<Pointing out that IAF spends heavily on pilot training, Tyagi [its chief] said >
You can say that again, Boss! Note that he is probably referring only to the 'direct' that too operating cost of such training. Capital cost is probably nil or completely depreciated. When was the last time the IAF built a spanking new base from scratch (like the Navy is doing at Karwar)? What about the 'indirect' cost of the training? Prime among these is the opportunity cost of throttling economic activity at the civil enclaves at the bases where the training is imparted. Business travel and tourism are the areas impacted and to these the social cost of curtailing visits to friends and relatives must also be added. There are at least 15 IAF bases with civil enclaves including such economically crucial ones like Hyderabad, Agra and Pune. Bangalore (HAL) and Dabolim (Navy) are two other military bases where training and the like are done. To get around the constraints posed by training at bases with civil enclaves, the civil aviation ministry has mandated that greenfield airports should be built at some considerable distance (for 'security' reasons). Such new airports tend to be extravagant ones (in a vain bid to become 'world class') and are built at much greater cost than necessary. Who bears the resulting high fares charged by airlines operating from such airports? The common man. The old throttling problem in a new form. Then there is the requirement that the old civil enclave should be shut down (to revert completely to the military). This raises the spectre of dislocation and disruption of economic activity (supply chains, livelihoods etc) at the old location for the sake of a couple of military squadrons. For its part, the new location requires new access roads, new property development, new human resources development for business etc. No doubt this is good for economic development but what about the cost? And to what end? The top brass needs to seriously think about such fall-outs of their activities and make the adjustments called for without being asked.
