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Journalism of Courage
In a first major reshuffle after Air Chief Marshal F H Major took over as Chief of Air Staff CAS, Air Marshal P K Barbora, currently heading the Eastern Air Command EAC, has been given the charge of the sensitive Western Air Command WAC.
The EAC, set to receive the most advanced fighting planes in the coming years, will be headed by Air Marshal SC Bhan, another fighter pilot who is currently the Senior Air Staff Officer SASO at WAC.
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.
