B Ravi Pillai, chairman of RP Group of companies, on March 20 became the first India to own an Airbus H 145 helicopter, estimated to be worth around Rs 100 crore.
The helicopter was delivered by Airbus in Kovalam and took its inaugural flight from Kovalam to The Raviz Ashtamudi with the RP Group Vice-Chairman on board.
The helicopter is the first Airbus D3 helicopter in India and the first five-bladed H145 helicopter in Asia.
The RP Group has helipads at The Raviz Kadavu in Kozhikode, The Raviz Ashtamudi in Kollam, and The Raviz Kovalam in Thiruvananthapuram.
The helicopter capable of handling up to seven passengers and two pilots is capable of landing and takeoff from even high altitudes of 20,000 feet above sea level.
The H145 is the latest member of Airbus' four-tonne-class twin-engine rotorcraft product range
Ravi Pillai, the 68-year-old billionaire is currently worth $2.5 billion and has on his various company rolls about 70,000 employees.
(With inputs from agencies)