Air Chief Marshal AP Singh Visits Air Force Station Devlali, Reviews Depot Work and Meets Air Warriors

The head of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, PVSM, AVSM, visited the Air Force station at Devlali in Maharashtra on 13 October 2026. He was accompanied by his wife, Mrs Sarita Singh, who is the President of the Air Force Families Welfare Association (AFFWA).

During the visit, the Air Chief reviewed the work being done at the station, checked its readiness and spent time with the personnel and their families.

What the Air Chief reviewed

The visit covered the key areas of the station’s work. The main points were:

• Depot operations: He reviewed the various depot activities carried out at the station.

• Operational preparedness: He checked how ready the station is to support the Air Force when needed.

• Interaction with personnel: He met the air warriors and staff posted at the station.

Praise for the Devlali team

The Air Chief praised the professional approach, training standards and high motivation of the personnel at Devlali. He appreciated their hard work in keeping the station running smoothly and in providing steady logistics support to the Indian Air Force.

No further statement from him was shared after the visit.

Why the station matters

The Devlali station is an important part of Indian Air Force logistics. Stations like this do not usually make the news, but their work is vital. They store, manage and supply the equipment, spares and stores that frontline units depend on every day.

Fighter jets, transport aircraft and helicopters can only fly if the right parts and supplies reach them on time. That is why the Air Force sees depot and logistics stations as a key part of its overall operational readiness, both in peacetime and during conflict.

Devlali, near Nashik, is also a well-known military town. Apart from the Air Force station, it is home to the Indian Army’s School of Artillery.

Focus on families

During the visit, Mrs Sarita Singh met the Sanginis, the spouses of Air Force personnel posted at the station. She praised the welfare activities and inclusion efforts going on at the station.

She also appreciated the work being done to improve the well-being of families and to build a caring and close-knit community on the base. Such efforts help families settle in quickly when personnel are posted to a new station.

The AFFWA looks after the welfare of Air Force families across the country. Its work includes support for spouses, children and the families of personnel who have died in service. Its President usually travels with the Air Chief on station visits to meet families and review welfare work on the ground.

Who is the Air Chief?

Air Chief Marshal Singh took over as the Chief of the Air Staff on 30 September 2024. As the head of the Indian Air Force, he regularly visits stations across the country to review their readiness and meet the men and women who serve there.

The visit shows the importance the Air Force gives to its support and logistics units. By reviewing depot work and meeting both personnel and their families, the Air Chief highlighted that the strength of the force depends as much on its support teams as on its frontline squadrons.

For young aspirants preparing to join the Indian Air Force, the visit is also a reminder that the service offers many roles beyond flying. Logistics, administration, technical and other ground duty branches all play a big part in keeping the force ready for action.

Officers who manage stores, supplies and transport belong to the Logistics branch, which is one of the Ground Duty (Non-Technical) branches of the Air Force. Officers for this branch are selected through the AFCAT exam, followed by the Air Force Selection Board (AFSB) interview. Airmen join the Air Force through the Agniveervayu scheme.