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| Air force stations in ready alert | | | Agencies
Chandigarh, Dec 22: Chandigarh-based 12 Wing of the Air Force Station has witnessed hectic activity of late, putting personnel at "cockpit ready alert", a situation sources said was "hardly routine".
An IL-76 transport aircraft flew twice between 3 am to 7 am on Sunday from Chandigarh for operational preparedness "in case of any conflict".
The aircraft is the largest the IAF has. Importantly, it made two sorties for J&K despite heavy fog. Taking off first at 3.15 am and then at 6.15 am, the aircraft flew at a time when domestic planes at the Chandigarh airport were not allowed to take off because of low visibility, at just 300 meters. The airport and air force share a common airstrip and other systems.
Sources said the development came after a meeting of senior defence officials in Delhi on Saturday. Air force stations were put on "cockpit ready alert" almost immediately after that.
With large transport aircraft like AN-32 and IL-76, the Chandigarh station is vital for the air force, forming a crucial cord between troops in rest of the country.
In fact, three transportation aircraft consisting of two AN-32s and one IL-76 were flown from here to Delhi after a call from air headquarters after the recent Mumbai attacks. The aircraft were used to airlift 200 NSG commandos from Delhi, along with RAF troops, to Mumbai.
Sources in Western Air Command said on Monday that the latest moves have been taken to maintain "optimum operational preparedness" and added a consistent increase in average flying effort had contributed to this.
A senior defence official, who requested anonymity, told TOI, "We are taking precautions and are fully prepared to meet any eventuality. And as far as the present development is concerned we are closely monitoring the situation."
Commenting on it, Air Marshal Randhir Singh (retd) said the move could be part of an "operation preparedness" effort aimed at training pilots to fly in low visibility in case of an emergency. "IAF normally conducts such sorties to meet internal requirements of the force as well," he added.
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