NEW DELHI: Helicopter pilots and aviation experts have called for better technology, live weather updates, Doppler radar systems and a second pilot in helicopters operating in the Char Dham region to prevent accidents such as Friday’s crash in Uttarakhand that killed six people.
Nearly 90% of helicopter pilots are former Armed Forces personnel. A senior pilot, speaking on behalf of several pilots, told TNIE, “Weather conditions such as that prevalent in these peak regions can change very fast. It is crucial to deploy technology and have live weather satellite feeds inside the cockpit so that the pilot can keep track of the skies and take a call on flying. In this specific instance, it looks like the pilot has attempted to avoid a cloud and has taken a turn and hit a hill in the process.”
He said three helicopters had taken off before the crash without incident because weather conditions were better.
The pilot said a second pilot was also necessary, as crucial decisions were currently left to one person and depended largely on his vision and judgement.
He suggested considering all-weather systems such as the Helicopter Synthetic Visual system, which can operate round the clock. “All these aspects involve more expenditure from the helicopter operators and hence there is reluctance to incorporate them,” he said.
He also called for installing Doppler radar systems at all hill destinations to forecast cloud bands and help pilots decide whether to fly. Air Traffic Control centres should also be set up at every pilgrim point in the Char Dham region, he said.
Another pilot with extensive experience in the Char Dham sector said commercial considerations often influenced flight operations.
“It all boils down to commercial reasons. Operators tempt pilots by offering them good monetary rewards to operate in terrible weather too. Pilots who refuse to do so are replaced with other pilots.”
Aviation consultant Captain Mohan Ranganathan blamed the crash on poor regulatory oversight of helicopter operators.
“Either the pilot was pressurised to operate the flight in poor weather conditions or it is a case of overconfidence to operate in such poor weather conditions,” he said.
He added that pilots sometimes gave in to pressure despite a basic safety rule: “When in clouds, stay clear of hills. When among hills, stay clear of clouds.”
