False signals from damaged aircraft trigger alarm

The signals, sent directly to a satellite, were received and passed by the Space Centre in Bangalore to the Directorate of Air Safety, New Delhi. The Directorate managed to determine the source of the signals and informed the Patiala District Magistrate, who deputed the Additional Deputy Commissioner to trace the source.

After 40 hours of search, the Pushpak aircraft was identified. District Magistrate Jasbir Singh Bir confirmed receiving the information on distress calls from Delhi. He deputed R.S. Randhawa, who got the signals traced.

It was found that the staff of the club had forgotten to switch off the emergency location transmitter. Randhawa said he asked the Northern India Aviation Club authorities to get the signals traced, and the authorities got the transmitter switched off. Captain S.S. Kang, chief flying instructor of the Northern India Flying Club, was unavailable for comment.

Operations of the Patiala Aviation Club and the Northern India Aviation Club, both located at the Patiala airfield, have remained suspended for more than two weeks after the Directorate of Air Safety directed the clubs to close down their operations. The orders were given as there was no arrangement to check the entry of stray cattle in the airstrip from one of the entrance sides. Security arrangements at the airport were found inadequate with only a couple of security men deployed.

A team of the Directorate of Civil Aviation visited the airfield last week and reviewed the facilities. Flying operations at the airfield are yet to resume.