High flyers say no to choppers

New Delhi: The death of Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y.S.R. Reddy in the dense Nallamala hills in a helicopter crash has made high profile travellers more cautious about hopping across locations in private helicopters.
Former helicopter pilots and industry watchers admit that after every accident the ripple effect is so great that frequent helicopter flyers choose to stay away from these machines.
“We have had several cancellations after news of Andhra Pradesh chief minister’s crash trickled in,” Rizwan Ahmed, a Bhopal-based charter operator said. “With weeks to go before the October 13 Maharashtra Assembly elections, our order book is just half of what it used to be during an average election.”
According to an industry analyst who did not want to be identified, helicopter travel by executive of India’s largest companies has taken a dip — over 20 corporate houses run twin engine Bell, the mighty Eurocopter and super luxury crafts.
“Many of them have now sent their machines for a thorough check leaving nothing to chance,” the analyst said.
Ahmed’s company would have got bookings for an average of 150 hours of flying where each hour costs Rs 1-1.5 lakh. But business has dipped sharply after the death of Y.S.R. Reddy. “At present, we have orders to supply choppers for barely 60 hours,” Ahmed said.
18/09/09 Samiran Saha/Hindustan Times

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Sep 2009, Safety Sep 2009