Piloting high-flyer’s copter?

Bangalore: While many VIPs, including politicians and industrialists, have died due to fatal chopper crashes in India in the past, the VIP flying sector could soon become a less turbulent one. The pilots will now be trained to undertake VIP sorties without any glitches.
The Helicopter Academy to Train by Simulation of Flying (HATSOFF), a Bangalore-based helicopter training centre promoted by HAL will provide customised training for pilots operating VIP flights. The move is based on the recommendations made by the fourmember Tyagi panel in its probe report on the chopper crash of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy last September.
“The Committee felt that suitable short duration courses may be designed wherein the pilots, AMEs and the VIPs themselves could be reoriented on the capabilities and limitations of the helicopters.
Some advisory on this is normally issued by the DGCA /voluntary organisations during the time of general elections. Structured courses on such aspects may help in safe conduction of VIP flying,” the report stated.
HATSOFF will offer simulationbased helicopter training programmes to pilots and technicians in India from May this year.
05/02/10 Hemanth C S/ExpressBuzz

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Feb 2010, Safety Feb 2010