We happily give publicity to all accidents -- but the media will not talk about the achievements, will they? *___________* *Western Air Command of IAF achieves 'zero' accident rate this year* New Delhi 01.04.09 : For the first time in its history, the IAF's Western Air Command has achieved 'zero' accident rate in the 2008-09 period that ended on Tuesday. WAC, the largest operational air command, carries about 35 per cent of all flying operations of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and its number of accidents has steadily reduced over the years. "The Western Air Command has achieved a milestone by recording nil flying accident rate for the year 2008-09," WAC Air Officer Commanding-in- Chief Air Marshal P K Barbora told PTI today. "This is the first time in recorded history of the WAC that such a feat has been achieved," Barbora, an experienced fighter pilot, said. Asked what he would attribute the successful air operations throughout the year to, the Air Marshal said the WAC had "a lot of luck" coupled with professional outlook to flying operations carried out year long. "First and foremost, let me put it this way, we have to have a lot of luck. With luck, along with good professionalism, we can achieve 'zero' human error accidents," he said. "This year, we have been very fortunate and in the recorded history it has never been attained," he added. Barbora said whether it be human error or technical human error by the air crew, it was possible to achieve 'nil' accident rates, calculated on the basis of mishaps every 10,000 hours of flying, if "we are professional."
