Summary: From Pawan Hans to AviatelQ Tech LLP — Prof. Dr. Sanjay Kumar h.c., recognised as a Forbes India 2026 and India Today 2026 Honouree and the April 2026 cover story of Aviation Update Magazine, has shaped some of India’s most defining aviation milestones, including the country’s first integrated heliport, first seaplane services, helicopter pilgrimage corridors, large-scale UDAN implementation, and a homegrown aviation-tech MSME-startup.
Dehradun / Noida: In recognition of more than three decades of transformative contribution to Indian aviation infrastructure, helicopter operations, regional connectivity and aviation entrepreneurship, Prof. Dr. Sanjay Kumar h.c. has been honoured across India’s most prestigious national platforms — Forbes India 2026, India Today 2026, and Aviation Update Magazine (April 2026 cover story).
A career aviation leader with 29 years at Pawan Hans Ltd. under the Ministry of Civil Aviation — culminating as Executive Director and Officiating CMD (as assigned) — Prof. Kumar is widely regarded as one of the architects of India’s modern helicopter and last-mile connectivity ecosystem. His operational and infrastructure firsts include India’s first integrated heliport at Rohini, Delhi, the first seaplane services in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, helicopter pilgrimage connectivity to Kedarnath and Vaishno Devi, and large-scale execution of the Government of India’s UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) Regional Connectivity Scheme, extending aviation access to underserved Tier-2, Tier-3, hill, island and remote regions.
These achievements have cemented his reputation as a practitioner-leader who translated national policy into infrastructure on the ground — heliports, vertipads, seaplane terminals and pilgrim air corridors — bringing aviation closer to the common citizen, the Aam Naagrik.
Post his 2025 demitting of office at Pawan Hans, he co-founded AviatelQ Tech LLP, an MSME-registered aviation-technology startup, focused on advanced air mobility, vertiport intelligence, helicopter operations digitisation, and aviation human-capital solutions — channelling deep public-sector operational DNA into India’s aviation start-up ecosystem.
He currently serves as Professor & Chair Head, Aviation Management at Graphic Era Deemed to be University (NAAC A+, NIRF Rank 48), Dehradun, leading aviation curriculum, industry engagement and the proposed Centre of Excellence in Advanced Air Mobility & Aviation Digital Twins (CoE-AAM) — alongside Scopus/WoS-indexed research on AAM, helicopter networks and aviation governance.
Statement by Prof. Dr. Sanjay Kumar h.c.: “India’s aviation story is no longer only about metro hubs — it is about heliports in the hills, seaplanes between islands, vertiports for the next decade, and home-grown MSME start-ups with deep operational DNA. These recognitions belong to every team that built this future on the ground.”
A Member of IEEE, IEEE-AESS, VFS (USA), SAE India, RWSI and ISTD, M.Ae.S.I and an IICA Certified Independent Director, Prof. Kumar continues to bridge public-sector aviation experience with academic leadership and entrepreneurial innovation.
Prof. Dr. Sanjay Kumar h.c. Professor & Chair Head, Aviation Mgt, Graphic Era Deemed to be University Prev.: Co-Founder & CEO, AviatelQ Tech LLP | Prev.: ED & Offg. CMD (as assigned), Pawan Hans Ltd., Ministry of Civil Aviation Forbes India 2026 | India Today Honouree 2026
