Over 100 IAF Pilots Want VRS: Air Chief Marshal
Air Chief Marshal P V Naik has revealed that more than 100 pilots of the Indian Air Force (IAF) have applied for voluntary retirement scheme (VRS).
Responding to query on how many pilots of the Air Force have applied for VRS, Naik said, “We have very steep pyramid structure (in the Air Force) where there are less avenues of promotions.”
“When one does not get promotions after 24-25 years of service, one wants to leave and try alternative avenues. Off hand I can tell that we have over 100 applications for VRS from pilots,” Naik said.
Naik added that these applications are in fact less in number due to existing slump in the market and that as the slum is over; the pile of applications might go up.
He also informed that an independent board of officers has been set up to assess the VRS application of the pilots.
“The committee scrutinises the applications on case-to-case basis and if the reasons for VRS are justified, which mostly are on compassionate ground for children and parents, the applications are approved,” Naik said.
Naik was on a two-day visit to the South Western Air Command (SWAC) in Gandhinagar to review the Commands’ operational, maintenance and administrative preparedness.
