The Defence Minister, AK Antony has asked the top brass of Indian Air Force to complete all pending Court of Inquiry proceedings into air accidents as early as possible and to take appropriate remedial measures so that the possibility of future accidents are minimized.

Addressing a meeting of the Consultative Committee attached to his Ministry in New Delhi on Monday, Mr Antony said, even one accident is a matter of serious concern.

He said that a Joint Committee comprising representatives of Ministry of Defence, Indian Air Force and other agencies, has been constituted to monitor the implementation of the recommendations of the Court of Inquiry, specially for Category-I aircraft accidents. Category-I accidents are those in which the aircraft is destroyed or damaged beyond economical repair.

Responding to a query on the shortage of spare parts for the aging aircraft fleet of Indian Air Force, Mr Antony said that earlier the acquisition of aircraft and replenishment of spare parts used to be dealt with by separate contracts.

He said in the new contracts, the government is taking corrective measures and product support is built into the process of acquisition of new aircraft.