Tuesday, March 14 2006 12:37 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bidar (Karnataka): As part of its efforts to minimise accidents and improve the quality of training of fighter and transport pilots, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is all set to introduce training using simulators in a big way in the coming days.

"What we are doing now is introducing modern technology in terms of computerisation. We are moving towards simulator process of training," Chief of the training command, Air Marshal B N Gokhale said here.

With the help of simulators, pilots can experience different kinds of effects while sitting inside an artificial cockpit and can go in for various manoeuvres and combat profiles while staying on the ground, he said, adding the IAF headquarters is in touch with Bangalore-based Macmet and other companies for building a simulator for Dornier aircraft.

Macmet has already developed a simulator for the AN-32 transport aircraft and pilots are being trained on that at the training command of the IAF in Bangalore, Gokhale told a group of visiting reporters.

Chief Instructor at the Fixed Wing Flying Faculty at the Yelahanka Airforce base, Group Captain G P Singh said simulator training allowed trainee pilots to fly to the desired limit, otherwise very risky on an actual aircraft.

Simulator training is considered safer and cost effective, as it does not involve putting a pilot and the machine at risk.

"It saves on aviation fuel and cuts down the cost of operation to a great extent besides limiting the rate of accidents while training," Singh said.

"We are extensively using simulators for the AN-32 aircraft. We can simulate almost everything what we do in flying. So whatever you want to practice in air, you can actually practice on the ground," he said, adding that once trainees acquire proficiency in simulated flying, they are put on the real machine in phases.

The Bangalore-based Institute of Aerospace Medicine, which checks the physical fitness of those wanting to be pilots using simulators also plans to import a high performance high dynamic centrifuge from Austria.

"In the new simulator, the pilots will have the option to choose the aircraft they want to fly and configure the aircraft accordingly. They will even be able to choose their sortie profile as well as combat profile," said Group Captain V N Jha, Chief Research Officer at the institute.

He said the simulator will come to India in September 2008 and will cost Rs 70 crore.

According Gokhale, IAF is supposed to receive four simulators along with a batch of Hawk aircraft in September 2007.