Beyond turbulence in the air

By V. Jayanth

CHENNAI, OCT. 7. The`turbulence' experienced by the Indian Airlines Airbus-300 aircraft, VT-EVD, has raised the same basic questions on air safety and the process of certifying `air- worthiness' of the aircraft by the authorities, not just in Chennai, but around the country. The facts of the case speak for themselves: the aircraft was leased from Philippines Airlines; it had completed three years and was renewed for three more despite the 30-odd occasions when it had suffered the same `technical snag' (non- retraction of the landing gear); after facing `turbulence' in the sky at least twice in quick succession, the aircraft was still cleared, before it finally went to Mumbai for more checks.

Quite a few questions have been raised and there is considerable concern not only among passengers, but even the Tamil Nadu Government. The Chief Minister, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, thought it fit to take up the safety issue with the Civil Aviation Minister, Mr. Ananth Kumar, using the opportunity to convey the anxieties of passengers over Indian Airlines and Alliance Air. The first issue is, why was the lease extended when the aircraft's service record showed such repeated snags, that too a single, recurring problem? If the Regional Controllers for Safety and the Controllers for Air-Worthiness, across the country, had dealt with these problems, how was it cleared for continued flying, and the renewal of lease? Were they consulted during the process or can the Indian Airlines decide without a clearance certificate on air-worthiness? On the infamous `air turbulence' incident on September 25, when the Airbus was on its way to Singapore, the conversation between the pilot and the Air Traffic Control as taped in the cockpit recorder, points the needle of suspicion in another direction this time - the pilot. That the 65-minute mid- air drama ended on a happy note and all the passengers survived, is another matter. The question - could the pilot have avoided the air pocket if he had steered left, instead moving so far right? - remains. Why did he not mention the turbulence in the sky even after the aircraft lost so much height in a matter of seconds and that too, two or three times? Was the crew given a proper briefing on the weather conditions that night/morning? Are the pilots properly trained and updated on reporting to the ATC?

Apart from these issues, the basic needs of safety and maintenance have to be checked. With both the DGCA and the Indian Airlines involved in these processes, what is the accountability? Despite all the tall talk about safety concerns in Indian Airlines, the top-heavy management is not paying enough attention to safety checks and certification in its regional stations. Are all the safety officers in charge of the regions qualified and equipped for the task, or are staff from the commercial and other departments heading the safety wing for some inexplicable reason? Whenever there is an incident of this nature, there is a departmental inquiry or probe. But invariably, the key issues are swept under the carpet. The probe concludes it was ``human error'' which caused the mishap and the curtains are down. Even if there is a human error, quite often, more than one human being may have been responsible. Are all the officers involved in the maintenance, clearance and operation of the aircraft made fully accountable for any lapse?

Especially at a time when both Indian Airlines and Air India are up for disinvestment and the search for domestic and international partners has begun, the airline managements must set their houses in order. Aviation sources say that accountability in Alliance Air just does not exist and the safety authorities are seldom informed of any incidents till they are reported in the media. That seems to be the state of affairs in the state-owned airlines today.

Unless the Ministry, the Boards and the Regional Directors take up these issues seriously, they will have no support when the axe falls and the airlines are privatised. The least the airline staff can do is to worry as much about passenger safety as about their remaining `public sector employees'. Otherwise, they will only confirm public fears that the public sector is not accountable at all.

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Section  : Opinion
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