Air Force Academy
Crest The scroll inscribed by the Sanskrit words "Shram Sey Siddhi" translates into Achievement through Diligence". Historical
Resume In July 1949, a major change took place in the training pattern for pilots and an 'All Through' training scheme was embarked upon. Air Force Station Ambala became No 1 Air Force Academy.
The Need for an Air Force Academy The foundation stone for the Air Force Academy project was laid by the late president, Dr. Zakir Hussain on 11 Oct 67. On 16 Jan 71, Air Force Academy, Hyderabad was formally inaugurated by shri Kasu Brahmananda Reddy, the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. On the very next day, training of pilots commenced. The Ground Duty Officers' course moved from Air Froce Administrtative College at Coimbatore in early 1975 and the Air Traffic Control Officers' Training Establishment moved in from Air Force Station, Hakimpet in July 1977, bringing under one roof the training for IAF officers (except Engineering & Medical Streams) at Air Force Academy. The first ever women officers were commissioned into the Administrative and Education branches of Indian Air Force on 12 Jun 93 and the first ever woman pilots on 17 Dec 94. The wisdom of co-locating the trainees of the flying branch and the non-technical ground duty branches has great merit. The acquaintances and friendship made between the flight cadets from diverse streams have endured and enriched during the course of their progress in their respective careers. Considering the fact that apart from the Air Force Academy two other Air Force Flying Training Establishment and training establishment of the Indian Airlines are also located here, this area is known as the, "CRADLE OF INDIAN FLYING".
Topography The average annual rainfall normally exceeds that of the twin cities and is around 680 mm. The temperatures approximately vary between the average 38.5-19.5(in Degrees Celsius)during summers and 30.0-14.0.during the winters. Ogranisation
Flying
Training Pilot trainees are inducted either from the National Defence Academy, directly from the universities or the National Cadets Corps. Trainees other than NDA cadets, are inducted into flying training, after a 6 month training course at the Pre-Flight Training School at Air Force Station Begumpet. Training
Objectives
To support flying training of the various flying courses simultaneously, the faculty of flying is divided into 04 Sqns, under a Chief Flying Instructor (CFI). Two squadrons handle the requirements of the Basic Stage conducted on the HPT-32 while two squadrons conduct the Advanced Stage requirements on the Kiran Aircraft. In addition, the AFA also operates Detachment (Dett) at Bihta in North Indian State of Bihar. The requirements of the Short Service Commission (Women){SSC (W)} Pilots Course, Army, Navy and the Coast Guards are divided amongst the Squadrons. Ground lectures are conducted by the Director of Studies (Pilots Course). As per the present schedule, the Flight Cadets (permanent commission) {Flt Cdt (PC)} and officers of Indian Navy undergo the basic stage and advanced stage training on HPT-32 and HJT-16 aircraft respectively. Officers of Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and flight cadets for short service commission, including women cadets undergo training on HPT-32 aircraft. Contents Stage Stage - I Objectives (a) Introduce ab-initio pupils to flying. (b) Teach basic flying skills on jet and piston
engine aircraft. (c) Generate confidence in the application of these
skills in fair weather. (d) Select service pilots by systematic filtration. Stage - II Objective (a) To effectively fly a modern jet aircraft to its maximum performance limits by day with skill and confidence. (b) To be able to consistently handle more complex systems at advanced skill levels requiring co-ordination with a defined degree of competence. (c) To consistently effect safe recovery with instrument reference during adverse mateorological conditions. (d) Execute basic exercises at night with confidence.
Apart from dual/solo flying which includes Instrument Flying, Navigation, Formation Flying & Low Flying by day and night, the syllabus also consists of a balanced curriculam including training in Aviation related subjects, Aviation Medicine and flying the HJT-16 aircraft simulator. The ab-initio Stage-I flying training is conducted for 22 weeks at the Academy on Kiran Mk-I and HPT-32 and at BFTS Allahabad on HPT-32 aircraft. The stage - II phase of flying training for 24 weeks is conducted at the Academy and two other Flying Training Schools (FTSs) at AF Stn Bidar and AF Stn Hakimpet on Kiran Mk-II and Iskra aircraft respectively. After completion of Stage - II training the trainee pilots are commissioned and awarded wings at a Combined Graduation Parade held at the Academy twice annually i.e. in the months of June and December each year. These fledgling pilots are then trifurcated into three streams for Stage - III (Applied) flying training on Fighter, Helicopter and Transport aircraft, after which they move onto operational flying in their assigned squadrons/units. Training of Naval Officers Basic and Advanced flying training is imparted to Naval Officers and trainees from friendly foreign countries as well. Army Pilots Course. In July 1995, Stage - I training of Army Pilots was also assigned to this Academy. Training is conducted on HPT-32 aircraft. This course is of 17 weeks duration and 02 courses are conducted each year. Stage - II training of Army trainees is carried out on Helicopters at AF Stn Hakimpet. The Average break-up of the course-ware of flying and ground trainingn is as shown below :- Kiran Simulator
Ground Duty Officers Training The trainees participate in drill, games, out-door projects, presentations/debates, book review, essay writing, public speaking as well as cultural activities. Visits to Industrial/research organisations, Air Force units are also part of the syllabus. In nutshell, the course aims at all-round development of the trainee with professional knowledge as the core. The break-up at a glance of the courseware of the GDOC is as follows :- All Branches (a) Professional 638 hrs (b) Humanities 218 hrs (c) General Service Knowledge 140 hrs The wisdom of co-locating trainees of the flying branch and the non-technical ground duty branches has great merit. The acquaintances and friendship made between the flight cadets from diverse streams have endured and is enriched during the course of their progress in their respective careers.
Air Trafic Control Officers' Training
The training is designed on the basis of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) procedure, suitably punctuated to suit the military aviation requirements. The entrance to ATC Course is from the Administration Branch and a certain number from the Aircrew Branches. With the local flying area "reserved" for AFA extending to a mere 80 miles (129 Km) around Dundigul and with three other training airfields located in the vicinity, the airspace is carefully sectored in view of the intense flying activity.
The duration in weeks, of each of the course held at the ATCOTE is as stated below :- (a) Basic Air Traffic Controllers Officers Course (BATCO) -24 (b) Ground Controller Aviation (GCA) Course -08 (c) Advance ATCO -10 (d) A large number of Women ATC Officers have been trained in the Academy. women controllers are selected to undergo alternate BATCO Course. The Basic ATC Officers course consists of theory as well as practical training on conventional aerodrome simulator with 4 weeks of On-the-Job-Training at a Flying Unit. Plans are underway to acquire a state-of-the-art computerised VFR simulator to enhance the quality of training in control of Aerodrome traffic. Radar training is conducted on a sophisticated Virtual Reality Radar Simulator which was commissioned in Feb 93. The Radar Simulator is capable of simulating the parameters of any radar and can store upto 15 types of aircraft in its memory. In can simulate any number of airbases and generate upto 32 aircraft targets. The quality of radar training has been greatly enhanced by induction of Radar Simulator.
Today, the world over, Air Power is no longer the exclusive preserve of any Air Force. Surface forces having realised the need for an extension to the third dimension, have acquired aviation wings with associated roles. Most nations have recognised the synergies of Inter-services cooperation in the aftermath of the Gulf-War. The IAF has pioneered the concept of jointmanship at the grass-root or rather 'Un-stick' levels with the coming into existence of the AFA. The color purple; the blend of the colours of the three services i.e. the IAF's - Blue Grey, Army's - Red and the Navy's -Blue, is the colour of jointmanship and is De-Jure at AFA. Basic and applied phases for Naval Aviators and Army Aviators are conducted at AFA. In addition, Flying instructors from the Army and the Navy train at AFA to enhance their instructional skills and attain a higher flying category as a consequence. The seeds of "Unified Thinking" of Indian Military Aviation are sown on the airfield of this Academy.
Quality
Flying Training The hallowed 'Q' word had always been accorded pride of place in the IAF. AFA is the 'Point of departure' in the quest of quality in military aviation, in India today. High quality of training ensured through having high quality instructors, is a vital enable in this process. Every sortie is carefully planned, controlled and supervised to bring about the highest standards in flying. The trainee proceeds through general flying and aerobatics to instrument flying, navigation, low flying, formation flying, tactical, essential combat and armament flying. Flying tests are held at the end of each phase, in addition to surpise tests, mid-term tests and final examinations. Trainees are constantly indoctrinated in flight safety. The organisation ensures the highest standards in training by having 'Quality Emathy' assured through highly experienced Senior Aviators with required expertise and flying skills, holding vital appointments. "Quality Control' is underscored by a qualifying requirement, of their having performed at least one tenure as a QFI earlier. Special emaphasis is placed on imparting lessons which underscore the lasting benefits of effective leadership in the air and on the ground. The advance that accrue to the 'Human' aspects of flying are evident through feed back from the field. An Officer of the USAF, A QFI, has been with us as a part of an exchange program with the USAF.
Quality Ground Duty Officers' Training Technical
Type Training
Aviation
Medicine Training (a) Full Medical examination at beginning of each course. (b) Practical demonstration in high altitude simulator. (c) Disensitisation programme with the use of Yoga for curing all cases of air sickness. Intra-
Branch Comraderie The wisdom of co-locating the trainees of the flying branch and the non-technical ground duty branches has great merit. The acquintances and friendship developed amongst trainees from diverse streams endures and is enriched during the course of their respective careers.
Maintenance Considering the perennial need to induct quality pilots, it is imperative that serviceability of the Kiran and HPT-32 fleets be maintained at very high levels throughout the year. The vital areas of maintenance activities which contribute to our Core competence are :- Aircraft Services Electronic Services Electronic Services covers under its ambit the following activities :- (a) Airfield Ground Environment System. Which include the Air Field Lighting System and Arrester Barrier System. (b) Radio Transmission Communication. Which is the 'Umbical Chord' of the aviator once airborne, especially of the aviator trainee. (c) Navigation Aids. (d) Simulator. i.e. the Kiran Simulator designed and developed by ADE Bangalore and the Radar Simulator designed and fabricated by M/s TATA Electronics Development Services (TEDS), Bangalore. (e) The Academy Computer Centre, Which is the hub of customised Software Development, Hardware maintenance and training of the personnel of AFA on Computer operations.
Mechanical Services (a) Mechanical Transport. The MT as it is called is vital to sustainance of Air Effort since supplies are usually replenished via the nearest rail-head- Secunderabad , and involves a round trip of 80 Kms approximately. The average daily task for the MT Section is 2000 Kms approximately. For over five years the accident rate has been maintained at zero level. (b) Mechanical Workshop and Plant Maintenance Section (PMS). Which manufactures several items of Ground Equipment of Global quality such as, Chocks, Ejection Seat Stand, RF Trolley etc. Besidesl it also fabricates various utility items. Logistics 44 Equipment Depot, AF Indian Oil Corporation Administration
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