Governor P. Sathasivam and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will attend an official function organised by the Southern Air Command (SAC) to celebrate the 86th anniversary of the Indian Air Force on Monday.
The SAC had spearheaded the air relief and rescue operations in the wake of the floods that ravaged Kerala recently. Under the command of Air Officer Commanding in Chief, SAC, Air Marshal B. Suresh, a native of Thiruvananthapuram, the command had saved the lives of 584 people marooned on roofs of houses in the flooded regions. It had also moved 3,787 rescue personnel to affected areas and airlifted 13,50,702 kg of food, medicines, and equipment.
The IAF is inducting new equipment, including fighter aircraft. It will raise a squadron of SU-30 fighter jets equipped to engage potential threats in a maritime environment. Its area of responsibility also includes protecting international shipping lanes in its area of jurisdiction. Its Integrated Air Command Control System (IACCS) is scheduled to become operational soon. The IAF will install the airframe of a grounded Kiran Aircraft as a tourist draw at the Akkulam tourist village.