Western Air Command achieves 'zero' accident rate this year

For the first time in its history, the IAF's Western Air Command has achieved 'zero' accident rate in the 2008-09 period that ended on Tuesday.

For the first time in its history, the IAF's Western Air Command has achieved 'zero' accident rate in the 2008-09 period that ended on Tuesday.

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The WAC, the largest operational air command, carries about 35 per cent of all flying operations of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and its number of accidents has steadily reduced over the years.

"The Western Air Command has achieved a milestone by recording nil flying accident rate for the year 2008-09," WAC Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Air Marshal P K Barbora told PTI on Thursday.

"This is the first time in recorded history of the WAC that such a feat has been achieved," Barbora, an experienced fighter pilot, said.

Asked what he would attribute the successful air operations throughout the year to, the Air Marshal said the WAC had "a lot of luck" coupled with professional outlook to flying operations carried out year long.

"First and foremost, let me put it this way, we have to have a lot of luck. With luck, along with good professionalism, we can achieve 'zero' human error accidents," he said.

"This year, we have been very fortunate and in the recorded history it has never been attained," he added.