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CAG calls for urgent induction of AJTs in IAF

The need to urgently equip the Indian Air Force with advanced jet trainers has once again shot into the limelight.

This time, a constitutional authority has taken up cudgels on the IAF's behalf, saying the lack of AJTs was the main reason for human error accidents during training.

''The non-availability of AJTs coupled with the unsuitability of MIG-21 for transitional training role and the non-availability of simulators continue to take a heavy toll of training-related accidents besides affecting adversely the combat training of pilots,'' says the Comptroller and Auditor General in a review of IAF aircraft accidents.

The proposal to induct AJTs into the IAF for stage III training of fighter pilots has been hanging fire since 1984.

The government is understood to have held discussions with the British Aerospace and Dassault Aviation for the 'Hawk' and 'Alpha Jet' AJTs. Subsequently, the still under-development Russian AJT, MIG-AT, also joined the race. But the government is yet to decide on the matter.

The CAG also observed that the absence of AJTs has created a gap in training from a basic trainer aircraft to a sophisticated fighter aircraft.

An analysis of the accident data revealed that there were more accidents in stage III training conducted on MIG-21 aircraft than on hunters. While in the MIG operational flying training unit, there had been 11 accidents during 1991-97 -- of which three were fatal -- there were no accidents in the hunter operational flying training unit.

The chief of air staff had said the lack of AJTs was a major reason affecting the aircrew performance. He had stated, as early as May 1992, that the use of an operational trainer such as the MIG-21 for advanced jet training exposed young inexperienced pilots prematurely to an operational type without essential transitional training on AJTs.

In April 1995, the ministry of defence had highlighted to the Prime Minister's Office that the lack of AJT was the main reason for human error accidents -- pilots converting to MIG-21 from Kiran or Iskra trainers had difficulty coping with the quantum jump in performance.

Stage III, the final training for fighter pilots on hunter aircraft continued till 1996, though it was phased out in 1991. From 1996 onwards, stage III training on hunter aircraft has been discontinued. Now it is being conducted on MIG-21s only, which is not optimally suited for operational training role.

''It is also noteworthy that most of the simulators for MIG-21 aircraft have remained unserviceable,'' the CAG says.

The La Fontaine Committee, set up to make an indepth study into the accident pattern and training process, had pointed out in 1982 that there existed a quantum jump in skill and judgement as IAF had no suitable operational transitional trainer aircraft to fill the intervening gap before the pilots were taken on to the operational fighter aircraft.

The CAG also noted that a majority of human error accidents were caused due to inadequate flying skill, error of judgement, poor airmanship or supervision, inadequate briefing, lack of situational awareness and inability to negotiate even relatively innocuous weather conditions.

''There were instances of accidents due to gross negligence, indiscipline and inability to handle aircraft emergencies and mishandling of controls,'' the review says.

Of the 77 cases of accidents due to human error during 1991-97, 21 were due to inexperienced piloting, 10 because of error of judgement and eight because of non-adherence to procedure and instructions.

The defence ministry has, between 1982 and 1997, constituted six high-powered committees to investigate the causes of accidents and suggest remedial measures. The last committee, set up in February 1997 under the chairmanship of scientific advisor to the defence minister, submitted its report in September 1997. The ministry is now studying it.

Quick induction of AJTs is one of the main recommendations of this committee, which is said to have suggested a formula for reducing by half the number of accidents in the IAF.

The first stage of training is imparted on HPT-32 basic trainer aircraft. Stage II training takes place on Kiran and Iskra aircraft. Pilots are then awarded wings and commissioned, after which, stage III, in fighter, transport and helicopter streams, starts.

The government is understood to have decided in principle to induct the AJTs in the ongoing ninth defence plan.

Last year, too, the government was pulled up by Parliament's Standing Committee on Defence for the delay in acquiring AJTs.

In the event of an outright purchase, the AJT deal could cost the exchequer around Rs 20 billion.

UNI

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