In spite of an intelligence alert on Thursday, chartered flights continued to service without checks at take-off points; u00a0Home Minister Jayant Patil promises urgent solution 
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UNSAFE: Helicopters continue to operate between the city and several locations like Vapi, Tarapur and Dahanu without any security checks at landing or take-off points.</td></tr></tbody></table>Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International airport was under tight security on Thursday following an intelligence report that terrorists planned to hijack a flight. But, helicopters and small aircraft in the city and Maharashtra continue to be vulnerable to a security scare, as there is no proper mechanism that screens passengers and baggage on board. u00a0 The CISF and Mumbai police beefed up security at the airport and even nakabandis sprung up at arterial roads. However, helicopters continued to operate between the city and several locations like Vapi, Tarapur and Dahanu like they always do; without any security checks at landing or take-off points, many of which are makeshift locations inside industrial areas. Admitting that the problem had to be solved urgently, Home Minister Jayant Patil said, "All aircraft and helicopters that are not protected by the CISF will be provided with police cover. All air movement is to be overseen by the local police station." Despite the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) insisting that the flight operator has to compulsorily provide the police with all information of passengers, the rules are not followed. "This leaves ample scope for terrorists to plan a hijack after targeting the unguarded airfields," said captain Uday Geli from charter aircraft and helicopter company United Helicharters Ltd.u00a0 Aviation expert Air Commodore Ashok Rai said that the 26/11 attacks were an adequate warning about the consequences of poor security. "It is ironic that things have not changed. There is no check on passengers onboard a chopper. Since the Radio-Telephone is not used to communicate with the air traffic control (ATC), the pilot uses a normal telephone to inform the ATC." "If no phone call is received within 30 minutes from the landing, then a search will be launched," Rai added. Another aviation expert Vipul Saxena observed that current forms of the Indian Aircraft Act 1934 and Indian Aircraft Rules 1937 that lay down all aviation rules are silent on important aspects of aviation security. He added, "The BCAS, which is responsible for airport security, is still awaiting a full-fledged Act to empower the force."

In spite of an intelligence alert on Thursday, chartered flights continued to service without checks at take-off points; 	Home Minister Jayant Patil promises urgent solution

Helicopters, small flights at risk of being hijacked

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Helicopters, small flights at risk of being hijacked

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