As a part of the ongoing exercise Gagan Shakti-24 of the Indian Air Force (IAF), the aircraft recently operated the Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) in the northern sector of the Kashmir Valley.
A large number of troops were airlifted and later made aerial landings by night using Chinook, Mi-17 V5 and ALH Mk-III helicopters.
The IAF is also planning similar exercises in coordination with the administration of state governments to activate emergency landing facility in other areas.
Various fixed and rotary wing platforms of the Indian Air Force will carry out coordinated landings and operations at these emergency landing facility.
This will require efficient planning and coordination with civil administrations employing the Whole of Nations Approach (WNA).
Emergency landing facility operations provide an opportunity to IAF aircraft to operate from such restricted landing surfaces.
