Dodgy helicopter on relief duty

Punjab authorities continue to use for its flood relief operation a helicopter that has completed its flying life.

LAHORE: Authorities in Punjab continue to use for its flood relief operation a helicopter that has completed its flying life and is in need of an overhaul.

When the government was faced with the flooding crisis, it requested the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to allow the machine extra flying hours. Following a technical survey, the CAA gave the M-17 helicopter another 24 hours of flying time. This was disclosed by a government official requesting anonymity.

Hafiz Zakawatullah, a retired CAA officer, said the airworthiness section of authority can allow a machine extra flying hours after a technical study. According to Zakawatullah, the authority maintains the lifespan of both spare parts and engines of registered aircraft.

However, the additional chief secretary of Punjab, Sami Saeed, insists that the helicopter is airworthy and still has flying hours left. On June 5, the M-17 helicopter carrying Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif  had to make an emergency landing near DHA Phase V due to technical problems.

It remained grounded for 10 days and after the replacement of faulty parts it was declared fit to fly. Sharif constituted a technical committee to investigate the cause of the fault but the final report is still pending, an official said.

The helicopter was purchased from Russia in 2004 at the cost of Rs1.5 million. Prior to the purchase of this helicopter, the government had to hire them from the ministry of defence for visits to different areas of the province in case of emergency. While initially only the chief minister Punjab was entitled to use the helicopter, it was later decided that the chief secretary, home secretary and inspector general of police would use it to pay surprise visits to remote districts to check on police performance and hold open courts.

The flying life of the helicopter was 1,500 hours and it had completed 1,450 hours by July. Thirty hours are required for the journey to Russia where it has to go for a general overhaul.  However, the Punjab government decided to deploy the helicopter for flood rescue and relief. It is carrying out relief missions in Muzaffargarh district.

An official said that after the completion of the extra flying time, the helicopter’s engine would be transported to Russia on another plane for overhauling. The official added that the helicopter was being used for rescue and relief and not on luxury tours.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 20^th, 2010.