DGCA aims at copter safety

Helicopter operations in the country are set to become safer if a plan conceived by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) materialises.
The aviation regulator is considering developing a US-like Automatic Dependent Satellite Broadcasting System (ADSB) at the airports for a keeping a track on location of copters while they are flying in remote inaccessible areas.
This is in light of the recent copter accidents that killed Andhra Pradesh CM YSR Reddy and Arunachal Pradesh CM Dorjee Khandu on September 9 2009 and May 2011 respectively. The wreckage of the two crashes could not be located for days since the accidents took place in heavily forested areas despite several search missions by Indian Air Force planes.
This is part of a larger plan of making helicopter travel in the country safer after repeated and persistent demands from pilots. The regulator also recently made it compulsory for all helicopters to have an Early Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) from January 1, 2013.
13/06/12 Parth Satam/Asian Age

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Categories: Safety Jun 2012