Was chopper with Khandu on board not on usual flight path?

New Delhi: Was the ill-fated helicopter of Arunachal Pradesh CM Dorjee Khandu , who was killed in a crash, not on the flight path usually taken by an aircraft in those areas?
Sitaram Yechury, who heads the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, which also covers Civil Aviation , said, quoting "initial reports" that the helicopter which crashed with the Arunachal Pradesh CM and four others on board was not on the flight route usually taken in those areas.
"On what basis the path was cleared, who cleared it, the weather reports, all have to be taken into account during the investigations," Yechury said while releasing the report by his Committee on helicopter operations in the country.
In its report, the Committee said pilots flying VIPs are often "put under pressure" to take off with minor defects and adverse weather conditions in their helicopters and asked the government to penalise those asking them to do so.
It also expressed concern over the instances of forceful landings, take offs of helicopters in low visibility, bad weather and even during nights, which are serious breaches of aviation security norms.
The Committee recommended that, "pilots be provided adequate legal protection to decline to fly in absence of mandatory technical or weather clearances.. Some kind of penal provision may be considered against those putting such pressure on them without clearances."
05/04/11 PTI/Economic Times

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General May 2011, Safety May 2011