Itanagar, March 24 (PTI): Air Officer Commanding-in-chief of Eastern Air Command, Air Marshal Anil Khosla reviewed the operational readiness and infrastructure development of advance landing grounds (ALG) in Arunachal Pradesh.
The visit was his first since taking up office in January this year, a defence communique informed here today.
During his three-day visit from March 22 to March 24, Khosla visited ALGs at Vijaynagar, Walong, Pasighat, Tuting, Along and Mechuka.
The AOC-in-C was briefed at the ALGs where he also visited the existing facilities and infrastructure including air traffic control, meteorology, radio telephony facilities, officers and airmen messes among others.
He also interacted with the staff manning the ALGs and emphasized on enhanced interaction with local civil administration and extending help to them whenever required, the communique said.
Indian Air Force (IAF) has taken up reconstruction plan to upgrade all existing ALGs in Eastern Air Command area and presently operations are underway at Ziro, Pasighat, Along, Walong, Tuting and Mechuka ALGs, it said.
While Su-30 MKIs have landed at Pasighat, C-17 Globemaster III and C-130J Super Hercules have also made landings at Mechuka.Presently, AN-32s medium-lift tactical transport aircraft and IAF helicopters from Eastern Air Command routinely operate from these ALGs, the communiqu said.
The ALG at Tawang is currently being upgraded and is expected to be operational by June this year. Meanwhile, upgradation of Vijaynagar ALG is expected to take some time as the issues of road connectivity from Miao to Vijarynagar is awaiting restoration.
Proper road is required to carry materials, machinery and manpower for construction purposes.
In addition to meeting the air maintenance and operational requirements of the far-flung areas in India’s remote north-east, the ALGs also facilitate air connectivity with rest of the country and give a large fillip to tourism in Arunachal Pradesh, the communiqué added.
