New financial package for IAF

By Atul Aneja

NEW DELHI, OCT. 7. After considerable internal debate, the Indian Air Force (IAF) today announced a new financial package for its personnel.

The crux of the announcement revolves around the flying pay emoluments. Flying pay for officers of the rank of Flying officers has been pitched at Rs. 4500. For Flight Lieutenants, it has been pegged at Rs. 5500. Officers from the rank of Squadron Leaders and Air Commodores will get Rs. 7000 while those between the ranks of Air Commodores and above will receive Rs. 5250. Sergeants and other air crew members will get Rs. 3,500 and Rs. 4200 respectively. The flying pay will be disbursed with retrospective effect from August 1, 1997.

While the flying pay emoluments had been notified in February 29, the package is now ready for implementation. The decision to implement these proposals came after a meeting between the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshall A.Y Tipnis and the Defence Secretary this morning. The group of ministers, who had been reapprising a fresh IAF monetary package had met yesterday.

The flying pay package does not distinguish between fighter pilots and those belonging to the transport and helicopter streams.

It may be recalled that differential flying pay emoluments between pilots of the three streams as was announced earlier as part of Fifth Pay Commission award had a double negative impact on the service. First, it had led to considerable heartburn between pilots of the fighter stream and aviators in the transport and helicopter streams whose monetary package was smaller.

Besides, the earlier hike had led to considerable friction between the flying and non-flying establishments of the IAF.

Today's announcement pitches the technical pay for ground duty and engineering branch officers at Rs. 1000. Others in the same bracket who have acquired additional qualifications will receive technical pay of Rs. 1500.

Sources pointed out that announcement of this package had been held up on account of difficulty in resolving the emoluments for Sergeants in the IAF. Under the Fifth Pay Commission award, Sergeants ended up being paid less than their counterparts in the Army and the Navy. These discrepancies have now been removed, the sources said. The Air Chief described the new monetary package as a Dussehra gift.

Addressing a press conference on the eve of Air Force day, the Air Chief pointed out that the IAF is planning to diversify its procurement. The IAF is set to acquire 140 SU-30 MKI planes is also looking at procuring additional Mirage-2000 multirole aircraft.

The IAF is also keen to fully exploit its state of the art planes. Not surprisingly, the IAF is holding discussions with Uzbekistan on the transfer of the IL-78 M mid-air refuelers. By refueling planes in the air, the IL-78s will greatly enhance the strategic reach of key IAF planes including the SU-30s, the Mirages and deep strike Jaguars. The deal for the IL-78s is expected to be finalised by the end of the year, highly placed sources in the government said.

With a view to steer its aircraft modernisation plans, the IAF has proposed to the Defence Ministry, the establishment of a new Systems Command. This will be in addition to its seven existing commands. The formations of the systems command, if accepted, is expected to synergies interaction between the user and the manufacturer as well as generate accountability.

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