BSF top brass questions motive of pilot who raised issue of trainee pilots flying VIPs, flouting safety norms

HIGHLIGHTS

• Some BSF officers have doubted the complainant officer's intention.
• The letter by a BSF pilot highlited safety norms being violated and trainee pilots flying VIPs.
• As per the letter, since June 2015, not a single flight safety meeting has been held.

A letter by a BSF pilot sent on 15 August to BSF's IG (Air) about safety norms being violated, including putting VVIP's like Home Minister Rajnath Singh's life in jeopardy, seems to have unsettled the border guarding force, whose air wing is largely manned by pilots on deputation from the Indian Air Force.

The letter touched a raw nerve in the force putting in motion immediate measures including inspection of the air fleet of BSF by Directorate of Air Staff Inspection (DASI) which was carried out last month.

However, few officers within the force seem to have doubted the complainant officer's intention.

A senior officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said "From July 1st, the 7th pay commission has put curbs on flying incentive which gave pilots an extra Rs 1800 to Rs 2000 per hour. Since, there is no extra dough, some of those on deputation may have lost interest. "  The officer added,  "It is quite unusual that a letter of this kind is issued."

Wing Commander Yogesh Kumar Daksh, in his letter, says that that since June 2015, not a single flight safety meeting has been held and the Air Wing does not even conduct pre-flight medical check-ups of pilots. The letter makes damning allegations citing a recent incident of  MoS Kiren Rijiju , whose chopper had a narrow escape on July 4th in Arunachal Pradesh, was flown by two pilots, one of them uncategorised.

The letter further states that several VIPs, including Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, have been flying in unsafe conditions , with uncategorised pilots flying VIPs, aircraft not being maintained properly and standard operating procedures (SOP) of flying and safety not being followed.

"In the last few months, it has been observed that there has been gross dilution in adherence to these orders and SOP. This trend may lead to serious accident/incident, jeopardising the life and safety of the aircrew and passengers involved in flying," says the letter.

While admitting that BSF Air wing faces some serious shortcomings, the allegations of putting VIPs, including home minister, life in jeopardy have been strongly refuted.

"Only a categorised pilot flies the home minister, even Rijiju's flight was manned by a categorised pilot, accompanied with uncategorised, but a trained pilot with 5 years of experience," said an officer.

An officer from the BSF Air Wing speaking to India Today admitted, "Primarily some of the allegations levelled are true. We took immediate corrective measures. Duly carried out an inspection of the Air Wing."

The BSF Air Wing has eight MI-17 V5 choppers and an Embraer, largely to fly VIPs and for rescue of injured personnel during anti-Naxal operations.

Sources say there are 9 categorised pilots and 8 uncategorised pilots. Though, the latter has minimum of 5 years of flying experience, at least 6 of them are likely to put into categorised category this month itself.

Other issues include BSF Air Wing not having a single Infra Red (IR) Flare to thwart being targeted by missiles, lack of maintenance of aircraft and choppers.