Indian Air Force Hawks Touch Base at Jamnagar on their Stopover from U.K.
Dated 12/11/2007
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Five weeks after the Indian Air Force (IAF) brought curtains down on its platinum jubilee celebrations on October 8, landmarks in IAF continue to be reached.
Two Hawk Mk 132 advanced jet trainer (AJT) aircraft that departed BAE Systems', Warton airfield in UK on November 8, reached their intended destination, Air Force Station (AFS), Bidar in north Karnataka, today. The Hawk trainers will impart stage-III training to the newly commissioned fighter pilots of the IAF at Bidar from June, next.
The Hawk pair flown by a mix crew of BAE Systems and IAF pilots, Wing Commander Pankaj Jain and Squadron Leader Tarun Hindwani, first landed in India at the Jamnagar airbase while ferrying from Muscat, their previous stopover, on their way to Bidar. Air Commodore RK Sharma, Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Jamnagar and air warriors of the airbase gave the aircrew an enthusiastic welcome on their maiden touchdown on Indian soil, also more significantly, at the first IAF airbase on arrival. Post the brief stopover for refueling, turn-around-servicing and a brief ceremony to mark the arrival; the Hawk pair took off for Bidar.
The Hawk's arrival at AFS Bidar, their designated main operating base, was however marked with even greater an excitement and enthusiasm. The AJT pair was escorted into Bidar airspace by the Suryakirans streaming national colours. They landed in pairs and taxied-in into the designated apron area amidst a rousing welcome by the air warriors of the airbase and their families. Air Marshal GS Chaudhry, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Training Command and Air Commodore Ramesh Rai, AOC, AFS Bidar, oversaw the first arrival of the aircraft. It was a simple but well orchestrated ceremony.
Briefly after getting off their new gleaming jets amidst a rapturous applause, the pilots briskly walked over and handed the aircraft documents to Air Marshal Chaudhry, signifying the official aspect of the Hawk Mk 132 aircraft being received into the IAF inventory. The brief ceremony heralded yet another saga towards meeting the training requirements of the IAF pilots. Air Marshal GS Chaudhry seemed visibly pleased to have finally inducted the long awaited AJT into Training Command. He stated that the AJTs inclusion into the training curriculum of the fighter pilots should improve the training and flight safety standards of the IAF
The two jets that arrived today are among the first of the 66 Hawk Mk 132 aircraft to be delivered to the IAF by BAE Systems, UK. By this year-end, four more Hawks will be ferried-in, and by mid-February, six more are scheduled to arrive in a phased manner. Of the 66 aircraft being purchased, 24 are being developed, built and supplied by BAE Systems, UK; while Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bangalore will manufacture the remaining 42 aircraft under licence in India. The completion of the delivery schedule will see all the 66 aircraft operational by 2010-11.
Meanwhile AFS Bidar that has recently been refurbished to house the latest acquisition is abuzz with anticipation. Apart from the fact that the runway has been extended to 9,000 feet, technical facilities have also been readied to accommodate the fleet in its entirety. "Framing of the flying and operating procedures in the local flying area will take top priority," informed Air Commodore Rai, adding that the instructor's conversion will also begin in right earnest after some preliminary formalities, within the next few days.
