Ironically, while the directorate-general of civil aviation (DGCA) has launched a probe into YSR?s Bell-430 crash, the US government last week sanctioned a Rs 2.4-crore grant to help upgrade India?s helicopter operating standards. The grant also aims to improve pilot training and accident investigation training.
In 2005, around the time two Haryana ministers died in a helicopter crash in Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh, the Kaushik Committee on helicopter safety had rapped the DGCA for not filling up the post of helicopter inspector and asked it to appoint at least five such officials. The DGCA still has only two helicopter inspectors, one of which was appointed recently.
India has 260 registered helicopters, of which 113 are Bells. The Texas-based firm is to provide technical assistance for the US grant and provide additional resources if needed. While state-owned Pawan Hans, as well as Deccan Aviation and Global Vectra are the country?s main helicopter operators, there are 40-50 small outfits with just one or two choppers each.
Like Andhra, most state governments have their own fleet of helicopters, but their maintenance is outsourced. ?Sometimes, the maintenance of helicopters under the states isn?t up to the mark as there are bureaucratic processes involved and there is also a certain laid-back attitude,? said Manav Singh, MD of Club One Air, a leading non-scheduled aircraft operator.
?On an operational level, we have some really good pilots with us, but they sometimes come under pressure to fly in bad weather conditions, risking their own lives along with that of the passengers,? he added. ?While the large players give a lot of attention to maintaining standards of safety, there are some grey areas when it comes to the smaller players. While the DGCA is very focused on overhauling several aspects of civil aviation, especially the technical areas, helicopters often don?t get the required attention,? said Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation CEO Kapil Kaul.