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The first course for Pilatus PC-7 MkII could start as early as July 2013, according to a top Indian Air Force (IAF) official.
On the sidelines of the 52nd Annual Conference of the Indian Society of Aerospace Medicine (ISAM), vicechief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal DC Kumaria said that the much-needed inclusion would help bridge the gap in their shortage of training process in the IAF.
The first set of the Swiss produced Pilatus turboprop aircraft is said to reach India by March next year, he said and told media that the process of acquiring the aircraft was happening in ‘quick time’.
Explaining how the IAF would make up for the lag, Kumaria said that instructors were already being trained in Switzerland and added that when the course commences, the shortage faced for a little over a year would be compensated for in a big-way.
The IAF is slated to get a fleet of 75 Pilatus aircrafts after the manufacturer was short listed for the supply of the trainer aircrafts.
Commenting on the other Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT) being manufactured by public sector aviation major, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Kumaria emphasised on the requirement for the same but did not comment on the timeline they were expecting the aircraft to be inducted.
The much hyped trainer aircraft programme has been delayed on account of crashes and delayed results from subsequent Court of Inquiry.
He also said that the IAF had a Air Marshal rank officer to coordinate efforts and also monitor the progress of IJT.
He also confirmed that they had sought an additional 20 Advanced Jet Trainers to replace the Kiran MKII aircraft in the Surya Kiran aerobatic team.
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