MOSCOW, July 17 (AVN) - The training level of pilots, condition of the aircraft and fuel and lubricants support are on the downgrade in the Moscow air force and air defence district, a source in the district staff told the Military News Agency.
At present, only 58 percent of pilots are ready to perform combat tasks in unfavourable weather conditions during the day and only 43 at night, the source said. An avegare pilot of MIG-29 Fulcrum and Su-27 Flanker fighters spends in the air only eight hours a year, and that of MIG-31 Foxhound interceptors, SU-24 Fencer frontline bombers and SU-25 Frogfoot attack planes only five to six hours. The rate of aircraft fleet in commission fluctuates 57-79 percent depending on the model.
The flights are organised only once in a month, due to absence of fuel and lubricants. A total of 900 highly trained officers have filed their resignation reports since May 1999. The number included 120 pilots of 1st and 2nd class aged under 35. They cannot be replaced by younger pilots due to low training level of the latter.