Engineering Conundrum
A New Paradigm
“If I get another chance, I would like to be an Electronics
Engineer - you have so many exciting opportunities”, said our SASO, Air Marshal
KDK Lewis. Just out of my M Tech at IIT Kharagpur with a perfect 10/10 CGPA
(Cumulative Grade Point Average), I was posted as member of EDP Project at HQ
Western Air Command. It was a pioneering project; a precursor to the computer
centres that were to take shape in all Commands. The project was headed by a
combat man. As such, Air Marshal Lewis' thinly veiled encouragement was vital.
It has stayed with me - I have reflected on his words and quoted him to
motivate colleagues.
Three of us, alumni of IIT Roorkee having retired from
respective fields, had an interactive session with its MBA students. They were
energised to hear about the experiences of my friends from the money making civil
industry. But, they seemed to have a lack of expectation from me despite being
very respectful to an air force veteran. Therefore, I asked “Do you know a
national industry bigger than the Indian Air Force?” I expected someone would
name the Indian Railways. There was only an inquisitive silence. So I
continued, “I know one, and that is the Indian Army. However, when you consider
sophistication and size, there are few industries that match the Indian Air
Force.” The students were amazed to hear about the technological expanse and
challenges in the Air Force.
“In the next war (which
will surely come) the first shots will be fired in cyberspace. Software
capability will be as, if not more, important than a Rafael Sqn on the front
line.”
- A senior veteran fighter pilot
- A senior veteran fighter pilot
As a new paradigm, we need to first acknowledge the fact that Air Force
operations man (or woman) can also be someone other than a pilot. Innovative
engineering and software skills will count as much as combat flying in future
wars.
Let us start afresh without getting bogged down by what has been. Can today’s
decision makers hypothetically think as if they have to build a new Air Force?
We need to envision what should be and then try to figure out how to be there. If
Subroto Mukerjee, Jumbo Majumdar and Harjinder Singh had to start a new Air
Force to survive and win wars in this hi-tech world today, what would they
think about the infrastructure, work force and the command & control needs? If we sincerely answer this one
question, we can find all answers. We can then work towards achieving our goal.
A Wg Cdr colleague had left the Air
Force prematurely in the nineties and joined a communication company. He got
back to town after a few months and came over to meet old friends from the
unit. Youngsters were keen to know about the corporate world. His answer was simple.
He asked friends to close their eyes and think of the most crafty colleague.
Then he said “whoever you have thought of would be one of the most straightforward
persons in my company”.
The Air Force family has given us
happiness and bonhomie which few can experience outside.
My alma mater, IIT Roorkee invited me
for a year after retirement to be an Advisor to the Director. Faculty and
students, one and all at Roorkee were affectionate and kind to me because I was
an Air Force veteran besides being an alumnus.
Back to where I began. On the eve of my retirement, I recalled Air Mshl
KDK Lewis with gratitude for having infused energy into my endeavours. To those
bidding farewell to me, however, I had to disclose a different choice
consequent to a mythical rebirth. “I would certainly opt for Indian Air Force
but, as a fighter pilot – and I would also like to be a practicing electronics
engineer”, I admitted. I wonder if the unsaid was evident – that being a
fighter pilot (besides the adventure) would put me in a class of those who
could make a decision (change); and being a practicing engineer I would have
the acumen to understand what to change.
“Changing things is
central to leadership, changing them before anyone else is creativeness”
- Antony Jay's first law
- Antony Jay's first law
We can not meet future challenges without changing our organization structure suitably. We have to have right leadership at various newly emerging functions of AirForce.
ReplyDeleteSir, thoughts have been expressed very aptly. One thing, I wish and sincerely hope which shall change is the decision making process in IAF considering the changing scenario of warfare. It's now far beyond fighting with arms and flying machines- it's technology war. So let the best brains do the planning and decide the course of fighting. These may be from any stream, why only restricted to a few chosen ones. I wish the day will come soon.
ReplyDelete- Sudhir
Upending Mr Lewis."gaana gayo, cricket khelo, electronics engineer aur PhD IIT sey".What say likh bhi letey ho! dhanya ho aisa air force.Graciously, as is the wont of the officer he finds inspiration there.gratitude for being a polyglot.Having read this final salvo, brief but heart rending I realise what it is to have a sane head.hummey bhi gussa to bahut hai lekin shabd aur soch kahin behak jaatey hain hameasha? aap aadarniya hain.isliye ki kuch kahney key liye aawaaz nahin balki soch buland hona zaroori hai.
ReplyDeleteI wish and pray that there are many more, such as you in the IAF.Today...
Dear Sir,
ReplyDeleteI second your views that an IAF engineer needs to be a composite of fighter boy like qualities and engineer like acumen to be called as a fighting Combatant and maybe enjoy equal opportunities as a core functionary....yes today Electronics and mechatronics being the choice of the day.
Dear Parmod Sir,
ReplyDeleteBrilliant, hats off to you, it is so well written covering the history and other important issues of Indian Airforce. Most of the thoughts coming into my mind are already covered in your writing and in the comments forwarded my different people. I will just summarize the points which I think are relevant and important-
- Very engaging style, relevant historical background our present needs and lessons for the future.
- Surprisingly not many even amongst engineering branch are aware of AVM Harjinder great contribution to the maintenance branch.
- Why not forward this to AFTC with suggestion to cover the history of maintenance branch and its proud legacy as a part of its curriculum.
- A step motherly treatment towards engineers is not only in the Airforce it exists in all organisations in India which have both operations and engineering components.
- Those equipped with engineering as well as flying acumen had perhaps begin to acquire a professional status well beyond that of a submissive maintenance man, which was not acceptable to the flying branch who are the decision makers.
- Because of the merging of erstwhile four branches into AEL and AEM the Airforce benefited from the integration of all maintenance efforts at flying as well as non-flying stations. However, it was at the cost of armament and signal specialist. In this regard Air Marshals Ramdas’s mantra “ Let us look ahead going back is not an answer” should be followed.
- The Engineering function in the IAF are too vast that even the most brilliant and hardworking officers are not able to master all the fields. The canvas becomes so big that however sincerely personal staff may try, we get situations where apex level engineers get into uncomfortable situations. To overcome this issue, Communication and IT being a massive field require a separate cadre of its own independent of existing maintenance ( AE ) structure.
- Being a common denominator, as a junior engineering officer, one receives the affection of everyone if one is hardworking and professionally component.
- Pilots like sports persons are constantly engaged in training and honing their skills are therefore professionally more sound then the engineering officers, who are mostly engaged in man and material management rather then the core engineering knowledge related to aircraft and equipment/system.
- Engineers have carried out the buddy role diligently and accepted command and control of fighter men sincerely with grace. I found the fighter pilots are the best commanders. However, their decisions are deeply influenced by their long association with the flight office and crew room. Very few engineering officers are able to become a good commander due to a sportive role right from the junior level and lack of support from higher echelon.
- Consequent to the mythical rebirth I would certainly opt for Indian Airforce but as a fighter pilot. That would put me in a class of those who are decision makers.
In the end I would once again show my appreciation the way you have covered the maintenance related issues in IAF in such an interesting manner. That is why you were the AOC in C.
It may be forwarded to Nitti Udyog and PMO office besides the Airforce for their consideration and restructuring of Air Force in future
Keep hitting the sixers with the straight bat. Cheers and God bless.
Regards
Virka the Pultre
-
Pramod,
ReplyDeleteYou are indeed doing a great service to AIR FORCE by suggesting shake up from the roots the existing organisation, to make it future ready. With AI taking over more and more role of human beings, drones playing a more dominant role in future wars, the current set up is too outdated to grab the new opportunities. Cyber warfare is going to be the first front to be opened by the enemy to which our imported weapons and command and control systems are highly vulnerable. Therefore I only hope and pray that Air Force pays due attention.
-SS MOTIAL
Dear Pramod,
ReplyDeleteYou have very lucidly highlighted the issue of engineers in the AF being looked at merely as maintenance personnel and nothing more. The reason for this state of affairs is not far to seek. It cannot be denied that engineers in the sqns/wings are primarily engaged in routine first and second line activities with very little scope and time for doing anything else. It is also true that the only phase in their career during which the pilots are directly exposed to technical activities and get an opportunity to interact with the engineers in the field is in the sqns/wings. Therefore they cannot be faulted if they carry the impression of an air force engineer only as a maintenance man throughout the rest of their air force career. The only exception are the AF test pilots who work very closely with the flight test engineers where they have to function as a team and the engineering knowledge and skills are on full display. It is therefore not surprising that test pilots do not regard engineers merely as maintenance personnel.
It is therefore high time for the engineering fraternity in the AF, particularly at the seniormost levels, to recognise the need for taking certain steps to change the image of the engineers in the minds of the pilots. Perhaps many ideas will emerge during these discussions. Having worked in a major BRD (11 BRD) for five long years, I have seen at close quarters the high level of engineering expertise and innovative skills required to achieve the desired results, which in many instances have been of an exceptional order. My remark about test pilots above is also based on my personal experience during my eight odd years at ASTE.
One of the steps I would like to suggest is that all the cases of truly outstanding work done at the repair depots and other specialist institutions e.g., SDI, must be showcased and shown to the pilots, particularly at the junior and middle levels, when they are still in the sqns/wings to change their perception of engineers. Some feeble attempts have been made earlier in this regard in the form of visits by squadron pilots to repair depots but this needs to be done in a more organised and concerted manner. Needless to say, engineers in the AF also need to continuously upgrade their knowledge and skills to earn the professional respect which they expect. It may take a long time but I am hopeful that the present situation will change.
Lastly, with reference to the point about outsourcing BRD tasks to organisations like HAL which would further erode the engineering skills of AF engineers, I wish to recall my informal discussions on the subject with the then CAS. My short reply to his contention was that the reason why our engineers and technicians in the Tech Flights in the wings are able to rectify many complicated snags beyond the scope of second line servicing is because some of have them have had BRD experience. But the most important reason was that during hostilities, depending only on external agencies to undertake field repairs of damaged aircraft would be a fatal mistake. Perhaps this sunk in to some extent, but I am in strong favour of continuing with the existing system, if not strengthening it more.
Roger proposes "that four main elements influence the spread of new idea of innovation itself, communication channels, time and a social system"
ReplyDelete