Crashes force DGCA to form chopper cell

Rattled by a spate of chopper accidents and in the face of mounting criticism of adopting an 8216;8216;ad hoc approach8217;8217; towards...

Rattled by a spate of chopper accidents and in the face of mounting criticism of adopting an 8216;8216;ad hoc approach8217;8217; towards this sector, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has set up a Helicopter Cell in the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to streamline operations.

Headed by Deputy DGCA P.K. Chattopadhya, this cell has four other members, including a senior helicopter pilot from Pawan Hans. The cell, according to sources, has been asked to streamline chopper operations, take a relook at guidelines and suggest amendments where necessary. The members are to interact with the industry regularly to do away with archaic rules, in the way of opening up the sector.

With the chopper industry trying to spread its wings into other areas, fresh guidelines will be needed to regulate services. There has been an increased demand for choppers for medical relief, police operations and also for news gathering by TV channels.

Till now, the rules deal with ferrying passengers while operators have been receiving proposals to conduct aerial photography and even clean electricity lines. Pawan Hans has negotiated with the National Power Grid Corporation for cleaning hi-tension lines.

There exist no designated routes for choppers. This demand would require charting routes for helicopters which find it uneconomical to operate along air routes. Besides this, the Ministry will also be looking at proposals for constructing helipads.

On safety, sources say, the cell will examine the guidelines on maintenance and suggest any changes that may be needed to improve the poor safety record in this sector. At present, there has been much concern 8212; particularly after the crash near the ONGC rig at Mumbai High and the accident at Ganderbal in J-K 8212; on maintenance issues. MoS for Civil Aviation Rajiv Pratap Rudy too had acknowledged the need to streamline chopper operations. Safety, however, he had said would be the priority and that the Ministry was taking necessary steps. Helicopter operators, on the other hand, say setting up of this committee at least, for once, brings the focus on rotary wing services. Operators have been complaining that while much attention is paid to fixed wing operations in the country, rotary wing 8212; essentially choppers 8212; operations have been neglected.