India Govt clears Rs.18.0 billion trainer aircraft deal

New Delhi, May 11 (PTI) Fulfiling Air Force's long-pending requirement, the Indian government has cleared a proposal worth over Rs 18.0 billion (about USD 340 million) for procuring 75 Pilatus aircraft from Switzerland to train its rookie pilots. The decision was taken at a meeting of Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) Thursday evening chaired by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The deal was hanging fire for last one year after one of the contender Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) alleged that Pilatus’ bid was incomplete and it did not fulfil some of the requirements of Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) instituted by government. The aircraft are being procured by the Indian Air Force to provide training to its rookie pilots and replace the HPT-32 trainer aircraft which have been grounded for over two years after a fatal accident in 2009, Defence Ministry officials said. Since 2009, the IAF has relied on Kiran Mk II aircraft for providing basic training to its young pilots. Advanced training to them is provided on the Hawk aircraft procured from the UK. The delivery of the planes are expected to begin by the middle of 2013. Recently, Parliament's Standing Committee on Defence had also highlighted the "critical deficiency" of trainer aircraft for the young IAF pilots and noted that the deficiency has resulted in inadequate training of the pilots. As the turboprop low-wing tandem-seat aircraft, Pilatus is capable of providing all basic training functions, including aerobatics, instrument, tactical and night flying. The air force also plans to send some of its young pilots to Switzerland for training till the delivery of initial batch of 12 aircraft commence in 2013. PTI