New Delhi, December 01, 2007 (DefenceIndia News Service)

The modern concept of 'Flexi Airspace' - the integration of surveillance systems of both defence and civilan air traffic - will form the foundation of the Southern Air Command exercise, beginning in Thiruvananthapuram on 3rd December.

"This is the first time that coordination of civil-military traffic for simultaneous air activity is taking place on such a large-scale without causing any hindrance to normal civilian flights," Southern Air Command Senior Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Rajendra Singh, told reporters while briefing them about the format of the exercise, titled "Dakshin Prahar".

He said that the surveillance systems of the Air Force and Airports Authority of India have been integrated for the purpose. Both IAF and AAI would jointly share the airspace through close coordination to facilitate smooth flow of traffic, without disrupting scheduled flights, he said.

Elaborating on the exercise programme, Air Vice Marshal Rajendra said that the exercise would cover the areas from Thiruvananthapuram to Visakahapatnam and Lakshadweep and Minicoy group. Thirty aircraft at a time would participate in the exercise.

The Aircraft would conduct the exercise at an altitude of 10,000 to 15,000 feet, he said, answering a question.

State-of-the-art aircraft like Mirage-2000, SU-30, Jaguars, mammoth IL-76, workhorse AN-32 and MI-8 helicopters and Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs) have also been included in the exercise.