There is an imperative need that the entire gamut of aerial displays by military aircraft be subjected to thorough and critical review jointly by military and civil aviation

Two navy pilots Commander S. K. Maurya and Lieutenant Commander Rahul Nair, were killed when the HJT16 Kiran Mk2 trainer, built by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, crashed minutes before noon in a crowded civilian locality near Begumpet Airport in the heart of Hyderabad. The aircraft was part of the navy’s aerobatics team Sagar Pawan that was staging an aerial display over Begumpet airport on the occasion of inauguration of India Aviation 2010, the largest civil aviation air show in the country organised jointly by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). While pulling out of a near vertical dive at low level, the aircraft spun to the right and slammed into a three storied building.

It cannot be denied that military aviation is accompanied with risk which is sought to be minimised through fastidious maintenance of aircraft, clearly defined and continuously evolving operating procedures, rigorous training, and periodic verification of skills. Formation aerobatics are perhaps the most demanding of the exercises military pilots are required to undertake in peacetime. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has been operating a nine-aircraft formation aerobatic team for over three decades now. Initially known as ‘Thunderbolts’, the team was later rechristened ‘Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT)’. The IAF also has a four-aircraft helicopter display team named ‘Sarang’. Both the teams have a record of accidents while rehearsing for air displays. Flying accidents during international air shows such as the one in question comes under media glare owing to the presence of high-profile spectators. Quite understandably, the crash at Hyderabad also raised doubts about military aviation in India in respect of air safety standards, the aging fleet of trainer and operational aircraft, and the agonisingly tardy procurement procedures of the Indian Ministry of Defence.

However, for the Indian Navy, formation aerobatics is relatively a new experience with the four-aircraft Sagar Pawan Aerobatic Team (SPAT) raised in 2003. A few years ago, the Indian Navy lost two IL-38 Maritime Surveillance Aircraft during a formation flypast. Earlier, a Tu-142 aircraft participating in the Republic Day Parade in Delhi failed to maintain its assigned position in the stream of aircraft of mixed types and overtook the aircraft ahead, a lapse that had the potential for disastrous consequences besides international embarrassment.

Formation aerobatic teams are made up of pilots in the prime of youth with impeccable professional record, exceptional flying skills, and balanced temperament. Training schedules are carefully calibrated and progress of individual pilots as well as that of the group as a formation aerobatic team is monitored closely. An essential ingredient of training is to develop a strong sense of self-discipline. The team is trained to perform as one. Though conscious of the tremendous impact on the spectators, they are trained to operate within clearly defined limits. Yet, despite all precautions, none can provide total guarantee that nothing will go wrong. And it did go horribly wrong on the fateful morning of March 3, 2010 at Begumpet.