Pilot Training Establishment


Date Raised : 1962-09-17 Disbanded : 1966-11-06 Location : Bamrauli (Allahabad)
Bidar airfield was built by the Nizam of Hyderabad during the unsettled conditions of 1943 -1947. It remained in disuse till activated by the Air Force with the location of No 2 Jet Training Wing in 1963. This was disbanded in 1965 and the airfield remained inactive till 1966. The Elementary Flying School, i.e. EFS was located at Bidar thereafter. This FTE was formed at Allahabad in 1963 to cater for the increased induction of pilots under the expansion programme of Air Force. While at Allahabad this FTE was known as Pilots Training establishment and was providing ab-initio training on HT-2 aircraft. In 1966, the establishment, after relocation at Bidar was renamed Elementary Flying School (EFS). However, the training pattern remained unchanged. In 1983, the role of EFS changed with the introduction of "All Through Jet Training" scheme for pilots (except those from Army). The Station was then tasked to undertake Stage-II (Advanced) phase of training on Kiran Mk-I A aircraft. Ab-initio training was shifted to AFA. In June 1988, Kiran Mk-II aircraft was inducted for Stage-II (advanced) phase of flying training as an additional squadron along with Mk-I As. In 1996, the Surya Kiran aerobatics team was also formed at AF Stn Bidar and in Sep 1999, the 955 sqn , a T-GCA sqn equipped with the RSP-10 Radar moved from Chandigarh to Bidar. Since January 2006 the Station has changed over to Stage Ill (F) Flying training on Kiran.

Aircraft Types operated over the years:

Commanding Officers


17 Sep 62 - 19 Jun 63
Group Captain
Churukara George Immanuel Phillip
1927 GD(P)
Cmdt
Bamrauli

20 Jun 63 - 06 Jul 65
Group Captain
Palokat John Mathews
2387 GD(P)
Cmdt
Bamrauli

04 Nov 65 - 06 Nov 66
Group Captain
Krishan Lal Suri
2907 GD(P)
Cmdt
Bamrauli
Unit continued existence as EFS

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