The Alchemist Aviation flying school in Sonari. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Jamshedpur, Feb. 19: A grounded city may once again take wing.

Chandigarh-based Alchemist Airways has decided to introduce non-scheduled air taxi services connecting Jamshedpur to Ranchi, Dhanbad, Bokaro and Dumka. The private aviation firm, a wing of Alchemist Aviation Private Limited, has already applied for a permit from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for launching operations in Jharkhand.

“We operate air taxis in Delhi and elsewhere, and are serious about launching our chartered services here as well. A DGCA nod will set the ball rolling,” Lt Col. Anil Raj, vice-president of the aviation group, told The Telegraph from Chandigarh.

Alchemist Airways has four aircraft in its fleet, which will be used for the shuttle service between various cities and towns in Jharkhand. It has two luxury executive jets and two turboprop C-90 Beechcraft. The executive jets have a single sortie capacity of 20 passengers while the Beechcraft can carry 10 passengers at a time. Airline officials revealed that talks were in the final stage for procuring three more aircraft from the US.

Chief engineer of Alchemist Aviation Private Limited S.K. Upadhyay said Ranchi would be made the centre for its air taxi operation. “We have already applied for land at Birsa Munda Airport,” he said, adding that the service was expected to start within six months of the DGCA approval.

According to plan, three aircraft would be used for non-scheduled flights in Jharkhand. Upadhyay said the private aviation firm was also toying with the idea of introducing an air ambulance and a helicopter to meet exigencies.

The air taxi proposal has revived hopes of a city that lost air connectivity last year.