Various options
for procurement of Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) have been under
examination by the Government. No contract for the AJT has been
finalized, as yet. It would not be possible to lay down a time
limit for such a major procurement project. However, the Government
is keen on early finalisation of the issue.
In the year
2000-2001 total number of pilots killed were 15 and aircraft
lost were 27. The figures for the year 2001-2002 and 2002-2003
(upto Feb 17, 2003) were 09 and 20 and 07 and 21 respectively.
There is no
direct relationship between the aircraft crashes and the absence
of an AJT.
The measures
taken to enhance the quality of training to improve the skill
and confidence level of pilot trainees include (a) For ab-initio
training the flying syllabus of stage-I training have been increased
by 7 hours which includes 04 sorties of 0:45 hrs each of night
flying dual and 04 sorties of 1:00 hr each of close formation.
(b) Practice Procedure Platform & Cockpit Procedure Trainers
for all ab-initio trainer aircraft have been planned to be inducted.
This would enhance the ability of trainees to exercise sound
judgement, improve emergency handling capabilities and situational
awareness and (c) In stage-II training for fighter pilots, the
syllabus has been increased by 04 hrs to include Medium Level
Tactical Formation exercises. This would enhance the level of
confidence in a trainee to handle complex operational exercises
in next phase of training.
The effect
of the above measures can be assessed in next two to three years
when the pilots gain operational status at various squadrons
This information
was given by the Defence Minister Shri George Fernandes in a
written reply to Shri JS Brar and Shri V Vetriselvan in Lok
Sabha today.
