Ecuador grounded its entire fleet of seven HAL Dhruv helicopters in 2015 after experiencing four crashes, leading to the termination of the contract with HAL. The Ecuadorian Air Force cited safety concerns, non-delivery of parts, and a high accident rate as reasons for the termination. HAL contested the Ecuadorian claims, stating that maintenance was the responsibility of the Ecuadorian Air Force after the warranty period expired and that spares had been supplied on time.
In a major setback for Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the government of Ecuador which had bought seven Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters from India has grounded all such remaining choppers in service and has unilaterally ended a contract with the state-owned Indian company.
This decision was taken after four of the seven Indian built choppers crashed. They were supplied to Ecuador between 2009 and 2012.
At least two of those chopper crashes were linked to pilot errors. One of them was assigned to transport the President of the country when it went down, though he was not on board.
According to AP reports, the Ecuadorian Defence Minister has announced that two of the helicopters crashed because of mechanical problems, and that getting spare components for the choppers from India had proven to be problematic.
Four of the seven Dhruv helicopters delivered to Ecuador crashed between 2009 and 2015. Ecuador terminated the contract with HAL in 2015. The Ecuadorian government cited safety concerns, non-delivery of parts, and the high accident rate as reasons for the termination.
HAL argued that the warranty had expired and that the Ecuadorian Air Force was responsible for maintenance after the warranty period, and that spares had been delivered on time.
The remaining Dhruvs were stored at the Guayaquil Air Base and were offered for sale, according to a 2016 statement by the Ecuadorian Defense Minister.
Indian Junk Equipment
Reacting to the situation in Ecuador, senior officials at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Bengaluru have told NDTV that they are yet to receive any official word on cancellation of the contract with HAL. They insist that all spare components have been provided on time, and that they had not been provided with any investigation reports indicating the mechanical failures on the helicopters.
HAL, which had provided ground support for these choppers in Ecuador, has said that the two choppers that crashed allegedly due to mechanical defects.
There are more than 200 Dhruv choppers in service with the Indian Armed Forces, which has high accident rates. The helicopter, which is not capable of high-altitude operations, had been hindering the Army’s role in the rescues in Uttarakhand during the Kedarnath floods.
India had grounded more than 100 HAL Druv helicopters due to technical faults with the rotors and flight control system.
The Ecuadorian decision to scrap its contract with HAL will come as a significant blow to the company, which is seeking foreign customers for the Dhruv choppers, which have, by and large, been accepted favourably by the Indian Armed Forces. The Indian Armed Forces are seeking alternative helicopters in the United States.
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