Jaguar jets still flying without autopilot: CAG:

Jaguar jets still flying without autopilot: CAG:

Context:

• One of the frontline fighters of the Indian Air Force, the Jaguars, is still flying without autopilots, an essential flying aid, the Comptroller and Auditor-General has said.

Background:

• In a report presented in Parliament on July 28, the CAG said that the flying aid capability envisaged by the IAF for the Jaguar aircraft in 1997 remains largely unrealized even after 20 years.
• In 1997, the IAF had projected a requirement of 108 autopilots for 108 aircraft but only 35 autopilots were contracted in August 1999 due to “resource crunch” at a cost of Rs 37.42 crore which were delivered between 2006 and 2008.
• A repeat contract for 95 autopilots was concluded only by March 2014.
• Out of 35 autopilots procured earlier, only 18 could be integrated on the Jaguar aircraft as of March 2017.
• The integrated autopilots were also functioning sub-optimally due to malfunctioning of their vital component i.e Auto Pilot Electronic Unit(APEU)

Key points:

• An autopilot is a system used to control the trajectory of an aircraft without constant ‘hands-on’ control by a human operator being required.
• It reduces the pilot’s workload, enhances safety of aircraft and cuts aircraft accidents.
• Presently, IAF has a fleet of 130 Jaguars IM/IS single-seat attack aircraft and 30 Jaguar IB two-seat trainers.
• Around 60 of these Jaguars will be modified to DARIN III standard by the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the rest will remain at DARIN II standard until they are retired.     

Sub-optimal function:

• Out of 35 autopilots procured earlier, only 18 could be integrated on the Jaguar aircraft as of March 2017.
•  The integral autopilots were also functioning sub-optimally due to malfunctioning of their vital component i.e Auto Pilot Electronic Unit (APEU), the report highlighted
•   In addition, 30 autopilots received through the repeat contract are yet to be integrated
•  As on October 2016, the IAF had a holding of 117 Jaguars, but only 18 could be upgraded with autopilot capability
•   These autopilots were working sub-optimally due to malfunctioning of their APEUs, the report added.