GUWAHATI, June 8 – The airfield of the Tezpur Air Force station, constructed during the Second World War, is all set to see landing of the Sukhoi 30 MKi aircraft and the airfield will also soon be open for civil aircraft. The first landing of the Sukhoi 30 aircraft is scheduled for June 15 and gradually a full squadron of the aircraft will be kept in the air base.
The Sukhoi 30 MKi aircraft was inducted into the Indian Air Force in 1997 and during this period of time some modifications were made into the craft as per the requirements of the force. The Sukhoi is a two cockpit, multi-role and all weather craft and gradually a full squadron of 18 aircraft is scheduled to be kept in the Tezpur Air Force Station, which is now being commanded by Air Commodore PK Nair, a fighter pilot of repute. The Air Officer Commanding in Chief of the Eastern Air Command, Air Marshal SK Bhan is scheduled to attend the formal ceremony of first landing of the Sukhoi in Tezpur.
Giving a detailed history of the Tezpur air field, Defence Public Relations Officer, Col R Kalia said that the field was constructed by the British during Second World War in 1942 and aircraft like the Vampire and Toofan were the first craft to land in the field. The airfield was used extensively during the World War.
The airfield was upgraded into a full-fledged air force station in 1959 and crafts including Hunters used to operate from the base. Subsequently, MiG 21 craft of the Indian Air Force used to operate from the field and gradually it was transformed into MiG Operation flying training unit. A fleet of MiG 21 craft was kept in the air base for training of the new recruits of the Air Force and according to Col Kalia, the training of new pilots went on for around 25 years in the air base. The airfield was also used for landing of civilian aircraft.
However, for renovation of the airfield, it was closed since September, 2007 and the Mig fleet was shifted to the Chabua air base of the Air Force. During the process of renovation, the length of the airfield was also increased. The length of the field was around 9,000 feet, which can be used for landing of all types of craft used by the Air Force, but during the process of renovation, its length has been increased by 400 feet. The process of renovation of the air field is now complete and the Tezpur Air Force station is now waiting for the first landing of the Sukhoi aircraft in the North East region.
But till date, it is not yet decided as to when civil airliners will start operations from Tezpur airfield. Col Kalia said that the airfield would be ready for operation of civil passenger planes immediately after June 15 and it is up to the airline companies to decide as to when they would like to resume operations
The Sukhoi 30 MKi aircraft was inducted into the Indian Air Force in 1997 and during this period of time some modifications were made into the craft as per the requirements of the force. The Sukhoi is a two cockpit, multi-role and all weather craft and gradually a full squadron of 18 aircraft is scheduled to be kept in the Tezpur Air Force Station, which is now being commanded by Air Commodore PK Nair, a fighter pilot of repute. The Air Officer Commanding in Chief of the Eastern Air Command, Air Marshal SK Bhan is scheduled to attend the formal ceremony of first landing of the Sukhoi in Tezpur.
Giving a detailed history of the Tezpur air field, Defence Public Relations Officer, Col R Kalia said that the field was constructed by the British during Second World War in 1942 and aircraft like the Vampire and Toofan were the first craft to land in the field. The airfield was used extensively during the World War.
The airfield was upgraded into a full-fledged air force station in 1959 and crafts including Hunters used to operate from the base. Subsequently, MiG 21 craft of the Indian Air Force used to operate from the field and gradually it was transformed into MiG Operation flying training unit. A fleet of MiG 21 craft was kept in the air base for training of the new recruits of the Air Force and according to Col Kalia, the training of new pilots went on for around 25 years in the air base. The airfield was also used for landing of civilian aircraft.
However, for renovation of the airfield, it was closed since September, 2007 and the Mig fleet was shifted to the Chabua air base of the Air Force. During the process of renovation, the length of the airfield was also increased. The length of the field was around 9,000 feet, which can be used for landing of all types of craft used by the Air Force, but during the process of renovation, its length has been increased by 400 feet. The process of renovation of the air field is now complete and the Tezpur Air Force station is now waiting for the first landing of the Sukhoi aircraft in the North East region.
But till date, it is not yet decided as to when civil airliners will start operations from Tezpur airfield. Col Kalia said that the airfield would be ready for operation of civil passenger planes immediately after June 15 and it is up to the airline companies to decide as to when they would like to resume operations
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