DGCA Probe Finds No Flight Violation By IMFA Copter

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.