IAF Statement (abridged): The Gwalior Air Base of the Indian Air Force now has the unique distinction of being the only operational base in Indian Air Force with two operational parallel runways and operating top of the line fighters. The ceremony was also marked by the induction of Sukhoi-30 MKI at Air Force Station Gwalior.
During the ceremony, Air Commodore Neeraj Yadav VM VSM, Air Officer Commanding Air Force Station Gwalior and other senior Air Force officials of the air base were also present. A magnificent fly past by three Sukhoi-30MKI aircraft in VIC formation was organized to mark this historic occasion. These aircraft belonging to Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment took off from the Bareilly air base and were the first aircraft to land on the newly constructed runway. The chief guest also received salute from Su-30 MKI, Mirage-2000 and MiG-21 Bison aircraft as they taxied past the dais, symbolising the operationalisation of the new Runway with all types of aircraft based at Gwalior.
The new runway was conceptualised in the year 2006 with work commencing in Feb 2009. A mammoth engineering effort involving more than 200 engineers, supervisors and workers was achieved despite the extreme climatic conditions and record breaking rains at Gwalior. As a strategic asset, the new runway will assist the IAF in its quest of being a formidable aerospace power of the century. Two parallel runways would allow the flexibility to launch and recover multiple aircraft simultaneously towards large operational missions and also enhance the existing air traffic handling capability. This will also result in considerable savings to the exchequer due to reduced fuel consumption as aircraft will be able to launch and recover at a faster rate.
Photos Courtesy Indian Air Force / DPR
