Air Marshal N.A.K. Browne AOC-in-C Western Air Command and Lieutenant General P.C. Bhardwaj alongwith aircrew at Nyoma ALG after the first ever fixed wing aircraft landing at Nyoma, in Eastern Ladakh on September 18, 2009. Photo Credit: PIBSeptember 18, 2009, (Sawf News) - The Indian Air Force activated its Nyoma Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) in Ladakh, J&K, for fixed wing operation for the first time ever on September 18, 2009.
An An-32 piloted by Shaurya Chakra awardee Group Captain S C Chafekar and carrying Western Air Command (WAC) chief Air Marshal N A K Browne and Northern Army Commander Lt Gen P C Bhardwarj, landed at Nyoma at 0625 hours.
Situated at 13,300' the Nyoma landing ground, which is just 23 km from Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, was earlier used only for helicopter operations.
An engineer regiment of the Army's 14 Corps recently upgraded the landing ground to facilitate fixed-wing transport aircraft operations from the airstrip for the first time.
The Indian Air Force activated its Nyoma Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) in Ladakh, J&K, for fixed wing operation for the first time ever on September 18, 2009.The IAF had earlier upgraded ALGs at Daulat Beg Oldi in May and Fuk Che in November last year for An-32 operations.
The activation of the airstrip for medium haul transport aircraft will facilitate quick mobilization of troops along the LAC with China and ensure adequate supply to troops during winter months when roads get blocked by snow fall and landslides.
However, the use of air transport for mobilization has its limitations because frequent inclement weather in the region limits air operations.
China has already built an all weather highway parallel to the LAC with lead in roads to its border post. The task was relatively easy for China to accomplish because its side of the border is a plateau region less prone to snow and land slides.
There has lately been unusual Chinese troop movement close to the LAC and troop and helicopter incursions into Indian territory have been reported by the Indian Army.
Nyoma, Jammu and Kashmir
News Copyright © Sawf News. May not be reproduced without explicit written permission