Last batch of Pilots trained on Kiran aircraft commissioned

[FOX80]

The last batch of rookie pilots trained on Kiran aircraft for basic flying training will be commissioned into Indian Air Force at Air Force Academy (AFA), Dundigal here on Saturday.

The ageing fleet of Kiran aircraft has already been taken off the 'ab-initio' flying or basic training.

Basic training is now being provided on the Swiss made Pilatus PC-7 MK II, which was formally inducted into IAF on May 31 this year.

Before Kiran, HPT -32 was the workhorse of basic flying training at AFA. This was a time when fighter training was being carried out on Kiran aircraft.

However, in an unexpected turn of events, IAF was forced to ground its HPT 32 fleet in mid 2009 after a crash killed two more pilots. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited failed to rectify the snag in the single engine aircraft.

The snag is said to have led to more than 100 mid air engine failures resulting in 13 fatal crashes.

There were as many as 19 crashes resulting in complete destruction of the aircraft.

The entire flying task was undertaken by aging fleet of Kiran aircraft which started putting strain on limited resources. IAF struggled hard while cutting down on number of hours of training for rookie pilots and yet churning out courses on schedule.

The void created by grounding of HPT-32 fleet was finally filled after induction of Pilatus aircraft from Switzerland. With the induction of Pilatus PC-7 aircraft, basic flying training of Indian Air Force has bounced back to normalcy. The latest pilot course on Pilatus commenced on July 1 ushering a sense of safety and faith in the flying cadets.

Delivery of all 75 Pilatus PC-7 (Mk II) with a good glide ratio will be completed by 2015 and if the Option Clause is exercised, 38 more aircraft could be delivered by 2017 at the same cost.

IAF officials swear by the exceptional safety features and good endurance in excess to four hours.

Pilatus PC-7 ensures basic flying training in more than 20 countries.

Box : 202 Flight Cadets including 37 women to get commission into IAF

Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne will review the Combined Gradation Parade (CGP) at the AFA, Dundigal, on Saturday. He will confer Commission to 202 Flight Cadets including 37 women for induction in IAF mainstream