Indian Dhruv helicopters dismally fail in Ecuador

[S.M.R]

ISLAMABAD, July 27 (APP )- Ecuadorian Air Force (EAF) which inducted seven Indian manufactured Dhruv helicopters, at a package cost of $ 50 millions, is finding itself beset with problems even as the last consignment of two helicopters has barely arrived in the country.

According to the aviation sources, one of the inducted Dhruv helicopters crashed last year while two others have been grounded on account of malfunctioning of over-speed management unit (OMU).

While the Ecuadorian Air Force is plagued by Dhruv related maintenance issues, its difficulties have been compounded by exorbitant repair cost demanded by Indian manufacturers.

The original US company that manufactures the OMU, charges $100000 as the repair cost while the Indians have demanded $250000 for the same job.

India has also raised the price of two additional Dhruvs that the EAF had originally planned as additional follow through acquisitions; demanding $ 12 million apiece.

The EAF has informed the Indian government that because of cost issues, maintenance problems, under par flight performance and poor post sale spare support it is considering cancelling further orders for induction of Dhruv helicopters.

According to observers the disappointing Ecuadorian experience with the Dhruv Helicopters doesn’t augur well for the Indian efforts to find a toe hold in South American countries for its aviation products.

It is bound to have its negative fallout as other South American governments; Columbia, Brazil and Chile, who were contemplating induction of Dhruv helicopters in their respective air forces, are now certain to revisit such plans.

Dhruv is not only accident prone, overly priced and having maintenance support issues, it also comes with the Indian tendency of creating dependence and over invoicing, which make even costlier options from other countries more palatable, say observers.

Associated Press Of Pakistan ( Pakistan's Premier NEWS Agency ) - Indian Dhruv helicopters dismally fail in Ecuador

 

[janon]

Got a non pakistani source for this?

 

[rockstarIN]

According to the aviation sources, one of the inducted Dhruv helicopters crashed last year while two others have been grounded on account of malfunctioning of over-speed management unit (OMU).

Pilot error caused Dhruv crash in Ecuador: Probe | Siasat

 

[Dark Angel]

tried to search the web but there was not a single non pakistani source

 

[kingkobra]

another wikileaks disclosure by pakistani media..

 

[majesticpankaj]

Dhruv is not only accident prone, overly priced and having maintenance support issues, it also comes with the Indian tendency of creating dependence and over invoicing, which make even costlier options from other countries more palatable, say observers.

That summed up for me..

 

[rockstarIN]

^^^ Ya it is overpriced than its peers like
AgustaWestland AW139
Bell 412
Bell 429
Eurocopter EC 145
Kazan Ansat
MD Helicopters MD Explorer
Sikorsky S-76

 

[Vibs]

2 Ecuadorian pilots trained on ALH Dhruv’s simulator cockpit
Published: Tuesday, Jul 12, 2011, 17:05 IST

Ecuadorian pilots operating the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv have undergone simulation training at the Bangalore-based Helicopter Academy to Train by Simulation of Flying (HATSOFF), a joint venture of HAL and CAE Canada.

The two pilots of Ecuadorian presidential fleet are among the first to undergo training on the ALH Dhruv simulator cockpit which was recently certified by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
HATSOFF chief executive officer Wing Commander (Retd) CD Upadhyay, said the two pilots had undergone five hours of simulation training each on the ALH Dhruv simulator cockpit.

“As part of the training, various situations were simulated. The pilots, apart from undergoing conventional training, were exposed to critical emergency situations from which they had to bail out,” Upadhyay said.

The two pilots would again return in December for another five hours of training which was mandatory, he added.

In addition to two pilots of Ecuadorian presidential fleet, 16 pilots of the Ecuadorian Air Force operating ALH Dhruvs would come to Bangalore soon to undergo simulation training.

Ecuador is the biggest overseas customer of ALH Dhruv which is India’s flagship defence export. India had clinched $51-million deal with the South American country and supplied seven choppers.

However, in 2009, the export potential of the chopper suffered a set back when an ALH Dhruv helicopter of the Ecuadorian Air Force crashed after the chopper veered off course during an aerial display at an air force base near Quito.

Ecuador had grounded the entire ALH Dhruv fleet following the crash, but after an investigation, it concluded that the crash occurred due to pilot’s error and the chopper was reinstated.
The simulation training is expected to come in handy for the Ecuadorian Air Force pilots as it can prepare them to tackle emergencies and avoid accidents.

 

[Ghoster]

poor attempt by jealous pakistanis..

 

[Dalai Lama]

No Ecuadorian or other sources reporting this.

 

[S.M.R]

poor attempt by jealous pakistanis..

No Ecuadorian or other sources reporting this.

They will give you surprise, you should be thankful to Pakistani sources that they warned you in advance.

 

[Vibs]

They will give you surprise, you should be thankful to Pakistani sources that they warned you in advance.

Don't hold your breath. read post #9.

 

[majesticpankaj]

They will give you surprise, you should be thankful to Pakistani sources that they warned you in advance.

who gives a crap about about pakistani news sources before buying Choppers ? Isn't that funny ?

 

[S.M.R]

@ vibs, the crash is not only the issue..

Dhruv is not only accident prone, overly priced and having maintenance support issues, it also comes with the Indian tendency of creating dependence and over invoicing, which make even costlier options from other countries more palatable, say observers.

 

[Chow chow]

lol, First about UN and now this..paksitani Media , I am sure, are tired of all these bomb blast coverage