New Delhi (NVI): Making a huge contribution to the country’s fight against coronavirus, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has airlifted 54 cryogenic containers and 900 oxygen cylinders from several foreign countries, including UK, Singapore, UAE, Thailand and Germany, clocking over 140 hours of flying.
The latest operation involved “a grueling duty cycle of 35 hours” after which an IAF C17 Globemaster III landed at Chennai at 11:30 am today, bringing 37 tonnes of oxygen cylinders from Brize Norton in United Kingdom.
Having taken off from Jamnagar Air base late on May 2, the aircraft carried out only two halts at Braize Norton (for loading and turn around) and Cairo, Egypt (for refuelling), IAF spokesman said this evening.
Within India, the IAF has transported 180 empty cryogenic oxygen containers, apart from other relief material like oxygen cylinders, oxygen plant equipment, essential medicines and hospital equipment.
Airlift of the IAF RAMT (Rapid Action Medical Team) and of medical officers and personnel of the Indian Navy has also been undertaken. The IAF has employed 8 C-17, 4 IL-76, 10 C-130 and 20 An-32 aircraft, as well as Mi-17V5 and Chinook helicopters who have together clocked more than 360 hours of flying till date.
