Friday, April 27, 2012

Grounding of Mirage Aircrafts

 Following the accidents of Mirage 2000 aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) on 24.2.2012 and 5.3.2012, all routine training flying on the Mirage 2000 fleet has been temporarily stopped as a precautionary measure. Based on the results of the initial investigations of the accidents, certain checks have been instituted by the IAF. Commencement of flying of the Mirage 2000 fleet is being undertaken in stages post completion of checks.
During the last two years (2010-11 and 2011-12) and current financial year 2012-13 (upto 19.4.2012), two Mirage 2000 aircrafts have crashed. Technical Defect was the cause of both accidents.
There was no loss of life in the accidents. Monetary loss to the Government is in terms of value of the two crashed aircrafts and compensation for loss of civil property.
Every IAF aircraft accident is thoroughly investigated by a Court of Inquiry to ascertain the cause of accident and remedial measures are taken accordingly to check their recurrence in future.
Upgradation of aircraft fleet, including Mirage 2000 aircrafts, is reviewed from time to time keeping in view several factors including the operational requirements of the Indian Air Force. This is a continuous process.
IAF has simulators for KiranMkl/IA, Hawk Mk-32, An-32 and Dornier aircraft which are being used as trainer aircraft. All these simulators are serviceable and the training syllabus includes flying training on these simulators. Further, simulators are being procured along with new induction of aircraft like the Basic Trainer Aircraft and Intermediate Jet Trainer aircraft.
As on 1st January, 2012, the actual strength of pilots is 3420 against the sanctioned strength of 3783.
This information was given by Minister of Defence Shri AK Antony in separate written replies to ShrimatiSmritiZubinIrani, ShrimatiMaya Singh and others in Rajya Sabha today.

India successfully launches radar imaging “Risat-1 satellite”

India successfully launched Radar Imaging Satellite, Risat-1 from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday joined a select group of nations having such an advanced technology. The US, Canada and Europe are having such technology. The indigenously built Risat-1, with a life span of five years, will be used for disaster prediction and agriculture forestry. The high resolution pictures and microwave imaging from Risat-1 could also be used for defence purposes as it can look through the clouds and fog.
The ISRO-made Risat-1 is the heaviest luggage so far ferried by a PSLV since 1993. ISRO chairman K. Radhakrishnan said after the launch that PSLV-C19 mission is a grand success and this is the 20th successive successful flight of PSLV.
The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh hailed the successful launch of PSLV carrying RISAT-1 and congratulated the scientists associated with the project

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