MOSCOW. Nov 11 (Interfax-AVN) - Reassignment of the Land Forces aviation (army aviation) to the Air Force has been launched in the Russian Armed Forces.
A group of Air Force Staff officers led by chief of the military education department Colonel Nikolai Gorchakov arrived at the Syzran Military Helicopter Institute on Monday. They are to commission the institute to the Air Force within seven days.
A source in the Air Force Staff told Interfax-Military News Agency that the institute comprises two helicopter regiments and four support units numbering a total of over 4,000 servicemen and over 2,000 civilians.
Reassignment of army aviation units to the Air Force has started in all military districts, the source said.
Reassignment commissions are led by commanders of Air Force armies and chiefs of Land Forces aviation departments of military districts where helicopter units are stationed.
"The commissions' main goal is to determine the state and serviceability of the helicopter stock, competence of flight personnel, social and living conditions of helicopterists," the source said. There are more than 4,000 servicemen lacking their own flats in the army aviation.
Air Force Commander Vladimir Mikhailov is expected to meet with the Land Forces aviation command on Tuesday.
Army aviation is equipped with MI-24 Hind, MI-8 Hip, MI-26 Halo and KA-50 Hokum helicopters.