A lot of experienced helicopter pilots are shifting to flying airplanes. Earlier a helicopter pilot had to undergo ab initio training in order to qualify as an airline pilot. Regulations have now been modified and a helicopter pilot now needs only 100 hours on a fixed wing a/c to join an airline.
This sudden shortage of helicopter pilots has left our 'Netas' stranded.
himmat01 wrote: A lot of experienced helicopter pilots are shifting to flying airplanes. Earlier a helicopter pilot had to undergo ab initio training in order to qualify as an airline pilot. Regulations have now been modified and a helicopter pilot now needs only 100 hours on a fixed wing a/c to join an airline.
This sudden shortage of helicopter pilots has left our 'Netas' stranded.
Some netas have already solved the problem. The UP CM has got an airport constructed in his native village, so he will shift to a regular aircraft. There are many abandoned airstrips all over the country.
Complaining of ‘‘abject neglect’’ of Mumbai’s Juhu Airport by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), a prime body of helicopter operators today said the choppers have been grounded since July three due to heavy rains, posing a threat to emergency operations.
‘‘Every year during monsoons, large body of water gets accumulated owing to poor drainage system (at Juhu) and the water level at the tarmac and surrounding areas rises to 4-5 feet. ... During the monsoon last year, well over two dozen helicopters, spares, test equipment costing well over few hundred crore located at Juhu Airport were drowned in floods,’’ the Rotor Wing Society of India (RWSI) said.
Maintaining that it was a hub for chopper operations in the western metropolis, especially of the ONGC, it said even during normal monsoon rains, the airport becomes ‘‘a huge water body’’.
‘‘In case there is a serious requirement of helicopters for life saving missions, none of the three dozen helicopters located at Juhu Airport can be rushed for rescue of the disaster victims offshore or even onshore when Mumbai needs them the most,’’ the RWSI said.
It pointed out that this airport was one of the most expensive airports in the country ‘‘by way of hangar rentals and land charges but provides the least of the facilities for the helicopter industry’’.
The chopper operators’ professional body said the matter has been taken up with the AAI as well as the Civil Aviation Ministry ‘‘on number of occasions over the last five years. The authorities have done nothing and the aerodrome officers are helpless’’.
Last year after 26th July rains they showed helicopter footage of Juhu Airport and believe me nothing other than the roters were seen. (the chopper belonged to Gautam Singhania)
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