ALH Dhruv being cleared for urgent ops; no routine sorties

The military has started clearing the advanced light helicopter Dhruv (ALH) for urgent flying missions in batches after comprehensive safety checks to keep itself operationally ready, but routine sorties are still no-go after the indigenous multi-mission chopper was grounded following three incidents in less than two months earlier this year, officials aware of the matter said on Tuesday

- Rahul Singh

New Delhi: Most ALHs operated by the armed forces were grounded for checks after the recent incidents -- including the crash-landing of an army helicopter in Jammu & Kashmir’s Kishtwar on May 4 in which a soldier was killed, and two pilots were injured -- raised serious safety concerns. The pilots reported a technical fault to the air traffic control before the incident.

The directorate general of military operations on May 22 wrote to different command headquarters about the restoration of flying of the ALH Dhruv, Rudra (the armed version of ALH) and the light combat helicopter (LCH). The Indian Air Force’s latest LCHs were also grounded earlier as they inherit several features of the ALH.

“ALH and LCH hepters are op endorsed to be cleared for op emer flg (operational emergency flying),” the letter stated. “Op endorsed” here refers to helicopters that have been cleared in servicing and certified fit to fly, one of the officials cited above explained, asking not to be named. To be sure, it is not uncommon for an aircraft fleet to be grounded for inspection after an unexplained crash or incident.

The DGMO letter accessed by Hindustan Times lays down two pre-conditions for restoring emergency flying.