It is likely the first major mid-air emergency in India's in-service Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas squadron. The Indian government has decorated Wing Commander Varun Singh from the 45 Squadron 'Flying Daggers' with a Shaurya Chakra -- India's third highest peacetime gallantry award -- for...
www.livefistdefence.com
We as Indians need to have an mature way of handling failures.
Either we go overboard or we start castigating every body and everything.
The Tejas or for that matter any other combat aircraft indigenously developed is built for war and will see extensive use. While undertaking hundreds and thousands of sorties by the law of averages defects may arise and mistakes may happen. No nation on earth has till now managed to have an zero crash record for high usage combat aircraft. Whether it is the F22, the pinnacle of advanced technology and stealth or the Su57 all have had crashes. Can anyone name any highly used fighter aircraft which suffered zero crashes.
The most advanced countries in aerospace technology including the US, Russia and Europe could not achieve a zero crash record. Lesser said about China the better.
Did these countries go into deep depression over every crash and start crucifying their scientific community. No. They learnt from their mistakes and bounced back.
In case the problem was with the technology.
As far as human error goes it cannot be prevented 100%. Better training can help to a large extent.
So the Tejas may have some crashes in the future when it will be deployed in strength and extensively flown. Anything dealing with the military will have some degree of risk. War itself is risky. Should we then lock ourselves inside and fear the world. The world will not end even if the Tejas has an very rare mishap and India will not stop. Accept the fact that when military aircraft are flown extensively sometimes mishaps can occur.
This doesn't mean that the aircraft and the technology are junk. Only when repeated accidents take place some serious introspection needs to be done.
Otherwise examine the causes of any mishap in a scientific way and take whatever corrective action is required. A professional approach to any air accident is necessary. Not Randi Rona and self flagellation.
I think the Tejas has proved itself as an well designed and safe aircraft over the years and even if an occasional mishap takes place after flying thousands of hours, we should maintain our faith in the Tejas. One mishap does not change anything.
I have full belief in the capabilities of our scientists, engineers and technicians.
Read atleast
