Thiruvananthapuram: The importance of the Southern Air Command (SAC) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to increase in future owing to its proximity to international trade and oil routes, Chief of Air Staff S. P. Tyagi said here on Thursday.

He was interacting with presspersons on the sidelines of the Southern Air Command Station Commander's annual conference at the SAC headquarters in Aakulam here.

The IAF chief said there was a proposal to set up an aerospace command. The SAC would be responsible for the command if it were entrusted fully with the IAF. The IAF also wanted to "build Thanchavur" into a key base, which would also house components of the Army and Navy.

The year 2005-2006 was "statistically the safest year" for the IAF. The number of accidents involving combat aircraft had come down drastically. The Air Chief said MiG-21s comprised 40 per cent of IAF's fighter aircraft.

"No Chief of Staff will fly unsafe aircraft. We are all MiG-21 class pilots," he said.

The IAF was scheduled to carry out exercises with the Tornadoes of the Royal Air Force. The combat readiness and morale of the IAF was high. The IAF had exercised with the U.S., French and Singapore Air Forces.

The IAF was set to acquire six more mid-air refuelling aircraft, 80 medium-lift helicopters, 66 Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers, three Airborne Warning and Control Systems, 126 fighters, 60 Advanced Light Helicopters, Light Combat Aircraft, Intermediate Jet Trainers and medium transport aircraft in the 15 to 20-tonne class.

The IAF flew 4,000 hours carrying out relief and rehabilitation work in the tsunami and earthquake-hit areas in South India and Jammu and Kashmir, respectively. Nearly 40,000 people were airlifted from disaster struck areas.

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