VIPs risk their lives by taking AF helicopter rides

Jun 03, 2017

VIPs who use Air Force helicopters for inland travel are at the risk of their lives, as being talked about following the crash of an AF helicopter during the floods. 

As a result of the allocations for AF training being curtailed, safety checks of its helicopters and daily training of the pilots have been affected, say AF sources. Due to this, the preparedness of the AF has suffered. The president too, has been advised by those closest to him to stop taking helicopter rides. Thereafter, the president has instructed that immediate attention be paid to the matter and the condition of the AF helicopters be looked into.

 

When contacted, a top AF official said funding for the training has not been curtailed as claimed. However, there are situations when the allotted money was not adequate, he said. AF spokesman Group Capt. Gihan Seneviratne declined to comment.

 

Parakrama Dissanayake – Sathhanda