Ministry of Defence says pilots risking their lives (200 words)

Published: 10/23/2000

According to Colonel Saifutdein Azizov of the Kyrgzstan Ministry of Defence the condition of the air force's aircraft has become so bad that the pilot flying their aging Mi-8s risk their lives. Praising the efforts of one pilot to land his aging machine on a glacier to evacuate wounded soldiers, Azizov took the opportunity to bring the issue to the fore as Kyrgyzstan fights the second “seasonal war” against insurgents. Lack of even basic funding has brought to the air force to its knees, bringing into doubt the viability of the 28 Mi-8s and a number of MiG-21s inherited from the break up of the Soviet Air Force. According to the local media, its decline has been further accelerated by the activities of former Vice President Felix Kulov. Who is accused of selling off aircraft and parts, leaving aircraft only in the air as a result of the ingenuity of the air force's technical crews. Given the inability of the Ministry of Defence to pay the $680,00-$700,000 required to overhaul an An-12.

Article ID: 2143