More than a dozen Swiss-made Pilatus PC-7 Mk II – basic trainer aircraft are expected to join the training fleet at the Flying Instructors’ School (FIS) at the Air Force Station at Tambaram in a couple of months.
“The simulator training for the new basic trainer aircraft has commenced for senior pilots at an enclosure within the campus since June this year. The aircraft are expected to come to Tambaram in a couple of months,” an officer at FIS said.
The two-seater is expected to soon phase out Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)-made Kiran (HJT-16) aircraft.
“Though several Pilatus PC-7 Mk II aircraft have already joined the Air Force Academy at Hyderabad for training, this is the first time the aircraft from Switzerland would be brought to Tambaram for training,” he said, adding the hangar to house the new trainer aircraft was being constructed.
The simulator is being used to expose pilots to various situations even without flying on board the actual aircraft.
“With simulators, we can artificially create various situations for the training pilots and teach them how to react to those situations. It also helps them in training for night flying and also give a sense of how flying would be in extreme climatic conditions,” he said.
As for non-commissioned officers and airmen, a Soviet-designed helicopter MI-8, which has recently been decommissioned, is being used to train them in the basics of aviation mechanics at the Air Force Station at Tambaram, said another officer.
The new aircraft are expected to come to Tambaram in a couple of months, says an officer at FIS
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