GUWAHATI, June 25 - In a bid to bolster Central Armed Police Forces� (CAPFs) air support capabilities towards troops deployment in disaster management, especially flood relief and counter insurgency operations in the North East region, the Air Wing of the Border Security Force (BSF) has added Guwahati as its new airbase by taking over a hangar at the new apron area of Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (LGBI), Guwahati, on June 24, stated a BSF press release here today.
This hangar and associated aerodrome facilities will enable the BSF to undertake independent maintenance and flying operations of MI-17 V5 aircraft on short notice. This will also facilitate emergency medical evacuation of critical CAPF personnel.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has approved operation of three MI-V5 helicopters of Russian origin from this airbase.
The BSF has its Frontier Headquarters at Patgaon in the vicinity of the city, and development of an airbase in close proximity will enhance its operational capability manifold. Earlier, the BSF had been operating various types of aircraft from New Delhi, Ranchi, Raipur, Agartala and Srinagar.
Flying trials have already been conducted successfully from the LGBI Airport hangar. This airlift facility, which is under the administrative and functional control of the BSF, is aimed at providing air support to all CAPFs. This airbase is also aimed at extending support towards operations and maintenance of other aircraft of the Ministry of Home Affairs transiting this region, the press release added.
