By Prasun Sonwalkar
London, Sep 28 (IANS) The first batch of Indian Air Force flying instructors has completed training on Hawk jets built at BAE Systems in Brough in north-east England as part of a one billion pound contract with the Indian government.
Six instructors completed their flying programme in the Hawk 132 aircraft at RAF Valley in Anglesey Brough, and Warton in Lancashire.
The instructors’ 10-week programme included ground school training, simulator sorties, avionics training, sea survival and flying training. Pilots were put through 15 flights each over a five-week period.
Reports from Hull say that the first of the Hawks will be delivered to the Indian Air Force later this year and instructors will develop a training system to equip the country’s next generation of frontline pilots.
Paul Comer, Indian Hawk senior instructor pilot, told the Hull Daily Mail: “The course has been very wide-ranging, covering all aspects of fast-jet flying training. Despite the unseasonable UK weather, the 90 required sorties have been flown in just five weeks using, on average, only two aircraft.
“This rate of flying is quite an achievement for the aircraft and all of the Indian Hawk team. The six pilots have all adapted well to the new aircraft and have achieved a good standard in all the disciplines.”
The first 24 aircraft of the contract are being built in Brough, with flight-testing in Warton. The remaining 42 Hawks are being manufactured under licence in Bangalore through a partnership with India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
The contract for 66 Hawk advanced jet trainers was finalised in 2003.