Two microlight Garud (Virus SW80) aircraft were inducted into the Indian Naval Air Squadron 550 ‘Flying Fish’ at the Southern Naval Air Command here on Thursday. Chief of the Command, Vice Admiral A.R. Karve, inducted the aircraft.
Garud is a fixed-wing aircraft having low weight, slow landing speed and short landing roll and the first of its type to have been inducted into Indian naval aviation. The aircraft is designed and manufactured at Ajdovscina, Slovenia. Induction of Garud into the Navy will play a key role in enhancing bird survey, thus augmenting measures to tackle bird hazard and promoting flight safety. These aircraft have been extensively used by the NCC since 2010 for training and are being inducted into the IAF also.
Garud will be the 14th type of aircraft to join INAS 550 since its commissioning in 1959. The squadron currently operates Dornier DO 228 aircraft used for maritime surveillance, search and rescue and training of pilots and observers and is commanded by Captain Jithu George.
UAE delegation
The command is now hosting a 22-member delegation from the Joint Command Staff and College Course (JCSC) of the United Arab Emirates led by Lieutenant Colonel Saif Rashed Khalifa al Mesafri and comprising Lieutenant Colonel Faraj Aida Helal al Mazrouei, Deputy Defence Attache, Embassy of UAE, New Delhi.
The head of the delegation called on Rear Admiral R.J. Nadkarni, Chief of Staff of the Command, and held discussions on subjects of mutual interest, including training and naval cooperation between the two countries. The officers of the UAE delegation visited training units at the SNC such as the Navigation and Direction School, Anti-Submarine Warfare School, Water Survival Training Facility and Flight and Tactical Simulator where they were given a demonstration on the training simulators. The delegation will visit places of cultural interest during their stay in Kochi.
