As a result, the Emergency Locator Transmitter on YSR's chopper didn't send any signals, making ISRO's task that much more difficult
As a result, the Emergency Locator Transmitter on YSR's chopper didn't send any signals, making ISRO's task that much more difficult
ISRO's attempts to locate Y S Rajasekhara Reddy's chopper that went missing yesterday could prove futile since its Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) was not tested before take-off, as required by the DGCA.
A check by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) revealed that the pilots had not conducted the mandatory signal test of the ELT a device that sets off satellite signals from a chopper and based on which searches are done. As a result, it failed to emit any signals.
Air vice-marshal (retired) K Sridharan, a helicopter expert and president of the Rotary Wing Society of India who is keenly following the case of the Andhra Pradesh chief minister's missing chopper, said, "Had this test been conducted, we would have known the chopper's location."u00a0
All the time
Sridharan added that it was common knowledge that regular maintenance of such important equipment and a prior test before flying were generally given a miss.
He said ISRO had deployed an aircraft fitted with a high-resolution camera and the recently-launched RISAT u00c3u0083u00c2u00a2u00c3u0082u00c2u0080u00c3u0082u00c2u0093 2 (Radar Imaging Reconnaissance Satellite) to help in the search.
What is an emergency locator transmitter (ELT)?
The Emergency Locator Transmitter is a generic term for an equipment which broadcasts distinctive signals on designated frequencies and, depending on application, may be automatically activated by impact or be manually activated. There are different types of ELT:
Automatic fixed ELT [ELT (AF)]:
It is automatically activated and permanently attached to an aircraft. (YSR's chopper)
Automatic portable ELT [ELT(AP)]:
This is automatically activated and rigidly attached to an aircraft but can be removed.
Automatic deployable ELT [ELT(AD)]:
It is rigidly attached to an aircraft, is automatically deployed and activated by impact and, in some cases, also by hydrostatic sensors. Manual deployment is also provided.
Not the first!
A Bell 430 helicopter of Ran Air Pvt Ltd went missing during a flight from Hyderabad to Jagdalpur on 3 August 2008. It took off from Hyderabad at 2.58 pm under VFR Flight Plan and was last seen over Basaguda.
REASONS: Still unknown as the ELT did not go off
Timeline
CMu00a0missing in action
08.38 AM: A twin-engine Bell 430 Andhra Pradesh Government helicopter carrying the Chief Minister takes off from the old Begumpet airport (Hyderabad) for Chitoor district. The CM was accompanied by Principal Secretary S Subramanyam, and Chief Security Officer A S C Wesley.
09:13 AM: The helicopter, flown by two pilots, loses contact with ATC Hyderabad while possibly flying over the Nallamala forest area, a naxalite stronghold. The helicopter had fuel for a maximum endurance of 2 hours 45 minutes. The helicopter was to change over the contact to Chennai airport, however, it lost contact from both places.
10 to 11 AM: The Prime Minister's Office, the Union Home Ministry, the Defence Ministry and Civil Aviation Ministry are alerted.
12 to 1 PM: Four helicopters, including three belonging to the Indian Air Force, launch search operations, but no contact is established because of strong winds and inclement weather. Home Minister P Chidambaram starts monitoring the situation.
2 to 3 PM: An unmanned aerial vehicle with reconnaissance cameras from the defence ministry is pressed into service. PM Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi express their concern over the incident. Law Minister Veerappa Moiley sent to Hyderabad.
4 to 5 PM: The Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister, K Rosaiah, at a press conference says there is no word on the Chief Minister. Andhra Pradesh Greyhound Force, a special force to fight naxals in the state, starts search operation. The Andhra government approaches US authorities for help to locate the missing chopper.u00a0
6 to 7 pm: Search operation called off due to bad light. Sonia Gandhi speaks to family of Andhra CM. 500 CRPF personnel from a local unit comb the area. Two Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft pressed into search operation with IL-78 mid air refueller.
Latest: National Security Advisor, M K Narayan ruled out the possibility of naxals hitting the chopper.
Compiled by Anshuman G Dutta and Surender Sharma
Political leaders who died in air crashes
Sanjay Gandhi was killed when the glider he was flying crashed at the Safdarjung airport in Delhi some 29 years back.
Madhavrao Scindia was killed in a plane crash on Sept 30, 2001, when he was travelling to Kanpur to address a Congress rally.
Lok Sabha Speaker G M C Balayogi died in a chopper crash on March 3, 2002 in West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh.
Haryana ministers O P Jindal and Surendra Singh were killed in a helicopter crash a few years back.
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