Squadron Leader Kirpal Singh has been engaged in flight testing of various high speed aircraft since April 1967. In this assignment, he has flown 400 hours. His approach towards production testing has always been intelligent and dynamic and his ability to recognise the defects of aircraft in the air has helped the ground crew immensely in their task. He has displayed cool courage in the face of grave emergencies in inclement weather conditions.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Kirpal Singh displayed cool courage and devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Virendra Pal Singh is one the posted strength of one of the Base Repair Depots since 06 Jun 88 and is employed as a test pilot on Hunter and HS-748 aircraft production and storage flight testing duties.

On 30 Aug 89, Sqn Ldr VP Singh was authorized to carry out Air Test on T-75 aircraft after Pre-issue servicing. Climb to 13 Kms was uneventful. All of a sudden, there was an explosion followed by a fierce wing blast with splinters hitting the pilot on his face. Half the canopy had blown away shattering the pilot's visor and deeply denting the helmet. Remaining part of the visor had blood on it and was flapping wildly as a result of airflow entering through the shattered canopy.

Unmindful of his personal safety, the pilot initiated recovery action. The noise level as a result of wing blast was very high and transmission from the ground was not discernible. Air Traffic Control gave visual indication for landing. A safe landing was carried out.

For his courage, self-confidence and professionalism of a high order, the President is pleased to award Vayu Seva Medal to Sqn Ldr Virendra Pal Singh.

Wing Commander Jatinder Paul Singh is on the posted strength of a Base Repair Depot of the IAF since 29 Jul 90 and employed as Officer i/c Aircraft Test & Ferry Flight. He is engaged in air testing of Hunter and MiG-21 variants.

On 30 Aug 90, Wg Cdr Singh was on an air test sortie of an aircraft after an engine change. On completion of the supersonic run, while descending through 8.4 kms at a speed of 650 kms IAS he brought the throttle back initially to BLC catch and subsequently to idle. On bringing the throttle to idle he heard a bang and experienced engine surge with rise in JPT. He promptly switched off the engine. He had a successful relight at 6 kms but on opening throttle experienced vibrations and unusual engine sound above 90% N1 RPM. He gave an RT call, restricted RPM to 85% and landed the aircraft off a descending circuit making a straight approach for the nearest runway. Post flight inspection revealed extensive damage to the compressor between 2nd and 8th stage. Wg Cdr Singh by his correct and prompt actions landed back a badly crippled aircraft. He displayed confidence and professional skill of a high order.

On a subsequent occasion on 21 Nov 90, Wg Cdr Singh was flying an air test sortie on another aircraft. Towards the end of the sortie, on engaging reheat, he experienced main hydraulic failure. He promptly switched off the reheat and the jet nozzle closed. He then experienced total main hydraulic failure with the pressure dropping to zero. The cone was struck between 80 to 85% and the undercarriage was lowered on emergency. While taking corrective action the pilot had already turned downwind and positioned for a flapless landing. He landed off a descending circuit keeping throttle use to minimum. The aircraft was switched off on touch down. Post flight inspection revealed a profuse leak at the outlet connection of hydraulic electric selector valve to jet nozzle actuator. Any further delay in taking corrective action would have caused fire in the tail section leading to loss of control. Wg Cdr Singh with his prompt actions handled the emergency in a professional manner.

For his self confidence, presence of mind, professional skill of a high order and devotion to duty, the President is pleased to award Vayu Seva Medal to Wg Cdr JP Singh.

Wing Commander Pochana Prasad Reddy was commissioned as a Fighter Pilot on 10 Jun 77. A Qualified Flying Instructor and a Test Pilot, he has 2800 hours of accident free flying. He is on the posted strength of a Base Repair Depot at Kanpur since 17 May 93 as the Chief Test Pilot.

As Chief Test Pilot, he air tested and supervised air testing and ferrying of MiG-21 variants, Mirage 2000 and AN 32 aircraft. He carried out a total of 253 air tests on MiG-21 variants handling several system malfunctions with utmost professionalism and aplomb. His contribution in the preparation of schedules and conduct of the flight test programme for first AN-32 aircraft overhauled at the BRD was praise worthy.

Being the only Test Pilot available at Kanpur, he was also assigned the task of air testing of HAL (Kanpur) manufactured aircraft such as Avro, HPT-32 and Dornier, which helped HAL Kanpur Division to achieve their production task in time. All this task was achieved without any incidents/accidents.

For exceptional devotion to duty, the President is pleased to award 'Vayu Sena Medal' to Wing Commander Pochana Prasad Reddy.

Wing Commander Nilanjan Biswas (18081) Flying (Pilot) is on the posted strength of a Base Repair Depot (BRD) since 27 Sep 04 as Chief Test Pilot.

On 28 Mar 07, Wg Cdr Biswas undertook the first post production sortie on AN-32 aircraft after major overhaul. On completion of air test profile, during rejoin when the undercarriage was lowered, the port and nose wheel undercarriage locked down, however, the starboard undercarriage was stuck in the up position. All emergency actions failed to lower the starboard undercarriage. Additional actions including landing the aircraft on port wheel only and a go around were not effective.

This emergency was unprecedented in the history of AN-32 operation with the IAF. Wg Cdr Biswas did not get perturbed by such a grave emergency and decided to carry out an emergency landing on port wheel and nose wheel only. Under such a condition the aircraft could easily get out of control and crash, leading to catastrophic consequences for both the occupants as well as the aircraft. He landed the aircraft with minimal fuel and on touch down switched off the engines. On the landing roll, he controlled the aircraft in such a way that it remained on the runway for most part of the landing roll and the right wing was lowered to touch the ground only at very low speeds. Thus, the aircraft suffered minimal damage only on the starboard wing tip and rear fuselage with no damage to the engines. The damages to aircraft are repairable at site. No damages were suffered by the aero engine and the propeller of the aircraft. Throughout the flying Wg Cdr Biswas was in control of the situation and his cockpit resource management was immaculate. His professionalism and courage in handling of the emergency saved the airmen from loss of life as well as extensive damage to the aircraft.

For this act of exceptional courage, Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry)' to Wing Commander Nilanjan Biswas.

Squadron Leader Kailash Chander Kapoor (5409) was commissioned in the Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics) Branch of the Indian Air Force in May, 1957. At the time of outbreak of hostilities with Pakistan in December, 1971, he served as office in charge Instrument and Electrical Repair Section at a Base Repair Depot.

During the emergency, a camera modification on a fighter bomber aircraft had to be completed within a period of 6 days. It was mainly due to the efforts of Squadron Leader Kapoor that this modification was completed successfully in time, and this aircraft was employed successfully in operational role. Another special electronic modification had to be completed on another type of aircraft on the highest priority during the present emergency. This modification was also completed in a record time of 5 days. Squadron Leader Kapoor has also brought about a marked improvement in the output of the rotables at the Depot.

Squadron Leader Kailash Chander Kapoor displayed professional skill, initiative and dedication to duty and has rendered distinguished service of a high order. He is awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal.

219440 Flight Sergeant Ramdas Ganpathrao Jodh served with a Base Repair Depot at the outbreak of hostilities with Pakistan in December, 1971. He was responsible for preparing the design for electrical circuitry and routing diagrams for camera modification of certain types of aircraft. He was also responsible for suggesting improvement in fitment of Batteries in aircraft. He has been responsible for manufacturing a number of electrical assemblies for a particular type of aircraft both for the use of Depot as well as for operating units.

Flight Sergeant Ramdas Ganpathrao Jodh displayed professional skill, ingenuity and devotion to duty and rendered distinguished service of a high order. He is awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal.

18321 Warrant Officer Narayan Appa Kashid, Fitter 1 was enrolled in the Indian Air Force in April, 1943. During the IndoPakistan conflict of 1965, he was mentionedin-despatches. Since April, 1969, he has been serving with a Repair Depot and has been associated with the manufacture of Air Force equipment. His work has significantly helped the Depot to fulfill its tasks within the stipulated time.

During the Indo-Pakistan conflict of December, 1971, Warrant Officer Kashid was detailed to develop a Rig for packing the tail parachute of a fighter bomber aircraft. Within one week he developed a hydraulic operated Rig by using components recovered from unserviceable machinery. This Rig was extensively used for packing Tail Parachutes of the aircraft during the conflict and the time factor and physical effort required for packing were reduced considerably. Use of this Rig will, in future, save a considerable amount of foreign exchange.

In carrying out his duties, 18321 Warrant Officer Narayan Appa Kashid has rendered distinguished service of a high order. He is awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal.

Squadron Leader Satinder Singh Dhillon (7980) AE (M) was posted to one of the Base Repair Depot in December, 1978. He has been employed as Officer-in-Charge Hunter Repair Section (HRS) since 01 April, 1980. This Section is responsible for overhaul of Hunter aircraft. Although, Hunter task for the year 1980-81 was 8 major overhaul and 8 Cat 'B' repairs, yet it was formidable task because of ageing of Hunter aircraft, shortage of spares, inadequate skilled manpower and ever increasing number of snags on the aircraft during its servicing and in flying stages.

Sqn Ldr Dhillon undertook this task as a challenge and bent all his energies towards achieving this task well before time. He set personal example by working very long hours from morning till late night round the year to cover up slippages caused due to non availability of spares and inadequate manpower. His men followed him unquestionably with great enthusiasm and complete dedication. The task was achieved in full without resorting to cannibalization from post production aircraft and these aircraft are either ferried out to operational units or are in the process of ferry.

This officer made excellent use of modern management techniques like monthly/weekly production planning, production scheduling and material management. It is due to his remarkable degree of professional knowledge, sound judgments and modern techniques of management, that the average man-hours required to overhaul an aircraft were kept at about 10,000 and turn around time of the aircraft decreased from 250 days to 160 days resulting reduction of about 90 days inspite of enumerable difficulties.

Sqn Ldr Dhillon visualized the need to undertake maximum number of Cat 'B' aircraft at operational units so as to maintain optimum operational efficiency of the units irrespective of the task allotted to this Depot. Sqn Ldr Dhillon routed various repair parties to different operational units to expedite the repairs. As many as 26 Hunter aircraft in different units were made serviceable. Two more Cat 'B' repairs were completed thereafter in the year 1980-81. Thus against the task of 8 aircraft a total of 28 Cat 'B' repairs were completed.

Sqn Ldr Dhillon is a very competent technical officer. He is professionally very sound and above all totally dedicated to the service. He is admired by his men for his qualities of leadership, personal example and professional knowledge. For displaying these qualities in abundance and complete dedication to the service, the President is pleased to award Vishisht Seva Medal to Squadron Leader Satinder Singh Dhillon.

Squadron Leader Rajendra Kumar Yadav (17816) AE (L) is on posted strength of a Base Repair Depot (BRD) since 01 Feb 95. Earler the officer has worked for nearly 14 years in AN-32 Squadrons and technical flights in various capacities and was selected in Sep 94 for training abroad in major overhaul of AN32 aircraft and its rotables.

On his reporting to the BRD, the officer along with his team of foreign-trained technicians commenced work in setting up Rotables overhaul line. This task was indeed difficult and challenging since the test rigs and machines received from Russia were in dismantled condition, without any assembly, wiring, installation drawings or technical literature. Undaunted by the enormity of the task, Sqn Ldr Yadav, with his professional approach, guided his men in commissioning a large number of these rigs/machines. The effort was all the more significant as it was done without any foreign technical assistance. In a span of two years Sqn Ldr Yadav along with his team set up facilities of overhaul of over four hundered AN-32 Rotables.

In Oct 98, Sqn Ldr Yadav was assigned the duties of Chief of Aircraft responsible ofr the life extenstionn and major overhaul of AN-32 aircraft. He undertook detailed defect trend analysis and evaluation of life extension of the aircraft. He was instrumental in formulation of various life extension checks and their implementation. The officer has inspired, guided and motivated his men by his professionalism and total involvement whereby the AN-32 overhaul line overhauled a record number of aircraft during 1999-2000. By his innovative engineering approach, the officer has developed and implemented a number of critical modification on AN-32 aircraft such as spurious Signal Suppresser mod, Formation Light mod, Infra Red Passive Protection mod etc., which have contributed to enhancing the safety and reliability of the aircraft. His efforts and contributions in AN32 IVth line maintenance have resulted in savings substantial foreign exchange for the Nation.

For his exceptional professionalism, dedication to duty, hard work and distinguished service, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Squadron Leader Rajendra Kumar Yadav.

293065 Junior Warrant Officer Purshotam Lal, Workshop Fitter, is on the posted strength of a BRD, AF wef 03 Apr 1996 as JWO i/c Structural Repair Section.

JWO Lal is an extra-ordinary person who has adroit hands and intelligent mind. He has been associated with intricate and complex structural repair on various ac for over fourteen years. These include major repair of fuselage and nose landing gear compartment of an aircraft extensively damaged due to belly landing, Centre fuselage area in K-2687 extensively damaged due to bird hit and the APU compartment and exhaust area of recently damaged K-2740 in the forward area. All these typical repairs needed preparation of special repair schemes and fabrication of structural parts. These repairs were carried out expeditiously by working for over 12 hours a day to meet the time schedules.

His invaluable experience has also been instrumental in repair of other ac of IAF. In 1997, he carried out repairs on VIP AVRO ac at Nagpur in mere two days for which HAL had demanded huge amount and at least fifteen days' time. He has also carried out repairs on six IL-76 ac, which were extensively damaged due to corrosion in last three years. For the repair of two of these IL-76 aircraft, Russians are known to have quoted Rs. one Crore per ac. Due to JWO Lal's dexterity and hard work, valuable foreign exchange has been saved.

JWO Lal has also been associated with complex structural modifications. His pains taking efforts resulted in successful completion of IR flare modification of AN-32 ac K-2701 during 'Operation Vijay'. He also carried out the aircrew seat retrain modification of AN-32 ac.

For his high professionalism, dedication to duty, hard work, total involvement and per sonal example of high order, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Junior Warrant Officer Purshotam Lal.

Squadron Leader Vineet Goel (20699) Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical) was commissioned in the Aeronautical Engineering Branch of the IAF on 11 Mar 1991. The officer has varied experience and has worked as Deputy Chief Engineering Officer at Southern Air Command. He was commended by AOCin-C, Central Air Command in 1995 and by the CAS in 1997. Presently, he is on the posted strength of a Base Repair Depot (BRD) since 11 Dec 2000.

Sqn Ldr Goel has excellent organisational skills and has ensured efficient and smooth flow of work by reorganizing the overhaul activities. The officer has regular interaction with Equipment Depot (ED) and HAL (Kanpur). His meticulous planning, hard work and persistent efforts have helped completing the task of 10 AN-32 overhaul before 31 Mar 2003. Implementation of structural modifications during overhaul was a grey area in AN-32 aircraft. After detailed study he fabricated local tooling, devised detailed procedure and implemented four out of six modifications. This has obviated the need for deputation of foreign specialists for implementation.

The officer is an excellent professional and applies his knowledge effectively through total involvement and dedication. He has been giving invaluable suggestions to overcome critical problems in AN-32 fleet. When a transport ac veered off the runway on landing at Kanpur, he was able to pinpoint the exact reason for this to the inadequate engagement between follow up system bell crank and nose wheel steering cylinder. He then suggested a procedure for testing and rectification of the defect to prevent any recurrence. A snag of aircraft rolling to port side on selection of antiicing on an another transport aircraft of Chandigarh, which existed for more than three years was successfully rectified under his direct supervision. His other noteworthy contributions are successful completion of life enhancement studies on AN-32 Flexible Fuel Tanks and preparation of Corrosion Prevention and Control Programme document.

For his professional capabilities, efficient managerial skills and distinguished service of high order, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Squadron Leader Vineet Goel.