Air Marshal Fali Homi Major to succeed Tyagi as air force chief

New Delhi: The Government has appointed air marshal Fali Homi Major, PVSM, AVSM, SC, VM, ADC, currently air officer commanding-in-chief, the Eastern Air Command, as the next chief of the air staff with effect from the afternoon of March 31, 2007.

In the process the Government has upheld the principle of seniority in appointing service chiefs, and also brushed aside a brewing controversy that attempted to pitch non-fighter pilots against fighter pilots. Air marshal Major will be the Indian Air force's first ever non-fighter pilot to hold the top post.

Air chief marshal SP Tyagi, PVSM, AVSM, VM & Bar, ADC, the present chief of the air staff, retires from service on March 31, 2007.

Commissioned into the air force on December 31, 1967 as a helicopter pilot, Air marshal Major, has had a long and distinguished service spanning a little over 39 years. He has worked in a variety of command, staff and instructional appointments and has the distinction of having 7765 hours of flying experience to his credit.

Major's varied experience ranges from commanding a helicopter unit, which took part in world's highest battlefield operations in Siachen Glacier to commanding a MI-17 squadron during IPKF operations in Sri Lanka. His actions in the Sri Lanka operations won him a Vayu Sena Medal for gallantry.

Air marshal Major has also been awarded the Shaurya Chakra, the second highest gallantry award for conspicuous bravery in peace time operations, for undertaking a very dangerous and exacting rescue mission on October 14, 1992 at Timber Trail in Parwanoo, Himachal Pradesh. Along with his crew, Major winched eleven stranded tourists out from a cable car, by hovering precariously close to the set of cables that ran above the cable car.

Besides being a Fellow of the National Defence College, New Delhi, and the Army War College, Mhow, Major has attended a variety of courses like the Junior Commanders Course, Jungle and Snow Survival Course and the Higher Command Courses. He also had the distinction of overseeing the tri-Service operations, including the Tsunami operations, during his tenure as deputy chief of the Integrated Defence Staff (operations) at IDS head quarters.

He was promoted as AOC-in-C, Eastern Air Command in September 2005. It was during his tenure that the Indo-US joint air exercises were successfully conducted at Kalaikunda, West Bengal, in 2005, under the auspices of the Eastern Air Command.

He is also the recipient of the Param Vishist Seva Medal (PVSM) and the Ati Vishist Seva Medal (AVSM). He is also one of the honorary ADCs of the President of India, the supreme commander of the Indian armed forces.

Born on May 29, 1947, air marshal Major is married to Zareena. They have a son and a daughter.