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IAF to hire copters for operational needs
Wed Oct 19 2011, 01:47 hrsNew Delhi:
In an unusual move, the Air Force is seeking to hire helicopters from the private and public sectors to meet operational needs in border areas due to acute shortages and the low serviceability of its existing transport fleet.
In the past, the Air Force has depended on its own resources to transport supplies and men to forward locations but private operators and public sector companies have now been invited to participate in an open tender for airlifting stores and personnel for the Indian Army in the Eastern and Northern sectors.
While Air Force and Army choppers have been ferrying supplies to forward bases, the Air Force now wants to hire helicopters to fly to posts along the Line of Control (Pakistan) and the Line of Actual Control (China), including border landing strips in Tawang and sensitive locations in Jammu and Kashmir.
Sources said that the requirement has been floated due to the increasing requirements to airlift supplies and winter stores to Army troops located along the border.
The Air Force is already short on resources due to the lack of new choppers and has also been deputed to allocate choppers for use in Naxal areas.
The low serviceability of the Mi 8/Mi 17 fleet has also compounded the problem.
The desperate measure to outsource the requirement has surprised experts, who point out that the last time private operators were roped in was in the 1950's when Kalinga Airlines flew transport sorties in the North-East.
However, a similar requirement was also floated earlier this year.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), for example, is already using Pawan Hans choppers to ferry loads to locations after the IAF expressed its inability to meet its requirements.
While the use of private operators to ferry goods to forward locations has security implications, the Air Force has mandated in the tender that only Indian firms will be allowed to participate and the air and ground crews will need to be Indian nationals and will be vetted by the Intelligence Bureau.
The Indian Air Force requires private operators to airlift supplies to 60 locations in the northern sector, including forward posts in Tangdhar, Pharkian Gali and Navapachi, besides 24 locations in the eastern sector, including Chuna, Taksing and Gelemo.
The requirement is for choppers that can carry up to 2,000 kg of supplies and can land and take off from high altitude locations.
IAF to hire copters for operational needs - Indian Express
Wed Oct 19 2011, 01:47 hrsNew Delhi:
In an unusual move, the Air Force is seeking to hire helicopters from the private and public sectors to meet operational needs in border areas due to acute shortages and the low serviceability of its existing transport fleet.
In the past, the Air Force has depended on its own resources to transport supplies and men to forward locations but private operators and public sector companies have now been invited to participate in an open tender for airlifting stores and personnel for the Indian Army in the Eastern and Northern sectors.
While Air Force and Army choppers have been ferrying supplies to forward bases, the Air Force now wants to hire helicopters to fly to posts along the Line of Control (Pakistan) and the Line of Actual Control (China), including border landing strips in Tawang and sensitive locations in Jammu and Kashmir.
Sources said that the requirement has been floated due to the increasing requirements to airlift supplies and winter stores to Army troops located along the border.
The Air Force is already short on resources due to the lack of new choppers and has also been deputed to allocate choppers for use in Naxal areas.
The low serviceability of the Mi 8/Mi 17 fleet has also compounded the problem.
The desperate measure to outsource the requirement has surprised experts, who point out that the last time private operators were roped in was in the 1950's when Kalinga Airlines flew transport sorties in the North-East.
However, a similar requirement was also floated earlier this year.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), for example, is already using Pawan Hans choppers to ferry loads to locations after the IAF expressed its inability to meet its requirements.
While the use of private operators to ferry goods to forward locations has security implications, the Air Force has mandated in the tender that only Indian firms will be allowed to participate and the air and ground crews will need to be Indian nationals and will be vetted by the Intelligence Bureau.
The Indian Air Force requires private operators to airlift supplies to 60 locations in the northern sector, including forward posts in Tangdhar, Pharkian Gali and Navapachi, besides 24 locations in the eastern sector, including Chuna, Taksing and Gelemo.
The requirement is for choppers that can carry up to 2,000 kg of supplies and can land and take off from high altitude locations.
IAF to hire copters for operational needs - Indian Express
