Night-landing facilities soon at forward area IAF bases

Forward Indian Air Force bases in the Himalayas facing China and parts Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) will soon have night-flying capabilities enabling round-the-clock movement of troops, ammunition, equipment and rations in case of an exigency. These forward bases are virtually the life-line of the Indian Army’s deployment in the Himalayas. The IAF provides a major quantum of the air support using transport planes that carry supplies while the Army has its own choppers chipping for small tasks and reconnaissance. The airstrips become vital when the passes in the mountains close down in winter and air-dropping supplies is the only option.
Sources confirmed to The Tribune that the Indian Army has made an official pitch seeking night-landing facilities at key bases at Leh, Thoise and Kargil (all in Ladakh) besides some more bases in the eastern part of the country, especially in Arunachal where new landing strips are being developed.
A night landing facility in the Himalayas will need the latest instrument-aided landing facilities both on ground as well as inside the aircraft. The Russian-origin IL-76 and the newly upgraded AN-32 transport planes have the facility. The US-made C-130-J is also capable of instrument-aided landing and so is the yet-to-arrive C-17 Globemaster.
IAF pilots have successfully landed transport planes at Leh on ‘moon-lit’ nights. The matter to have instrument-aided landing will be discussed at the five-day bi-annual Army Commander’s conference to be conducted in the National Capital from October 10. The Army wants the night-landing facilities. The IAF is also said to be open to the idea.
Sources explained that night landing will increase the pace at which equipment is moved. During the day the load carrying capacity of an aircraft taking-off from say a base like Leh (located at an altitude of 11,000 feet) decreases sharply as the day temperature rises. The rarity of oxygen and the altitude adds to the difficulties. Hence, at times cargo planes have to take off with less than 25 per cent of the designed capacity. A take-off at night at Leh would mean the temperatures would hover at 8-10 degrees Celsius even in peak summer. At present, the operating window, due to rise in temperatures, is too small — at best a few hours every day — for flights to land and take off at Leh, Thoise and Kargil. The same story is repeated in North east.
Meanwhile, the commanders conference will focus on macro level issues pertaining to operational preparedness, equipment sustainment for mission readiness and maximising combat power generation capability of the Army and an improvement of habitat in high altitude areas.
The Army Commanders will join for the combined commanders’ conference, involving Commanders and all the three services, who would be addressed by the Prime Minister. There would also be an interaction with the Finance, Home and External Affairs Ministers. 


The Tribune