Indian Air Force Station Bhisiana completes MAFI pilot project

[RPK]

Indian Air Force Station Bhisiana completes MAFI pilot project
March 26, 2014 by (FINN) Frontier India News Network Leave a Comment
Bhatinda: On Tuesday, 25 Mar 14, Pilot project for Modernisation of Airfield Infrastructure (MAFI) was commissioned at Air Force Station Bhisiana (Bhatinda) by Air Marshal RK Sharma PVSM AVSM VM ADC, Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS). The formal Acceptance and commissioning of the MAFI pilot project at Model Base; Air Force Station Bhisiana, is a significant milestone in the much awaited and ambitious air-field infrastructure development project of the IAF, Navy and the Coast Guard.

The pilot project is a part of the Indian Air Force’s ambitious 2,500 crore initiative to modernize all airfields of the IAF, Indian Navy and Coast Guard in a phased manner. Tata Power (Strategic Electronics Division) bagged the 1,220 crore contract signed in Mar 2011 to modernize thirty operationally important Indian Air Force airfields and install one DVOR/DME at Naval Base, Kochi in the Phase-I of the MAFI project. The remaining airfields of the IAF, Indian Navy, Coast Guard and ARC are included in the Phase-II of the project under the ‘Option Clause’.
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The Indian Air Force and Navy have seen induction of modern aviation platforms and up-gradation of their existing aircraft fleets at regular intervals in the past. Need was also felt to upgrade the navigational aids and associated airfield infrastructure commensurately. Also, AAI and civil airlines operating from IAF airfields have been demanding installation of the Instrument Landing System and other navigational aids to avoid cancellation of flights during poor weather conditions.

The MAFI project includes installation and integration of CAT II Instrument Landing System (ILS), CAT II Air Field Lighting System, Automated Air Traffic Management System, Distance Measuring Equipments (High and Low Power), Doppler VHF Omni-Directional Radio Range (DVOR), Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) and associated infrastructure. In this project, all the navigational aids will be of international standards meeting the ICAO specifications. The up-gradation of navigational aids and infrastructure under the MAFI project would enhance the operational capability by facilitating air operations of military and civil aircraft even in poor visibility conditions/adverse weather while enhancing Aerospace Safety.


The pilot project involved complex and extensive integration of various navigational aids and other equipment, it was first executed at Air Force Station, Bhisiana, a premier airfield in the Western sector, selected as the ‘Model Base’. From the experience gained while executing the pilot project and the design review, a template for the remaining airfields has now been crystallised. The navigational aids and other equipment installed have been thoroughly tested over a period of time by trials conducted by the IAF’s fighter, transport and helicopter aircraft before the Acceptance Checks were completed and the Model base formally declared operational by the Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS). The Commissioning of the MAFI project was marked by lighting up the runway with the new airfield lighting system and a Sukhoi-30 aircraft carrying out a DVOR/ILS approach. The VCAS, later piloted an Avro transport aircraft and carried out an ILS approach and overshoot by night. The MAFI project would now progress in phases to meet the geographical needs of the defence forces with a focus on joint user aerodromes that are used by civil aircraft as well. Addressing a gathering of senior officers from Operational Directorates of Air HQ and HQ Western Air Command, on the occasion, Air Marshal RK Sharma said, “MAFI project, by fulfilling the need to match ground infrastructure with capability of the modern aircraft, will enhance the overall capability of the India’s Air Power.” “MAFI would substantially improve all – weather capability, aid the civil aircraft that operate from the joint – user aerodromes, enhance Aerospace safety and in the process aid growth of the aviation sector in the country.”



Read more: Indian Air Force Station Bhisiana completes MAFI pilot project

 

[RPK]

MAFI Project Commissioned in Bhatinda -The New Indian Express

The IAF has commissioned a pilot project for Modernisation of Air Field Infrastructure (MAFI) at its Bhisiana air base in Bhatinda that will enable the operation of all categories of military aircraft in day-and-night conditions, including combat jets, enhancing the air space security in the areas bordering Pakistan.

The MAFI project was kicked off at the air station in Punjab on Tuesday by IAF vice Chief Air Marshal R K Sharma, who called the formal acceptance and commissioning of the MAFI pilot project at the model air base “a significant milestone” in the much-awaited and ambitious airfield infrastructure development project of the IAF, Navy and the Coast Guard.

The pilot project is part of the IAF’s ambitious `2,500-crore initiative to modernise all airfields of the three armed forces in a phased manner.

Tata Power (Strategic Electronics Division) bagged the `1,220-crore contract, signed in March 2011 to modernise 30 operationally important IAF airfields and install Doppler VHF Omnidirectional Radio Range (DVOR)/Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) at the naval air base in Kochi in the Phase-I of the project.

The remaining airfields of the IAF, Navy, Coast Guard and the Aviation Research Centre are included in the Phase-II of the project under the ‘option clause’.

The IAF and Navy have seen induction of modern aviation platforms and the upgrade of their existing aircraft fleet at regular intervals in the past. Navigational aids and associated airfield infrastructure commensurately also needed upgrades.

Also, the Airports Authority of India and civil airlines operating from IAF airfields have been demanding installation of the instrument landing system and other navigational aids to avoid cancellation of flights during poor weather conditions.

The MAFI project includes installation and integration of CAT-II Instrument Landing System (ILS), CAT-II Air Field Lighting System, Automated Air Traffic Management System, DME (High and Low Power), DVOR, Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) and associated infrastructure.

In the project, all the navigational aids will be of international standards and meeting International Civil Aviation Organisation specifications. The upgrade of navigational aids and infrastructure under the MAFI project will enhance the operational capability by facilitating air operations of military and civil aircraft even in poor visibility conditions/adverse weather while enhancing aerospace safety, the IAF said.

The pilot project involved complex and extensive integration of various navigational aids and other equipment, it was first executed at the Air Force Station in Bhisiana, a premier airfield in the western sector close to the Pakistan border, selected as the model base.

“From the experience gained while executing the pilot project and the design review, a template for the remaining airfields has now been crystallised,” the IAF said. The navigational aids and other equipment installed were thoroughly tested over a period of time by trials conducted by the IAF’s fighter, transport and helicopter aircraft.

 

[Janmejay]

So only phase 1 has been completed yet or the whole project??

 

[Abingdonboy]

So only phase 1 has been completed yet or the whole project??

Just phase 1. All remaining IN/IAF/ICG airfields will be completed under phase 2 by 2017. This process had to be done in phases as you can't have all the IAF's/IN's/ICG's airfields down for a few months at one time.




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