- Ibn-e-Taha
- Khan_adnan040@yahoo.com
Pakistan Air Force has always responded to the call of nation in times of need and shooting down an intruder on 27 Feb, 2019 is a proof. Anti-Pakistan think-tanks and strategists are convinced Pakistan and its air force are synonyms. Intrigues of injecting virus of anti-Pakistan sentiments in PAF personnel have remained un-successful till date. PAF ingrains the country’s love in its personnel like a Pakistani mother shaping a patriot at her lap. Azad Bukhsh Awan was the first Muslim Indian pilot commissioned on 29 September, 1929, even before the creation of Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF) in 1932.
PAF was known as Royal Pakistan Air Force (RPAF) till 1957, when it was renamed to Pakistan Air Force (PAF). RPAF’s first flying training station Risalpur was established on 15 Aug, 1947. Wing Commander Asghar Khan took over as the station commander. Flying training school at Risalpur was established on 15 Sep, 1947. Flight Lieutenant Khyber Khan and the student pilot Akhtar had te honour to fly first flight from this school on 22 Sep, 1947. First batch of pilots with four officers cadets passed out on 2 January, 1948 with four officer cadets. On 8 Sep, 1947, a party was constituted to ferry eight Tiger Moths from Jodhpur (India) to Risalpur (Pakistan). The route was a difficult terrain which had nine stop overs till Risalpur. RPAF trusted its cadets and included six officer cadets along-with three officers, the cadets had less than 100 hours flying experience. Since early days, Kashmir emerged as a crisis. RPAF was restricted to supply drops only for the troops stranded there. The sound training of the ground and air crew helped them in successful supply drops without a loss.
For induction of cadets and trainees, selection criteria were strict and only men of integrity and honesty were selected through a systematic process. These young men were trained and groomed on principles of loyalty and discipline. Anyone found below these standards are immediately shunted out. In April, 1948 Flight Lieutenant Muhammad Waseem Khan was sent to UK for “All Purpose Instructors’ Course”. He almost won the coveted Clarkson Aerobatic Trophy. Next year, Flight Lieutenant Fawad Shahid Hussain won the first position in the “Pilot Attack Instructors’ Course “at Central Gunnery School at Leconsfield. He also set a Commonwealth record in air-to-air shooting.
For sound training and grooming, pioneers established two schools in 1953, a pre-apprentice school at Lower Topa and pre-cadet school at Sargodha. Lower Topa was later merged into Sargodha school. UK’s Air Services Training Ltd Hamble was contracted to provide the entire teaching staff. Pre-cadet training was started from 7th class and ended after five years with an Overseas Cambridge Board examination of Cambridge University. After Mr. E Sprawson, Mr High Catchpole was appointed as principal in 1958. He served at Sargodha School till 1967, when it was raised to the level of a college. Sargodha College focuses on education with a wide range of intellectual activities. The institution inculcates sense of self-reliance, patriotism, confidence and moral values to become a fighter and a leader. Quality most aspired is the honour, truth, honesty, courage, ambition and dynamism. Here body, brain and soul are shaped together to form a personality.
Today, PAF training institutions work on planned training programs. PAF college Sargodha, PAF Academy Risalpur, College of Aeronautical Engineering (CAE), Primary Flying Training (PFT) phase, Basic Flying Training (BFT) phase, Fighter Conversion Unit (FCU), Flying Instructors’ School (FIS), Combat Commanders’ School(CCS), Operational Conversion Unit (OCU), Pre-Trade Training School (PTTS), Administrative Trade Training School (ATTS), School of Aeronautics (SOA), School of Logistics (SOL), Information Technology School, School of Audit and Accounts, School of Administration, Air Defense Systems School and School of Electronics (SOE) play key role in training and grooming of different tiers of PAF. Such is the quality of these training institutions that brethren countries sent their personnel and officers for training in Pakistan. Proper airmen are made-to-borne here, who can react in split-second to any situation. The trainee is always upright, when caught on wrong foot; individual will show the courage to own
up whatever the consequences are. Agility, will-power, wits, devotion and courage are hall mark of these institutions.
PAF teachers played vital role in re-shaping the raw personalities of their trainees. They set personal example and pay individual attention to each student, inspiring them to unfold and nourish them to create a potential of awareness in them. Special emphasis is paid to personality building and grooming. The bond of teacher and a student remains a solid relation in pursuance of Islamic traditions. It’s a culture in PAF on reaching the higher ranks; teachers are invited at the residence to celebrate the occasion.
PAF has endeavored to be equipped with the best possible technology, machines, manpower and the training methodologies. Training and grooming is a constant dynamic element with evaluation and review. Non-commissioned personnel with outstanding skills and personal traits are also promoted as a commissioned officer. A unique feature of PAF is, individuals with good credentials and experience are still serving at an age of 60 years. Grooming is also dominated by constant standards of flight and ground safety at all tiers. Focus remains on adherence to correct and safe procedures. PAF personnel are also trained on different survival courses like Desert survival, Sea survival and mountain survival courses at especially schools for this purpose. It may be a matter of pride for PAF that two recipients of Nishan-e-Haider Major Aziz Bhatti and Capt Sher Khan initially joined PAF training center and later converted to Pak Army.
For commissioned officers all the cadres also qualify service courses leading to their career progression. For pilots, after passing out from Risalpur, their training continues at PAF base MM Alam (Mianwali) for about another year as fighter conversion. After MM Alam base, they are posted to different flying squadrons where they have to qualify for the flying, after clearance of flying tests inclusive of their knowledge of own as well as compatible aircraft in the world. They get their “Currency” on the weapon system of the squadron before given an independent aircraft to fly. Even after currency they have to pass stages of pair leader and then section leader. As a pilot grows in service, he may be selected for conversion to F-16 or JF-17 purely on his personal scores. This is the only selection criteria where no nepotism or favors can be extended as the personal life of the pilot is important both to his family and PAF. Resultantly best out of the best pilots are selected for further growth in service. They also have to serve as flight commander training and then flight commander operations for further progression. No pilot is cleared to take over the command of a squadron till the time he qualifies Flight Instructor’s course and Combat Commanders’ course. He also has to qualify Senior Command and Management course. By virtue of service he also participates in exercises like Inter squadron competitions (based on different strategies), Air-to-Air Missile fires, Air Defence excellence competition, Dissimilar Air Combat Training (DACT), Surveillence targeting and analysis, Flat out, Safron Bandit, Hi-Mark, Yalghaar, and inter-services exercises before proceeding to National Defense University (NDU).
Sound team work, requires extensive training and repetition of procedures till perfect harmony between different formatting members. These exercises serve as healthy grooming for PAF personnel developing the public’s confidence on their air force. These air displays also attract young lads (male and female) to join PAF.
Being served as commander of a Flight, Squadron, Wing, Unit, Lodger units, PAF base, Regional Air Command and AHQ detachments, performance is monitored constantly by AHQ. Even suspension of cadet or removal of an apprentice during training is personally monitored by senior staff officers at the Air Headquarters. Likewise all aircraft and ground occurrence reports are discussed in the “Air Staff presentation” meetings where all the base and field commanders are present. Here the individuals’ errors are discussed based upon his initial training grades, experience, service courses, qualified to work or not on a specific seat or not. An Air Marshal rank officer monitors all the training and grooming of personnel at all tiers. This Air Marshal obviously qualifies all the milestones from selection in PAF till this Air Marshal rank (at least 30 years) and understands thread-bare of training and grooming at every tier. A special directorate of Religious affairs also grooms PAF personnel on religion and day to day affairs.
PAF understands the numerical superiority can be balanced by superior airmen-ship, serviceability and improved maintenance. To ensure excellence in flying and maintenance air displays, aerobatics and fire-power demonstrations are regularly being conducted. These exercises demand a complete harmony of mental and physical faculties of an individual. They also regulate different activities at all tiers. Mastery of a fit and error free flying machine, with error free maintenance, logistics and support elements is the aim and war preparedness is tested based upon the right weapons for the right mission. A team’s skill depends upon superior airmen-ship, self-control and deep knowledge of flying operations by capable technicians. PAF pays special attention to air-superiority, air awareness, and offensive, counter air offensive, interdiction, and close support, Reconnaissance, SIGINT/ELINT and tri services missions. There are examples that a superior aircraft has been subdued during these exercises by a low capability aircraft due to superior strategy and tactics. This has convinced PAF personnel that proper training and self-confidence can neutralize the superior aggressors. PAF is fortunate having gained battle hardened experiences also.
Manpower is an important requirement for operational preparedness. Right man for the right job, on Job training and constant training and grooming ensures success of a fighting arm. PAF also constantly updates its combat training syllabus. PAF has established a new set up of Information Technology (IT) with 100% education of its personnel on computers. The organization has progressed to paper-less environment. Online communication is being promoted and a senior officer at the AHQ directly may address the remotest PAF unit online, while sitting in his office. Registration and Selection tests are also conducted online at all the PAF selection centers.
PAF has a comprehensive training system too for the technicians and engineers. It has different maintenance, munitions and engineering depots where specialized personnel are deployed for effective maintenance, repair and overhaul of the equipment in use. PAF personnel are also sent on educational, management and grooming courses both within country and abroad. They get opportunities to do MS and P hd in their respective specialties. Based upon the expertise of PAF personnel, self-reliance has been achieved in so many fields and PAF is not dependent on only one weapon system in time of need today.
PAF also pays attention to the grooming of lady wives through Pakistan Air Force Women Association (PAFWA). Wife of Chief of the Air Staff is appointed as the Chair-person for this club, subsequently headed by wives of the base commanders at the base level. This forum is open to all the lady wives where the senior officers’ wives teach and groom the young women-folk the traditions, norms and culture of PAF. Every air force wife or a daughter is elegant with decent manners and personality. PAFWA also coordinates for school of special children and day care centers (for working lady wives) established at PAF bases. Likewise the Fazaiya schools and colleges also play a dominant role in imparting education and grooming to the civil society of Pakistan. You will find a kid of PAF well groomed, well behaved and disciplined.
During training PAF also sends its cadets for guard mounting of the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam cementing the respect and love for the father of the nation. They perform this duty with a pride as the father of nation had asked them to be “Second to None”.