The Indian Air Force’s Chandigarh-based 48-Squadron, popularly known as the Camels, wrote a new chapter in aviation history by landing the first twin engine aircraft at the highest landing strip in the world — Daulat Beg oldie, just 8 kilometers from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China in north Ladakh. Till date, no country’s air force has managed to accomplish this task.

The AN-32 aircraft carried a cargo of gifts and sweets for the troops stationed there. “The token of love from the countrymen to the army personnel was handed over to the GOC-in-C Northern Command at the air base. It was a promise from the IAF to provide the Indian Army every kind of help. Whenever they will need us, they will find us next to them,” Wing Commander S K Verma told Newsline.

“The area is difficult to operate for both man and machine. Further, the AN-32 aircraft are not meant to fly in such harsh conditions. But the headquarters gave us the task keeping our past record in mind and therefore, it was a challenge for us to live up to the expectations,” said AOC, 12 wings S R K Nair.

CO of the squadron, Group Captain S C Chafekar, said: “The Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) is in the vicinity of Chip Chap river and has a general elevation of 16,200 feet. The surrounding terrain rises to about 1,500 ft above the ALG. The landing surface is just a 2.1 km-long kutcha strip. The length of the runway also varies according to the terrain and the prevailing conditions.”

Wing Cdr M B Aserkar said the rarified atmosphere and the surface conditions made the task even more difficult. “The aircraft engines have to be kept running as there is a restriction of starting auxillary power unit at that height. Even the air crew has to use oxygen masks due to the rarified atmosphere,” he added.