Antony contradicts IAF chief, says Human error ‘not major reason for crashes’

New Delhi: Contradicting the Indian Air Force (IAF) chief, Defence Minister A.K. Antony Monday told parliament that inexperience of pilots "is not" one of the major reasons for aircraft accidents, even as he pointed out that 30 combat planes and 10 helicopters have crashed in the last four years.
Antony, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, said the government is taking steps to train pilots to prevent air crashes due to human error.
"The inexperience of pilots is not one of the major reasons for aircraft accidents in the IAF," Antony said to questions on media reports in this regard.
On Air Force Day Oct 8 this year, the IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal Norman Anil Kumar Browne, had told reporters that the recent spate of MiG crashes was due to the inexperience of pilots in all but one case this year.
Antony said during the three years from April 1, 2008 to Dec 3, 2011, 30 fighter aircraft, including 16 MiG-21s, and 10 IAF helicopters had crashed.
12/12/11 IANS/Asian Age

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Categories: Safety Dec 2011