Air Vice Marshal Jayant Satchidanand Apte (11900) was commissioned on 30 Dec 68 in the Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics) Branch of the IAF. In his 34 years of distinguished career, he has held a number of important appointments, such as Chief Engineering Officer (CEO), Command Signals Officer (CSO) and Deputy Senior Maintenance Staff Officer (Dy SMSO) at Western Air Command (WAC), Eastern Air Command (EAC) and Maintenance Command (MC) respectively. He has been Air Officer Commanding of AF Station Kanpur, the largest Maintenance base in the IAF. Presently he is the Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Engineering) at Air HQ.

As the CEO he contributed to the achievement of high level of serviceability of fighter ac and other systems. Under his leadership, the Station was adjudged best in maintenance for two consecutive years. As CEO at HQ WAC, he provided direction and guidance to all the bases under WAC, operating different types of weapon systems. He also successfully coordinated various maintenance requirements of three Trishul Exercises. Whilst being CO of ADGESTI AVM Apte brought about a tremendous change in the training philosophy by introduction of IT tools for training. While serving as CSO EAC, he standardized instal lation of exchanges and other communication systems resulting in better operational preparedness.

As AOC of Air Force Station Kanpur AVM Apte motivated the officers and personnel to perform together as a team. Under his leadership the Station had much higher production than the allotted tasks in overhauling of AN32 and various types of aero-engines in the two production years.

He successfully led life extension study teams on AN-32 aircraft, rotables and Viper aero-engines resulting in enhanced availability of fleet. AS Dy SMSO at HQ MC he has been able to coordinate maintenance activities of BRDs efficiently resulting in timely completion of task. During the Aero India 2003, he coordinated the display of items at the Maintenance Command stall which evoked keen interest from representatives of various business houses.

Air Vice Marshal Jayant Satchidanand Apte has, thus, rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Marshal Jayant Satchidanand Apte AVSM (11900) AE (L) was commissioned in the AE (L) branch on 30 Dec 68. He has held important appointments, such as Chief Engg Officer (CEO) of a fighter base, Chief of Planning & Production of Systems Base Repair Depot (BRD), CO of ADGES Training Institute, Command Engg Officer at Western Air Command (WAC) and Command Signals Officer [CSO (Air)] at Eastern Air Command, Air Officer Commanding, AF Stn Kanpur, ACAS (Eng A) at Air HQ and SMSO at Maintenance Command (MC). He is an alumnus of DSSC. For his distinguished service of exceptional order he was awarded AVSM in 2004.

As CEO, his station was adjudged the best in maintenance for two years. While at WAC, he provided directions to bases, operating different types of weapon systems and successfully coordinated maintenance requirements of all operations including three Trishul Exercises. As CSO (Air), he standardised installation of electronic ex-changes and communication systems for enhanced operational availability. At AF Stn, Kanpur, he achieved enhanced production of aircraft and aeroengines and also led revision of life teams for AN-32 airframes and Viper aeroengines, resulting in improved availability for operations. As ACAS (Eng A) at Air HQ, he initiated key strategic decisions of maintenance support and to improve availability of Russian aircraft, helicopters and aeroengines. Some of the major issues initiated which have long term effect are, enhanced life of thrust vector nozzle of Su-30, repair and maintenance facilities for Bison and Su-30 aggregates and long term aeroengine overhaul plan for MiG-29 and AN-32 with OEMs. At HQ MC as SMSO, he coordinated maintenance activities of BRDs resulting in timely completion of tasks. Under his guidance, indigenization stall at Aero India 2003 and 2007 drew considerable response from the private sector, which has contributed immensely in indigenisation of critical spares. He was instrumental in introducing measures to improve the Average Service Life of components, concept of identifying and keeping Non-Performing Assets to a minimum, initiating the use of IT in managing assets in the form of Monitoring Life of MiG 29 and Su 30 MKI Aggregates and AOG management software. A sustained drive to reduce components classified as 'History Not Known' was initiated to reduce such components. His concept of indigenisation BRD will facilitate human, material and intellectual synergies in producing quality spares. He also initiated the concept of opportunity servicing for increasing fleet availability of IL 76 and Flight Refueling Aircraft.

He took over as AOC-in-C, MC on 02 Apr 07 and extended his philosophy of optimisation to Logistic and Administrative areas. His inputs for improving the effectiveness of IMMOLS (Integrated Materials Management On-Line System) will lead to an analytical and problem solving approach for asset management, thereby discarding non-productive activities like maintaining Floor Level Consumption Records. His drive towards tracking assets lying at HAL since long, have lead to recovery of over Rs 30 Crores in last one year and will improve aggregates availability. His passion for a less paper office and increased use of IT has resulted in improved productivity and efficiency of maintenance.

Air Marshal Jayant Satchidanand Apte AVSM has thus rendered distinguished service of most exceptional order.