Even as the criticality of imparting proper training to rookie pilots hangs in the balance, IAF and defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics have locked horns on the acquisition of new basic trainer aircraft (BTA). The defence ministry will soon have to step in to resolve the tussle.
Upset with the huge delay in development of the indigenous BTA, IAF has now formally asked MoD to approve its acquisition case for 37 more Swiss Pilatus PC-7 trainers to add to 75 such planes already ordered for Rs 2,896 crore last year.
A miffed HAL, however, wants MoD to reject the proposal. Contending its under-development HTT-40 aircraft will meet all the BTA requirements of IAF, the indigenous aircraft manufacturer says it will prove cheaper than the Swiss aircraft in the long run.
28/04/13 Rajat Pandit/Economic Times
