P.K. Barbora

New Delhi, Jan. 1: Air Marshal P.K. Barbora today took over as chief of the air force’s western command, the first time an officer from the Northeast has reached such a high position in the IAF.

Along with Barbora, Air Marshal P.V. Naik was appointed the force’s new vice-chief.

Barbora was chief of the Eastern Air Command headquartered in Shillong, a position he took over from Fali Homi Major who was appointed air chief marshal.

IAF commanders and the vice-chief are of equivalent rank.

Air Marshal S.K. Bhan took over as air officer commanding-in-chief of the Eastern Air Command from Barbora.

The Western Air Command, headquartered in New Delhi, is the air force’s most operational and largest command.

Barbora has flown more than 3,500 hours on most types of fighter aircraft in the IAF but is essentially a MiG 21 pilot.

He was also part of the team that raised the first squadron of Jaguar ground-attack aircraft and saw action in the 1971 war.

The air marshal had earlier been air attaché in the Indian embassy in Moscow.