Tambaram Air Force Station


Tambaram Air Force Station is an Indian Air Force airfield in Tambaram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. This Air Force station is primarily involved in the training of pilots as Qualified Flying Instructors and Mechanical Training Institute for airmen.
It was founded as RAF Tambaram, initially operated by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Indian Air Force during the Second World War. After Indian independence in 1947 and the withdrawal of British forces and the RAF from India, it became RIAF Station Tambaram and finally IAF Station Tambaram following India's becoming of a republic in 1950.
The station has a squadron of 15 Pilatus PC-7 Mk II basic trainers by 2015 at the Flying Instructors School. The PC-7 will join a fleet that comprises Kiran Mk I and Mk II trainer aircraft, and HAL Cheetah and HAL Chetak helicopters. An An-32 transport squadron is stationed here. Apart from training, helicopters from the Indian Navy have also been operated from this airfield.
In 2017, the Indian Air Force proposed to lengthen the runway so that larger aircraft could land to assist with natural disasters.

Use by smaller civilian aircraft

There are plans to use the air force station to handle smaller civilian ATR aircraft to decongest the Chennai International Airport.

Incidents