Aviation body issues circular after helicopter flew low over no-flight zone in New Delhi recently even as Juhu, Mahalaxmi residents complain of noise
areasDo low flying helicopters frequently disturb you? Juhu and Mahalaxmi residents have often complained about the problem. Well, there's some respite now.
After a helicopter flew at low altitude into a no-flight zone in New Delhi recently (see box), helicopter operators in Mumbai have been warned against compromising flight safety, endangering human lives and causing unnecessary disturbance by flying low.
Juhu resident Praveen Rao said, "I had written to the Union Civil Aviation Ministry about low flying choppers. But Pawan Hans helicopters continue to be an irritant."
A helicopter usually generates 105 decibels of noise.
'Maintain altitude'
A recent circular issued by the flight operations inspector (helicopter) of DGCA, Captain Irshad Ahmed, states that many helicopters descend below the prescribed altitude and fly at these ultra-low altitudes for a prolonged duration. "Not only does a low-flying helicopter compromise on flight safety and endanger the lives of people, but it also inadvertently invades the privacy of residents, causing them anguish and unnecessary disturbance," said Ahmed.
If a helicopter is flying low, it will be immediately directed by the Air Traffic Controller to fly higher.
The circular also directs helicopter operators to equip their choppers with radio altimeters so that the vertical separation is not breached while flying over populated areas.
Aviation expert Vipul Saxena said, "The Indian Aircraft Rules 1934 clearly stipulate that 'No helicopter should fly below 1,000 feet above obstruction level while flying over-populated area and not below 500 feet above obstruction level while flying over water or an unpopulated area'." He added that this provision has been exempted for helicopters during take-off and landing.
Flying over prohibited areas
The circular was issued after a low-flying helicopter flew over Parliament House and Rashtrapati Bhavan on October 22 even though the Indian Aircraft Act 1937 clearly lays down that "no aircraft shall undertake a flight to any territory which the central government may, by notification in the official gazette, declare to be a prohibited territory".
Both buildings come under prohibited territory.
Source: http://www.mid-day.com/news/2008/nov/241108-Choppers-Warned-Maintaining-Altitude-Juhu-Mahalaxmi-residents-complaining-flying-too-low.htm
areasDo low flying helicopters frequently disturb you? Juhu and Mahalaxmi residents have often complained about the problem. Well, there's some respite now.
After a helicopter flew at low altitude into a no-flight zone in New Delhi recently (see box), helicopter operators in Mumbai have been warned against compromising flight safety, endangering human lives and causing unnecessary disturbance by flying low.
Juhu resident Praveen Rao said, "I had written to the Union Civil Aviation Ministry about low flying choppers. But Pawan Hans helicopters continue to be an irritant."
A helicopter usually generates 105 decibels of noise.
'Maintain altitude'
A recent circular issued by the flight operations inspector (helicopter) of DGCA, Captain Irshad Ahmed, states that many helicopters descend below the prescribed altitude and fly at these ultra-low altitudes for a prolonged duration. "Not only does a low-flying helicopter compromise on flight safety and endanger the lives of people, but it also inadvertently invades the privacy of residents, causing them anguish and unnecessary disturbance," said Ahmed.
If a helicopter is flying low, it will be immediately directed by the Air Traffic Controller to fly higher.
The circular also directs helicopter operators to equip their choppers with radio altimeters so that the vertical separation is not breached while flying over populated areas.
Aviation expert Vipul Saxena said, "The Indian Aircraft Rules 1934 clearly stipulate that 'No helicopter should fly below 1,000 feet above obstruction level while flying over-populated area and not below 500 feet above obstruction level while flying over water or an unpopulated area'." He added that this provision has been exempted for helicopters during take-off and landing.
Flying over prohibited areas
The circular was issued after a low-flying helicopter flew over Parliament House and Rashtrapati Bhavan on October 22 even though the Indian Aircraft Act 1937 clearly lays down that "no aircraft shall undertake a flight to any territory which the central government may, by notification in the official gazette, declare to be a prohibited territory".
Both buildings come under prohibited territory.
Source: http://www.mid-day.com/news/2008/nov/241108-Choppers-Warned-Maintaining-Altitude-Juhu-Mahalaxmi-residents-complaining-flying-too-low.htm
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