Indian Air Force chief inducts Light utility Dornier aircraft

New Delhi: The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria formally inducted the Flight Information system (FIS) Dornier aircraft into No 41 Squadron, the ‘Otters’, at a ceremony at Air Force Station Palam on Tuesday. The modified Dornier 228 aircraft have been acquired to undertake in-house calibration of navigational aids available after the implementation of modernised airfield infrastructure at IAF bases.

The IAF in 2015 had signed a contract to purchase 14 Dornier aircraft, which are flight inspection system planes, for Rs 1,090 crore from state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

"While the first aircraft was delivered on November 19, the second is expected to be delivered in early 2020," IAF said in a statement.

"The #HAL produced Dorniers are fitted with state of the art Flight Inspection System (FIS) and Ground Maintenance Support System (GMSS) calibration systems. Acquisition of the two modified Dorniers allows in-house calibration of Nav Aids at #IAF airfields under the MAFI project" the IAF tweeted.

The 19-seater HAL Dornier 228 aircraft is a highly versatile multi-purpose light transport aircraft. It has been developed specifically to meet the manifold requirements of utility and commuter transport, third level services and air-taxi operations, coast guard duties and maritime surveillance.