JOIN USHe was presented a ceremonial Guard of Honour on the occasion.
He thereafter addressed the personnel of Training Command, IAF. He was accompanied by Mrs Zareen Major, President, Air Force Wives Welfare Association. On arrival, they were received by Air Marshal and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief V R Iyer and Mrs Bala Iyer.
During a career of over 41 years, he participated actively in many Operation missions including ‘Op Pawan’ in Sri Lanka and in operations conducted in ‘Siachen Glacier’, the world’s highest battle-field. He undertook a daring rescue mission in October 1992 in Timber Trail, Parwanoo, Himachal Pradesh where he along with his team of crew winched eleven stranded tourists out from a cable car, hanging between two high mountains. For this act of gallantry, he was awarded the ‘Shaurya Chakra’.
He demits office on the 31 May 2009 and will be first Chief of the Air Staff to settle in Bangalore after his retirement.