CM's Helicopter: Aviation Corporation Status Report

Hyderabad|India|September'2009: At 0835 Hrs. State helicopter airborne with two pilots namely Gp.Capt.SK Bhatia and Capt. MS Reddy fully qualified and instrument rated, highly experienced and flying in AP Govt. for the lat three years. Captain is highly qualified IAF serving officer holding the rank of Group Captain.

The passengers are Hon'ble CM Dr.Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy, Dr.P.Subramanyam, Prl.Secretary to CM and Chief Security Officer Mr.Wesley.

The Helicopter was fully airworthy and suitably equipped for the planned programme. The Certificate of Airworthiness issued by DGCA Hyderabad on 6.12.2008 with validity upto 5.12.2010.

The aircraft got airborne with fuel adequate for three hours (endurance). The aircraft last made contact on VHF with Shamshabad radar frequency at time:0900 hrs. and indicated to be on radial 169 at a distance of 60.00 Nautical miles from Shamshabad VOR-HIA. The helicopter consequently made HF radio contact with Chennai Radio Control at 0902 Hrs.

Thereafter there has been no authenticated communication between the pilots and the passengers of the helicopter with any external agencies. Now search and rescues efforts have been initiated by coordinating with all concerned agencies as per stipulated norms. On suitable instructions one IAF Chetak Helicopter was launched from Air Force Station, Hakimpet. Simultaneously AW-139 Helicopter was launched for search and rescue with adequate endurance for three and half hours. Simultaneously IAF also launched one Mi-8 helicopter and ALH from Air Force Base Yelahanka. And also one twin engine civil helicopter belonging to Deccan Charters was also pressed into for search and rescue operations. The helicopter returned to Begumpet due to rain and bad weather enroute.

Also one civil twin engine Cessna206 was launched for aerial survey. Plans afloat launched IAF HS749 Avro aeroplane to carry out low level reconnaissance. This mission launched will depend on sunlight conditions and final clearance from IAF headquarters.

Helicopter suitably equipped with an emergency locator Transmitter (ELT) capable of automatic transmission of frequency 121.5 and 243 MHz which would have activated in case of any crash landing or such other unforeseen eventuality. One Dornier 228 twin engine aircraft has been launched from IAF Base Yelahanka which is specifically equipped to pick up ELT frequency transmission. The aircraft did not pick up any transmission in the target zone as identified from the last known HF transmission.

As there is no indication of such an activation/pick up by satellite, we can expect no such eventuality. The likelihood of the helicopter having carried out a safe landing at some inaccessible location is highly probable. Intensified efforts are being coordinated at day break.

Air Force Base at Yelahanka, Air Officer Commanding, Air Cmdr V.S.Bharati has been designated by IAF as search and rescue Commander.

Accordingly Command and Control Centre would be set up at Kurnool at the first opportunity after the day break i.e., Tomorrow. All search activity undertaken so far has been briefed and simultaneous next activity would be coordinated.

-K.V.Brahmananda Reddy
ANDHRA PRADESH AVIATION CORPORATION LIMITED
2nd Sept'2009