An Air Officer-in-Charge Maintenance is one of the Principal Staff Officer (PSO) at the Air Headquarters (Vayu Bhawan) of the Indian Air Force. AOM oversees policy, planning and procurement related to the maintenance and logistics aspects of Indian Air Force to ensure operational readiness and technical reliability.
Senior Officer of the rank of Air Marshal rank hold this office. Currently, Air MarshalÃÂ Venkataramanan Rajasekhar AVSM holds the AOM's office.
The AOM position was established in the IAF after India's independence in 1947. Before independence, IAF operated under the command of the Royal Air Force (RAF). Its logistical framework and maintenance works were all entrenched within RAF. With the IAF transitioning from colonial undertakings and increasingly becoming autonomous, there arose a need for senior leadership that would oversee maintenance, logistics, and technical support. This created the position for an AOM appointment.
At independence, IAF inherited limited maintenance infrastructure from the British administration. Most operations were centralized and relied on original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for sourcing of spare parts, technical support, and overhaul. The budding IAF started developing its repair and logistics capabilities, which the foundation for a structure maintenance command.
There was a rapid expansion in IAF's fleet, necessitating the need to establish a dedicated Maintenance Command, Equipment Depots (EDs), and Base Repair Depots (BRDs).
With the induction of sophisticated aircraft like the MiG series into IAF, there was demand for the enhancement of technical expertise, especially in logistics and maintenance. There was further increase in the responsibilities of the AOM, including overseeing the BRDs, EDs, and collaborating with other defense organizations like Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) as well as the Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). During the period, there was focus on indigenization and self-reliance in maintenance processes, something the AOM's office spearheaded.
IAF underwent structural reforms aimed at improving its efficiency and reduce the operational costs following India's economic liberalization. This was followed by a growth in AOM's portfolio, incorporating vendor development, life-cycle support, and quality assurance procedures. More emphasis was placed on adopting modern practices in inventory management, which fostered industrial partnerships for maintenance support.
AOM has significantly expanded the scope of its responsibilities to include;
AOM continues to play a pivotal role in ensuring operational readiness and technical reliability for the IAF. It adapts to evolving technologies and strategic requirements in peace and conflict scenarios.
The following persons have served as AOMs in India since its inception.