The Non-Indian Resident, with an intention to jump into aviation sector, started Continental Air Service in 1997 with much fanfare. He took Boeing 720-25 aircraft on lease by paying 40 lakh dollars to begin Delhi-Nagpur-Mumbai service. However, the aircraft went dead on the very first day after landing in Nagpur from Delhi. One of engines gave away but Sam Verma did not care to repair the engine and since then the aircraft has been grounded in Nagpur.
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Nagpur News: The Non-Resident Indian of Madhya Pradesh, Sam Verma, who was in the headlines across the country for his crazy act of landing his plane directly on the National Highway near Betul, has Nagpur connection, too. Sam Verma is a habitual air space violator and plays games with air safety.
The Orange City has also been experiencing Sam Verma’s tantrums since past 13 years. One of Sam Verma’s planes has been grounded at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport since 1997. The grounded aircraft, too, has been creating problems for other pilots. The stranded plane misleads pilots of other planes while landing as they feel that the grounded plane is moving towards the runway.
Sam Verma is crazy of aircraft. He himself was license-holder of private planes and had purchased a small aircraft. His license expired in 2001. Even then Sam Verma flies his four-seater Cessna 172 without permission. However, alerted by Verma’s whimsical act of flying in restricted air space, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) notified the Nagpur and Bhopal ATCs to keep hawk eye on his illegal acts in the skies. The same aircraft had landed on the National Highway near Betul instead airstrip four days ago. The airstrip is also unauthorized. Sam Verma’s such whimsical acts started in Nagpur.
The Non-Indian Resident, with an intention to jump into aviation sector, started Continental Air Service in 1997 with much fanfare. He took Boeing 720-25 aircraft on lease by paying 40 lakh dollars to begin Delhi-Nagpur-Mumbai service. However, the aircraft went dead on the very first after landing in Nagpur from Delhi. One of engines gave away but Sam Verma did not care to repair the engine and since then the aircraft has been grounded. Initially, the snag-hit plane was lying on the parking slot. However, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) itself towed the plane and placed it near runway. The aircraft was not a hurdle till 2007-2008. But thereafter, the flights increased by leaps and bounds. And also increased the difficulties of pilots. The grounded aircraft, from the air looks like moving towards runway. The pilots many times tell ATC that a plane is moving towards the runway. Should they abort landing? However, every time the ATC had to convey message of clearance to the pilots of approaching planes. Now, the demands are being voiced to remove the plane to another place.
Rs 5.5 CRORE DUES PENDING:
The Airports Authority of India has moved the High Court for issuance of directives to Sam Verma to either take away the plane or pay parking charges. If both the options are not possible then the AAI be given permission to take plane for scraps. Sam Verma owes Rs 5.5 crore to AAI as parking charges. Sam Verma has built an airstrip at Betul for self-interest. But the DGCA has declared the airstrip illegal because no permission was taken from it. Moreover, the airstrip is very near to National Highway.
