In a shocking revelation, it has been found that two aircrafts and one helicopter owned by the Uttar Pradesh government have been flying VVIPs without having the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) installed.
The directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) asked the UP government to install them as soon as possible.
The FDR and CVR are crucial equipments that can provide vital information during mishaps and crash landing of aircraft.
The CVR is installed in the aircraft for the purpose of recording the aural environment on the flight deck during flight time for the purpose of accident/ incident prevention and investigation. Similarly, the FDR is the device employed to record any instructions sent to any electronic systems on an aircraft. It is a device used to record specific aircraft performance parameters.
A senior official in the civil aviation department in the state admitted that two aircraft and one helicopter are to yet to be fitted with either FDR and/or CVR, as per the requirement. These aircraft are being used to fly VVIPs, including the chief minister, in the state.
Following the letter sent by the DGCA, the department of civil aviation has now invited tenders for installation of these equipments.
The two aircraft which are being used without these devices are King Air 300 LW and Super King Air B 300. While the former lacks both the FDR and CVR, the latter is without an FDR.
The Bell 230 helicopter also requires an FDR.
According to a draft document at the civil aviation, the King Air 300 LW, manufactured by the Hawker Beechckraft, requires both the CVR and the FDR.
The department is now seeking a FDR that has a capacity of last 25 hours of flight recording.
Senior politicians including former chief ministers Mayawati, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Rajnath Singh have been using these aircraft on regular basis.
The senior civil aviation official said that it was only after the DGCA made it mandatory that the department has initiated move to get the aircraft and the chopper fitted with the equipment.
Civil aviation experts, however, maintain that the DGCA guidelines about these equipments always existed.
The DGCA circular of December 12, 1996 rule 57 of the aircraft Rules, 1937 requires that every aircraft should be fitted and equipped with instruments and equipment, including radio apparatus and special equipment.
Similarly, all helicopters of a maximum certificated take-off mass of over 3,180 kg should be equipped with a CVR for recording of the aural environment on the flight deck during the flight time.