Coll 5/73 ‘Afghan Air Force: Reports on’ [‎6r] (11/431)

Russian Ambassador informed the Afghan L’inister for
Foreign Affairs that Russia considered that Northern
Afghanistan was in her sphere of influence, and they
could not allow the Americans to develop© airfields in
Northern Afghanistan. Should such a development occur
Russia would regard it as a further attempt by the
Anglo-Saxons to encircle Soviet Russia.
, Rahim,
paid a ten
(f) An Indian Air Mission headed by Mr. M.i
Director General of Civil Aviation in India,
day visit to Kabul at the end of May. Both Indian National
Airways and Orient Airways were_represented, and it would
seem that the differences of opinion between these two
interests,_did not escape the notice of the Afghans. The
Afghan officials conducting the discussions sp^nt most of
their time in collecting^information, attempting to secure
a large loan^for developing the country and suggesting that
foreign firm wishing to inaugurate air services in
Aignanistan should be prepared to pay for the construction
» installations etc. The Mission achieved very
little beyond an exchange of viev;s.
(g) The Conrandant of the iir Force G.h. Abdur Razoq Khan,
has during the suraner prepared several schemes for the
inaugurate ion of small Afgnan civil air services between
Kabul and provincial capitals, with possible extensions to
leheran, Peshawar and Lahore. The British Pilot Instructor
has been assisting him in the preparation of these schemes,
bhould such civil air services be inaugurated, the Avro
MIX aircrait will be utilised.
2. HIND SdU ADROMB.
(a) Flying Hour s.
No change, training having been limited owing to lack
oi spares and a shortage of serviceable aircraft.
(b) FI yjn^E f f i c i e nc y.
This has decreased due to lack of practice.
(c) Qpsjc&tions^
Nil, except for reconnaissance flights over tribal
areas in the Kunar valley by six Hind aircraft based rat
Jalalabad since the middle of October.
(d) A c c t s A
One Hind aircraft force landed near Kabul on 1st
June ana became a total loss. The accident is said to have
been due to engine failure, but the British instructors
consider that the pilot was at fault. Two Timer Moths
sustained
Both are rep
(e) Mainte nance^
slight damage when landing on the Sherpur
epaarable when spares become available.
irfield
.Small scale cannibalization of Hind
carried out, but owing to coi
system of store-keeping, the British Pilot Instructor nas
of Hind n aircraft? y pGraanent rulin 6 ^rding cannsbilization
,, , t aircraft is being
but owing to complications concerning the new