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Journalism of Courage
Soon after dashing off three letters to government-owned aviation major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, doubting its shop floor quality checks, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has gone a step further.
The IAF is understood to have ordered that every squadron which converts to the upgraded MiG-21 Bison must spend six months at the MiG factory in Ojhar before accepting the aircraft.
PRO (Air Force) Sqn Ldr Mahesh Upasni refused comment on the IAF’s reasons to shift the squadron to Ojhar. It has come to notice, though, that a new Russian radar — Kopyo — on board the Bison has ‘‘performed below expectations’’.
A senior IAF official said: ‘‘The squadron has been moved, keeping in mind the weather and visibility conditions for flying.’’ On the radar lapses, he said: ‘‘The equipment is still in its warranty period and we are trying to extract the maximum out of it.’’
It is learnt that the orders were issued by Air Chief Marshal S. Krishnaswamy earlier this year and the first squadron has just come back to Sirsa after six months in Ojhar. South Block sources said the decision was taken by Air Headquarters to ensure that the MiG-21 Bison met with stringent quality checks.
While the MiG upgrade programme started last year, alarms started ringing in Air Headquarters when two MiG-21 Bisons crashed. Successive courts of inquiry into the accidents revealed the flame outs had occurred due to faults found in the rotary slide valve.
The Air Headquarters had sent three letters — on November 25, 2002; February 25, 2003 and June 18, 2003 — to HAL Chairman N.R. Mohanty, pointing out major lacunae in quality controls at HAL. One letter even said the accidents ‘‘shook our confidence’’ in quality control checks conducted at HAL.
It was after this that Krishnaswamy issued orders that squadrons flying the upgraded Bisons be posted at the Ojhar factory to check out quality. While the first squadron has returned, the next squadron has already been moved to Ojhar, sources said. The MiGs will be flown for at least 50 hours to detect snags in its operation.
