Entire Dhruv fleet set to get key safety upgrade by end of month

A critical safety upgrade on the military’s advanced light helicopter Dhruv fleet, initiated by state-run plane maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited after a string of accidents last year, is nearing completion and the upgraded control system installed on the locally made choppers will improve their airworthiness, officials aware of the matter said on Monday. The Dhruv fleet, plagued by a nagging design issue, was grounded several times last year after the accidents called into question its flight safety record. This led to a comprehensive design review of the helicopter’s booster control rods followed by a drive to replace the flaw-ridden existing ones with new rods in each ALH. The Bengaluru-based Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification ordered the design review of the booster control rods to improve the ALH’s airworthiness.