"Alertness of pilots and adequate maintenance of aircraft are essential for flight safety. Flight safety measures will avoid flying accidents". Air Chief Marshal Anil Yashwant Tipnis, Chief of Air Staff said this during Flight Safety Council Meeting-2000 held under South Western Air Command (SWAC) at Air Force Station, Jodhpur. He was the chief guest in the day-long meeting held to discuss and implement various flight safety measures to avoid aircraft accidents.

Earlier, Air Chief Marshal Tipnis was received by Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, SWAC, Air Marshal Vinod Kumar Bhatia and Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station, Jodhpur, Air Cmde SBS Paul.

He met mediapersons during ‘Meet the Press’ programme and answered various queries related to modernisation of Indian Air Force, flight safety and welfare measures for the Air Force personnel.

The Flight Safety Council Meeting began with the opening address of Senior Air Staff Officer, SWAC, Air Marshal PS Pingale. Flight safety review was given by Command Flight Safety inspection officer, Gp Capt KB Singh, and Command Engineering Officer, Gp Capt R Kumar. This was followed by presentations by Air Officer Commanding, 2 Wing Air Force, Air Cmde AV Vaidya, Air Defence Commander Air Vice Marshal AK Trikha. An analysis of past air accidents was carried out to ensure that similar mistakes were not repeated. The presentation highlighted the role of human error in air accidents. The accident prevention programme for SWAC was highlight of the meeting. The programme was prepared specifically for the units under SWAC, keeping in mind the type of aircraft, desert terrain, high temperature and other environmental factors. It was brought to the notice that most accidents are caused by bird hits and measures to reduce the bird hits formed an important feature of the meeting. The use of microlight aircraft was recommended for avoiding birds on runway.

After the meeting, the chief guest, senior officers and other delegates visited a high technology innovation exhibition at Air Force Station, Jodhpur.