MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy pilots flight to Chennai

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“FLY 281 request descend.” The line may have been a routine communication between a pilot and the air traffic controller that takes place everyday but the person who said it this time was no ordinary pilot. It was none other than the pilot-turned-parliamentarian Rajiv Pratap Rudy who flew Indigo’s flight as first officer from Delhi to Chennai on Monday.

Airline sources said that the BJP MP, who is an avid pilot, has been flying with them on an honorary basis. “He is not in our attendance registry. He only flies a limited number of hours. And there is always another pilot with him in the cockpit for safety purposes. However, he follows all the standard operating procedures,” the airline source added.

As the only qualified commercial pilot licence-holding parliamentarian in the country, the former aviation minister made it to the Limca Book of Records recently for having logged 800 hours in an Airbus-320 aircraft. Aviation sources said Rudy is an experienced pilot and is well informed about airport security and all other matters concerning aviation.

The 50-year-old BJP MP who reached Chennai on Monday is expected to fly back to Delhi on Tuesday night. Airline sources said, he would take to the controls once in a fortnight to keep his commercial pilot licence valid and he is expected to fly to various airports including Chennai, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
Despite several attempts, Mr Rudy was not available for comment. Citing confidentiality, the airline too refused to divulge any other official details.