Random Air Force News & Events

[fatman17]

Pakistan military plane makes emergency landing in Portugal

12 March 2008

LISBON - A damaged engine forced a Pakistani military C-130 aircraft to make an emergency landing Wednesday at an airport in northern Portugal, the country’s airport management company ANA reported.

“The plane landed normally around 12:46 pm (local and GMT), without creating disruption” at the airport outside the city of Oporto, ANA spokesman Rui Oliveira said.

Emergency services were on alert but were not needed, he added.

what the hell was this C-130 doing in europe!

 

[fatman17]

General Tariq Majid visits Pakistan Aeronautical Complex

KAMRA Mar 12 (APP): Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), General Tariq Majid on Wednesday visited Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) Kamra and inspected various facilities.

During the visit the was briefed about ongoing projects at PAC Kamra. After the briefing, CJCSC visited facilities available at Kamra including the F-7 and Mirage Aircraft overhauling, upgradation facilities, manufacturing assembling plant of Mushak/Super Mushak Aircraft and the facilities for production of JF-17 Thunder Aircraft, being undertaken by Pakistan in collaboration with China.

General Tariq Majid was highly impressed by the progress made by PAC Kamra, particularly in coproduction of JF-17 Thunder with China and remarked that PAC is an impressive outfit, making a huge contribution to national defence efforts.

He hoped that the organisation will continue to work for optimizing our potential and defence capability.

Earlier on arrival at PAF Base Minhas, CJCSC was received by Air Marshal Khalid Choudhery, Chairman PAC and Air Commodore Sohail Aman, Base Commander PAF Base Minhas.

 

[alibaz]

Pakistan Zindabad

 

[air marshal]

Roll out ceremony of MI-171 Helicopter
March 17, 2008

KARACHI (APP): A roll out ceremony was held upon completion of overhaul of first MI-171 helicopter of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) at Rotary Wing Centre of Excellence at 102 AED PAF Base Faisal.

It said that the Air Officer Commanding Southern Air Command, Air Marshal Mirza Zafar Hussain, was the chief guest on the occasion.

He was received by Group Captain Arshad Khalil, Officer Commanding No 102 AED, PAF.

The Officer Commanding No 102 AED highlighted the MI-171 helicopter history and its overhauling achievements at 102 AED, PAF.

MI-171 helicopters were inducted in PAF in year 2002. MI-171 helicopter has a time between overhaul (TBO) of 1500 hrs.

The first PAF helicopter was inducted for overhaul in September 2007. The overhaul was jointly undertaken by a team of experts from 102 AED PAF Faisal and M/s Avia Export of Russia.

Most of the inspections and structural repairs were under taken locally at rotary wing centre of excellence at 102 AED PAF Faisal.

However, some of the components were overhauled from M/s Avia Export of Russia.

This achievement has further enhanced the capability of PAF for undertaking overhaul of yet another type of helicopter after Allouette III at PAF facilities.

In his address, the chief guest congratulated the officers of No 102 AED and lauded the efforts of M/s Avia Export.

He added that without Russian experts support the accomplishment of this task could not have been possible.

Since most of the teething problems in setting up the General Overhaul facility has been resolved at No 102 AED, which also indicated the confidence of the depot in its professional depth, capabilities and potentials.

The ceremony was also attended by Base Commander and senior officers of PAF Base, Faisal, the press release further pointed out.

Link: PAF Falcons - Air Force News Headlines

 

[air marshal]

PAF Female Pilots complete Operational Conversion on Fighter Aircraft
March 17, 2008

ISLAMABAD (APP): The female pilots of Pakistan Air Force achieved yet another landmark by completing their operational conversion on F-7 fighter aircraft through consistent hard work, consummate dedication and exemplary spirit.

Three female pilots alongwith 20 male colleagues graduated on Monday after completing their operational conversion course on F-7 fighter aircraft. They will now be deployed in different fighter squadrons of Pakistan Air Force.

The Graduation ceremony of operational conversion course was held at Pakistan Air Force Base, Mianwali. Air Vice Marshal Faaiz Amir, Air Officer Commanding Northern Air Command was the Chief Guest.

Speaking to graduates he said “ here I must remind you all that while you have completed the formal fighter training, this actually marks the beginning of a new demanding era in your professional career. As proud inheritors of glorious traditions, you’ll not only be expected to live up to the finest examples of devotion, courage and professional excellence but also keep pace with the modern aviation community, as pioneers, will not only be pace setters in professional standards but in you lies the destiny of many aspiring young ladies who are keen to share your experiences to decide about their future.”

He also commended Base personnel for their painstaking efforts undertaken for safe, smooth and timely graduation of the courses.

Two operational conversion courses graduated today in which Flying Officer, Nadir Ali won trophies for Overall Best Performance and Best in Flying in one course, while in the other, Flying Officers Arslan Zahoor and Kamran Safdar were the recipients of trophies for Best in Flying and Overall Best performance respectively.

Earlier, on his arrival, the Chief Guest was received by Air Commodore Azher Hasan, Base Commander Pakistan Air Force Base, Mianwali.

Link: PAF Falcons - Air Force News Headlines

 

[solid snake]

 

[solid snake]

 

[EagleEyes]

Its glad to see that Russia has started helping Pakistan. Good step.

 

[fatman17]

Its glad to see that Russia has started helping Pakistan. Good step.

actually if memory serves me correct the Mi-17I has been purchaed from Ukraine and any such support is being provided by the ukranians and not the russians - this is my understanding without casting any doubts towards the info in the article.

 

[tailwind]

No! the MI-171s were bought from Russia....

 

[Blackpearl]

I think we can have this discussion on a separate thread,
I need to ask PAF authorities one question........
why there is a duplication of efforts, when it comes to overhauling of helicopters of PAF.

1. First, it was over haul of Allouette helicopters. Pakistan Army has an elaborate facility of assembling and overhauling of Allouette III helicopters in Army Aviation Base Dhamial, Rawalpindi. This facility was established in 1974, by French. This facilty include everything from overhauling of structure, engines and transmission system. why PAF went for a saparate facilty for Allouette III helicopters.

2. In the same base, Overhaul;ing facility for MI-8 helicopters was established in 80s and then upgraded to overhauling of MI-17 helicopters in 2000. the first overhauled helicopter, MI-17 was handed to Army in 2002, (when PAF was learning to fly MI-17).

So this base, comes with a hands on experience and expertise in overhauling of Allouette III and MI-17 helicopters. so the question is why PAF want to have a separate infrastructure when a similar outfit exists in country.

 

[Blackpearl]

Let me add here another interesting dimension to this.
Pakistan Navy operates Allouette III.
They have their own overhauling facility in Karachi.

so summing up.
Combined inventory of Army, Navy and PAF for Allouette IIIs----Not more then 20.

Overhauling Faciulities/Infrastructure -----------3
Out of these 3, 2 facilities are at Karachi, and whats more, at the same location------> Faisal Base.

I see it as a simple case of mis co-ordination between all three services.

 

[fatman17]

I think we can have this discussion on a separate thread,
I need to ask PAF authorities one question........
why there is a duplication of efforts, when it comes to overhauling of helicopters of PAF.

1. First, it was over haul of Allouette helicopters. Pakistan Army has an elaborate facility of assembling and overhauling of Allouette III helicopters in Army Aviation Base Dhamial, Rawalpindi. This facility was established in 1974, by French. This facilty include everything from overhauling of structure, engines and transmission system. why PAF went for a saparate facilty for Allouette III helicopters.

2. In the same base, Overhaul;ing facility for MI-8 helicopters was established in 80s and then upgraded to overhauling of MI-17 helicopters in 2000. the first overhauled helicopter, MI-17 was handed to Army in 2002, (when PAF was learning to fly MI-17).

So this base, comes with a hands on experience and expertise in overhauling of Allouette III and MI-17 helicopters. so the question is why PAF want to have a separate infrastructure when a similar outfit exists in country.

you make a valid point but priorities, capacities and time could be issues or barriers to a combined facility.

 

[x_man]

I think we can have this discussion on a separate thread,
I need to ask PAF authorities one question........
why there is a duplication of efforts, when it comes to overhauling of helicopters of PAF.

1. First, it was over haul of Allouette helicopters. Pakistan Army has an elaborate facility of assembling and overhauling of Allouette III helicopters in Army Aviation Base Dhamial, Rawalpindi. This facility was established in 1974, by French. This facilty include everything from overhauling of structure, engines and transmission system. why PAF went for a saparate facilty for Allouette III helicopters.

2. In the same base, Overhaul;ing facility for MI-8 helicopters was established in 80s and then upgraded to overhauling of MI-17 helicopters in 2000. the first overhauled helicopter, MI-17 was handed to Army in 2002, (when PAF was learning to fly MI-17).

So this base, comes with a hands on experience and expertise in overhauling of Allouette III and MI-17 helicopters. so the question is why PAF want to have a separate infrastructure when a similar outfit exists in country.

Before a major overhaul takes place, each aircraft routinely undergoes minor inspections and checks after flying a certain number of hours . These inspections are of minor nature and can be done at the base level, generally know as Periodical inspections. But once an aircraft flies certain amount of hours, it has to thru major overhaul.

For example, you may find F-7 or Mirage's periodics at their respective bases ( masroor, mianwali, sargodha etc) but when they are due for Major overhaul, these all go to Kamra.

Similarly, as for Alt-IIIs and MI-171, airforce has its own facilities ( PAF FIasal) for minor inspections and so as Navy. But for the major overhaul these helis will still go to Dhamial.

 

[Blackpearl]

as for Alt-IIIs and MI-171, airforce has its own facilities ( PAF FIasal) for minor inspections and so as Navy. But for the major overhaul these helis will still go to Dhamial.

Negetive! Sir,

PAF Allouettes are overhauled at Karachi.
PN Allouettes are also Overhauled in PN Naval Air Stationh, Karachi.
Army Allouettes are Overhauled in Rawalpindi.

Allouettes fly 3200 hours before it is due for Overhaul.