Auto-pilot system: IAF upgradation project hangs fire

The Jaguar crash, in which a senior pilot died last week, has once again brought into focus the lack of an auto-pilot system, which has been...

The Jaguar crash, in which a senior pilot died last week, has once again brought into focus the lack of an auto-pilot system, which has been envisaged in its much-delayed upgradation programme by Indian Air Force (IAF) authorities. The lack of the auto-pilot system has been found to play a critical role when pilots are ‘‘spatially disoriented’’ causing serious accidents.

This has been underscored by the fact that Jaguar crashes have involved senior experienced pilots. In fact, the January 27 crash claimed the life of Wing Commander P. Mukhopadhya, who was commanding the squadron.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, in its last report, blamed the Air HQ, Ministry of Defence, for the ‘‘failure’’ to ‘‘speed up acquisition of the auto-pilot system for the Jaguar aircraft.’’ The report said the delay was ‘‘operationally detrimental.’’

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Due to the ‘‘non-availability of the auto-pilot system, the Air Force not only lost four Jaguars costing Rs 141.40 crore’’ in flying accidents, but ‘‘three pilots also died in these accidents’’, the report said.

The CAG also noted that 35 Jaguars were ‘‘outdated’’ with first-generation navigation which was sanctioned ‘‘belatedly in November 1996’’ at a cost of Rs 158 crore but was yet to take off by 2001-02. The contract, the CAG report noted, is not expected to be ‘‘completed before 2006.’’

When contacted, an IAF spokesman confirmed that there had been a delay in the Jaguar upgradation programme due to ‘‘technical differences with the vendor.’’ However, the price negotiation committee for the upgradation, including an auto-pilot system, has finalised its report and the contract is expected to be signed in the coming weeks.