IAF flew 1,750 sorties involving 1,000 flying hours to support Election Commission during 2024 general election

Vijay Mohan 

Chandigarh, June 12

Transport aircraft and helicopters of the Indian Air Force conducted about 1,750 sorties flying over 1,000 hours in support of the Election Commission of India (ECI) during the 2024 general election.

The IAF was involved in five of the seven phases of elections.

“During the general election-2024, substantial flying effort has taken place over the last few months by the medium lift helicopters like Mi-17 variants, light utility helicopters like Chetaks and the indigenously manufactured Advanced Light Helicopter, Dhruv,” a defence spokesperson said here on Wednesday.

The IAF was actively involved with the task of airlifting electronic voting machines and deploying ECI personnel on election duties, as has been carried out during previous national and state elections.

The IAF played a pivotal role in extending the reach of ECI into remote corners of the country and to places where movement by road was a security concern.

The task was time bound as polling officers had to be positioned at each remote polling station within two days prior to the election date and de-inducted on the day of polling.

This herculean task was achieved through close coordination with ECI and Chief Election Commissioners (CECs) of various states through nodal officers in order to optimise utilisation of assets factoring security, weather, road connectivity, etc, the spokesperson added.

Transport and helicopter fleets of the Air Force undertake varied war and peacetime tasks. In addition to the peacetime role of sustaining forward areas by air maintenance, airlift of combat troops during domestic and international exercises, etc, a number of tasks towards nation building and aid to civil administration are also undertaken.

Helicopter assets of Indian Army and Border Security Force were also dovetailed into the overall plan towards the conduct of the elections.