Suryakant Chintaman Chafekar Explained
Air Vice Marshal Suryakant Chintaman Chafekar AVSM, SC is a retired Indian Air Force (IAF) officer who served as the Senior Air and Administration Staff Officer,[2] Maintenance Command, IAF, from 1 July 2016 until he retired on 30 September 2017. He was the commanding officer of No. 48 Squadron IAF. During his career he landed Antonov An-32 aircraft on High Altitude Advanced Landing Grounds (HAALG)s in Daulat Beg Oldi,[3] [4] Fukche[5] and Nyoma.[6]
Early life and education
Suryakant Chintaman Chafekar was born on 27 September 1959 at Nagpur, Maharashtra, to Captain Chintaman Vishnu Chafekar and Vijaya Chintaman Chafekar.[7] Captain Chintaman Vishnu Chafekar was an officer in the Indian Territorial Army[8] and a social activist.[9] Vijaya Chintaman Chafekar was a school principal from Nagpur.
Suryakant Chintaman Chafekar is an alumnus of Dharampeth Science College, Nagpur; Air Force Academy, Dundigal; Flying Instructors School; Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Tamil Nadu;[10] and College of Air Warfare, Secunderabad.
Military career
Chafekar was commissioned as a pilot officer in the transport stream of the IAF on 29 December 1982. He has held several important command, staff and instructor appointments during his career. He was considered to be an expert in flying fixed wing aircraft in the Himalayan Region, and supervised humanitarian assistance and disaster relief tasks such as flood and earthquake relief operations.[11]
On 18 February 2002, during a trial landing at Kargil airfield near the Pakistan border his aircraft was fired upon by a Pakistani missile that hit one of the engines, setting the aircraft on fire.[12] [13] He continued to fly the aircraft with only one operational engine, and landed it at IAF airfield at Leh.
During his tenure as the commanding officer of No. 48 Squadron IAF, on 31 May 2008,[14] [15] Chafekar landed an Antonov An-32 aircraft at a HAALG at Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) (16700feet) about 9km (06miles) from the Line of Actual Control with China.[16] [17] [18] He was awarded the Shaurya Chakra by the President of India for this mission.[7]
On 4 November 2008, while Chafekar was still serving with No. 48 Squadron, he landed an Antonov An-32 at the Fukche HAALG approximately 3km (02miles) from the Line of Actual Control with China. This airstrip sat at a height of 13700feet and was last used during the 1962 Sino-Indian War.[19]
Around 15 months after the trial landings at DBO and Fukche, on 18 September 2009, Chafekar landed an Antonov An-32 at the Nyoma ALG, about 23km (14miles) from the Line of Actual Control with China.[20] [21]
During his career Chafekar was also awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal[22] by the President of India for his service to the Indian Air Force, from which he retired on 30 September 2017.[23]
Notable appointments
Honours and awards
- Ati Vishisht Seva Medal – Citation: "Distinguished service of an exceptional order in the Indian Air Force", 2015
- Shaurya Chakra – Citation: "Planned and executed the Antonov An-32 landing at Daulat Beg Oldi during tenure of Commanding Officer of No. 48 Squadron IAF", 2009
- Lakshmi Bai Tilak Award for Best Autobiography[27] – Citation: Air Vice Marshal Suryakant Chintaman Chafekar AVSM, SC is being awarded Best Autobiography Literature Award 2021 for his book Nilaeechya Chatta by Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad, Pune, India
- Rashtriya Sant Tukdoji Maharaj Smruti Puraskar[28] – Citation: Air Vice Marshal Suryakant Chintaman Chafekar AVSM, SC is being awarded Best Autobiography Literature Award 2021-22 for his book Nilaeechya Chatta by Vidarbha Sahitya Sangha, Nagpur, India
Dates of rank
Insignia | Rank | Component | Date of rank |
---|
| | | 29 December 1982 |
| | | 29 December 1984 |
| | | 29 December 1986 |
| | | 29 December 1993 |
| | | 17 May 1999 |
| | | 20 November 2006 |
| | | 10 May 2010 |
| | | 1 September 2015 |
|
Post retirement
He has published his autobiography in 2 languages- Nilaeechya Chatta[29] (Marathi, published September 2021), Shades of Blue[30] (English, published November 2021). These books have been published by Rajhans Prakashan, Pune, India. He has been awarded Lakshmi Bai Tilak Award for Best Autobiography (Marathi) for year 2021 by Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad, Pune, India. [31] [32] He has also been awarded Rashtriya Sant Tukdoji Maharaj Smruti Puraskar for Best Autobiography (Marathi) for year 2021-22 by Vidarbha Sahitya Sangha, Nagpur, India. [33]
He also works as a defence analyst[34] and publishes articles in many Indian newspapers including The Hitavada,[35] The Times of India,[36] and Loksatta.[37]
Military awards and decorations
Notes and References
- News: 15 Mar 2013. Air Chief at 12 Wing for presentation. The Times of India. Chadigarh.
- News: AVM SC Chafekar to assume charge of SAASO, Maintenance Command . 30 June 2016 . Nagpur Today . Nagpur . 7 July 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180128135611/http://www.nagpurtoday.in/air-vice-marshal-sc-chafekar-avsm-to-assume-charge-of-saaso-maintenance-command-iaf/06301300 . 28 January 2018 . live .
- News: https://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20091108/spectrum/main1.htm. Flight of the camels. 8 November 2009. The Tribune. Chandigarh. 7 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20180613034123/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20091108/spectrum/main1.htm. 13 June 2018. live.
- News: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/iaf-aircraft-lands-at-the-highest-airstrip-in-the-world/articleshow/3088577.cms. IAF Aircraft lands at the highest Airstrip in the world. 31 May 2009. Economic Times. Chandigarh. 7 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20140517082200/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/iaf-aircraft-lands-at-the-highest-airstrip-in-the-world/articleshow/3088577.cms. 17 May 2014. live.
- News: https://www.deccanherald.com/content/25935/iaf-opens-airstrip-close-lac.html. IAF opens airstrip close to LAC. 19 September 2009. Deccan Herald. Chandigarh. 7 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20171025121559/http://www.deccanherald.com/content/25935/iaf-opens-airstrip-close-lac.html. 25 October 2017. live.
- News: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/iaf-opens-new-airstrip-in-ladakh-nearer-to-china-border/articleshow/5026929.cms?from=mdr. IAF opens new airstrip in Ladakh nearer to China border. 18 September 2009. Economic Times. Chandigarh.
- Web site: GROUP CAPTAIN SURYAKANT CHINTAMAN CHAFEKAR | Gallantry Awards. gallantryawards.gov.in. 2 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20190713032124/http://gallantryawards.gov.in/Awardee/group-captain-suryakant-chintaman-chafekar. 13 July 2019. live.
- News: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Teach-India-A-captains-army-of-achievers/articleshow/3980483.cms. Teach India: A captain's army of achievers. 14 January 2009. The Times of India. Nagpur.
- News: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/He-sacrificed-his-today-for-their-tomorrow/articleshow/11670364.cms. He sacrificed his today for their tomorrow. 28 January 2012. The Times of India. Nagpur. 7 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20120129204308/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/He-sacrificed-his-today-for-their-tomorrow/articleshow/11670364.cms. 29 January 2012. live.
- News: http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/air-cmde-s-c-chafekar-to-take-over-12-wing-command-tomorrow/784021/. Air Cmde S C Chafekar to take over 12 Wing command tomorrow. 1 May 2011. The Indian Express. Chandigarh.
- News: AVM SC Chafekar to assume charge of SAASO, IAF MC . 1 July 2016 . Business Standard . Nagpur . 18 July 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190718020858/https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/avm-chafekar-assumes-charge-of-saaso-iaf-mc-116070101190_1.html . 18 July 2019 . live .
- News: https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/defence/story/20020401-controversy-surrounding-air-force-brass-affects-indias-readiness-against-pakistan-796634-2002-04-01. Controversy surrounding air force brass affects India's readiness against Pakistan. 1 April 2002. India Today.
- News: http://manamanchhina.blogspot.com/2011/05/surviving-missile-and-air-marshal.html. Man Aman Singh. Chhina. Surviving a missile and an Air Marshal. 1 May 2011.
- News: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/IAFs-48-sq-completes-50-glorious-years/articleshow/5187656.cms. IAF's 48 sq completes 50 glorious years . 1 November 2009. The Times of India. Chandigarh.
- News: http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/chandigarh-to-have-first-of-the-upgraded-an32s/535576/. Chandigarh to have first of the upgraded AN-32s . 31 October 2009. Indian Express. Chandigarh.
- News: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Air-Force-Station-rose-above-the-rest/articleshow/3910638.cms. Air Force Station rose above the rest . 29 December 2008. The Times of India. Chandigarh.
- News: http://sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2008/jun15-08/h4.html. IAF Aircraft Lands at the Highest Airstrip Daredevils at DBO. 15 June 2008. Chandigarh.
- News: http://rajeev.in/pages/general/130409.htm. NO 48 SQUADRON THEY DID IT AGAIN AT DAULET BEG OLDI THEN WITH A PACKET, NOW WITH AN-32. A G. Bewoor. 18 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190731100135/http://rajeev.in/pages/general/130409.htm. 31 July 2019. live.
- News: Sujan. Dutta . IAF lands on Ladakh strip. 5 November 2008. The Telegraph (Kolkata). Kolkata.
- News: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/IAF-opens-new-airstrip-in-Ladakh/article16882136.ece. IAF opens new airstrip in Ladakh. 18 September 2009. The Hindu. Chandigarh.
- News: Arun. Joshi . IAF touches base closer to China. Hindustan Times.
- Web site: Press Information Bureau(PIB). pib.gov.in.
- News: AVM SC Chafekar to retire on 30th Sept 2017 . 28 September 2017 . Maharashtra Times. Nagpur.
- Web site: Integrated Defence Staff, Indian Air Force – Database. Bharat Rakshak. 2 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20190512160857/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/Units/IDS. 12 May 2019. live.
- Web site: Air Head Quarters, Indian Air Force – Database. Bharat Rakshak.
- News: Air Commodore Chafekar takes over 12 Wing command . 3 May 2011 . Indian Express . Chandigarh . 18 July 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190718020857/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/air-commodore-chafekar-takes-over-12-wing-command/ . 18 July 2019 . live .
- News: 22 Dec 2022. Vidarbha Sahitya Sangha Awards. Maharashtra Times. Nagpur.
- News: 31 Aug 2022. Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad Awards . Maharashtra Times. Pune.
- Book: Chafekar, Suryakant. September 2021. Nilaeechya Chatta . Pune . Rajhans Prakashan. 978-81-952301-3-6.
- Book: Chafekar, Suryakant. November 2021. Shades of Blue. Pune . Rajhans Prakashan. 978-81-952301-3-6.
- News: 31 Aug 2022. Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad Awards . Maharashtra Times. Pune.
- News: 30 Aug 2022. Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad Awards . Pune.
- News: 22 Dec 2022. Vidarbha Sahitya Sangha Awards. Maharashtra Times. Nagpur.
- Surykant Chafekar And Shailendra Devlankar Reaction On Pakistan To Release IAF's Wing Commander Abhinandan. Zee 24 Taas. Zee5. 1 March 2019. Marathi.
- News: https://www.ehitavada.com/index.php?edition=Mpage&date=2019-09-01&page=7. Balakot Airstrike, Abrogation of Article 370, What next.... 1 September 2019. The Hitavada. Nagpur.
- News: Suryakant Chintaman. Chafekar. Balakot Attack. 3 March 2019. Maharashtra Times. Nagpur.
- News: Suryakant Chintaman. Chafekar. Balakot Attack. 28 February 2019. Loksatta. Nagpur.