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Indian Air Force - News Folder - March 2006
Chopper pilot slotted to take over as next Chief of Air Staff
[Hindustan Times, 15 March 2006]
By Man Aman Singh Chhina
Chandigarh: The Indian Air Force (IAF) is abuzz with the news that for the first time in its history a helicopter pilot is slotted to take over the appointment of the Chief of Air Staff. Air Marshal Fali Homi Major, presently serving as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command, will be the senior most Air Marshal in service when the present air chief, Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi, retires on March 31, 2007. All Chiefs of Air Staff till now have been fighter pilots and though there is no policy barring pilots from the helicopter and transport streams from reaching the apex rank, no such pilot has been senior enough to get the appointment. There is considerable excitement amongst the transport and helicopter pilots in the IAF and there is widespread speculation whether Air Marshal Major will get to be the air chief or would his appointment be circumvented in some manner. In his present rank, Air Marshal Major is scheduled to retire on May 31, 2007. All Air Marshals of Commander-in-Chief level senior to him would have retired by February 2007 paving the way for him to take over from Air Chief Marshal Tyagi.
Air Marshal Fali Major was the Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations) prior to his present appointment. Commissioned in 1967 he was one of the youngest pilots to be awarded the highest helicopter category 'A' and instrument rating 'MG'. He was also one of the first pilots in the IAF to convert on to twin-turbine helicopters. He has commanded the first Mi-17 chopper unit as a Wing Commander in Siachen Glacier. As a Group Captain, he commanded another Mi-17 helicopter unit in Indian Peace Keeping Force operations in Sri Lanka. He has commanded Air Force Station at Sarsawa and hit the headlines when he led a daring rescue operation at Tiber Trail resorts near Parwanoo in Himachal Pradesh. Around 11 people were rescued from a stranded cable car in the middle of a valley and he was decorated with 'Shaurya Chakra'. Air Marshal Major has also served as Air Officer Commanding Leh after the Kargil conflict and Assistant Chief of the Air Staff at Air Headquarters.
[Hindustan Times, 15 March 2006]
By Man Aman Singh Chhina
Chandigarh: The Indian Air Force (IAF) is abuzz with the news that for the first time in its history a helicopter pilot is slotted to take over the appointment of the Chief of Air Staff. Air Marshal Fali Homi Major, presently serving as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command, will be the senior most Air Marshal in service when the present air chief, Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi, retires on March 31, 2007. All Chiefs of Air Staff till now have been fighter pilots and though there is no policy barring pilots from the helicopter and transport streams from reaching the apex rank, no such pilot has been senior enough to get the appointment. There is considerable excitement amongst the transport and helicopter pilots in the IAF and there is widespread speculation whether Air Marshal Major will get to be the air chief or would his appointment be circumvented in some manner. In his present rank, Air Marshal Major is scheduled to retire on May 31, 2007. All Air Marshals of Commander-in-Chief level senior to him would have retired by February 2007 paving the way for him to take over from Air Chief Marshal Tyagi.
Air Marshal Fali Major was the Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations) prior to his present appointment. Commissioned in 1967 he was one of the youngest pilots to be awarded the highest helicopter category 'A' and instrument rating 'MG'. He was also one of the first pilots in the IAF to convert on to twin-turbine helicopters. He has commanded the first Mi-17 chopper unit as a Wing Commander in Siachen Glacier. As a Group Captain, he commanded another Mi-17 helicopter unit in Indian Peace Keeping Force operations in Sri Lanka. He has commanded Air Force Station at Sarsawa and hit the headlines when he led a daring rescue operation at Tiber Trail resorts near Parwanoo in Himachal Pradesh. Around 11 people were rescued from a stranded cable car in the middle of a valley and he was decorated with 'Shaurya Chakra'. Air Marshal Major has also served as Air Officer Commanding Leh after the Kargil conflict and Assistant Chief of the Air Staff at Air Headquarters.