Neelam Mathews
Nov 5, 2012
Defense Minister A.K Antony has told a consultative committee that
included the IAF to complete all pending Court of Inquiry proceedings into air
accidents especially for category-I aircraft accident as early as possible.
Category-I accidents are those in which the aircraft is
destroyed, damaged beyond economical repair, missing or if the cost of
repair, excluding damage to aero-engines, exceeds 50% of the total cost.
Antony said an
inspection of helicopters detachments was carried as there was “an unusually
high number of accidents and incidents on helicopters,”, while operating away
from their parent base. The inspections resulted in highlighting several shortcomings
for which “action is being taken on these shortcomings on a priority basis.”
Training standards of the younger fighter aircrew, is a focus,
said Antony. The basic flying training is being shifted from HPT-32 to Kiran
aircraft. “To make up for the deficiencies of training resources, the
availability of Kiran aircraft is being enhanced to strengthen the foundation
training of ab-initio pilots. Maximum availability of simulators is being
ensured during training. Procurement of 75 Basic Trainer Aircraft has
been fast-tracked and the first training course on the new trainer aircraft
‘Pilatus’ will start in July 2013.
Antony said plans to phase out equipment approaching redundancy
are also in place and certain critical procurements have been
fast-tracked. Non-upgraded MiG-27 and MiG-21 are being phased out
progressively by March 2016 and March 2018 respectively.
Responding to a query on shortage of spare parts for the aging
aircraft fleet of Indian Air Force, Antony said new contracts would look at
building product into the acquisition of new aircraft.
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