IDC aids ailing aircraft |05 February 2005

The incident, which occurred in mid January, involved a twin engine Beechcraft 200, flight ZSDSL, which was bound for tsunami struck areas of Sri Lanka when it developed engine trouble and sent out a call for help.

A letter from the civil aviation authority states that the plane was travelling from, "Pemba (Mozambique) to Seychelles when it suddenly developed engine trouble and had to shut down the engine, consequently declaring an emergency."

On it's way to help in the post-tsunami relief efforts in Sri Lanka, the aircraft was due to stop and refuel on Mahé, but when the engine gave out and the distress call was made the crew of a nearby Island Development Corporation (IDC) aircraft took up radio communication, to advise the struggling plane to land at Alphonse and inform the authorities on Mahé.

The stricken aircraft was not equipped with high frequency radio equipment, preventing any form of direct contact between the aircraft and air traffic control on Mahé and requiring the IDC crew, who had left Alphonse on a flight to Mahé, to initiate the alert and provide onward communication.

As the IDC plane flew out of radio range communication was taken up by the Nairobi bound Kenya Airways flight from Seychelles, until the Beechcraft made a safe landing on the island resort.

In a letter to IDC the Chief of Air Traffic Services, David Labrosse, writes, "This is a very good example of how good cooperation and teamwork in our environment can produce positive and beneficial results and, in doing so, prevent loss of lives and property."

After a second aircraft arrived on Alphonse carrying replacement parts, ZSDSL flew up to Mahé on January 29 and left for a hiccup-free flight to Moroni in the Comoros two days later.