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karatecatman · Guest

IAF fumes at civil aviation authority
Rajat Pandit
[28 Apr, 2007 l 0037 hrs ISTlTIMES NEWS NETWORK]

NEW DELHI: For quite some time, the Indian Air Force has been seething with suppressed anger against the tendency of civil aviation authorities to blame it for everything, from near-misses to being miserly about sharing airspace.

"During the seminar, even Kingfisher Airlines owner Vijay Mallya joined the diatribe against IAF, demanding that it permit more civil aircraft movements in the airfields controlled by it. Enough is enough, feels IAF. Commenting adversely on IAF in an international seminar, in presence of a large number of foreign delegates and that too in the absence of IAF representatives, who could have clarified the matters, was in bad taste. It cannot be taken lightly," says the letter, written by Air Vice-Marshal D C Kumaria of IAF HQ to the civil aviation ministry.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/IAF_fumes_over_allegations_of_not_sharing_air_space/articleshow/1969151.cms

Latest is now PMO will look into the issue and ask the parties involved to soften the noise.

andrew · Member Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 212

Well, the sad reality is that the IAF has in fact held back CA growth in India by putting their own priorities ahead (PNQ being a good poitn in case). Now, the national interest does come first - so the question is which is a bigger national interest - economic growth or defence?

karatecatman · Guest

IAF is also quite annoyed as it is having to shift a squadron out of Lohegaon to Jamnagar.

The move is after a high risk of an air miss over the Bombay area.

shivendrashukla · Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 6:32 pm Post subject:

karatecatman · Guest

Please read this!!!

The aviation boom in the country has inevitably led to a squabble between civilian airlines and the Indian Air Force (IAF) over sharing of air space.

While airlines are constantly criticising IAF for not freeing enough airspace for civilian traffic, the 'sentinels of the sky' have finally started to feel the pinch due to a booming aviation sector.

The IAF has been forced to move a squadron of crucial maritime strike aircraft from the Lohegaon airbase in Pune to Jamnagar due to 'heavy air congestion' in the region. The No 6 squadron (Dragons), consisting of Jaguar fighters with dual maritime and ground attack role, is being moved out from Pune as IAF has been finding it 'increasingly difficult' to conduct exercises and regular sorties due to excessive aircraft movement in the Mumbai air traffic area. Senior IAF officials are reported to be extremely unhappy, and the plan is now to approach the Defence Ministry for a solution.

The IAF wants a separate corridor with flight restrictions for civilian aircraft, both domestic and international. Civilian aircraft pilots have also complained of several near misses with fighter jets over the Pune region and accuse the IAF of callousness. The IAF repeats the same accusation and is also upset with the way it is being treated by civilian air authorities at various fora.

The squadron, originally tasked with the security of Bombay High and shipping assets in the Arabian Sea, will be relocating from Lohegaon for the first time since Independence. While the IAF is silent on the issue, officers privately concede to the problem. "Increasing congestion, particularly in the Mumbai ATC area is restricting the movement of our aircraft. Things will be better in Jamnagar which has much less civilian traffic," a senior IAF officer said.

According to senior officers, another reason for moving the squadron out is lack of space to house aircraft. “Lohegaon is being planned as an induction base for Su-30 MKI aircraft. New squadrons with the aircraft are to be raised at Pune for subsequent deployment to other areas and space is scarce,” an officer said.

Mumbai has seen increasing air traffic over the past few years with the ATC handling over 600 flights daily from the civilian airport.

Lohegaon Air Force Station
Elevation = 1,942 ft. / 592 m
Lat/Lon = 18° 34' 55.60" N/ 73° 55' 10.91" E
Runways = 10/28; 14/32

Jamnagar Air Force Station
Elevation = 69 ft. / 21 m
Lat/Lon = 22° 27' 59.11" N/ 70° 00' 41.12" E
Runways = 06/24; 12/30

(Posted in full as it was sent by email. Thanks to the source)

the_380 · Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 9:45 pm Post subject:

I don't think security should be compromised on grounds of booming aviation
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stealthpilot · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 2325 Location: BLR, DXB