Ghost of YSR haunts netas...

But BJP gen secy insists pilot fly on despite ATC warning

Last morning, the helicopter BJP state general secretary Vinod Tawde was in had to turn back after flying into inclement weather.

Despite Air Traffic Control (ATC) warnings to head back, Tawde urged the pilot to continue. Obviously, the late Andhra Pradesh CM YSR Reddy's death in a chopper accident seemed to have faded from memory.

Tawde was on his way to Ahmednagar, 285 km away from Mumbai to meet Anna Hazare, a social activist, and then address a rally.
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He was supposed to board the chopper at 8 am from Pawan Hans, but the ATC did not give clearance because of the weather, until 9.30 am.

Said Tawde, "We flew over Lonavala safely, but thereon, the pilot received a warning from the ATC not to fly ahead.

But we insisted because Capt Avinash Kumar Garg was an experienced pilot. He then tried to fly above the clouds, but was unsuccessful, so we went back to Mumbai."

Said a source from ATC, "Keeping Reddy's incident, all pilots and politicians have been instructed by the ATC to strictly follow the instructions and be alert."

Strangely enough, Tawde insisted Reddy's incident was on his mind.

On September 2, Reddy, died in a helicopter crash after the pilot took a detour from the flight path to avoid a cloud formation and crashed into a hill.

Chopper guidelines

Small aircraft have to fly at least 1,500 feet above ground level. Visibility must be at least at 500 metres After receiving weather warnings, a pilot is expected to immediately divert the craft to the nearest helipad or convenient landing.
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Other netas stuck in weather

On September 23 Senior Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) leader Jayant Patil and three corporators from the Alibaug Municipal Council had some anxious moments as the chopper they were traveling in was caught in a rainstorm in Raigad district.

Patil's chopper, which was headed to Alibaug from Solapur was diverted to Mumbai as a precautionary measure and made a safe landing at Juhu airport at 6 pm.