Air Vice Marshal Sharad Yeshwant Savur (10525) F (P) was commissioned in the Indian Air Force on 29 Oct 66. He is an exceptional transport aircraft pilot with more than 7500 hours of accident free flying in air logistics over hazardous mountainous terrain in Ladakh and the North Eastern States as well as VVIP/VIP flights. He has commanded the prestigious Air HQ Communication Squadron as well as three major transport/helicopter bases, has undergone the course at National Defence College, besides undertaking instructional staff appointments.

As Station Commander, he was in charge of the trials for formulation and Standard Operating Procedures for air-sea rescue by Mi-8 helicopters. Later, as Air Officer Commanding, he inspired all aircrew to maintain sustained accident-free operations from the short runway by his personal example in flying the IL-76. Again, whilst in command of Air Force Station, Palam, he motivated all personnel to produce two highly successful Air Force Day parades. With tact and his previous experience he interacted with several agencies and reviewed security procedures to make them more effective and less obtrusive in handling high profile VVIP/ VIP visits without effective routine operations. In the after math of the devastating earthquake in Bhuj, he geared up the Station to receive and dispatch immense quantity of relief supplies and personnel to Bhuj, and provide assistant and make adequate arrangements for the victims and their next of kin on their evacuation from the affected areas.

AVM Savur, as Assistant Chief of Air Staff (PA&C), has continued to interact with other agencies to expedite the issue of non-effective benefits and has obtained approval for recruitment of civilians, which was pending since 1996. he has initiated several measures to accelerate staff work dealing with personnel below Officer Rank.

Air Vice Marshal Sharad Yeshwant Savur has, thus, rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Marshal Sharad Yeshwant Savur AVSM (10525) Flying (Pilot) was commissioned in the Indian Air Force on 29 October 66 in the transport stream. In the 1971 war he was a Forward Air Controller with the battalion that captured two PAF pilots who had been shot down by IAF Gnat aircraft. In 39 years of very distinguished service, he has flown more than 7500 hrs of accident/incident free flying on various aircraft types over the inhospitable terrain of the northeast, Ladakh and JAMMU & KASHMIR as well as on VVIP and VIP flights duties. He has also been an Air Force Examiner. He has commanded Air HQ Communication Squadron and three different Air Force Stations. He has held staff appointments at Air HQ as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Personnel-Airmen and Civilians), Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Intelligence) and at operational Command HQ as Senior Air Staff Officer. He is a graduate of Higher Command Course, Senior Defence Management Course and an alumnus of the National Defence College. As Station Commander of AF Station, Sulur, the officer had co-authored the Standard Operating Procedure for air-sea rescue by helicopters. As Air Officer Commanding of Air Force Station Agra, he ensured the highest standards of operational flying and training by setting a personal example in undergoing conversion on the IL-76. As Air Officer Commanding of Air Force Station Palam, he coordinated the airlift of relief materials for Bhuj Earthquake relief as well as for operations in the Kargil sector. As ACAS (PA&C) he instituted procedures that speeded up the issue of Pay Pension Orders, a new format for appraisals of airmen and co-ordinated the mobilization for Op Parakram.

As Senior Air Staff Officer in Eastern Air Command, he planned and positioned helicopters and transport aircraft at strategic places, oversaw the training and executed airlift and heli-lift to assist the Royal Bhutanese Army in driving out Anti-National Elements.

Most recently, as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Air Command, he was responsible for execution of air operations for post Tsunami relief and rescue. He ensured that transport aircraft and helicopters of the IAF reached Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Sri Lanka respectively for relief operations within hours of the catastrophe. Under his guidance the IAF contingent during Op Seawave in Sri Lanka achieved a mammoth task of airlifting 2, 35, 000 Kg and 673 people, flying a total of 422 sorties/270 hours without any accident/incident. In addition the units deployed in after-math of Tsunami at Carnic also achieved exemplary standards in carrying out the rescue and relief operations for the IAF personnel, their families and for the civilian population too. This task of rescuing, air lifting of personnel and also providing the much needed relief materials was executed under adverse conditions under his able leadership.

Air Marshal Sharad Yeshwant Savur AVSM has thus rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.