Frustrated young engineers, designers eject from HAL cockpit | Poor pay, lack of challenging assignment & mentoring propel exodus | MoD should hike salaries of lower Grades: HAL

By Anantha Krishnan M & Sharan Poovanna

Bangalore: Hundreds of young engineers and designers, who have joined Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) as design and management trainees (DTs & MTs), have ejected from the company cockpit in the last two years. While meager pay is the primary reason for their exit, lack of decent amenities, furniture, computers, hygienic food, challenging assignments and zero mentoring have also propelled the exodus.
Express' efforts to get an official version went in vain with HAL top brass failing to give any forthright response (see below). This has forced us to rely on conflicting figures given by our sources, directly involved with the recruitment and training process. While one set put the number of youngsters quitting at around 300 (162 from January 2010 to March 2011 & around 100 from March to October 2011), another official rounded it off to 400 (241 from January 2010 to March 2011 & 160 till date).
HAL started hiring MTs & DTs in large numbers in 2005 after undergoing agony, thanks to the poor-sighted recruitment ban in the mid-80s. “We suffered in the past due to the ban, and now it's hurting us even more. We spent lakhs training these youngsters for an entire year, before posting them at Divisions. They are even exposed to IITs and put through tailor-made training modules at reputed private firms,” an official with the Human Resources (HR) Department said.
Close to 80 per cent of people quitting are in Grade I, II & III, while 15 per cent are in Grade IV &  V and  the remaining five per cent above Grade VI. There are close to 10,000 officers (Grade-level) and 24,000 employees (Scale-level) in HAL working in centers spread across Bangalore, Nasik, Hyderabad, Korwa, Koraput, Kanpur, Lucknow, Barrackpore, Kasargode and  Delhi. HAL wants to have a combined strength (officers and employees put together) of 39,000, when the new perspective plan takes shape.
Sources also told Express that HAL had moved many proposals to MoD, seeking a hike in salaries of its employees on part with the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC). All the proposals were shot-down by the MoD, pointing out the impact move could have on other public sector undertakings (PSUs). “While HAL Grade-1 officer gets gross salary of around Rs 28,224, Grade-II Rs 36,736 and Grade-III Rs 46,144 – including DA and HR -- an equivalent position in NTPC gets 20-30 per cent more,” sources added.
HAL insiders are accusing the MoD of doing little to protect their talent, being poached by the private sector. “While on the one hand the MoD is encouraging private players in defence set-up, nothing is being done to safeguard our talent. Private companies are hiring our ready-made man-power, of a majority are well-trained engineers and designers in aviation. Junior-level officers are our biggest concern as they are getting less salaries,” says an official. When contacted in Delhi, Manoj Sounik, Joint Secretary (Aerospace), MoD, washed his hands off by saying he is not authorised to speak to the media.
Sources said that during exit interviews, many youngsters listed their woes fearlessly. “Challenging assignments and better facilities are two major factors. Some increments given to the lower grade were also withdrawn following pay panel guidelines. Youngsters have to be handled with care. The top management is always fighting for their chairs, leaving the youngsters in no-man's land," sources said.

Nayak retires on Oct 31.

I am not aware of exodus, says Nayak: HAL head A. Nayak has been ducking the media ever since he took over in April 2009. When Express contacted him to find out the measures being put in to stem the outflow of youngsters, Nayak, who is retiring on October 31, said: “I am not aware of anyone quitting. I don't have time to comment on these issues. I am busy in a meeting.”
However, his colleague Director Human Resources V.M. Chamola, a recent appointee in HAL, said: “We have taken quite a number of measures to address this issue. When you compare the percentage with some of the global aviation companies our attrition rates are less. I don't have the figures right away as I am in the middle of an appointment,” Chamola said.

Copyright@The New Sunday Express

Swadeshi pride vs software stability? Army keeps DRDO on toes over UAV Nishant induction

 (Above) A rare photo of Nishant captured soon after its release from a mobile launcher. (Below) Indian Army officials inspect unmanned aerial vehicle Nishant during confirmatory trials at Pokhran.
Photo: Ministry of Defence

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore: The Indian Army is yet to induct the desi Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Nishant even after completing the confirmatory trials in Pokhran and Chandan ranges in February this year. Its makers in Bangalore – the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) – a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) installation, had then gone to the town trumpeting the UAV's success.
“The successful flight trials were conducted by the Army before taking delivery of a set of four Nishant together with ground support equipment (GSE). The performance of the pay load sensors in particular has been better than even the imported UAVs with the Army . It is expected that more of such equipment will soon be purchased (read as eight) by the users," the DRDO had said in an official release issued in February.
While the ADE top brass refused to any share information, sighting the sensitives involved at this stage, sources in the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in New Delhi confirmed to The New Indian Express, that post-confirmatory trials, another last set of evaluation was also done by the Indian Army in September this year, at two DRDO labs. “As far as we know, the final tests were for electro-magnetic interference (EMI), electro-magnetic compatibility (EMC) and maintenance evaluation trials (MET),” MoD sources said.
The General Staff Qualitative Requirements (GSQR) for the Nishant project was given to the DRDO by the Indian Army in 1999, soon after the developmental trails were over. While, some quarters blame the Army for changing the GSQRs a number of times, the DRDO too was accused of taking too much time in executing the technology changes.
The four Nishants waiting to be inducted, at a cost of Rs 80 crore, have onboard a forward looking infra red (FLIR) camera which would aid night operations. The upgraded Nishant can spot a tank-size object at a slant range of six-seven km while flying at an altitude of of 1.5 km.
While the DRDO might be pondering over the induction procedures of Army, sources indicate that a decision would be officially announced within two months. The DRDO is pitching hard on Nishant's USPs, including low repair cost and quick software maintenance modes. On its part, the Indian Army is ensuring that they have a UAV loaded with their choice of features – and not one thrust upon them to satisfy the swadeshi pride, but operational efficiencies.
Army had issues with Nishant's video and tracking qualities, which the DRDO now says are all fixed.The Indian Army might place an order for eight more Nishants, including GSE, at a cost of Rs 160 crore, once the much-awaited induction of first four is over.

NISHANT TIMELINES

Sanctioned as a development project: 1991
Development trials: 1999
User evaluation & trials: 2000-2002
Firm Army order for 4 LSPs: 2006
Value of the order: Rs 80 crore
Confirmatory trials: 2010-2011
Post-confirmatory tests: September 2011
Total R&D cost so far: Rs 60 crore
Likely additional orders: 8
(Source: Ministry of Defence)

Copyright@The New Indian Express

A long weight! Bulky undercarriage delayed LCA NP-1 maiden flight; ADA-HAL burn the midnight oil baking Antony's X'Mas gift!

LCA NP-1 during the EGR at Old Bangalore Airport in September 2011. Photo: DRDO 

By Anantha Krishnan M.

Express News Service

Bangalore: It's official. The undercarriage of the naval version (Naval Prototype NP-1) of India's Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) is bulky by 400-500 kg. The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), who are jointly developing the NP-1, is burning the midnight oil to iron out what they call 'nagging developmental issues.' NP-1 is a trainer with tandem seating and NP-2 will be a single-seat fighter.

Insiders associated with the programme attributed the delay in NP-1's first flight to the undercarriage. “In September 2010, we observed that the undercarriage was over-sized. During traction-retraction and the undercarriage's incorporation into the fuselage, there were many surprises awaiting us. This is a very critical piece with the hitting impact on the ship going to be much higher,” an official with HAL's Aircraft Research and Design Centre (ARDC) said. The official claimed that the issues related to the arrestor hook, landing gear and LEVCONs (control surfaces which allow for better low-speed handling) are being addressed completely. Interestingly, the undercarriage was built by HAL.

With the Naval Project Team (NPT) monitoring every bit of the NP-I closely, the official told The New Indian Express that all future aircraft in the naval programme will come with a new undercarriage. In September this year, NP-1 had successfully completed the engine ground run (EGR) and the taxi trials are set to begin soon. “We will fly the NP-I with the same undercarriage making some slight corrections. If a lighter undercarriage has to be integrated at this stage, it will delay the programme further. We cannot rush the project. Young boys are putting their hearts out and working seven days a week. Making planes are not child's play,” the official said.

Sources at ADA say that efforts are in full swing to make the fly NP-1 ahead of Navy Day (December 4). Capt Maolankar of National Flight Test Centre is likely to fly NP-1 on its maiden flight. During the roll out of NP-1 on July 6, 2010, an excited Defence Minister A K Antony had said that he was confident that the ADA-HAL-Navy team would swing it and make NP-1 fly by December end. “It will be the best New Year gift to the nation,” Antony had said then.

With yet another New Year throttling down for a landing, it is left to be seen whether Team NP-1 can gift Antony an X'Mas gift in the form of a first flight.

Weight and watch!

Copyright@The New Indian Express

Admiral Dawson was truly a different spirit: Associates

Admiral Dawson next to his love – 1961 model Austin Cambridge. His close friend B.G. Koshi told The New Indian Express that the Admiral had often tough time in finding spares for the car, forcing him to go behind local mechanics to get them manufactured.
Photo Courtesy: Thelma Dawson

By Anantha Krishnan M

Bangalore: Friends, relatives, musicians, serving and retired armed forces officials and scientists went down memory lane capturing their fond memories and contributions made by their beloved sailor Admiral Dawson. They say his administration skills, vision, care for fellowmen, love for music and philanthropic deeds are characteristics that made Admiral Dawson truly a different spirit.

A visionary & inspiring leader: Navy | Commander-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, Kochi, Vice Admiral K.N. Sushil told The New Indian Express from Kochi that Dawson was an inspiring military leader and visionary helmsman for the Navy. “As he rest his oars, the Navy remembers him in gratitude for his great contributions to the growth of the Indian Navy. A lot of what we see in the Navy today was the result of his vision including the INA at Ezhimala,” Vice Admiral Sushil said.Former Vice Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral (Retd) Ram Pream Suthan says that Admiral Dawson will be remembered for a long time for his uprightness. “He was a very straight officer, who pioneered in building the infrastructure for the Indian Navy. He had great leadership qualities,” Suthan said.

Simple man: Lamba | To Air Vice-Marshal (Retd) Ajit Lamba, former Commandment, Aircraft System Testing Establishment (ASTE), Bangalore, Admiral Dawson was a very simple. “He was a gentleman to the core and was a very talented officer. We will all miss him for a long time to come,” said Lamba, the father-figure for the flying fraternity said.

Man with a mission: MoD | “It is a great loss to India and the defence fraternity in particular with the demise of Admiral Dawson. He was a man with a great mission and always carried inspiring thoughts,” Sitanshu Kar, Ministry of Defence, Principal Spokesperson, New Delhi, told this paper, over the phone.

A great institution: Doctor | The doctors and nursing staff at the Command Hospital, Bangalore, say that Admiral Dawson was a great fighter even during his last days. “He was a legend and an institution himself with great integrity. He was a source of inspiration for all the men in uniform. His philanthropic deeds will be missed by many,” says Air Vice Marshal Anil Behl, Commandant, Command Hospital.

We will miss the musical nites: Friend | For Samual Samson, music teacher with the Cathedral School, Admiral Dawson was a father-figure. “He encouraged lots of musicians and even played along with them on his favourite Broadwood piano. The Admiral Dawson Rolling Trophy for achievers is a sought-after award at Royal School of Music in London. We will miss the evening parties,” says Samson.

(The Admiral's body was buried with military hours in Bangalore on Oct. 25. R.I.P.)

HOMECOMING: DRDO 2.0 triggers reverse brain drain; tech challenges key reason, claims Saraswat

By Anantha Krishnan M

Bangalore: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is hit by a strange phenomenon. Often in the news for delayed and derailed projects, the DRDO top brass are now on Cloud 9, with hundreds of non-resident Indian (NRI) scientists making a beeline to be part of India’s gen-next defence projects. Confirming this reverse brain drain trend to Express, DRDO chief V K Saraswat said requests are pouring in from NRIs from the US, Canada and UK. Last year, we hired 40 NRIs and 400-plus are waiting to get in.

DRDO is also in the process of recruiting 2,000 more scientists and hopes to get the nod by the beginning of the 12th Plan. DRDO needs mighty brains to work on its big-ticket missile projects, including the Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MR-SAM), and the Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile (SR-SAM). The MR-SAM project is worth around `10,000 crore, while the SR-SAM sits on a whopping 30,000 crore.

(To access the full report, hit Expressbuz)
COPYRIGHT@

COFFINS FOR THE ENEMY: Ex-MiG pilot goes on a solo down memory lane defending the mean machine

ALL PHOTOS: AUGUST 2003

(Above) A Mig-21 aircraft on static display at Jamnagar. (Below) The author in uniform (extreme left) in the ante-room of the Officers' Mess at Air Force Station, Jamnagar with some of the squadron pilots and ladies from No. 108 Squadron "Hawk Eyes" during the media interaction.

(Above) A Flying Officer (unidentified) of No. 108 Squadron taking on a question posed by the journalists. (Below) Some of the squadron pilots and ladies from No. 108 Squadron "Hawk Eyes" during the media interaction. Please note the Mig-21 painting with reheat showing.

(Above) The then Commanding Officer of "Hawk Eyes" Squadron, Wg Cdr Mohan Rao in uniform (left) in the ante-room of the Officers' Mess at Air Force Station, Jamnagar. (Below) The view of the ante-room of the Officers' Mess with the journalists seated facing the IAF men.

 By  Gp. Capt. Tarun Kumar Singha, Chief PRO (Defence)

Gp. Capt. T.K. Singha

The recent Indian Air Force (IAF) Mig-21 accidents, unlike in the past, were not adversely reported upon by the media, this time around.

But the first few years at the turn of the new millennium wasn’t exactly too pleasing for the IAF leadership. Following a spate of crashes, media dubbed the mainstay of IAF - the Mig-21 - with an unsavoury sobriquet of ‘flying coffin’.

Every Mig-21 crash recounted tragic stories of young pilots being done to their deathly doom.

Protracted delays in acquiring advanced jet trainers weren’t helping the cause either. Stories of IAF fighter pilots not getting willing brides also began appearing in the media.

Public perceptions needed to be quickly corrected. The IAF’s Institute of Flight Safety had statistics that proved IAF accident rate was not alarming; on the contrary, comparable with some of the leading air forces around the world.

To dispel notions of its dipping safety record, the then Defence Minister also undertook a sortie in a Mig-21, on August 1, 2003, to silence critics.

Against this backdrop, the IAF in August 2003 set about rallying the youth of Gujarat, having a sizeable ‘recruit-able male population’ (RMP), to join IAF. A motivational ‘air show’ for the public was planned at Air Force Station, Jamnagar.

A new PR office of the Ministry of Defence, meanwhile, had just been set up for the region at Ahmedabad in 2003. Being a major public event, media was specially invited and flown from Ahmedabad to Jamnagar.  

Often, most complex scenarios get resolved with most basic a solution – with open mindedness. Until then, none bothered to hear what the IAF pilots, who flew these supersonic jets, had to say. It was decided to give them a chance to have their say.

The plan was simple. The PRO was to moderate a one-on-one session of the media with pilots of the Jamnagar-based Mig-21 Squadron. For an added measure, spouses of those married also joined them. There were to be no other senior IAF officials present for the interaction that might ‘inhibit’ the young pilots.

The Commanding Officer (CO), Flight Commander (Flt Cdr) and their ‘boys’ were all there. Seated against the backdrop of their squadron crest, and a picture of a Mig-21, the squadron pilots were ready to face the media.

After brief introductory remarks, the interaction began with a barrage of questions. Banal questions were answered with patience; and the serious ones, with answers that were supposed to run shivers down an adversary’s spine.

On a query as to what they thought of the Mig-21 flight made earlier in the month by the Defence Minister to endorse its safety record, a young pilot clarified: “I don’t need an endorsement from anyone. As long as my CO, my Flt Cdr continue to fly, I will also do the same,” reasserting the trust on his superiors and the aircraft to the hilt.

To the most pervasive question of the Mig-21s being dubbed ‘flying coffins’, the Flt Cdr said: “You may associate the word ‘flying coffins’ with our Mig-21s. Because that’s exactly what we intend delivering to our enemies when we fly in it (Mig-21).”

The headlines were already being framed at the venue itself.

The squadron ladies then blew to smithereens, the issue of ‘luckless marriages’ for young fighter pilots. Most echoed that they were aware of their husband’s high-risk profession, but marrying them was a conscious decision.

They stated their pilot-husbands were far safer flying their Mig-21s than driving on Indian roads that had death lurching in almost all bends. Despite the ‘flying coffin’ stories, they were ‘happy and proud’ marrying the ‘dashing brave hearts’ who flew them.

Seldom are journalists overwhelmed at media interactions, but this one surely did them in. The meeting was to have a profound impact on the way media reported on the IAF Mig-21 accidents from thereon.

‘Flying coffin’ as a cliché, is almost a taboo now for media when reporting Mig-21 accidents in the present times.

The IAF went on to induct the ‘Hawks’ Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) in February 2008, bringing with it a paradigm shift in the training curriculum of ab-initio fighter pilots before their transition to supersonic jets.

While an array of modern fighter jets are set to metamorphose the combat potential of the IAF in the years ahead, Mig-21 pilots of the yore and the present, would still swear by the aircraft’s potency, capable of being one among the varied aerial platforms that could deliver ‘coffins’ to the enemies.

(The author is an ex-Mig-21 pilot & was the PRO (Defence) at Ahmedabad in 2003.)

 (Do you have an interesting defence-aviation story to share? If so, email them to anantha.ak@gmail.com or ak.tarmak007@gmail.com. Also check Write Now!)

THE ADMIRAL DAWSON OBIT: Chief sets out on a last voyage orphaning friends, pianos & Austin Cambridge

MY WAY: Admiral Dawson entertained his guests and friends by playing his favourite songs My Way (Frank Sinatra) and Danny Boy (Jim Reeves). He had three pianos and a 1961 model Austin Cambridge as prized possessions. His sister Thelma Dawson (85) and close friends will now miss the Maestro's magic moments. R.I.P. Photo: Courtesy Thelma Dawson\B.G. Koshi

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore: He missed his 87th birthday by a whisker. His friends and family were hoping to hear Admiral Dawson play Frank Sinatra My Way and Jim Reeves Danny Boy on his piano, next month. The Admiral would have played host to his friends -- cracking jokes, sharing sea-time stories and sipping on his favourite scotch.
But the birthday boy started a new voyage on Sunday – a destination longer than the sea he dated. Orphaned with his demise are three pianos and a 1961 model Austin Cambridge car he brought from England. The driver is no more!
Admiral Dawson who scripted the 'blue water navy' concept so that his men could undertake deep sea missions, was a simple man. He was also responsible for setting up the Karwar Seabird Project (INS Kadamba) in Karnataka and the Indian Naval Academy (INA) at Ezhimala in Kerala. He personally flew over Ezhimala in the late 70s to finalise the land for INA.
His close associate for over 20 years B.G. Koshi, a businessman in Bangalore, shared an interesting story. “While he was the ADC to late President Rajendra Prasad, serving liquor was banned at Rashtrapathi Bhawan. The President's order was to drink milk, instead. The Admiral  wanted a drink and requested the President to allow him to have the milk of human-kind and drove to the naval mess,” recalls Koshi.
He shared a very special relationship with his sister Thelma Dawson. The Admiral was a bachelor and it was mandatory to have a lady as the hostess when he became the CNS. He refused to get married and his sister Thelma Dawson, now 85, was instead given the status of the hostess (First Lady). “He dated the sea and didn't want to get married. He felt that he will be doing a great injustice to the girl, with he being on ship all the time. Sea was his passion. He loved his mother a lot. He was a man full of life. We will miss all his jokes and music,” Thelma told The New Indian Express.
Last birthday, the Admiral expressed doubts of being around to celebrate another one. "We used to fondly call him 'Chief' and he told me that he might not be there next time and offered me another drink. May be he knew that...," says Koshi.
Cheers 'Chief.'
R.I.P.

(Copyright@The New Indian Express)

R.I.P. Admiral Dawson

R.I.P. Admiral Dawson

Former Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dawson passed away in Bangalore on Sunday. He was 87. The cremation is scheduled on October 25 with military honors. Detailed Obit soon.

SKY TEST: Tejas LSP-7 all set for first flight; fuel leak plugged, user trials soon

Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

BANGALORE: Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots will officially get a taste of home-grown Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas with the 12th aircraft from the project flight-line and the seventh from the limited series production (LSP-7) block set to kiss the skies soon. Sources told Express that the crucial engine ground run (EGR) was over and the fighter was now being put on low-speed taxi trials (LSTT). “We will do the LSTT before October 24 and the high-speed taxi trials (HSTT) after that. Finally, we will do the nose-up trial leading to the first flight,” sources said. The aircraft is expected to do the LSTT at 150 kmph and the HSTT at 250 kmph.

Though the LSP-7 was scheduled to fly in August, the project hit an air pocket when fuel leak was noticed in one of the aircraft during taxiing. “We had to ground the entire Tejas fleet as safety was our top-most priority. We lost the months of May, June, July and August with not much of testing happening,” sources said.

(Full story in Expressbuzz)

Sukhoi man is HAL's interim chief; Nayak's extension dreams gone with the wind; Tyagi papers sprint at MoD

Full report in expressbuzz.com

I am onboard The New Indian Express, Bangalore

Dear friends: I have joined The New Indian Express, Bangalore Edition, as a Special Correspondent on October 20, 2011. I will be covering Defence, Aviation and Investigation beats. As a result, you will see Tarmak007 getting active more in the coming days. Keep me on your radar (anantha.ak@gmail.com) so that I can write on issues that need attention. I shall continue to write straight. Thank You for all the support, so far. After all, without you, what's Tarmak007?

Breaking on Tarmak007: BSF ALH crashes near Ranchi, 3 killed

An Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) operated by the Border Security Force (BSF) is reported to have crashed near Ranchi. A senior HAL official said to Tarmak007 that: "Just now we have been informed about this incident."

Early reports coming in suggest that 3 people have been killed in this unfortunate incident. Sources say that among the 3 killed, 2 are pilots and another one a technician. The chopper had reportedly taken-off from Ranchi airport for Chaibasa and crashed near the forest area of Rampur. "The ALH was flown by Pawan Hans pilots," sources said.

More details awaited.

R.I.P.

A related news report here

Selfless acts of Army men gift new lease of life to young couple

Photos (above and below) of the car trapped under the boulder from which Sanu Tamang was rescued by Army personnel in Gangtok on September 18, 2011.

Sanu Tamang and her husband Dhanraj Tamang (above) share a happy moment in a Siliguri hospital where Sanu is recovering from her injuries. (Below) Sanu Tamang.

Report by Gp Capt T.K. Singha, Chief PRO (Defence)

Photos by Capt Sandesh Rokade, Senior Photo Officer (Defence)

Siliguri: Last month, Sanu Tamang was rescued from a trapped car by army men in Gangtok on the night of September 18. It may be recalled that two other members of her family, husband Dhanraj Tamang and his younger brother Kamal, had a providential escape when the car in which they were travelling was crushed by a massive boulder that rolled down from the hillside after the earthquake on that fateful night.

Saved after a near five-hour death defying ordeal, Sanu and husband Dhanraj say they can never forget the kind act of the army men. Sanu suffered massive crush injuries in her pelvic region and lower limbs. She also suffered deep wounds in her stomach area. Incidentally, the couple got married only in July, this year. But defying death is not all that it takes to recover from misfortune, the couple soon realized.

Sanu needed specialist treatment and was advised to be shifted to a Siliguri hospital. Unable to produce documents of his wife’s domicile status, Sanu was ineligible for free treatment as per rules. A driver by profession, Dhanraj already had lost his only means of livelihood, the crushed car which was his taxi. With his younger brother also suffering paralysis of the legs soon after exerting himself in trying to lift their aunt, already admitted in a city hospital when the earthquake struck, to safety, Dhanraj was now at his wits end.

Dhanraj then decided to approach the same officers of the EME battalion who had earlier saved Sanu’s life, praying fervently for help. The golden-hearted military officers did not disappoint him. With a little intervention, the officers persuaded the state authorities handling the medical relief of the quake-affected, to extend help to the beleaguered couple.

But without fuel, which was already in short supply at Gangtok after the earthquake, the hospital ambulance was of little help. Realizing the grave danger to Sanu’s health, the EME officers refueled the ambulance from their own reserves, enabling Sanu to be taken to Siliguri. The EME officers continue to monitor Sanu’s progress and have been assisting Dhanraj in every way possible to alleviate their problems.

The selfless acts of these army men have revived smiles in the faces of this young couple, who now nurture a dream of blissfulness together.

Bangalore defence journalists pay tributes to Baldy

R.I.P. Baldy.

The members of the Forum of Defence and Aerospace Journalists, Bangalore (FDAJB) paid their tributes to Sqn Ldr. (Retd) Baldev Singh on Sunday. In the condolence meet held at the Press Club of Bangalore, the Forum recalled the contributions of Baldy to military aviation. The members also shared their experiences in interacting with Baldy over the years. The Forum also decided to seek the opinion of all its members, Baldy's close friends and family, on whether to launch a campaign demanding higher probe into his death. A final decision will be taken this week. (Photo Rahul Devnath)

Dr Kalam@80: Missile Man wants to hit a 100 to witness India's Moon walk!

Former Indian President Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam celebrates his 80th birthday at the Circuit Guest House in Coimbatore in the company of his close associates and friends. Photos: Copyright @ Billion Beats

India’s inspiration machine and former President of India A.P.J. Abdul Kalam completed his ‘80^th orbit around the Sun’ on October 15. The birthday boy was in his elements when his friends and associates cut the cake at the Circuit Guest House in Coimbatore at the stroke of the midnight. Among the special guests who witnessed his ‘entry into the 81^st orbit,’ included his security staff, attendants, cooks and drivers.

The livewire ‘missile man’ then ensured that everyone got their share of cake and ate it too. While the shutterbugs shot at will, Kalam moved around accepting greetings from all. T. Sunil Kumar, an expert with the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) of Coimbatore police – on duty at the guest house – was completely floored when Kalam called him for a photo-op. “Never in my life I experienced something like this and ever I think, I will. I am moved by his simplicity, despite all the attention around,” Sunil said.

So was the case with the guest house attendant Giri, who has been taking care of Kalam’s dietary needs, right from his presidential days. “When he sits for dinner, he will ask whether I had mine. Then he would want to know in detail, what I had. I am blessed to serve him whenever he comes to Kovai,” says Giri. The b’day boy finally retired for the day at 2 pm, after making the final touches to his speech copies for the next day.

On Saturday, addressing a group of students at Nandankare -- on the outskirts of Coimbatore -- Kalam hoped that he would touch a century so as to witness the might of today’s youth. “If I complete 100 years...if I am alive, then I will be seeing many of you walking on the Moon and Mars. Hold on to your dreams to reach your goals. Never give up. Will you?” he said. R.K. Prasad, his personal secretary says that Kalam wants to meet everyone, who wants to meet him. “He doesn’t want to disappoint a single soul. He wants to connect with everyone, come what may,” says Prasad. Kalam's associate V. Ponraj too echoed the same view. "He has dedicated his life to India's youth. It is the power of the youth that propels Dr Kalam's energy," Ponraj said.

Hundreds of people were seen lined up on the roads waving at Kalam’s convoy, with some jumping in joy after spotting him inside the white bullet-proof Ambassador car. Seeing the never-ending enthusiasm of people, A. Sivathanu Pillai, head of BrahMos supersonic missile project, felt that Kalam’s ability to set goals for every human being he meets makes him different from the rest. “He is always dreaming of giving India’s youth an aim for shaping their lives with definite goals,” says Pillai, a long-time associate of Kalam.

As he stepped into the Coimbatore airport on Saturday evening to chart the flight-path for his next mission, the story remained the same with autograph and photograph hunters taking vantage points for that exclusive moment in their lives.

Video: Dr Kalam turns 80

Video: Ravishanker Coimbatore

Breaking on Tarmak007: PESB recommends Pawan Hans CMD R.K. Tyagi for HAL chairman's post

The PESB announcement on October 13, 2011

R.I.P. Baldy: 'Having God as co-pilot always helps'

"When you wake up in the morning, you know you're going to have an exciting day," says Sqn Ldr (Retd) Baldev Singh. "In this profession you discover something new every day." The Patriarch of the Fixed Wing Family looks like someone out of the pages of the Old Testament. "If I let down my beard, I might really look like that," he says, revealing a flash of humour.

Peers address him as 'Baldy'. He sums up things pretty succinctly: "The Test pilot is the interface between the designer and the user, the normal pilot being the end user.Test-flying is the visible or front end of an aircraft programme. For every hour of flight testing there are thousands of hours of sweat and toil put in by dedicated designers, production personnel and the hundreds of support staff. Successful flight testing is always a team effort. Our area is risk management. We approach it in measured, calculated steps.

"The test pilot is in the picture right from the drawing up of the specifications."There is a wish-list from the user. We sit with the designers and refine it." There are no ideal solutions in aircraft programmes — only pragmatic ones, he concedes: "Just as there is no ideal marriage. No ideal husband. No ideal wife." His eyes twinkle.The test pilot is always in the exploratory phase. There are always unknowns which at times take you by surprise, he tells you. Has he had scares in the air? "Ah, each pilot has his fair share of scares. They come in three sizes you know: small, medium and large." That twinkle again.

"I have had my fair share of engines quitting, flying control restrictions, system failures, etc... But when things go wrong at times, your flying skills and knowledge save the day. Also, having God as your co-pilot always helps." Sqn Ldr Baldev Singh has over 5800 flying hours. He has flown over 50 different types of aircraft. But he has nofavourites. "There are no favourite children," he says. Those five words define his relationship with those magnificent flying machines.

(Baldy was ED, CTP (FW) when this piece appeared in HAL's then popular newspaper Minsk Square Matters (MSM) -- dated February 11, 2009.)

Singh is King

R.I.P. Baldy

Sqn Ldr (Retd) Baldev Singh.

IAF@79: Snapshots from Hindon

Photos: Indian Air Force