After the accident of the advanced light helicopter Dhruv on May 4 in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar area, the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force have grounded their new light combat helicopters (LCH).
Sources in both armies have stated that the flight operations of the LCHs that were made in-country have been stopped for now. They have also said that the planes have gone through checks and procedures.
A source in the Indian Air Force said that no LCH is in service. LCH is also a form of ALH.
The Army and the Air Force are both using five LCHs. Both of the troops started using the helicopters last year. The IAF’s LCH squadron was formed at Jodhpur air force station in Rajasthan, while the Army’s was in Missamari, Assam.
The source also said, “The entire fleet of ALH has been grounded, but some helicopters have been given permission to fly and are doing so now.” It would take time to finish the process for the whole fleet.”
As a safety step, (HAL) workers have suggested cutting the number of flying hours from 300 to 150. Earlier, it had been 600 hours.
“In the next three to four months, we will remove the limit on flying hours and set them back to 600 hours.”
After an Indian Navy helicopter crashed near the coast of Mumbai on March 8 while it was on a regular mission over the sea, it was the first time that all helicopters were grounded.
About 280 ALHs are being used by three forces and the Indian Coast Guard. The Indian Army has 110 ALHs, and the Indian Coast Guard and Navy together use about 40 of these helicopters.
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