Politicians are scared of flying

Pune: The tragic death of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S R Reddy in a chopper crash has instilled a fear of flying among politicians. Pilots admit that politicians are now wary of flying by private chartered choppers and act responsibly.
Arjun Bafna, vice-president, Bafna Aviation, said, "We have been flying politicians for quite some time now.
However, there is a huge difference in their attitude now. Their body language and the frequent questions they ask while flying indicates a sense of fear. But what's good is that they now stick to their schedules and do not pressurise pilots to fly in bad weather."
B Sivaj, secretary general of the Rotary Wing Society of India (RWSI), the national association of chopper pilots, admitted, "...But these fears are unfounded, as flying in a chopper is safe. Moreover, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has put strict safety norms in place." Sivaj, who has flown prime ministers and presidents, said that the incident involving Reddy was a rare one.
29/09/09 Chandran Iyer/MiD DAY

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