Indian Air Force units document with 1910 km helicopter sortie from Chandigarh to Jorhat
Express News Service
NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force has set a document by executing the longest sortie by helicopter within the nation on Monday.
The Indian Air Force in a tweet mentioned, “An IAF Chinook undertook the longest non-stop helicopter sortie in India, flying from Chandigarh to Jorhat (Assam). The 1910 km route was completed in 7 hrs 30 min and made possible by the capabilities of Chinook along with operational planning and execution by the IAF.”
This functionality demonstration presents operational planners with a number of choices obtainable at their disposal for fight and Humanitarian Air and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations, mentioned an Air Force officer on situation of anonymity.
Keeping the lengthy haul in thoughts, additional crew was on board the helicopter, added the officer.
The Chinook is a multi-role, vertical raise platform, used for transporting males and materials. It additionally performs an vital position in HADR operations. Rapid mobility will enable the IAF to make use of this asset optimally as required.
The IAF has two squadrons of Chinook helicopters, one every within the Western and Eastern sectors.
Group Captain Sandeep Mehta (Retd) referred to as this profitable sortie a feather within the cap. This demonstration of lengthy attain of heavy raise helicopters is a vital strategic functionality, each in peacetime and through conflict, he mentioned.
“In the subcontinent the place earthquakes, floods, cyclones, heavy snowfall, landslides and even tsunami have wreaked havoc prior to now, it may well carry reduction at such a tempo that impression of disasters is minimised and rehabilitation is speedy,” mentioned Group Captain Mehta, a former helicopter pilot.
The helicopters have some peculiar intrinsic strengths that are very important for sure sorts of operations in mountains, valleys and restricted areas. It can rapidly transfer a bigger quantity/quantity of males and materials, removed from rail and street heads.
As reported earlier by TNIE, India had finalised a contract in September 2015 to obtain 22 Apache helicopters and 15 Chinook choppers from the US at a price of round Rs 8,000 crore ($3 billion).
The helicopter can raise about 10 tons of load which embody troops, artillery weapons, gentle armoured automobiles, ammunition, provides and battlefield gear.
