ALH Dhruv being cleared for urgent ops; no routine sorties

New Delhi The military has started clearing the advanced light helicopter Dhruv for urgent flying missions in batches after comprehensive safety checks to keep itself operationally ready, but routine sorties are still no-go after the indigenous multi-mission chopper was grounded following three incidents in less than two months earlier this year, officials aware of the matter said on Tuesday. CEMILAC, which functions under the Defence Research and Development Organisation, reached the conclusion that the design review of the booster control rods is mandatory after an expert committee, formed in the backdrop of a navy ALH ditching into the Arabian Sea on March 8, explored the possible failures that led to the incident. The committee, constituted by the CEMILAC chief executive, found that the most probable cause of the navy ALH incident on March 8 was a technical failure -- an error in the assembly of serrated washers in the booster control rods. The design, development and qualification of the steel booster control rods that are tolerant to assembly errors shall be expedited, and the compliance of the new design shall be aimed for implementation in six months to one year, CEMILAC wrote in the letter dated April 23 to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the three services, and the coast guard.