Rafale Jets Tail Numbers to honour Ex IAF Chief

The Indian Rafale Fighter Jets are to fly with tail sign BS. BS stands for retired Chief Birender Singh Dhanoa. The tail number initials are unique.

Tail Number

The Tail number is an identification number on an aircraft. Every aircraft flying in the country is provided with the tail number. The tail numbers are allocated according to the norms of International Civil Aviation.

Convention on International Civil Aviation

According to the convention, the civil aircraft should be registered with the National Aviation Authority. The convention was also known as Chicago Convention. This registration number is the tail number of the aircraft.

International Civil Aviation established the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). It is a specialized agency of the UN that is responsible for coordinating international air travel. It was signed in 1944 in Chicago.

National Aviation Authority

The National Aviation Authority maintains an aircraft register. It also oversees the regulation and approval of civil aviation. The authority also regulates maintenance of aircrafts, their condition of manufacturing, aircraft design, pilot licensing, standards of air traffic control.

Birender Singh Dhanoa

BS Dhanoa served Indian Air Force as Air Chief Marshall. He was born in Deoghar, Bihar. His ancestral village is in Punjab. His father was a retired IAS officer. He has been awarded several medals namely Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Yudh Seva Medal, Ati Vashisht Seva Medal.

During Kargil war, Dhanoa and his squadron devised innovative methods of night bombing that had never been attempted before. He was awarded with Vayu Sena Medal and Yudh Seva Medal for his actions in the war.

Month: Current Affairs - December, 2019