A K Antony asks IAF to quickly complete all pending CoIs

NEW DELHI: Concerned over more than 60 air crashes in the last five years, Defence Minister A K Antony today asked IAF to quickly complete all its pending Courts of Inquiry (CoIs) to bring down the number of such accidents.

"Antony asked the IAF to complete all pending CoI proceedings into air accidents as early as possible and take appropriate remedial measures so that the possibility of future accidents are minimised," the Defence Ministry said.

"Even one accident is a matter of serious concern," the Minister told the Consultative Committee of the Defence Ministry on flight safety in IAF.

It is learnt the IAF told the meeting that a total of 63 category I air crashes have taken place in the last five years of which a majority are fighter aircraft and CoIs in some of them were pending.

On the flight safety in IAF chopper fleet, Antony said a one-time inspection of all helicopter detachments was carried out due to the fact that a high number of accidents on helicopters occur when they are away from their parent base.

"These inspections resulted in highlighting several shortcomings and action is being taken on a priority basis," the Defence Minister said.

The IAF also informed the meeting that there was "reducing trend" in the number of flying hours registered by the force in the last few years due to phasing out of the older aircraft such as MiG 21 and MiG 27.

The panel was informed that the Rs 3,000 crore Kaveri aircraft engine being developed by the DRDO for the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) would not be used for the project.