State-of-the-art test facility for carrier-borne aircraft goes operational in Goa

State-of-the-art shore-based test facility for carrier-borne aircraft, built at naval air station Goa, Dabolim, has been commissioned.

Speaking on the occasion of commissioning of second wire of the arresting gear, RAdm (Retd.) Vineet Bakhshi VSM CMD GSL said "Training of naval pilots on MiG 29K has already commenced. The facility will ensure timely induction of Naval LCA (NLCA) into naval service and conserve ship-based test flying effort".

The facility is described as one of its kind in the South Asia and the third in the world. This installation replicates a shore-based facility of the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, a press release said here. Spearheaded by the Aeronautical Development Agency, the complete structural work and system integration of SBTF was carried out by Goa Shipyard Ltd.

This will provide India with a capability for the test development of an aircraft before they are cleared for use on-board aircraft carriers. It will also provide the Indian Navy with a facility to hone the skills of its pilots before they are deployed on board.

Significantly, the SBTF is equipped with restraining gear system with ski-jump for take-off, arresting gear system for landing, optical landing system, TV landing control system, light signaling system and other associated auxiliary units, identical to those fitted on board the aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya, the statement said. 

 

 Times of india