Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

A veteran fighter pilot hangs up his boots

Air Marshal Y.R. Rane says the southern peninsula’s strategic importance is increasing.

Thiruvananthapuram: When he retires on March 31, Air Marshal Y.R. Rane, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Air Command (SAC), would have done more than 5,000 hours of flying in fighter planes.

After 39 years as a combat aviator in the Indian Air Force (IAF), the veteran fighter pilot still yearns to fly. On his farewell visit to the Bidar air base in Karnataka on March 25, the Air Marshal flew the British-made Hawk Advance Jet Trainer (the IAF’s latest acquisition).

“The urge to fly will never abate,” says the man who has flown the Vampire, Hawker Hunter, Mig 21 and the Mirage 2000 fighter jets. He has commanded the IAF’s frontline “Flying Lancer” and “Rapier” squadrons and also headed its airbase in Gwalior.

Speaking to The Hindu here, the Air Marshal says the southern peninsula’s strategic importance is increasing. Bulk of the world’s trade, including crude oil consignments, passes through the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. The SAC is developing its infrastructure to “base or host” modern day military aircraft to protect the country’s national and economic interests.

The airport tarmac in Thiruvananthapuram has been resurfaced to accommodate fighter jets.

The IAF is building longer runways and more hangers at its air bases in Sulur and Tanjore in Tamil Nadu.

During his watch, the Air Marshal oversaw the integration of the IAF, navy and civilian radars (both coastal and inland) for better air defence of the peninsula.

It helps the IAF monitor (real time) all air traffic movements over the peninsula, which has the highest air traffic density in the country.

The radar integration has empowered the IAF to operate without disrupting domestic and international flights, a concept called “flexi air space”.

Last December, the IAF held “Operation Dakshin Prahar”, a war game, to test the “feasibility and efficacy” of the integrated radar network and the “flexi air space” concept. IAF fighters also practised the air defence of outlying island territories.

The Air Marshal said the SAC would see more activity in the coming days. His men will give him a customary farewell at the SAC headquarters here on Monday.

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