Air Force chief

Helicopter pilot Air Marshal Fali Homi Major has made history by being named the next chief of the Indian Air Force, a post traditionally held by fighter pilots. In this case the government has chosen to uphold the principle of seniority and Major will take over when Air Chief Marshal S. P. Tyagi retires on March 31, 2007.

Fali Major: making Air Force history

Currently serving as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command, Major was commissioned into the Indian Air Force on December 31, 1967. Major has held a variety of command, staff and instructional appointments. With over 8,000 hours of flying experience to his credit, Major has commanded a helicopter unit in the world’s highest battlefield on the Siachen Glacier. In 2002, as Air Officer Commanding, Leh, Major was decorated with the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal for leadership and distinguished service during the Kargil conflict. Earlier, for his part in the Indian Peace Keeping Force operations in Sri Lanka, Major had received the Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry). In 1992 Major carried out a daredevil rescue of 11 tourists stranded in a damaged cable car at Timber Trail resort in Himachal Pradesh. Flying perilously close to treetop level, Major safely winched up the tourists. He was awarded the Shaurya Chakra for this feat which also earned him the Col Adi Tarapore Memorial Award for 1992, presented by the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India in 1995.