Page 319 - SSB Interview: The Complete Guide, Second Edition

Ser Institution Location

(a) Air Force Administrative College Coimbatore

(b) Air Force Training Academy Hakimpet, Hyderabad

(c) Air Force Technical Training Centre Bengaluru and Chennai

(d) Air Force Non-technical Training Centre Belgaum

Bases

109. The IAF operates over sixty air bases, with more being built or planned.

Western Air Command is the largest Air Command. It operates sixteen

air bases from Punjab to Uttar Pradesh. Eastern Air Command operates
fifteen air bases in Eastern and Northeastern India. Central Air

Command operates seven air bases in Madhya Pradesh and the
surrounding states of central India. Southern Air Command is a

strategically important air command, in line with India’s latest doctrine

of protecting the vital shipping routes. It operates nine air bases in
Southern India and two in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. South

Western Air Command is the front line of defence against Pakistan; this
important Command operates twelve air bases in Gujarat, Maharashtra

and Rajasthan. India also operates the Farkhor Air Base in Tajikistan.

Wings

110. A Wing is a formation intermediate between a Command and a

Squadron. It generally consists of two or three IAF squadrons and
helicopter units, along with Forward Base Support Units (FBSU).

FBSUs do not have or host any squadrons or helicopter units, but act as

transit airbases for routine operations. In times of war, they can become
full-fledged air bases playing host to various squadrons. In all, about 47

Wings and 19 FBSUs make up the IAF.

Squadrons

111. Squadrons are the field units and formations attached to static locations.