IAF top brass reshuffled

In addition, Air Marshal PV Naik, widely expected to succeed ACM Major to the top position, will take over as the Vice-Chief after Air Marshal BN Gokhale retires at the end of the year. Air Marshal S Radhakrishanan, SASO of the Bangalore-based Training Command, will move to take over as Commander-in-Chief of the Tri-Service Command at Port Blair.

The only helicopter pilot due for rotation, Air Marshal P P Rajkumar, has been asked to head for the Central Air Command CAC. Sources say that Rajkumar was keen on coming to the Western Air Command WAC, but his background as a helicopter aviator served as a deterrent.

It is also learnt that to avoid 8220;confusion8221; in future, a proposal has been mooted to 8220;designate8221; the posts of Air Vice-Chief, WAC Commander and the South Western Air Command SWAC Commander only for fighter pilots.