Drone strikes have emerged as major threats to military installations and must be detected early enough to protect assets and troops, said Air Commodore Shekhar Yadav, the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) of the Air Force Station (AFS) Pune.
The AFS has installed counter-drone systems to eliminate unidentified flying objects, he said. “All drone operators are expected to follow the government policy and seek necessary clearances to enable separation from other flying aircraft and ensure safety.
Flying bases and areas up to three km of radius are a ‘no-drone zone’. Therefore, one should seek clearance from the closest airport/Air Force Station before undertaking any drone flying,” said Air Commodore Yadav.
He said, “Bird strikes are a critical concern during the take-off, approach and landing phases of flight. To address the issue, the flight safety section (FSS) at this base undertakes studies of critical zones around the airfield area and conducts awareness camps to educate and persuade people to discard their garbage in closed dustbins only,” he added. On AFS security, particularly after the terrorist attack on the base in Pathankot in 2016, the AOC said the station has an elaborate security setup, which is manned 24×7.
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