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BSF to get pilots

NEW DELHI: In a bid to tide over pilot shortage that has virtually grounded the air wing of the Border Security Force (BSF), the Union Home Ministry has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Defence Ministry.

“The MoU is basically to get pilots, ground support and maintenance facilities,” BSF Director General A.K. Mitra said.

The BSF would get six MI-17 helicopters from the Air Force. It has now one Embraer, two King Air and two Avro aircraft.

The BSF has been hiring copters for the naxal violence-affected areas in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. They are used mainly to evacuate injured security personnel and the Centre foots the bill of air operations under the Security Related Expenditure scheme.

The BSF would also get six engineers from the IAF for aircraft maintenance, Mr. Mitra said.

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BSF to get pilots

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