Bipin Shah   Self Employed
After last week's mishap, experts assert need to upgrade aviation safety standards to mitigate flying risks

Before you board a flight, send up a prayer heavenward to help you land safely.

Not ours, this is the subtle advice that aviation experts have for you, considering safety conditions prevailing in the country. Last week's emergency at the city's domestic airport is just a case in point.

Last Friday, passengers on board a Chennai-bound Jet Airways flight leapt off emergency chutes after smoke was spotted on the plane.

With no emergency slide available, several flyers jumped onto the tarmac, and suffered fractures and minor injuries. Passengers alleged that the crew members seemed ill equipped to handle the situation.

"Timely training for cabin crew is a serious affair which should happen regularly," said commercial pilot Captain Akram Baig.

"The airline should give emergency evacuation training to the crew and the recent example of Jet airways incident in Mumbai exposed the lapse."

"Our country lacks a civil pilot training establishment which can train pilots in a professional manner," said former president of the Aeronautical Society of India, A E Patrawalla.

He noted that considering the manner in which civil aviation has been expanding in our country, pilots are undergoing training at different schools across the world. "Consequently, there is no uniform procedure being followed," he said.

Legal action

Meanwhile, a passenger, who sustained multiple fractures in the Jet Airways incident last week, said he plans to file a case against the airline. "The incident begs the question as to how safe Indian flyers are," said Ravi Chandran, the passenger who frequently flies Jet Airways.

"I approached Jet Airways for a copy of the safety manual guide given to cabin crew, but they declined saying it's a sensitive document," said Chandran. "When I jumped off the wing, no crewmember was available to help me."

The manual guide that Chandran is referring to is a document issued to crewmembers by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the apex aviation control authority.

Air force model

Patrawalla said that the DGCA does not have its own flying pilot examiner branch.

"They have pilots from various private airlines who are deputed to undergo exams. Also, there are no regular examinations for cabin crew," Patrawalla told MiD DAY.

"Private airlines in India and the DGCA can model their procedures based on the country's air force pattern. The Indian Air Force examiners are well qualified and are exposed to various training procedures," he said.

Why blame us?
A former DGCA chief, however, said the central body couldn't be blamed.

"It will not be ethical to blame the DGCA for any training lapses for the crew and pilots," said Kanu Goyan. "We impart the best possible training but if an individual does not deliver, why blame us?"

The other side
Repeated attempts to contact the Union civil aviation minister and DGCA proved futile.

Fire Hazard?
Sources at the international terminal of the city airport said the Fire Department lacks expert firemen, and those recently recruited are not qualified to fight fire on aircraft.
Sep 4th 2010 00:05