Separate helipads a far cry

New Delhi: Monday's horror show could have been avoided had the aviation ministry’s advice to Delhi and Mumbai airports for having a separate area for helicopter movement been heeded.
“Mumbai is yet to get back to us and Delhi has not given land for this purpose,” said a senior official. The aviation ministry had decided that the IGI airport would get two helipads and a parking space for 10 choppers by early 2009.
The aviation ministry had set up a panel of DGCA, Pawan Hans, Rotary Wing Society and Delhi and Mumbai airport managements to study the possibility of dedicated chopper zones in the two cities.
“We had asked Air Traffic Control to design standard operating procedures (SOP) for helicopter movement from such places without interference from aircraft operations. At present, choppers have to wait for long time as aircraft movement is given priority,” said the official.
10/02/09 Times of India

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Airports Feb 2009, Indian Aviation- In General Feb 2009, Safety Feb 2009