A Grant Too Late

Just four days before YSR’s death, the DGCA received a Rs 2.4 crore grant to modernise its helicopter operations.

Just four days before Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YSR’s death in a chopper crash, the US Trade and Development Agency had handed over a Rs 2.4 crore ($501,849) grant to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to improve helicopter operations in India.

Signing the agreement in New Delhi, US Ambassador to India Timothy J Roemer said the project was designed to help update India’s standards and regulations governing helicopter operations and facilitate the expansion of safe and reliable helicopter services throughout India.

Incidentally, the project is being led by Bell Helicopters, whose chopper Reddy used on that fateful flight.