Concerns were raised in Parliament today (08) regarding the safety of training aircraft in the wake of the recent PT-6 plane crash by Member of Parliament Dayasiri Jayasekara, representing the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. He revealed that six pilots have lost their lives due to such accidents and questioned the use of aircraft that were manufactured as far back as 1958 for training purposes.
Jayasekara emphasized that the PT-6 aircraft used for pilot training were not only old but also equipped with engines manufactured in 1961. He expressed his regret that such outdated airplanes were still being used for training and suggested that they should be preserved in museums rather than being utilized in active training operations.
Drawing attention to the disparity in expenditure, he highlighted that while the government allocated significant funds for repairing Kaffir fighter jets, the budget allocated for PT-6 aircraft was comparatively low. Jayasekara questioned who should be held responsible for the unfortunate incidents resulting from the continued use of outdated aircraft.
Responding to these concerns, the Sri Lanka Air Force had taken temporary measures by suspending the operations of all PT-6 aircraft groups. This suspension will remain in effect until the special committee appointed to investigate the recent PT-6 crash at the China Port Air Force Academy submits its report, including findings about the crash and its causes.
