Navy pilots to learn landing, taking off from aircraft carrier

New Delhi: Indian Navy pilots will learn the tricks of landing and taking off their MiG-29K and LCA Tejas combat planes on aircraft carriers from a shore-based facility, which was commissioned in Goa on Friday. The Shore-based Test Facility (SBTF)-- which is the third facility of its kind in the world and first of its kind in Asia -- was operationalised at the Naval Air Station, Hansa in Goa, a Goa Shipyard Limited release said.

"This unique installation replicates a shore-based facility of the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, which is under construction at the Cochin Shipyard Limited," it said. Spearheaded by the Aeronautical Development Agency, the complete structural work and system integration of SBTF was carried out by Goa shipyard Limited. "This will provide India with a capability for the test development of an aircraft before they are cleared for use on board aircraft carriers. It will also provide the Navy with a facility to hone the skills of its pilots before they are deployed on board," the release said. Speaking on the occasion, GSL Chief Rear Admiral Vineet Bakhshi said, "Training of naval pilots on MiG 29K has already commenced. The facility will ensure timely induction of Naval LCA (NLCA) into naval service and conserve ship-based test flying effort."