Pune: The ministry of civil aviation expressed its willingness to help the Maharashtra govt in developing the Baramati airstrip, while Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s preliminary probe report on Jan 28 plane crash in which Ajit Pawar and four others were killed should be ready within a month-and-a-half.A source in the civil aviation ministry said the preliminary crach probe report was expected to take anything between a month and a month-and-a-half for the preliminary report to come out.Minister of state for civil aviation Murlidhar Mohol said the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB)’s investigation had started. “The AAIB has the black box. Since I am in Delhi at the moment, I will speak to the AAIB on the progress of investigation,” Mohol told TOI.A pilot, requesting to anonymity, said the video clip showing the aircraft doing a sharp left bank before falling off near the Baramati airstrip last week indicated that it might have faced a stall — a condition in which the smooth airflow over the wing turns into a turbulent one, causing a sudden loss of lift. Aircraft lift is the upward aerodynamic force generated primarily by wings as they move through the air, countering gravity to enable flight.The pilot said, “Stalling mainly happens when the angle between the wind and the incoming air exceeds the critical angle of the wing, creating turbulent air, which results in the aircraft descending. The ill-fated aircraft was flying at a low altitude before landing. The report of the AAIB will give the precise picture of what really happened.” A senior official in the civil aviation ministry said the state govt should take up the development of Baramati airstrip on priority. “The airport belongs to the state govt. If they need anything from the ministry, it will be provided. This includes all permissions,” the official told TOI on Sunday.The Baramati airstrip, having a table-top runway, was transferred to Maharashtra Airport Development Company Limited (MADC) last year. TOI sent a text message to Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis asking about the state govt’s plan regarding the development of the Baramati airstrip. His reply was awaited till going to press.“Flying schools used the facility for years and there have been many landings. A CCTV footage of the Jan 28 plane crash indicates that low visibility led to a chain of unfortunate events. The state govt needs to work towards development of the airstrip,” another official said, adding that the civil aviation ministry was ready to help the state with an OLS (obstacle limitation survey) of the airstrip.
