Popular among netas, charter co has strong political links: Insiders

Mumbai: The fatal Learjet crash at Baramati on Wednesday brought renewed scrutiny on charter operator VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd, marking the second aviation accident involving the Delhi-based company in Maharashtra in the last two-and-a-half years. The final investigation report into the earlier accident in Sept 2023 - a Learjet crashed while landing at Mumbai airport amid heavy rain and poor visibility; no one died in the incident - remains awaited, beyond timelines recommended under international civil aviation norms. VSR Ventures began operations in 2014 with a Pilatus and a Beechcraft B-200 aircraft, and since expanded rapidly - it currently operates a fleet of around 17 aircraft, comprising business jets and turboprop aircraft used for charter, medical evacuation and VIP travel. Industry executives describe the company as among the largest charter operators in the country and one of the biggest operators of Learjet aircraft in India. "The owner, Capt V K Singh, used to fly Beechcraft aircraft and earlier worked with Bharat Hotels as director of aviation. Later, he joined Air Charter Services in Delhi, before starting his own company. It's run by the father-son duo, both pilots," said a source.Industry sources said the operator's prominence is also linked to its extensive engagement in political travel. Sources said VSR Ventures is among a handful of charter companies willing to extend credit for charter operations involving govt or political clients, where payment cycles often stretch over several months.Among the questions raised by charter sector professionals are the recovery status of the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder. "Whether CVR was on during the flight, the devices are in a condition suitable for data extraction, and whether established procedures for their handling and custody are being followed," said a source."DGCA should put operators flying VIPs under increased scrutiny, such as cross-checking whether flight hours and aircraft utilisation data submitted by an operator align with independent records at airports," suggested a source.