DGCA Probe Finds No Flight Violation By IMFA Copter

By OB Bureau On Oct 26, 2018

Bhubaneswar: The Director General Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday said that there was no violation of rules by the helicopter belonging to the IMFA during its flight on September 15 this year.

In a letter to the director of the Biju Patnaik International Airport on October 25, Director, Air Safety, M.J. Singh on behalf of the DGCA, said that the DGCA, with reference to the letter no-2251/SR of the Odisha Police dated September 15, 2018, an investigation was made into the alleged violation of flights by the IMFA helicopter. The investigation concluded that there was no violation observed of the DGCA rules and regulations. The DGCA, India investigated the complaint of dangerous flying of the helicopter/aircraft over the Chilika Lake on September 15.

On investigation, it was revealed that one helicopter belonging to M/s Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys (IMFA) Ltd, Robinson R44 with registration VT-BDP has flown non-stop cross-country from Bhubaneswar Airport overflying Rajhans, Puri, Konark and finally landed in Garadpur. No other helicopter has flown over Rajhans on September 15,” the letter stated.

The letter has also mentioned that the helicopter was airworthy and the flight crew licenses were current and have a reasonable experience.

The investigation has found that there was no significant deviation in the flight plan timing and actual timing. Based on the facts and evidence, it could not be established whether the helicopter flew dangerously below the assigned altitude or landed at the Chilika Lake, the letter has pointed out.Amid allegations of flying over Chilika Lake violating the norms, former Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda had appeared in the Director General Civil Aviation’s (DGCA) office in New Delhi on September 24.

On September 17, the Odisha police had seized Baijayant’s helicopter and the hangar on charges of making an undeclared landing on the lake.

This followed a complaint lodged by Assistant Conservator of Forests, Chilika Development Authority (CDA), Binod Acharya in this regard at the Marine Police Station in Arakhakuda in Puri. The FIR mentioned the unauthorised flying of a chopper at a dangerous level, endangering the life and property of tourists, fishermen and locals.

Though Baijayant admitted of having flown his helicopter the same day, he said it landed in Bhubaneswar at a different time, which can be checked from the Airport Traffic Control (ATC) record.

A seaplane reportedly landed at Nanganashi mouth of Chilika at 1.30 pm on September 15 leaving everyone in the locality confused and stunned. The chopper, Baijayant had tweeted, reached Bhubaneswar at 1.26 pm.

Meanwhile, Puri SP, Sarthak Sarangi informed the media that the letter of the DGCA has been received. “We will go through the letter and take necessary action,” he added.