| Details : |  Wing Commander Jaspreet Singh (20977) Flying (Pilot) was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Flying Branch on 15 Dec 1990. He is on posted strength of Fighter Squadron as Flight Commander since 29 Oct 2004.On 04 Oct 2004, a belly landing accident of Mirage-2000 took place at Mauritius International Air port. This officer while on the posted strength of a fighter squadron in the Southern Sector, was specially chosen to ferry the aircraft from Mauritius to Trivandrum and further to Bangalore after structural repairs at Mauritius. The ferry route from Maurititus to Trivandrum was across the Indian Ocean, covering a total distance of 2126 NM. Between 12 Oct 2004 and 19 Oct 2004, the officer carried out taxi and three air test sorties on the belly landed aircraft and in the last sortie he also undertook successful Air to Air Refueling (AAR) operations to check the serviceability of the system. On 18 Oct 2004, a weather system had started forming close to the equator, with its broadcast part lying across the ferry route. On the morning of 25 Oct 2004 the satellite pictures revealed that the first 1000 NM of the ferry route was clear. A total of three AAR brackets were required to complete this ferry. However, the last 1100 NM was still covered up with weather and AAR was not possible on that part of the leg. Wg Cdr Singh studied the weather pictures carefully and devised an ingenious plan to undertake the mission. The plan envisaged detaching from the Flight Refueling Aircraft (FRA) 1100 NM short of Trivandrum, climbing to a level above 40,000 ft and fly to Trivandrum. The weather at Trivandrum was also predicted to be bad. Wg Cdr Singh carried out meticulous planning and asked for one more FRA at Trivandrum in case of requirement to divert to Bangalore. The ferry was undertaken with precise co-ordination, team work and piloting skills of the highest order. It entailed 5:10 h of non-stop flying with three air to air refuelling and an intake of over 7000 Kgs of fuel from the FRA.The ferry of M-2000 across a stretch of 2126 NM was one of the most challenging, daring and risky operations ever undertaken by a fighter aircraft in the history of the 1AF. That It was carried out by a single seat, engine nlrcrafl, over the high seas in the inclement weather is even more remarkable.For his sincerity, exceptional courage and professionalism beyond the call of duty, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry)' to Wing Commander Jaspreet Singh. |
