministry of Civil Aviation. This is expected to provide more focused support for operators responding to government-backed initiatives to boost applications such as medical evacuation and regional connectivity, with a new budget taking effect from February 1, supporting 120 subsidized routes.
During the conference in Hyderabad, Sunny Guglani, Airbus Helicopters’ head of India and South Asia, announced his team’s first new orders of 2026. An undisclosed private customer is buying a pair of H160s and India’s first H175. He said the deal is evidence of a maturing rotorcraft market in which clients are prioritizing higher performance and reliability.
Last year, more than 30 new civil helicopters were delivered in India, which marked a significant increase from recent years that have only seen single-digit totals. In 2025, the number of rotorcraft registered under India’s NSOP rules increased from 213 to 225.
Airbus delivered H125, H130, and H135 models for a variety of use cases, including emergency medical support, religious pilgrimages, and business charters. Leonardo customers took several AW109s and AW119s, while Bell delivered several 407GXis and 412s.

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