Indian Air Force undertakes changes in pilot training to bring down crashes

NEW DELHI: Indian Air Force has undertaken changes in its pilot training programme and other aspects of flying to bring down crashes involving its aircraft, Defence Ministry officials have said.

This was conveyed by IAF officers to Defence Minister A K Antony who had called a meeting of the top air force brass and ministry officials in the wake of recent air crashes, they said.

During the meeting, the Minister was given a detailed account of the recent crashes involving IAF planes and the measures taken by the force to check such accidents in future, the officials told PTI here.

They said IAF officers gave a presentation to the Defence Minister last week on the changes in pilot training programme and other aspects of flying to bring down crashes.

Of the six air crashes involving IAF planes this year, four belonged to the MiG-21 fighter aircraft series. Most of the crashes had taken place between August and October.

According to the officials, a total 976 MiG-21 planes had been inducted into the service since 1960s and over half of them were lost in accidents.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com