Indian Air Force using World War-II era lighting system at Leh airbase: CAG

NEW DELHI: Indian Air Force uses a World War-II era lighting system for the landing of fighter and transport aircraft at the Leh airbase at night due to lack of any facility for advanced airfield lighting, CAG pointed out today.

The government auditor has found that IAF was using solar gooseneck flares for running flight operations at night at Leh airbase.

"Despite a lapse of 13 years since initiation of the requirement for the work, Air Force Station, Leh, is yet to be equipped with a proper lighting system," the CAG report said, adding that it had "imposed limitations on night flying, thereby impacting operational preparedness of the base".

"Illuminating the runway with solar gooseneck flares, which were used in the World War II era, was "time consuming and involved great effort", the CAG said.

CAG also pointed out that the surface of the runways at Bareilly and Leh was deteriorating.

IAF operates its frontline Su-30MKI and MiG-29 combat aircraft from the Leh airbase, one of the highest such facilities in the world which can operate all types of fighter and transport aircraft.