GUIDELINES FOR ELECTION JETS

With growing number of private charters now flying VIPs for poll campaigning, DGCA today came out with a list of do's and don'ts for business jet operators and warned them and their pilots of penal action if these safety guidelines were not adhered to. The set of guidelines also directs the operators and flight crew to ensure that no unauthorised cash, narcotics or arms are carried in the flight. The guidelines also include submission of passenger manifests to the aviation regulator a week in advance. The flight crew would have to carry local and other maps during flight for navigation and "shall not rely on GPS (global positioning system) only", the guidelines said. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked the flight crew to google helipad coordinates as an additional measure to check their correctness, suitability and other flying aspects like obstacles (for instance, tall trees and high tension wires) and landing and take-off directions, among others. A special cell has also been set up within DGCA to monitor the flights of the non-scheduled charter operators, official sources said. These guidelines, many of which already exist, as also surveillance and regular checks by DGCA are basically meant to keep the private operators on their toes, they said. The latest circular also lays down penalty for non- compliance of guidelines which include suspension of operations, flying licence as well as the pilot's licence. Copies of the latest circular has been sent to the Election Commission, state governments and all the non- scheduled operators. 
The guidelines came three days after the regulator grounded a business jet owned by Reliance Industries after a surprise inspection at the Delhi airport for carrying expired safety equipment on board and suspended its pilot for flying without a licence. The aircraft was later cleared after RIL replaced the equipment and furnished the required documents. DGCA had also inspected Jindal Steel and Power Limited's Global Express BD 700 aircraft and found several lapses. Election flying is a highly demanding exercise in terms of skill levels and professionalism, the sources said, adding, long flying hours, large number of take-offs and landings, weather changes, lack of proper rest, hurriedly prepared helipads, crowd control and congested airspace, pose serious challenge to air travel during polls. Besides, frequent changes in itinerary, time management, highly stressed security arrangement, surcharged crowd, difficult and disturbed areas and lack of adequate communication also pose risk, they said.