15.1 PAF Organisation
Key Takeaways
- The Pakistan Air Force is led by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), a four-star Air Chief Marshal, with Air Headquarters at Sector E-9, Islamabad
- PAF Academy Asghar Khan at Risalpur is the premier training institution where aviation cadets, including GD Pilot entries, are trained and commissioned
- Commissioned officer ranks run from Pilot Officer (entry, one star) up to Air Chief Marshal (four stars), modelled on the British RAF pattern
- GD (General Duty) Pilot is the combat flying branch: cadets pass initial academic, medical and ISSB selection, then complete flying training at Risalpur before being commissioned as Pilot Officers
15.1 PAF Organisation
Quick Answer: The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is commanded by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), a four-star Air Chief Marshal, who leads the service from Air Headquarters (AHQ) at Sector E-9, Islamabad. Aviation cadets for the GD (General Duty) Pilot branch are trained and commissioned at PAF Academy Asghar Khan, Risalpur. Officer ranks run from Pilot Officer (entry) up to Air Chief Marshal.
Command Structure
The Pakistan Air Force is headed by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), currently held by an officer of the rank of Air Chief Marshal (ACM) — the highest active four-star rank. The CAS is assisted by a Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS) and a cluster of Deputy Chiefs of the Air Staff (DCAS) responsible for branches such as Operations, Training, Engineering, Administration, Air Defence, and Projects.
Air Headquarters (AHQ) is located at Sector E-9, Islamabad. It moved from Chaklala, Rawalpindi to Islamabad on 1 August 2005. AHQ supervises the operational commands, training institutions, and support directorates that make up the service.
Operational Commands
The PAF is geographically organised into several air commands, each responsible for air defence and operations within its area. The principal commands include:
- Northern Air Command (NAC) — Peshawar
- Central Air Command (CAC) — Lahore
- Southern Air Command (SAC) — Karachi
- Air Defence Command (ADC) — Rawalpindi
- Air Force Strategic Command (AFSC) — Islamabad
Each command controls the air bases, squadrons, radar and surface-to-air missile units within its sector.
PAF Academy Asghar Khan, Risalpur
The premier training institution is PAF Academy Asghar Khan at Risalpur (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa). It was renamed on 23 March 2017 in honour of Air Marshal Asghar Khan, the first native Pakistani Commander-in-Chief of the PAF. The Academy is where aviation cadets — including GD Pilot entries — undergo academic, flying and service training before being commissioned as officers.
The GD Pilot Commission Route
The General Duty (GD) Pilot branch is the combat-flying stream of the PAF. The typical commissioning path is:
- Initial Selection — appear in the PAF Initial Test (intelligence, academic, English, physics/math) at an I&SC (Information & Selection Centre).
- ISSB — candidates who pass initial screening attend the Inter-Services Selection Board for a multi-day psychological, group and interview assessment.
- Flying Aptitude Test, Medical & Final Merit — the pilot-specific FAT, a thorough medical board (including Class-I aircrew fitness), and an Air Headquarters merit list.
- Academy Training — successful cadets complete Joint Military Training at PMA Kakul, then join PAF Academy Asghar Khan, Risalpur for the advertised 4-year programme of academic, flying and military training leading to a BS in Aviation Management (or a BE from CAE).
- Commission — on graduation, cadets are commissioned as Pilot Officers and proceed to fighter/transport/maritime conversion.
Officer Ranks (Junior to Senior)
The PAF rank structure follows the British Royal Air Force (RAF) tradition, with Turkish-style insignia adopted in 2006. Commissioned ranks, from most junior to most senior, are:
| # | Rank | Equiv. Army Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot Officer (Plt Off) | Second Lieutenant | Entry commissioned rank after Academy graduation |
| 2 | Flying Officer (Flg Off) | Lieutenant | Junior company-officer rank |
| 3 | Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) | Captain | First field-officer-equivalent step |
| 4 | Squadron Leader (Sqn Ldr) | Major | Often commands a flight |
| 5 | Wing Commander (Wg Cdr) | Lieutenant Colonel | Frequently commands a squadron |
| 6 | Group Captain (Gp Capt) | Colonel | Often commands a wing or station |
| 7 | Air Commodore (Air Cdr) | Brigadier | One-star flag officer |
| 8 | Air Vice Marshal (AVM) | Major General | Two-star flag officer |
| 9 | Air Marshal (AM) | Lieutenant General | Three-star flag officer |
| 10 | Air Chief Marshal (ACM) | General | Four-star; held by the CAS |
The honorary wartime rank of Marshal of the Pakistan Air Force (five-star) exists on paper but has not been conferred in practice.
Squadrons and Air Bases
The PAF's fighting unit is the squadron, typically equipped with one type of aircraft (for example, JF-17 Thunder, F-16 Fighting Falcon, Mirage III/5 or a transport/trainer type). Several squadrons are grouped under a wing at an air base, and air bases are grouped under the operational commands described above. As of recent years the PAF operates roughly 19 flying air bases and a number of non-flying stations, with a total strength of over 70,000 active-duty personnel.
The PAF's frontline combat aircraft today is the JF-17 Thunder, jointly developed with China and assembled at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), Kamra. The F-16 Fighting Falcon remains the PAF's most capable multi-role fighter. Trainer types include the MFI-17 Mushshak (basic trainer, manufactured at PAC Kamra) and the K-8 Karakorum jet trainer used at the Academy for advanced training.
Key Takeaway for the Test
For the GD Pilot initial test, remember the chain: Pilot Officer → Flying Officer → Flight Lieutenant → Squadron Leader → Wing Commander → Group Captain → Air Commodore → Air Vice Marshal → Air Marshal → Air Chief Marshal, the location of AHQ (Islamabad), and the Academy (Risalpur). Also remember that the GD Pilot branch is the combat-flying stream and that the PAF's principal commands cover the north (Peshawar), centre (Lahore), south (Karachi), air defence (Rawalpindi) and the strategic force (Islamabad).
Where is Pakistan Air Force Air Headquarters (AHQ) currently located?
Which officer rank is awarded to a GD Pilot cadet on commissioning from PAF Academy Asghar Khan?
Who is the professional head of the Pakistan Air Force?
PAF Academy Asghar Khan is located at which station?