Ace fighter pilot Air Marshal N. A. K. Browne today assumed charge as the new Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force at the Air Headquarters. He was formerly the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Air Command. It is the largest and the most vital operational command of the IAF. AIR correspondent Manikant Thakur reports,under his command and supervision, the first ever landing of an AN-32 aircraft took place at Nyoma Advance Landing Ground at a height of 13,300 ft in September 2009.This marked the successful culmination of joint effort by the IAF and the Army to operate in inhospitable terrain of Leh-Ladakh in support of Army as also to provide the IAF with alternate deployment options in the northern sector.Air Marshal Browne also oversaw the massive disaster relief efforts in the flood-affected Leh region, post cloudburst in August 2010 for dedicated casualty evacuation, relief efforts and transportation of heavy bridging and communication equipment in the Leh Region. Air Marshal N. A .K .Browne has succeeded Air Marshal P K Barbora, who retired yesterday.