Red flag to chopper joy rides in Hyderabad

Telangana government recently started helicopter joyrides and is extensively promoting it. However Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has red-flagged it due to violation of aviation guidelines and lack of infrastructure. The landing sites used for these joyrides do not meet the norms prescribed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

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DGCA recently visited the landing site and found that the chopper service operators do not protect the landing site by cordoning, fencing and preventing entry of unauthorized persons, vehicles or stray animals. They only have a temporary barricading, which is extremely feeble and the site is guarded by only one watchman.

The land site also do not have adequate fire-fighting mechanism to prevent any untoward incidents. There is no other water source nearby except the Hussainsagar. DGCA reportedly sent a notice to the chopper service operators over this and a not satisfactory reply from them will mean that the chopper joy rides will be stopped.