Air Marshal Bhan appointed as AOC-in-C of EAC

Shillong, Dec 31 (UNI) Air Marshal Shiv Kumar Bhan would take over charge tomorrow as the new Air Officer Commanding in Chief (AOC-in-C) of the Eastern Air Command (EAC), a defence statement said here today.

Air Marshal Bhan would take over charge of the EAC on promotion, replacing Air Marshal P K Barbora, who would henceforth be taking charge of the country's largest Air Command - the Western Air Command.

Air Marshal Bhan graduated from the National Defence Academy in June 1969 and joined the Indian Air force (IAF) Academy to undergo flying training. He was commissioned in the IAF in December 1970 as a fighter pilot.

He has a flying experience of over 3,000 hours on Hunter, Sukhoi-7, Migs and graduated as a Fighter Combat Leader in 1980. The Air Marshal held various staff and field appointments, including Command of a Mig-21 Squadron, Chief Operations Officer of a Wing, Commander of a fighter base, amongst other high profile appointments.

Air Marshal Bhan has done a two-year instructional tenure with the Iraqi Air Force. He is also an alumni of the Royal College of Defence Studies, UK.

UNI