Red tape grounds BSF’s brand new chopper fleet

These are just a few of the most recent examples of requisitions for flights piling up in the air wing of the Border Security Force. This despite the fact that on paper, it has a fleet of 15 aircraft maintained exclusively for border surveillance and VIP duties.

And despite the fact that nine months ago, it inducted six MI-17 IV helicopters into its fleet. These choppers, imported from Russia costing Rs 200 crore, have not once been flown for the purpose for which they were acquired.

Asked why these MI-17 choppers had not been put on VIP duty, Ajay Raj Sharma, BSF’s Director General, told The Indian Express: ‘‘BSF pilots are not trained to fly the helicopters. We took six pilots from the Indian Air Force on deputation but the agreement between the Home Ministry and the Defence Ministry is yet to be signed. In such a situation, we feel it is better not to fly VIPs than to give the task to pilots who do not have proper licences.’’

Problems have been compounded, the BSF chief said, because at present two of their Avros and one Beechcraft are grounded. ‘‘I would not call this a crisis but a transitional problem being experienced by the air wing,’’ he said.

Besides MI-17s, the BSF is also finalising deals for adding two 50-seater aircraft and one 100-seater to its fleet, he said.

Home Ministry officials point to other anomalies that have cropped up after the induction of the MI-17s.

An internal note written by the air wing’s Chief Engineer on June 30 says: ‘‘It is a matter of record that the helicopters have not flown since their arrival in Delhi due to formalities with regard to militarisation of these flying machines. Notification in this regard is yet to be issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Warranty period of five helicopters is progressively expiring without any purposeful usage…’’

‘‘I am not aware of the problem. I will now look into the issue and find out why the delay in signing the MOU has taken place,’’ said Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

BSF pilots say even if the MoU is signed and the helicopters come under ‘‘military use’’, they will not be able to fly to border areas as India would have to inform Pakistan before every sortie as otherwise, it would be violation of the 1991 agreement on airspace.