Coimbatore: Air Marshal Gautam Nayyar VSM, Air Officer Commanding in Chief, Maintenance Command, Indian Air Force, accompanied by his wife Mrs. Rachita Nayyar, President, Air Force Wives’ Welfare Association (Regional) and other senior officers will  be on an inspection visit to No. 5 Base Repair Depot at Sulur from 12 to 13 January 2009.  They will be received by Air Commodore PK Srivastava VSM, Air Officer Commanding, Mrs Shobhna Srivastava, President Air Force Wives Welfare Association (Local) and other senior officers of the Depot.
The Air Marshal was commissioned as an Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical) in the Indian Air Force on 03 January 1972.  He began his career as an Engineering Officer in the Gnat Squadron. He has a rich experience in maintenance of various fighter aircrafts of Russian and Western origin.  He was instrumental in induction of Mirage 2000 aircraft in IAF, in the mid 1980s.  He was responsible for the formulation of the “Aircraft Maintenance Manual”, which has become the Bible for maintenance engineers of IAF. The Air Marshal has held various field and staff appointments in his illustrious career.  Before taking over the present charge of AOC-in-C, Maintenance Command he was appointed Air Officer in Charge Maintenance (AOM) at Air Headquarters where he successfully implemented many measures to improve reliability and availability of various weapon systems of IAF.  For his exceptional service over the years, he was awarded the Vishist Sena Medal on 26 January 1993.
The Air Marshal during his visit will be inspecting various maintenance tasks carried out at the Depot and interact with the various segments of uniformed personnel and civilian employees of IAF posted to the Depot whereas Mrs. Rachita Nayyar will review the welfare part for the personnel of this depot.