HYDERABAD, DEC 18
Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari said all the procedures would be reviewed for flying VVIPs based on the findings of the inquiry done on the Connoor chopper crash that claimed the lives of Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat and 13 others.
Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, Chaudhari said the process of the court of inquiry on the chopper crash would take a few more weeks to complete.
The Chief of the Air Staff said the court of inquiry was looking into every single aspect of failure, whether be it technical, human or weather related.
“The inquiry team have to record statements in case of cross examination to be done between the witnesses. It is not something we would like to rush, unless something comes out which requires immediate corrective actions. The process would take a few weeks,” he said.
He said preliminarily looking at the material evidence, it was unfair to comment on what could have gone wrong.
The CGP culminated with the graduating officers marching out in ‘Slow March’ as they received their first salute, before passing through the Academy portals to commence their journey in the service of the Nation@Bhupendrapbjp @bharatrakshak @ReviewVayu @ANI @AjaybhattBJP4UK pic.twitter.com/jjnwxvqe4A
— PRO Defence Gujarat (@DefencePRO_Guj) December 18, 2021
Earlier in the day, the Chief of Air Staff reviewed the Combined Graduation Parade held at Air Force Academy at Dundigal here.
Continuously evaluating threats from Pak, China: IAF chief
Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari said India is continuously evaluating threats from Pakistan and China, adding that disengagement has taken place in certain areas in Ladakh but complete disengagement with Beijing has not taken place.
“We are continuously evaluating threats from Pakistan and China and are very well aware of it. The stand-off with China does continue, disengagement has taken place in certain areas in Ladakh but complete disengagement has not taken place. The Air Force will continue to maintain deployment. We are prepared to take on any challenge that we may face in that area,” the IAF chief said.
India and China held the 23rd meeting of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) in November.
The sides discussed the situation in eastern Ladakh. “The two sides had candid and in-depth discussions on the situation along the LAC in Western Sector of India-China Border Areas and also reviewed the developments since the last meeting of the Senior Commanders of both sides which was held on October 10, 2021,” External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.
It said that the two sides recalled the agreement between the External Affairs Minister and the Foreign Minister of China during their meeting in September in Dushanbe that military and diplomatic officials of the two sides should continue their discussions to resolve the remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh.
Delivering his address at the Combined Graduation Parade at the Air force Academy at Dundigal near Hyderabad, Chaudhari said the Air Force is on the cusp of transformation into a highly potent air force with many new injections such as Rafale jets and a variety of sophisticated systems.
IAF Chief lauded the cadets at the Combined Graduation Parade at Air Force Academy, Dundigal in Telangana, and said that the high standards displayed by them will form the basis of safe and effective operations in the future.
Further appreciating them, the IAF chief said that the Air Force needs young and dynamic officers to carry forward the armed force’s rich legacy.
Marshal Chaudhari said, “The Air Force requires young and dynamic officers like you to carry forward their rich legacy. The same high standards that you’ve shown today, will form the basis of safe and effective operations in the future.” The Air Chief also expressed grief over the demise of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhjulika Rawat and 12 armed forces personnel who lost their lives in a chopper crash in Tamil Nadu’s Coonoor.
“I express my heartfelt grief and sorrow on the demise of CDS Bipin Rawat, Madhulika Rawat and 12 armed forces personnel,” said the Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari at Air Force Academy, Dundigal, Telangana during the Combined Graduation Parade, Autumn Term 2021.
IAF chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari on Saturday reviewed the Combined Graduation Parade (CGP) at Air Force Academy in Telangana’s Dundigal.
Due to the COVID-19 situation, parents of graduating Flight Cadets have not been invited to witness the CGP this time.”AFA is making adequate arrangements for live streaming of the entire CGP activities on June 19 on Doordarshan channel, Social Media and coverage in print and electronic media,” said the Defence Wing of the government in an official statement.
During the function, the IAF chief will confer the ‘President’s Commission’ to the graduating trainees. The ceremony includes the presentation of ‘Wings’ and ‘Brevets’ to the Flight Cadets who would be successfully completing flying and navigation training respectively.
