Flying machine

Ranchi, Oct. 4: Two multi-purpose Zlin aircraft arrived from Czech Republic last week, a year after the state government placed orders.

The Jharkhand government purchased the four-seater aircraft manufactured by Moravan Aviation s.r.o., a Czech aircraft manufacturer, for Rs 1 crore each.

The aircraft were dismantled and despatched to India.

The aircraft parts reached Haldia port and were later transported to Ranchi by road. An engineer of the aviation firm assembled the aircraft here.

Both the aircraft are stationed at the state hangar at Birsa Munda airport.

Zlin aircraft can be used for carrying VIPs and for training pilots.

And the consumption of fuel is much less than a helicopter.

But ironically, it’s uncertain when the aircraft would at all take to the skies. Because the civil aviation department does not have any engineers and technical staff who can certify the airworthiness of the aircraft before each flight.

The department would require one chief engineer or quality control manager and two other engineers to look after the two aircraft.

“The state government should have done the groundwork for appointing technical experts once the orders were placed for the two Zlins.

“The aircraft have arrived, but there is no sign of the technical staff,” commented a department official sarcastically.

Under the directorate general of civil aviation norms, it is mandatory for pilots to get the certificate of airworthiness before they fly any aircraft.

About four months ago, tenders were floated inviting bids from companies to enter into an annual maintenance contract. Under the contract, the company would have to provide the engineers and the technical staff.

“The bid was finalised and forwarded to the government for approval. But in these four months, the government could not find time to approve it,” lamented the official.

A senior civil aviation department official claimed the department is pursuing the matter with the government.