2600:1700:5390:4560:D43A:CFF2:CAA9:8AF1 at 06:43, 15 December 2022

2022-12-15T06:43:01Z

New page

{{Distinguish|Hindon Airport}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox airport
| name = Air Force Station Hindon [[File:Roundel of India.svg|40px]]
| nativename =
| nativename-a =
| nativename-r =
| image = Delhi and surroundings aerial photo 08-2016 img7.jpg
| image-width = 250
| caption = Aerial view of Hindon Air Base
| IATA =
| ICAO = VIDX
| type = Military ([[Indian Air Force]])
| owner =
| operator = [[Western Air Command]]
| city-served =
| location = [[Ghaziabad, India|Ghaziabad]], [[Uttar Pradesh]]
| metric-elev =
| elevation-m = 213.4
| elevation-f = 700
| coordinates = {{coord|28|42|28|N|77|21|30|E|type:airport_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map = India Uttar Pradesh#India
| pushpin_mapsize =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| pushpin_relief =
| pushpin_image =
| pushpin_label = Air Force Station Hindan
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_mark =
| pushpin_marksize =
| website =
| r1-number = 09/27
| r1-length-m = 2743
| r1-length-f = 9000
| r1-surface = [[Concrete]] / [[Asphalt]]
| r2-number =
| r2-length-m =
| r2-length-f =
| r2-surface =
| stat-year =
| stat1-header =
| stat1-data =
| stat2-header =
| stat2-data =
| footnotes = Sources:<ref>[http://www.airport-data.com/world-airports/VIDX/ Information of Hindan Air Force Base], airport-data.com, accessed 15 January 2011</ref><ref name="Wikimapia">[http://wikimapia.org/14737036/Hindan-Air-Station Hindan Air Station], [[Wikimapia]], accessed 15 January 2011</ref>
}}
'''Air Force Station Hindon''' ('''Hindon AFS''') (also Hindon) is an [[Indian Air Force]] [[airbase|base]] under the [[Western Air Command]] (WAC). It is the biggest and largest air base in Asia. Its area measured 14 km rounded and {{convert|55|km2}}. This base celebrates Air Force Day on 8 October. It is located near [[Loni, India|Loni]] [[Ghaziabad, India|Ghaziabad]] in the state of [[Uttar Pradesh]] in the [[National Capital Region (India)|National Capital Region]] on the outskirts of [[Delhi]], close to the Hinaon River.<ref name="df">{{cite web|url=http://www.pib.nic.in/release/rel_print_page1.asp?relid=20966|title=Air Force Day Fly Past an Appeal|date=26 September 2006|publisher=PIB, Ministry of Defence}}</ref> Starting 2006, the annual Air Force Day Parade venue was shifted from [[Palam Airport]] to Hindon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Images/Special/Airshows/Hindan_001/|title=Air Force Day 2006 Rehearsal - Hindan AFS|date=October 2006|publisher=[[Bharat Rakshak]]}}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> There is one runway, aligned east–west (09-27), of {{convert|9000|ft|m}} length x {{convert|150|ft|m}} width. The military airbase serves as the home of the [[Indian Air Force|IAF]] [[C-17 Globemaster]] and the IAF [[C-130J Super Hercules]], the backbone of Strategic Heavy Air Lift division of the [[Indian Air Force]]. The [[Airports Authority of India]] (AAI) operates a [[civil enclave]] at Hindon as part of the government's Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS).<ref name="HT2">{{cite news|title=Regional flights to 4 cities including Kannur and Hubli from Hindan airbase expected by October end |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/noida/regional-flights-to-4-cities-including-kannur-and-hubli-from-hindon-airbase-expected-by-october-end/story-yrydOBuyYGT9KXfR0UMFeI.html |date=5 July 2018 |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |access-date= 9 July 2022}}</ref>

==Units==
* [[No. 77 Squadron IAF|No. 77 Squadron]] ([[Lockheed C-130J Super Hercules]])
* [[No. 81 Squadron IAF|No. 81 Squadron]] ([[Boeing C-17 Globemaster III]])
* [[No. 129 Helicopter Unit, IAF|No. 129 Helicopter Unit]] ([[Mil Mi-17|Mil Mi-17IV]])
* [[No. 131 Helicopter Flight, IAF|No. 131 Helicopter flight]] ([[HAL Cheetah]])

==History==
Originally the base was home to a squadron each of [[MiG-23]]s and [[MiG-27]]s, both single-engine fighters.{{cn|date=September 2021}} After the 1965 war, [[No. 7 Squadron IAF]] moved to Hindon along with [[Hawker Hunter]]s, and stayed here till 1969, when it moved to [[Bagdogra]] in [[West Bengal]], subsequently during the [[East Pakistan Operations 1971]] it flew in on 6 December 1971.<ref>[http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Sqn/007.html No.7 Squadron, Indian Air Force webpage] [[Bharat Rakshak]].</ref> Prior to the [[No. 3 Squadron, Indian Air Force|No. 3 Squadron]] moved here in July 1971 and was operating [[Dassault Mystère IV|Mystère IVA]]s at the time. After the war it moved back to Hindon, until it shifted base to [[Pathankot]] in 1975.<ref>[http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Sqn/003.html No. 3 Squadron, Indian Air Force] ''[[Bharat Rakshak]]''</ref>

In the mid-1980s, it was identified by ornithologist Dr. [[Salim Ali]] among the 10 air bases in India prone to [[bird hit]]s, due to the presence of slaughterhouses and dumping grounds in its vicinity being close to the [[Ghaziabad, India|Ghaziabad]] industrial city. In the coming years, the number of accidents increased.

Finally in 1997, when three plane crashes occurred within a span of few days, Hindon was abandoned as a fighter base and remained home to [[Avro]]s and [[Mil Mi-17|Mi-17]] helicopters and transport aircraft in the following years, apart from being used by the IAF Aircrew Examination Board.

However, in 2003, with growing terrorist threats, its importance as a strategic air base to provide air cover to the capital was realised, as Hindon-based fighters could reach the skies over New Delhi within five minutes as compared to the 15-plus minutes it would take from other closest bases, namely [[Sirsa Air Force Station]], [[Ambala Air Force Base]] and [[Chandigarh Air Force Station]], and thus Hindon was reactivated and area around it was cleaned up.<ref name="re">{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/apr/16delhi1.htm|title=Renewed threat to Delhi forces rethink on Hindan air base|date=16 April 2003|publisher=[[Rediff]] News|access-date=17 January 2022}}</ref> September 2005, saw Air Chief Marshal [[S.P. Tyagi]] becoming the first Chief of Air Staff to earn para wings while in office, as he finished his fifth and final para jump at Air Force Station Hindon.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050929/nation.htm#18|title=Para wings for Chief of Air Staff|date=29 September 2005|work=The Tribune}}</ref>

In 2006, Indian Air Force shifted its 74th Anniversary celebration venue from [[Palam Airport]] in Delhi, to Hindon to avoid airspace closure for commercial traffic, where the Air Force Day Parade cum investiture ceremony was held on 8 October, and an air display by 66 aircraft.<ref name="df"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-10-08/india/27809791_1_mi-17-marshal-s-p-tyagi-air-force-day|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104115859/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-10-08/india/27809791_1_mi-17-marshal-s-p-tyagi-air-force-day|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 November 2012|work=[[The Times of India]]|title=Aerial display marks Air Force Day|date=8 October 2022}}</ref> This also gave the IAF aircraft more air space during the air show, till then was uses primarily as a helicopter base.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20061009/nation.htm#4|title=Scintillating show marks Air Force Day|date=9 October 2006|work=The Tribune}}</ref> After that it has become an annual event at the station.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/IAF-celebrates-Air-Force-day-in-style/articleshow/6711310.cms|title=IAF celebrates Air Force day in style|date=8 October 2010|work=The Times of India}}</ref>

On 1 June 2007, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal [[F.H. Major|F. H. Major]] flagged off a [[microlight]] expedition, part of the IAF's Platinum Jubilee celebrations, aiming to creating a record by completing the expedition, Around the World in 80 Days. Wing Commanders Rahul Monga and Anil Kumar reached Hindon back on 19 August, and covering 40,497 km in 80 days they achieved a speed of 21.092 km/h thus beating the previous record of 16.53 km/h set by Colin Bodil of the U.K. in 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/release/rel_print_page.asp?relid=30101|title=Indian Air Force’S pilots create a new world record IAF microlight expedition flies around the world in 80 days|date=19 August 2007|publisher=Ministry of Defence}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/20/stories/2007082052181500.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125062341/http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/20/stories/2007082052181500.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 January 2012|title=IAF pilots create record|date=20 August 2007|work=[[The Hindu]]|location=Chennai, India}}</ref> Although the FAI ( Fédération Aéronautique Internationale - world governing body for air sports, aeronautics and astronautics world records) has denied their claim as both the pilots and the Indian Air Force could not furnish any proof for such a feat.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/iaf-world-record-claim-falls-flat/274995/|title=iaf world claim falls flat|date=19 February 2008|newspaper=The Indian Express}}</ref>

In 2007, when the [[Airports Authority of India]] (AAI) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) launched a pilot project to test joint management of the airspace, Hindon was opened to civilian flights, though its open for flights only during stipulated hours of the day.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.livemint.com/2007/08/22015929/AAIair-force-pilot-plan-for-t.html|title=AAI-air force pilot plan for traffic management|date=22 August 2022}}</ref>

After the [[2008 Mumbai attacks|26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks]] IAF moved [[MiG-29]]s to the air base in order "to protect the capital from aerial threats."<ref name="expressbuzz.com">[http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=IAF+eye+on+flight+of+fancy&artid=igC112jaMSg=&SectionID=b7ziAYMenjw=&MainSectionID=b7ziAYMenjw=&SectionName=pWehHe7IsSU=&SEO=The%20Indian%20Air%20Force IAF closely monitoring Pakistan activity]{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Express Buzz (Indian Express), 25 December 2008.</ref>

Hindon was amongst nine airfields in the Western Air Command (WAC) for the Modernization of Air Field Infrastructure programme (MAFI), started in 2009. Due its proximity to the Delhi, work at the station which included equipping it with sensitive radars was to commence first. This work completed in 2011 when the first of six [[C-130J Hercules]] tactical transport aircraft arrived from the US. Hindon was designated to become home base for these aircraft and for this purpose, the Hindon runway was extended and modern hangars, servicing and operations facilities suitable for the C-130J aircraft were added.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mid-day.com/news/2009/may/220509-Hindan-Air-Force-station-airfield-transport-aircraft-Indian-Air-Force.htm|title=Hindan gets more airpower|date=2009-05-22|work=MiD DAY}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/iafs-first-c-130j-airlifter-to-arrive-this-week/articleshow/7297544.cms |title=IAF's first C-130J airlifter to arrive this week |date=16 January 2011 |work=The Economic Times|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110120203306/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/iafs-first-c-130j-airlifter-to-arrive-this-week/articleshow/7297544.cms |archive-date=20 January 2011 }}</ref> Hindon currently hosts 18 C-130J's.

In June 2011, the IAF signed a contract with the USAF to purchase 10 [[Boeing C-17 Globemaster III]]'s. With the No. 81 Squadron bed down, the contract includes a dual-bay hangar, squadron operations facility, and other facilities and utilities to support aircraft operations. Deliveries began in June 2013 and are to continued through December 2014.<ref name=MOD_purchase>[http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=78432 "Purchase of Transport Aircraft."] ''pib.nic.in'', 12 December 2011. Retrieved: 2 August 2012.</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Boeing delivers third C-17 Globemaster military transport aircraft to Indian Air Force|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/boeing-delivers-third-c-17-globemaster-military-transport-aircraft-to-indian-air-force/articleshow/21995683.cms|access-date=23 August 2013|newspaper=The Economic Times|date=23 August 2022}}</ref>

===Historical use===
* [[No. 5 Squadron IAF]] – [[SEPECAT Jaguar|Jaguar]] IS/IB
* [[No. 14 Squadron IAF]] – Jaguar IS/IB
* [[No. 23 Squadron IAF]] – [[MiG-21]] bis<ref name="Wikimapia"/>
* [[No. 24 Squadron IAF]] – MiG-21 bis
The [[Garud Commando Force]] of the Indian Air Force are trained at this base.

==Civil Enclave==
{{Main|Hindon Airport}}
The [[Ministry of Civil Aviation (India)|Ministry of Civil Aviation]] proposed the idea of a [[civil enclave]] at Hindon, built and operated by the AAI,<ref name="HT2"/> because slot constraints at the [[Indira Gandhi International Airport]] prevented the operation of flights under the government's Regional Connectivity Scheme called [[UDAN]].<ref name="TOI2">{{cite news|title= DIAL gives nod to use of Hindon airbase for RCS flights |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/dial-gives-nod-to-use-of-hindon-airbase-for-rcs-flights/articleshow/60797140.cms |date=22 September 2017 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date= 10 October 2022}}</ref>
The Indian Air Force permitted the Civil Aviation ministry to use the air base for civil operations in August 2017.<ref name="HBL1">{{cite news|title= Air Force: Can open up Hindan for flights under regional scheme |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/logistics/air-force-can-open-up-hindon-for-flights-under-regional-scheme/article9836149.ece |date=30 August 2017 |work=[[The Hindu Business Line]] |access-date= 9 July 2022}}</ref>
Since the government has an agreement with the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), the operators of Delhi airport, prohibiting operations of another airport within a radius of 150 kilometres from Delhi airport, the MoCA negotiated with DIAL for permissions. DIAL gave approval in September 2017 for temporary civil operations from Hindon. When DIAL's on-going expansion of Delhi Airport is completed around September 2022,<ref>{{cite news|access-date=2018-10-11|title=You could board a flight from Gzb in Jan '19 - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/noida/you-could-board-a-flight-from-gzb-in-jan-19/articleshow/65956996.cms|newspaper=The Times of India}}</ref> all UDAN operations would revert to Delhi Airport.<ref name="TOI2"/>
The Uttar Pradesh government gave its approval for the project in March 2018.<ref name="HT1">{{cite news|title= Ghaziabad: Govt approves plan to operate regional flights from Hindan airbase |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/noida/ghaziabad-govt-approves-plan-to-operate-regional-flights-from-hindon-airbase/story-1Ab6FjOMLC9qMxEwSQxhjM.html |date=7 March 2018 |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |access-date= 9 July 2022}}</ref>

The enclave is built on 7.5 acres at Sikandarpur village in Sahibabad, adjacent the airbase.<ref name="TOI1">{{cite news|title= Land identified for civilian flights from Hindan IAF base in Ghaziabad |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ghaziabad/land-identified-for-civilian-flights-from-hindon-iaf-base-in-ghaziabad/articleshow/61842288.cms |date=29 November 2017 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date= 9 July 2022}}</ref> The terminal has a capacity of serving 300 passengers an hour. 45.2 crores is being used to build the new civil terminal. Air traffic control will be provided by the [[Indian Air Force]].<ref name="livemint.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Industry/aXAaWrBbp4I8BrH9Wa5uNL/Delhi-to-get-second-airport-at-Hindon-by-February-next-year.html|title=Delhi to get second airport at Hindon by February next year|author=Staff Writer|date=4 December 2018|website=mint}}</ref>
It was inaugurated by prime minister Narendra Modi on 8 March 2019.<ref name="ET1">{{cite news|title= PM Narendra Modi inaugurates civil enclave at Hindon airport |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/pm-narendra-modi-inaugurates-civil-enclave-at-hindon-airport/articleshow/68322539.cms |date=8 March 2019 |work=[[The Economic Times]] |access-date= 10 October 2022}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Indian Air Force]]
* [[Ambala Air Force Station]]
* [[Sirsa Air Force Station]]
* [[Hisar Military Station]]
* [[Hisar Airport]]
* [[Karnal Airport]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://wikimapia.org/14737036/Hindan-Air-Station Hindon Air Station] at ''[[Wikimapia]]''
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/hindan.htm Hindon Air Base] at ''GlobalSecurity.org''
*[http://indianairforce.nic.in/expedition/expedition_voyage.php Round The Globe Expedition]

{{Airports in India}}
{{Indian Air Force}}

[[Category:Indian Air Force bases]]
[[Category:Ghaziabad district, India]]
[[Category:Transport in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Airports with year of establishment missing]]

Hindan Air Force Station - Revision history

2600:1700:5390:4560:D43A:CFF2:CAA9:8AF1 at 06:43, 15 December 2022