page_title: Bidar Air Force Station
section_title: Hawk Mk 132
hierarchical_section_title: Bidar Air Force Station / Hawk Mk 132
caption_attribution_description: English: Hawk Induction Ceremony at AFS Bidar
context_page_description: Air Force Station, Bidar is one of the Premier Flying Training establishments of the Indian Air Force. It was established during World War II, has been a training centre for budding pilots of the IAF since 1963. The air base had trainer aircraft like HT2 and various variants of Kiran aircraft for nearly four decades. Now it has been remodelled and refurbished for the arrival of the Hawks. The runway has been extended to 9,000 feet and new facilities for aircraft and engine maintenance and testing are built.
  It is home for the second biggest training centre in the country. Graduates from the Air Force Academy come here to learn the skills and techniques to become a next generation fighter pilot before being assigned to one of the combat units of the world's fourth-largest air force. Around 60-90 sorties per day are flown from the base thereby generating the highest amount of single-engine flying hours in the country from this air base.
  Once the home base for 52nd Squadron, the station now houses the three Hawk Operational Training Squadrons. In addition the Weapon System Operators' School also functions here. A fourth Squadron is ready to be raised shortly.
caption: Hawk Induction Ceremony at AFS Bidar
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