Assam: Tezpur air-base upgradation

Tezpur (Assam), Sep 06: Indian Air Force's MiG-21 has started formal phasing out today, with the last squadron flying out from here as the air base closes for expansion and upgradation for the next two years.

''This is a sad moment that the hustle and bustle of the MiGs which have been here for last 40 years will not be there any more'' said Air office Commanding in Chief of the Eastern Air Command Air Marshal P K Borboroa while seeing off Wing Commander C Sharda who took the last squadron to Chabua in upper Assam.

The Sukhois are expected in the next two years and during the time heavy modernisation will take place.

''In one month from now whole lot of hardware are coming here and runways are being modernised to make the Tezpur the most modern air base of the Indian Air Force'' said Air Marshal Borbora who began his flying career in Tezpur.

The Tezpur air base upgradation has become utmost necessity as India has embarked on a major effort to boost its air power on the eastern front. The plans include moving two squadrons or 36 state-of-the-art Russian-built Sukhoi-30 aircraft to the Tezpur base, adding advanced helicopters, strengthening runways and upgrading other air force facilities.

From early 1970s, Air Force Station, Tezpur has housed three fighter squadrons, undertaking operational and training roles. With passage of time and in absence of an advance Jet Trainer, the need for one Central unit for conducting conversion and operational flying training was felt'' said Air Commodore A G Patil, Air Office Commanding, Air Force Station Tezpur adding that on December 1986, MiG Operational Flying Training Unit (MOFTU) was born.

The Tezpur air base has in these period completed 13500 sorties with MiG 21s training over 1000 flights.

''I shall never consider this beautiful aircraft as flying coffins. If that is the case I would not have stood before you as the AOC-in-C of the Eastern Air Command,'' said an emotional Air Marshall Borbora who also happens to be the first one of the IAF to fly the Sukhois.

The Eastern Air Command (EAC) was first raised at Rani Kutir in Kolkata. Then it was shifted to Tezpur in 1963. By the end of 1963, the HQ was shifted to Shillong (Meghalaya). EAC controls air operations in the eastern sector, which includes West Bengal, Assam, Mizoram and the other eastern states bordering Bangladesh, Burma and Tibet. Eastern Air Command (EAC) features permanent airbases at Chabua, Guwahati, Bagdogra, Barrackpore, Hashmira, Jorhat, Kalaikunda and Tezpur with forward airbases at Agartala, Kolkatta, Panagarh and Shillong.

UNI