A CHOPPER PILOT SEZ (07 Jan 2022) Views from Mr Pradeep Jawanda, a chopper Pilot who commanded helicopter unit at Bathinda:
"What seems amiss in the whole security lapse of the PM's road trip yesterday, was HIS decision to refuse the chopper ride from Bathinda to Ferozepur, and deciding to cover the 200km extended distance to Hussainiwala border, by road, and that too at extremely short notice, after refusing to board the chopper flight at Air Force Station Bhatinda. For most of us who know, this flight route (Bathinda - Ferozepur) is bereft of any obstacles, and the flight can be carried out unobstructed at very low levels (even at 50-100 feet above ground if need be). It is most unlike the CDS flight which involved negotiating hills at 6000 feet. Ferozepur also has a huge pukka Army Advance Landing Ground (ALG) for unrestricted landing. This provide's an unmistakable landmark on the aircraft GPS for a safe approach and landing. I think the fear factor (due to the recent CDS incident), must have forced the PM to take this impulsive decision of abandoning the helicopter flight even when the weather was well within the pilots capabilities. Inputs of the continuance of bad weather were shared well in advance by the State Administration to the Home Ministry/SPG, yet no clear orders of proceeding by road were given in advance. Proper sanitisation of the road for his carcade could've then been ensured. The State Police only follows the directions given by the SPG. As per Blue Book, the chain of command is :- HM IB SPG State Police. At half an hour's notice, the State Government could never have mustered enough forces to sanitise a 200 km route. That is why in the video forwarded by SB, actually is of BJP organised busses trying to take public to the rally site. Due to a very poor turnout, they asked for more time. Thats why one finds all types of vehicles plying, unrestricted on that National Highway route, where the Kisan Morcha was also present. The continuous weather update of Bathinda & Ferozepur as on yesterday showed flight visibility conditions steady at 1km. I have commanded a Helicopter Unit at Bathinda, and have operated innumerable times in this kind of weather - from Jalandhar, Patiala and Bathinda bases towards the Ferozepur sector. Also, if a state of the art, Class 1 Performance Twin Engine helicopter, with handpicked crew cannot negotiate 1km weather (with no obstacles enroute), then something is amiss. The visibility minima for a Class 1 Performance Twin Engine helicopter is just 800m. This should've posed no problems to the highly experienced Master Green Rated VIP crew, to take off and land back if required at Bathinda Airfield, which has ILS and Precision Radar for guidance, even incase the helicopter had to return back from Ferozepur as planned. The flight time was approx 30 mins. Even if the chopper was to return back without landing at Ferozepur, it would've taken an hour or so. Instead, a road journey of 4:30 hrs was undertaken at half an hour's notice given to the State Police. Seems to drive home certain lessons, which have already been commented upon by some. More will be heard, once the final report is submitted. All in all, a sad state of affairs at all levels.🙏 The above bears out what I posted on the day the incident occurred. However, what beats me is that a man who refuses to travel even 50 km by road in his LS constituency should insisted on a 111 km road journey without informing the local police in advance. The SPG DG should have refused, point blank and returned him to Delhi forthwith. But then the DG obviosuly did not have enough strength in his family jewels to say no. That is the quality of IPS officers today. The only person who should be fired from service is the SPG's DG and none else.
