Utilisation of IAF’s heavy planes low

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 26

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has observed that operational capabilities of C-17 Globemaster aircraft were under-utilised due to non-availability of runway with appropriate length and strength (pavement classification number) and lack of ground equipment at various bases.

The IAF had procured 10 C-17s and associated equipment from the US at a cost of 18,646 crore, which form 81 Squadron based at Hindon. There was delay in the completion of specialist infrastructure and setting up of simulators required for training pilots and loadmasters.

The average load airlifted by C-17 ranged between 13 and 18 tonne per sortie, against the aircraft’s payload capacity of 70 tonne. The IAF flew 666 C-17 sorties in 2013, 1,617 in 2014 and 1,992 in 2015, out of which only 72, 260 and 731, respectively, were for air maintenance.

On the VVIP front, CAG observed that the utilisation of the current fleet of Air Headquarters Communication Squadron, tasked with ferrying top leaders, was low. The squadron has three Boeing Business Jets, four Embraer aircraft and six Mi-8 helicopters. In addition, Air India’s Boeing 747-400 aircraft are used for international VVIP travel.