New Delhi: Two high level appointments were made in the Indian Air Force (IAF) on January 1 with Air Marshal Vibhas Pande taking over as Air Officer-in-Charge Maintenance (AOCM) and Air Marshal MSG Menon as Air Officer-in-Charge Administration (AOCA).

Air Marshal Pande was commissioned as Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical) on August 29, 1984. He started his career as Engineering Officer in IAF with fighter aircraft and later also gained experience in maintenance operations on transport aircraft and helicopters. He has flown nearly 1200 hours on helicopters as Flight Engineer and has also been Air Force Examiner for Rotary Wing aircraft.

He is a Post Graduate in Reliability Engineering from IIT Powai, Mumbai. He is also an alumnus of College of Air Warfare and National Defence College.

Air Marshal Menon was commissioned in Administrative branch of IAF in December, 1982. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Calicut University. He has undergone Higher Air Command Course from College of Air Warfare. He is an alumnus of Defence Services Staff College Wellington and the prestigious National Defence College.

Prior to taking over as Air Officer-in-Charge Administration, he was the Director General (Works and Ceremonials) at Air Headquarters.