Entering India from U.S. with electric RC helicopter

[swch900]

Hi,

I am interested in bringing my electric R.C. Helicopter into India (via Delhi) and understand there are security issues right now with R.C. units.

Someone suggested that we need to get proper papers from THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS and THE CIVIL AVIATION MINISTRY... However, neither website has any information on this topic whatsoever, and there are no contact phone numbers.

If you have any advice on clearing customs from the U.S. at Delhi Airport with an R.C. Copter among our baggage...

Or if you can direct me toward how to get these proper papers from the above Ministries?

I wanted to know if we will need permits to fly our unit in Jaipur and/or Udaipur, where we will be staying?

Thank you in advance for your help and advice!!

Brent

[Harry Pickles]

I sent a Blade and an Easycopter to India by normal Post from my home in UK and they both arrived at my house in Goa in eight days. No customs examination stamp on the package. Last year, just after the Bombay Bomb attacks there was an article in the Indian Times about their fears for an attack by unmanned or remote control aircraft but nothing furthur was published. Just after this I brought into India via , Mumbai,
my EasyStar RTF outfit including all the radio gear. At that time all arriving baggage was being screened so I showed it to the Customs Guy in the white suit. He took a cursory look at it and waved me straight through the green channel without any furthur screening.
If you bring your helis with you I would get lots of official looking paperwork to prove they are for sport, recreational or educational purposes plus a letter signed by your solicitor to this effect, also some AMA documentation to show you are a genuine enthusiast. They like to see things with lots of rubber stamps on them and if you can prove you are genuine theres usually no trouble. Dont bring them in with you unless you are 100% sure. I would write to The Chief of Customs at Delhi Airport with your queries and see what he says but dont expect a quick, if any reply. If you are in Goa at anytime over the next six months or so please mail me and come and fly with us. I have my Easystar and another electric glider and my Indian Chum here is big on TRex Helis. As far as we can ascertain there are only five of us modellers /Fliers in Goa so a new face is welcome.
Hope this helps you. You could of course send them by UPS or DHL and they'll return them to the US if they dont get let into the Country but you'll have to bite the bullet when you see the Bill ! Cheers. Harry.

[Harry Pickles]

Forgot to mention this but the security Police guys who x-ray your handbaggage prior to boarding Indian Domestic flights get quite uptight if they find any sort of batteries in your carry-on bags and instantly confiscate them. (The batteries that is !!)
Better to put them in a liposafe in your checked in baggage but see the airlines main baggage rules about carriage. Cheers. H.