New Delhi : Air Marshal C. Harikumar on Sunday assumed charge as the chief of the Western Air Command (WAC), said an official. He was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour on his arrival at the WAC headquarter, the official said.

Air Marshal Harikumar was commanding the Eastern Air Command (EAC) prior to his present appointment as the Air Officer Commanding in Chief, Western Air Command. A qualified flying instructor and a fighter combat leader, Harikumar, who was commissioned in 1979, has over 3,300 hours of flying experience. He succeeds Air Marshal S.B. Deo, who has moved to Indian Air Force headquarters as the Vice Chief of Air Staff.-Agency