Air safety norms for VVIPs thrown to winds

LUCKNOW: This may ring warning bells to the CM''s Secretariat. Life of VVIPs, including the Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, who take frequent sorties on Kanpur air route is under threat as the engineering facility at the Kanpur sub-base has come to a halt.
A fleet of training aircrafts, including four Zenith CH-2000 and one Cessna 152, are grounded for the past two weeks due to non-maintenance forcing authorities to discontinue training of 35 student pilots.Ironically, out of the total number of trainee pilots, 25 are from SC/ST category whose two-year pilot training course has been sponsored by the Government of India.
Taking serious note of state government throwing air safety norms to the winds, the Controller of Airworthiness, Ministry of Civil Aviation has shot off a strong-worded letter (no Q-1 (UPFTI)/684) dated August 9 2004 to the state civil aviation department seeking immediate intervention.
In the letter, addressed to Quality Control Manager, M/S UPFTI, Main Base, Lucknow, senior Airworthiness Officer Arvind Mohan has expressed serious concern over the gross negligence and violation of rules by the state civil aviation authorities.
"During a routine check of the fleet of Zenith CH-200 aircraft and Cessna 152 at Kanpur sub-base, it was noticed that the aircrafts were neither given ground run-up nor their propellers rotated sine July 31, 2004 as required by M/S Lycoming for engines remaining out of service for seven days or more, and rendering serviceability status of engine doubtful," says the letter.
Prior to this, the same office had shot off another letter (Q-1 (UPFTI)/665) on July 29 raising similar concerns. "Similar concerns were raised (in earlier communiqué) and you were requested to intimate this office regarding arrangements being made for continued approval of Kanpur sub-base and till date no reply of the same has been received," stated the letter.
The civil aviation ministry authorities have taken serious note of it. "Above has been viewed seriously by this office and you are advised to take immediate action in this regard under intimation to this effect," warned the senior Airworthiness Officer of the ministry.
In fact, the Kanpur sub-base has no aeronautical engineer since July 31 following retirement of RC Varma. The state civil aviation authorities seems to have forgotten to find a replacement till date despite knowing that the Kanpur air route is quiet often taken by the Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav and his Cabinet colleagues. Only last month, Mulayam had paid a visit to Kanpur.
The calls made to the offices of principal secretary state civil aviation department Karnail Singh and director-general and special secretary Anita Singh by this correspondent to inquire into the matter were not returned.