Indian Air Force to attend USAF's Air Mobility Rodeo 2007 event as observer

The Indian Air Force will attend an upcoming international air mobility competition hosted by the US Air Force (USAF) as an observer. The Air Mobility Rodeo 2007 will be held between July 22-July 28 at McChord Air Force Base (AFB) in Washington.

The biennial event focuses on improving the USAF's worldwide air mobility forces' professional core abilities. More than 40 teams and 2,500 people from the air force, and air force reserve, as well as allied nations, are expected to participate.

Rodeo tests the flight and ground skills of aircrews as well as the related skills of special tactics, security forces, aerial port operations, aeromedical evacuation, and maintenance team members. It also provides valuable joint and combined training for all participants.

According to a USAF communiqué, an important long-term benefit is increased cooperation between air mobility forces from several nations. Collectively, the ultimate goal of the competition is to develop and improve techniques and procedures that enhance air mobility operations.

The last biennial competition took place in June 2005 at McChord AFB after a five-year hiatus due to the increase in the operations tempo in support of the global war on terror.