Shillong. 03 November 2016. Indian Airforce’s C-17 was the cynosure of all eyes when it landed at an elevation of 6200 Ft Above Mean Sea Level, the 4200 Feet long runway located in Mechuka,just 29 km from the Sino Indian border.
The ALG (Advanced Landing Ground) at Mechuka in Yargyap River valley of West Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh has been upgraded recently. The road connectivity to the nearest air/ rail head at Dibrugarh, about 500 km away, is hampered frequently by landslides; stretching the travel time to two days.
Conventional military cargo aircraft operate from 9000 ft long runways even at sea level airfields. The trial landing by C-17 aircraft on 02 Nov 16 validated its short field landing performance even at high altitude and demonstrated IAF capability to reach out to this remote ALG. The aircraft during the subject trial landing used much lesser then the full runway length to stop.
This is a quantum jump from the existing capability of An-32 and C-130J aircraft. Such airlift capability facilitates critical requirement of transfer of men and material in this rugged terrain of several adjacent river valleys, interspersed by high mountain ranges that inhibit road connectivity. In the event of a disaster in the region, C-17 operations to the remote ALG can enhance the speed and quantum of national relief effort.
IAF will continue to validate Airlift operations to the remaining ALG’s being renovated in Arunachal Pradesh. This would usher in a new dimension in enhanced disaster response.
The aircraft was received by the Detachment Commander Flt Lt S Dixit on its maiden landing in Mechuka. The aircrew who were part of this historic landing were Gp Capt TR Ravi, Wg Cdr P Sisodia, Wg Cdr AK Patnaik, MWO Tripathi and WO Nirana Ram.
This would also paves the way for operation of civil flights operating to and from these newly upgraded ALGs that would give a huge fillip to tourism as well as improve the connectivity to these remote locations in the North East.
