totally depend on the aerial supply by the Air Force. They also depend on these aircraft to airlift their sick and ailing. The district headquarters at Anini, a conglomeration of about ten tribal settlements with a population of a couple of thousand in Arunachal Pradesh is the only one of its kind in the world which is totally air-maintained. Pilots operate from the advance landing grounds (ALG) with only one third of the length of a regular runway, having unique and uni-directional approach and take off requirements. This coupled with the vagaries of weather expects superior skills from the pilots and their navigators. Both man and machine are stretched to the limits of their capabilities. Helicopter operations also form a critical part of the responsibilities of the Easter Air Command. For the pilots who negotiate this remote and inaccessible terrain, the experience gained over the last five decades has been well assimilated. The contribution of Eastern Air Command in bringing relief and in aiding civilian population in times of calamity and strife is an unsung saga of commitment, daring and dedication. War operations The Eastern Air Command was a major participant in 1962 Sino-Indian War and the Indo-Pak war of 1971. During the 1962 war, Eastern Air Command was tasked with mounting transport support missions, a task admirably performed by its Dakota and Caribou aircraft. It also mounted reconnaissance and casualty evacuation sorties using the Bell and Sikorsky helicopters it operated at the time. During the 1971 war, Eastern Air Command was tasked with offensive as well as supply operations. It was involved right from the first clash over Boyra to the Tangail Airdrop. It also operated Mi-4 helicopters in offensive roles behind enemy lines, operating from helicopter bases in Tripura. Organization Squadrons include (as of 2015): Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Aircraft Sukhoi Su-30 MKI Mil Mi-17 Mil Mi-24 Avro 748 An-32 See also Indian Air Force No. 22 Squadron, Indian Air Force Sino-Indian War East Pakistan Operations 1971 Operation Meghdoot Orissa Super Cyclone References Commands of the Indian Air Force Military units and formations established in 1958 Military units and formations of the Indian Air Force 1958 establishments in West Bengal