Helicopter pilots flying Mi-8, Mi-17 suffering from back pain

A majority of Indian military pilots flying Russian helicopters, Mi-8 & Mi-17 are suffering from various types of backache which could impact their performance, a study has found.
Focusing on different aspects of backache, including frequency, location, severity & relief measure, the study said back pain was recorded among 67.74 % & 75.0 % pilots flying Mi-8 & Mi-17 helicopters.

A total of 55 helicopters pilots with the average age of 32.35 years & 29.0 years currently flying Mi-8 & Mi-17 participated in the study.

The study says majority of the pilots did not seek any medical consultation for their malady (Mi-8, 71.42%, Mi-17, 66.66%).
While 33.33% Mi-8 pilots reportedly had pain almost every day .
The commonest activity precipitating back pain was flying. Asked about the type of sorties that precipitate the pain, they identified the ferry or cross-country sorties as most notorious.
Measure to obtain relief from the pain included either taking rest on hard bed or some spinal stretching exercise after the sortie.
The study said a higher incidence of spine related disorders among helicopter pilots may be because of the vibration leading to cumulative load on the spine.
It suggested carrying out mandatory MRI scan at regular intervals for helicopter pilots based on cumulative flying hours.

Presently, IAF operates a 12 squadron strong fleet of Mi-17 & Mi-8 helicopters.

Indian pilots rub shoulders with US, NATO fighters

Marking a new phase in its defense ties with the US & some of its allies, Indian Air force on Aug 15 showcased the skills of its fighter pilots against US & NATO air forces in a complex & advanced network-centric “Red Flag” war games.

Sukhoi-30s, IL-78 tankers & IL-76 aircraft rubbed shoulders with F-15s & F-16s in the network-centric operations-the toughest test for fling machines & men-over the Nevada desert in their first appearance in the peacetime aerial war games.

What also makes the exercise unique is the range targets at Nellis Air Base, both air-to-air & air-to-ground, and the amazing resources.

As many as 1,000 personnel, including 247 from IAF, are participating in the two-week exercise concluding on Aug 24. The Indian Air Force has sent eight Su-30s, two IL-78 tankers an IL-76 aircraft.

Well done

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has done well to restore the Dawaltbaigh old air strip in Leh district. The elite force has thus kept the promise it had made some time ago. The airfield was closed more than four decades ago after having served its immediate purpose against the Chinese aggression in 1962.

It overlooks the strategic Karakoram pass. Surely, there are other air strips in the State as well; these have been set up as a contingency measure and are waiting to be fully revived.

We find it heartening that the IAF already has such plans for Chushul and Fukche. A road is also likely to be constructed along the Line of Actual Control. It is absolutely necessary to have a first-class transport network in hilly and far-flung areas to bridge their distance from the mainland.

Dhoni enthralls little fans

JAISALMER, June 20: After enthralling airmen, their wards and local fans with his dare devil acts and pleasant company for three days, Team India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni left for Delhi this afternoon.

Before flying for New Delhi, the star cricketer rode on his racer mobike and went from one end to the another of the runway waving to his fans gathered around the Air Force runway. A brief air stunt show was organised by the Air Force pilots for him.

During his three day sojourn here, Dhoni surpassed Indian Airforce fighter plane in a fun race on mobike but failed to hit six sixes in an over bowled to him by an Indian Airforce team bowler.

He played cricket and carom with airmen, interacted with Air Force personnel’s children shared light moments with them and their families.

Dhoni also raced his racer mo-bike against an Air Force fighter plane twice and surpassed it.

World watches as IAF's Su-30s flex muscles with top NATO jets

World air forces will keenly watch th IAF fighters' and pilots performance as thay showcase their skills at the world's most advanced 'Red Flag' NATO exercise at Nellis Airbase in Nevada, US, from 10 Aug 08.

The world is watching us, so let’s show them what we are made up of," IAF contingent commander Group Captain D Choudhury told his team members consisting of eight Su-30 topnotch fighters, two IL-78 air-to-air refuellers and an IL-76 heavylift transport aircraft, even as they stepped out into the USAF air base to face their toughest challenge ever.

"We have trained long and hard for this day. It is time to showcase our professionalism," Choudhury said to the 247 IAF warriors, who had reached Nellis a couple of days ago after their training and practice at the Idaho air base.
Frontline Indian Sukhoi fighters will test their capabilities against US and NATO air forces’ F-16s and F-15s in a complex and advanced network centric operations—the toughest test for flying machines and men—during the two-week long exercise.
Beginning with inaugural briefings and mission planning by the participating air forces from US, France and South Korea, apart from India, Red Flag will provide a realistic war situation where ‘Blue Forces’ represented by visiting air forces and enemy ‘Red Forces’ from US will battle it out mid-air, using both men and machine.

The Red Forces would be represented by the F-15s and F-16s aircraft of the 64th and 65th ‘Aggressor’ squadrons of the USAF from Nellis.

The "Blue Force" pilots would have all possible odds "thrown" at them to test their abilities and capabilities to tackle these threats.

"Availability of a large air-to-air range with threat replication contributes to the tremendous training value of the exercise. The replication of the air war would witness IAF’s Su-30 aircraft participating in suppression of enemy air defence air-to-air and air-to-ground missions," an IAF officer participating in the ‘Red Flag’ told PTI over phone from US.

The IL-76 would undertake tactical transport operations and large force engagement operations, even as the Su-30 fighters test their mettle with the F-15s and F-16s of the NATO forces.

During the course of the exercise, a set of "Red Flag" exercise team from all the participating nations would form the "White Forces" that would use hi-tech instrumentation and mission debrief tools to evaluate the performance of the pilots and their aircraft in a "clinical and detached" manner, the IAF officer said.

"As the exercise progresses, the "Blue Forces" are often told to change their plans during mid-flight to put them under pressure. The White Forces watches the entire exercise in real time on monitor screens on ground," the officer said.

What makes "Red Flag" exercise more challenging is the more realistic practice of "Kill Removal" by which the pilots and aircraft assumed to be shot at by an enemy is removed from the mission, he said.

During the next fortnight, the exercise will progress to tougher levels, testing the nerve of the pilots and straining the machines to the maximum.

The IAF will be spending about Rs 100 crore in the exercise that would be witnessed by Vice-Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal P V Naik for three days from August 13. The IAF has attached great importance to its pilots and aircraft participating in the exercise, as it would provide India with an insight into NATO war practices.