Reconnaissance and Observation Flight of Army Aviation Corps located at Misamari was awarded the Annual Flight Safety Trophy for the year 2010-11 by the Army Chief General VK Singh at a function held today during the ongoing Army Commander’s Conference at Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi. This trophy is awarded annually to the Army Aviation flight achieving the best flight safety record while at the same time meeting its operational task during the year.
Army Aviation helicopters have been operating ceaselessly at the heights of Siachen Glacier, the highest battle field in the world and in the counter terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir and in the North East. This Corps of the Army is the largest operator of helicopters in the country with over 200 helicopters and flies approximately 50,000 hours every year. The helicopters of this elite corps are extensively used by the Army in counter terrorist operations and to carry out tasks in support of disaster relief operations during natural calamities like floods and earthquakes. During the recent earthquake in Sikkim in September 2011, Army Aviation resources were optimally utilised to carry out daring rescue missions of stranded personnel from inaccessible areas, extract civilian casualties and deliver essential commodities to the victims of the quake. Cheetahs were also used extensively for carrying out reconnaissance by Commanders to assess the extent of damage.
Army Aviation Corps, the youngest Corps of the Indian Army will be celebrating its Silver Jubilee on 01 November 2011.