Pilots’ inexperience behind MiG crashes: IAF chief

[1]

Two of the three recent MiG-21 fighter aircraft crashes of the IAF were caused by human error owing to inexperience of the pilots.

Currently, trainee pilots of the IAF train on the ageing MiG-21 aircraft but this will no longer be the case from next year.

“Unfortunately except for one case, the other cases point towards inexperience of young pilots who were not been able to handle the landing and approach (of the aircraft),” IAF chief Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne said on Saturday, when asked by reporters about a string of three recent MiG-21 crashes including one on Friday.

Top sources confirmed to this newspaper that two of the recent three MiG-21 crashes including the one on Friday in Barmer were on account of “human error”. The other crash was dues to some technical reasons.

Friday’s MiG-21 crash was the fourth crash of an IAF MiG-21 this year and the sixth crash of an IAF aircraft this year. The MiG-21 aircraft had earned the dubious nickname of “flying coffin” in the past due to frequent crashes. Five of the six IAF aircraft crashes including three MiG-21 crashes have occurred since August this year.

The IAF had stated recently that the current batch of trainee pilots flying the MiG-21 aircraft would be the last and that thereafter (from December next year) only experienced pilots would fly the aircraft.

Again on Saturday, which was Air Force Day, the IAF Chief said, “The present batch is going to be the last course of pilots who would be flying the MiG-21s. We are not very happy about their going directly for the stage-III training on the MiGs. But we actually have no alternative.”

The first stage of training is supposed to be on basic trainer aircraft, the second stage on advanced trainer aircraft while the third stage is operational training on combat aircraft like the MiG-21.

Sources said that from next year onwards, trainee pilots are expected to fly the Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) aircraft.