Storm in the sky for airlines

A jet plane of Air Asia flying from Indonesia to Singapore disappeared from the radar midway . Any one can be touched by his daughter message on twitter ‘papa come back I need you’. But the plane could  not be tracked for days. In the times when Man has accessed the path to Mars and may soon land there it is shocking that in aviation we do not still know how to track it fast? The Airbus 320air plane was carrying161 people including crew and likely to reach Singapore on 8.20 AM while it vanished at 7.24 AM over the java sea. The airline had a clean accident free record and operating in different countries so far without any mishap. The pilot was experienced and the plane was serviced in November only. Sudden weather change and a cumulous cloud thick enough with turbulence was encountered on the way .Pilot asked for change in altitude to avoid the fierce storm as he was flying at 32000 and wanted to go to 38000. It was denied by the Indonesian control perhaps due to the reason that similar condition prevailed in higher level as some reports put the trouble upto 40000ft. There was no distress or emergency call or signal from the aircraft. After this last contact the plane perhaps plunged in the sea as reported by some sources. Air Asia is operating 169 Airbuses and the plane has safety record of 0.4 accidents. The airline is considered the world’s best low cost airline.

This is third time in current year that three accidents have taken place. First was Malaysian airline plane MH370 which was flying from Malaysia to China but on the way disappeared. Worldwide search has been carried out by all countries in the region but no trace of this plane has been found. It remains the biggest mystery of aviation that a large plane 777 carrying 227 people is still untraced. The twinjet plane uses fly by wire technology and computer controlled and designed. It is 242 ft in length and still found nowhere. Second air disaster pertains to Mh 17 that was carrying 298 passengers and was shot down above Ukraine. Third one is concerning Air Asia that has also its head quarters in Malaysia.

Two disasters of Malaysian airlines in March and second in July were in quick succession. Now the third one in Asia is adding a new dimension to discussion if there is some cultural factor like metric system and imperial system being followed in different parts of the world. This was the cause of Korean airline accidents earlier but in two cases above the same cannot be definitely stated. As far as Ukraine incident is concerned it was nothing to do with airlines as it was due to war zone activity and the plane should have been warned not to overfly the area.

Whatever trouble in the sky the plane AB777 is considered safe and the pilots were experienced. The air traffic is not still more dangerous that road or sea yet it is most unpardonable as no error can go unpunished. Today aviation is safe and such incidents do shake the passenger confidence yet these are rare occurrences and in this case as in one year in quick succession Asian regtion has faced it the situation seems worth pondering to creatge more tracking system and Pilot Tower communication.

I too faced two air accidents during my tenure in aviation but in both cases it was luck that favored us as there was no loss of human life. An Air France plane overshot the runway and crashed. Although the plane was written off yet passengers were safe and even cat was found in good shape. Another plane coming from Chandigarh landed on belly as the under carriage was not opened and this could have resulted in fire but our fire fighting system worked in time and passengers were saved. One of the passengers happened to be my friend Bishen Singh Bedi, ace bowler who thanked all of us but above all Wah Guru. I too thanked God and when many people saw me on TV channels attributing good escape to Bhagwan they asked me how I have developed faith in God as they always thought I am atheist. I told them that there are things which are beyond man and one remembers Him when such miracles take place.

----Prof N.K.Singh former Chairman International Airports Authority of India

Modi rewriting politics of Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir is undergoing historic change and Modi has transformed the debate in the valley. High turnout of 72% may be for him and as some claim against him but Modi wins to prove democracy and faith of Kashmir in ballot against bullet of terrorists. In spite of gruesome terror attack in Uri and other places people hvae virtually declared war on terrorism through electoral process. Being sharp observe of change process Modi did use the words that I have borrowed from him and one national English paper used it at mast head of editorial as the thought of the day.

Jammu –Kashmir has 87constituncies and at present National Conference have 28, Congress 17 PDP 21, 11BJP and 10 others. From all calculations after winning half of the seats and greater number of votes BJP is making its mark in the state first time. BJP was at rank four in the results. In this phase of election there are148 candidates including CM. There are 64 crorepatis and 9 criminally charged candidates in the race. The 2014 elections in the state are most crucial trials of Indian democracy and the leadership of Modi.

Already terror attacks have gone down as in 2001, 996civilians 2020 terrorists and 536 army personnel were killed but in 2010 it had come down to 47 civilian, 232 terrorists and 69 army personnel killed. It clearly shows decline in violence and now is the time to make Kashmir totally free from terror by strong action and establishing a government of the people.

This is crucial election as it  is also a trial of Modi’s charisma in a very difficult situation since Pakistan and terrorists are all out to disturb the process and separatist have already given a call to boycott elections. So far Modi has scored that even in valley there is record voting and there is no one bothered about separatist call. In last election there were protests and lathi charge on the crowd. But the elections so far have gone very peacefully and the great achievement is that crowds are coming out cheerful and showing their cards in spite of biting chill. First time after 1983 a Prime Minister could address a huge gathering in Sher- e- Kashmir stadium in Srinagar. Modi dared the detractors and terrorists who had held out threats by attacking at  Uri and killing people. No trace of fear was visible and long queues with sizable number of women were seen even much before the opening of the polling office.

The success of polls in Kashmir with record voting is a proof of Modi’s popularity. Some skeptics point out that huge voting is against Modi to stop him. I do not contribute to this theory of defeatism and negative thinking. Common man is as cunning as politicians are to think of defeating someone like this. To me it appears clear that there is visible zest and cheer in the air and it signifies positive vibes for the change and new vision. Modi has already won as the voting proved that J&K has voted already for democracy and rejected terrorism or separatism. It has sounded death knell of Huriyat kind of hatred for India. It is also victory of BJP as from number four rank in J&K the party is sure to emerge as number one or two in the coming results of elections. It is also message to world that popular vote shows India rightly claims it as willing accession and not forced one.

Strangely this concedes with another feather in Modi’s cap as news of more than two hundred countries’ readers of Time magazine choosing him as most popular leader of the world. No leader of the world has struggled so much and in such a short period after becoming the leader of the country reached the apex of international glory. These magnificent feats not only add prestige to him and the nation he represents but also it bestows on him a heavy load of responsibilities to bring change in the destiny of common man.

------Prof N.K.Singh former Chairman International Airports Authority of India