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HYDERABAD: The HJT-16 Kiran aircraft crash in Siddipet on Friday is the second incident in Hyderabad in two months. On September 28, a trainee Kiran aircraft crashed near Ankireddpally of Keesara under Rachakonda police limits. No casualties were reported. Police didn't register any FIR and IAF is still probing the incident.
Indian Air Force is still using the ageing HJT-16 Kiran aircraft fleet despite the Comptroller and Auditor General of India recommending the aircraft be phased out for training fighter pilots. CAG in 2014 had pulled up Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for a 14-year delay for induction of Intermediate jet trainers. And even three years after the CAG report, the prototype of HJT-36 Sitara is yet to be inducted.
Air Force Association for Telangana and AP retired wing commander TJ Reddy told TOI, "Kiran will be phased out. It is a long process. It can't be done easily. For operational purposes, there should be a certain number of pilot intake. As a long-term plan, HAL is supposed to supply aircraft. However, HAL also can't supply quickly as only a limited number of aircraft can be rolled out every year. Till then, we have no way out, but to use Kiran."
Experts said it would cost three times to import than to produce indigenously. "Our accident rate is within international standards. Accidents in training is natural," said Reddy. Kuknoorpally SI of police G Santosh Kumar said, "We haven't registered any FIR as there is no complaint lodged by IAF, which is conducting the probe and we have no details."
