Coast Guard Aviation Celebrates Silver Jubilee

New Delhi, May 21 (UNI) Even as the Indian Air Force celebrates its Platinum Jubilee this year, its younger cousins of the Coast Guard Aviation gird up for celebrations marking completion of 25 years of yeoman service to the nation.

Commemorating the 'Indian Coast Guard Aviation-Silver Jubilee', various events are being organised at the Indian Coast Guard Air Station Daman this week as part of which Defence Minister AK Antony will inspect a ceremonial parade, interact with the men and witness an air display tomorrow.

The series of events planned would showcase the multi-faceted capabilities of the Coast Guard Aviation. The Best Aviation unit Trophy would also be awarded during the ceremonial parade.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) -- constituted as an Armed Force of the Union on February 1, 1977 -- ushered in its aviation wing on May 2, 1982 with the commissioning of the first Coast Guard Air unit at Goa.

The growth of the fledgling air arm has been exponential. From just two helicopters in 1982, the ICG Aviation today boasts of 45 aircraft, two air stations, an equal number of air enclaves and several air squadrons.

The yeoman service being rendered by the Coast Guard Aviation has been recognised by the maritime community for their dedication and commitment in saving lives of seafarers -- a total of 3,896 lives have been saved at sea till date, providing succour to marooned fishermen, combating marine pollution and effectively monitoring the country's vast Maritime Zones.

The Indian Coast Guard has demonstrated its operational versatility on numerous occasions while handling relief and disaster operations such as the Tsunami of 2004, the July 2005 fire on ONGC's Offshore Platform BHN some 160 kilometers off the Mumbai coast, and pollution response at sea.

UNI