Daijiworld Media Network

New Delhi, Jul 10: The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has said that pilots will not be sued in future if they refuse to fly or make a landing in case of emergency or due to bad weather.

Sources said that no punitive action would be taken if an unscheduled landing is undertaken by the pilot in emergency and bad weather. The pilot should land the chopper immediately at a suitable place, DGCA said.

Following demand from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture that pilots should be provided adequate legal protection to decline absence of mandatory technical or weather clearances inspired the move by the DGCA.

DGCA chief E K Bharat Bhushan has asked the pilots to follow procedures and rules while flying during elections and in hilly areas, and warned the operators of strict action in case of violation of these procedures.

The government also introduced other measures like training pilots to use stimulators in emergency, to avoid crashes.

DGCA also plans to induct a safety management system and the deteriorating helipads in the country particularly those under the state government will be addressed.

The action plan will also analyze the data of fatal and non fatal incidents occurred in the past and implement recommendations and of inquiries into them.

209 of the total 271 choppers available in the country were engaged in commercial non-scheduled operations.

The laid-down instructions are evident as recent accidents were caused by reasons like loss of control of the pilot over the helicopter, 'collision with terrain', bad weather, pilot error and maintenance, DGCA officials said.

With PTI inputs