The Air Force is the youngest of the three services, which was commissioned on 8th October 1932 with four single propeller engine wapiti air crafts, six pilot officers and two airmen. Today as sentinels of the sky, it guards the countries sky against external aggression from air and with active participation of Army and Navy it supplements and complements their defence and offence endeavours.
Today the Indian Air Force is the fourth largest Air Force in the world and has some of the most sophisticated fighter air crafts like Mirage 2000, MIG 29, MIG 27, Jaguar, MIG 25, MIG 23 and MIG 21. Some more are likely to join the band wagon. The transport wing has massive size IL 72 (Gajraj), AN 32 and other smaller air crafts.
Helicopter squadrons have a fleet of small and large helicopters like MI 17, MI 26, and MI 35. Thus our Air Force is one of the major air arms to be reckoned with in the world and can boast of the best trained men and material force which is engaged in the defence of our country.
Nature of Work
Major constituents of the Indian Air Force are the air crafts, both for defence and offence. The aircraft is complemented and supplemented by ground defence missiles. Hence the entire service is engaged in the flying of air crafts and the Pilot is the key person in this organisation. For operational readiness of the flying machines an infrastructural strength of highly trained and qualified man power is required.
Other than the officers in the flying branch, the Ground Duty Branch is constituted by the following.
-- Technical Branch
-- Logistics Branch
-- Administrative Branch
Administrative officer
-- Accounts Branch
-- Meteorology Branch
-- Medical Branch
-- Education Branch
Flying branch
Flying Branch has four categories of aircraft flyer's:
--- Fighters and fighter bombers
--- Bombers
--- Transport
--- Helicopters
Pilots usually specialise in one type of aircraft. The navigators fly in the transport and bomber air crafts only. They assist the Pilots in navigation. Pilots are employed exclusively in flying duties, however, they may also be assigned other duties.
Fighter Pilots are trained in air fights to shoot down enemy aircraft and attack ground targets in enemy territory. They fly at 2 to 2.5 times the speed of sound. Fighter bombers can match this speed today. Bombers drop bombs, missiles and other explosives on enemy targets. They are equipped with electronic devices, radars and cameras for pinpoint bombing and target acquisition.
Navigators in these air crafts direct Pilots to the site by navigational equipments, radars and other optical devices and release the bombs. Transport Pilots carry men, material and explosives to required places. They also carry army personnel, their weapons, guns and light vehicles from one theatre of war to another. Navigators in these air crafts chart the route, supervise loading of men and equipment, work out fuel requirements and check the flight path with maps during the flight.
Helicopters are used for carrying personnel and material including hardware and ration to those places and heights and terrains where it is not possible to make an airfield or road but a helipad can be made. Helicopters are used to support both Air force and Army and if needed even Navy as it can land on the ship’s deck.
Technical branch
Engineers work in either of the two areas, one dealing with the aircraft and its weapon system are Aeronautical Engineers in Mechanical Branch - AE (M). They are concerned with the operational readiness of air crafts so that these machines can deliver the maximum punch to the enemy when needed. The other Aeronautical Engineers in Electronic Branch - AE(L) maintain most sophisticated electronic net works of communications from ground to air and vice verse ; install, maintain, operate defence radar systems ; operate other electronic gadgets, sophisticated computers; maintain and operate other ground defence electronics equipments. Hence airworthiness of fleet, effectiveness of aircraft as a weapon in offence and defence, grounds defence through surface to air missiles, etc., requires worthy and intelligent manpower for this branch of service.
Administrative branch
Administrative officer
An Administrative branch officer is responsible for personnel management and administration of the Air Force bases and plays a very vital role as a trained personnel manager for motivating the work-force to deliver the desired result through a high order of operational preparedness, necessary for the Air Force.
Air traffic control officer
An admin branch officer is also required to function as an Air Traffic Control Officer to provide control and advisory services in order to enable the pilots of military and civil air crafts to conduct their flights with total safety in all weather conditions.
Fighter controller
As an important part of front line organisation of air defence systems, the Administrative Branch Officer may be required to operate as a Fighter Controller to counter enemy threats from the air by using modern electronic counter-offensive equipment.
Logistics branch
A Logistics Officer is responsible for the logistic support in IAF. He is responsible for provisioning of aircraft spares, mechanical transport, fuel, armament and explosives, flying and other clothing items, rations and other items essential for day to day running of the organisation and sustaining its manpower. The Logistic Officer, by making use of the latest material management techniques, accomplishes the challenging task of supply management efficiently and in a cost effective manner.
Accounts branch
An Accounts Officer in the IAF is required to analyse the cost and fund requirements, monitor the expenditure and unit funds, plan and forecast the budgetary requirement of the Air Force. He functions as a financial controller with diversified activities where accounting functions play an important role not only in financial matters, but also in the welfare and inter-personal relationships which have a direct bearing on the morale of the Air Force.
Education branch
The Education Branch officers are mainly responsible for designing training programmes which incorporate the latest technological developments. In training institutions they teach a variety of subjects like Science, Computer Technology, Military Science, etc. As an Education Officer at a station, he is responsible for guiding the personnel in furthering their academic qualifications. He also organises and runs the Air Force Schools for children of Air Force personnel.
Meteorology branch
Accurate weather forecasting is one of the important tools of success in any operation and for the IAF its importance needs no emphasis. Success of an Air Operation largely depends on meticulous planning which incorporates the prevailing weather conditions in the area of operation. A Meteorology Branch officer undertakes day to day scientific work in the Air Force, using the latest state-of-art technology.
Medical and Dental branch
Officers from Army Medical Corps are seconded to Air Force. Air Force runs some hospitals and clinics where even Army and Navy personnel are entitled for treatment and vice verse. Armed Forces Medical core has a dental wing which is responsible for dental treatment of officers and troops .
