...The service "Volga" of the chief of aviation of the Air Force and Air Defense Association, Major General of Aviation Valery Avdonin, ran briskly along the airfield concrete past the silvery transport workers lined up in a row. I couldn't help but think: it's a paradox when a car feels "master" on the runway, and not an airplane. And this is despite the fact that here, in the aviation transport regiment, commanded by Colonel Vladimir Kazachkov, aviators can still be envied - they fly. The pilots completed the transportation plan for the first half of the year by 166 percent, the average flight time was 60-70 hours, while the army's fighters and attack aircraft, chained to the ground due to lack of fuel, can only dream of such indicators. However, the lack of fuel is only one of the components that characterizes the current very difficult situation in the association. Critical funding affects all spheres of life of military aviators. There are no funds to maintain the airfields in a normal state, both those that are subject to transfer to new owners during the reduction of a number of aviation units, and those that remain in operation. Almost no money is received to provide combat training, repair and maintenance of aircraft, and purchase new vehicles (during the year, the association did not receive a single unit of new equipment). There are still no funds for full timely payment of the monetary allowance. But nevertheless, even in such difficult conditions, military pilots do not give up, do not be cowardly, do not change the real male profession chosen once and for all. - No one leaves the flight crew,-emphasizes the chief of aviation of the association, Major General of Aviation Valery Avdonin, - at their own request. There are no people who would write a report for dismissal because they do not want to serve. Pilots leave the army either in connection with organizational and regular activities, when an aviation unit, for example, is generally subject to dis ... Read more