Bengaluru: A National seminar on “SAFETY IN HELICOPTER OPERATIONS” was held on 20th November 2025 at Old HAL Management Academy Auditorium, Vimanapura, near HAL Airport, Bangalore. The seminar was organised by the Southern Region of the Rotary Wing Society of India.
A platform for the younger generation: A good number of helicopter professionals from operators in the Indian Air Force, Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, and the Civil industry, along with Industry and OEMs such as HAL, Bell, Moog, and Safran Helicopter Engines, attended the National Seminar. The Seminar was also streamed live on the RWSI YouTube channel, which was viewed by all those helicopter professionals who could not participate in person. It also provided a platform for the younger generation to meet and interact with the veterans of the helicopter industry and operations, and share their experiences.
The CMD of HAL was the Chief guest of the seminar. Senior officers from DGCA, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Defence services, designers, operators and manufacturers participated in the seminar.
Safety issues eclipsing Indian Civil Helicopter operations: Gp Capt MR Anand, President of the Southern Region of RWSI, welcomed the gathering. Air Marshall AS Butola, President of RWSI, gave an overview of RWSI. President RWSI set the tone of the Seminar by flagging the safety issues eclipsing Indian Civil Helicopter operations. He also highlighted the requirement of training and how RWSI is contributing to this cause by providing quality TRG in SMS, CRM, SGT and Safety Audits for avoiding CFIT- the single main cause leading to avoidable fatality.
Visibility issues and lack of situational awareness: The focus of the seminar was the safety of helicopter operations with special emphasis on CFIT (Controlled Flight into Terrain). One of the major causes of (more than 50 %) flight incidents/accidents involving helicopters is CFIT. In case of CFIT, the helicopter will have no snags; systems in helicopters are working normally; however, due to visibility issues and lack of situational awareness, the helicopter meets with an accident.
Various aspects of safety in helicopter operations: The seminar brought various aspects of safety in helicopter operations in terms of statistical data of incidents/accidents, enhancing safety through regulations, enhancement of safety by increasing situational awareness using additional systems, software and sensors, using simulator training, etc.
In the inaugural session, Gp Capt. Yungandhar, Director General (AAIB), provided an overview of the seminar topic. DG AAIB took the bull by the horns and flagged the statistics, and established how CFIT needs to be tackled worldwide.
Regulatory vigil deployed for checking the alarming trend: Air Cmde Manu Chaudhary, CFOI(Helicopters) FSD, DGCA from MoCA, discussed how safety can be improved using regulations. He outlined the regulatory vigil deployed for checking the alarming trend of CFIT- especially in the Chardham sector. Ajit Tiwari, FOI(H), DGCA and Alok Ranjan, JD FSD(H), DGCA, were also present.
CMD(HAL) message dwelled into the current scenario of helicopter aviation, and his vision of safety of operations in his keynote address to the gathering at the Seminar.
PinS, if implemented, can vastly improve the safety of helicopter operations: In the technical session that followed, the IAF perspective was outlined by AVM Sanjeev Vashishth VM, ACAS Ops (T&H), who explained with great detail as to how IAF is adhering to the PinS (Point-in-Space) approach by making charts for selected Helipads/ locations. PinS, if implemented, can vastly improve the safety of helicopter operations. He emphatically stated that this is a national drive, implying that these procedures, charts and other assets will also be available for civil Helicopters.
An essential culture for maximising the operational potential: Col Bapat, Commanding Officer of the Army Aviation Project team co-located in HAL, Bengaluru, gave his experiences and approach of Army aviation towards Safety in Helicopter operations. He was trying to promote and project Flight Safety as an essential culture for maximising the operational potential
To enhance situational awareness by installing suitable systems and sensors: Wg Cdr Raghu Raj from HATSOFF helicopter simulator training company, explained how training in Simulators could simulate all extreme weathers like heavy rain, brownout, whiteout, clouds, fog, low visibility conditions and and pilots can be trained to detect, avoid and safely fly through such real-life environmental conditions. Gp Capt Rajeev Dubey, senior test pilot from Helicopter Flight operations( Rotary Wing), HAL detailed the design changes implemented in HAL’s indigenous helicopters like the Dhruv, Advanced Light Helicopter-ALH Next Generation (Civil), Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) and future Utility Helicopter Maritime (UHM), Indian Multi Role Helicopter (IMRH)and Deck Based Multi Role Helicopters (DMRH) to enhance situational awareness by installing suitable systems and sensors, and providing display on glass cockpit to assist pilot to come out of a difficult situation.
Measures to enhance safety in their products: In the second technical session, industry leaders in the helicopter industry, such as Bell Textron, USA, Safran Helicopter Engines, France, Boeing Helicopters, USA and Moog, USA, provided their perspectives on safety and how they are taking measures to enhance safety in their products.
Reliability and robustness of their engines: Bell Textron showcased Bell 407 GXi as the epitome of improvement for avoiding CFIT- in a single pilot scenario. Boeing outlined the technological advances in their existing and futuristic machines for enhancing safety through technology. Safran Helicopter Engines emphasised the reliability and robustness of their engines, taking out the requirement for the pilot's attention to be anchored on the engine. He/ She could then focus on flying safely. Moog Genesys explained how they have participated in Indian production for the ALH NG civil helicopter, likely to be inducted in Pawan Hans shortly. Moog Genesys glass cockpit features were all in line with the modern IFR-certified machines, including the Performance Based Nav, Helicopter Terrain Avoidance system, etc
Blaming only the pilot for CFIT is not justified: AVM Anupam Agarwal (Retd) provided a HFACS (Human Factors Analysis and Classification System) perspective on Helicopter Safety. He gave two examples, one accident within India and another accident that occurred in the USA. He explained how various factors, such as crew stress, management pressure, commercial interests, lower vigilance by the regulatory agencies, and reluctant and slow implementation of recommendations of the previous investigation committee, are prevalent and could lead to CFIT. He argued that blaming only the pilot for CFIT is not justified.
The seminar was sponsored by HAL, Bell Textron USA, Safran Helicopter Engines, France, Boeing Helicopters, USA and Moog, USA.
Spotlight back to Bengaluru as a centre for helicopter D&D: The Membership of RWSi has grown to more than 1400, and the successful conduct of this National seminar on helicopter safety and the online live viewership of more than 645, has brought the spotlight back to Bengaluru as a centre for helicopter D&D, testing and manufacturing. The seminar also underscored the RWSI's stellar role as a nodal player in the National Rotary wing/vertical lift ecosystem and a vital link between the operators and the regulators.
Dr Vijaya Kumar, secretary Southern Chapter of RWSI, proposed a vote of thanks. Air Cmde Ashutosh Lal (Retd) ably conducted the day's proceedings as Master of the Ceremony. The seminar was concluded with a closing address by Wg Cdr Singh Deo, Vice President RWSI.
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