New Delhi: A placement fair conducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) for retired or retiring personnel has been a "roaring" success, with 48 companies that received 22,000 applications hoping to issue more than 1,500 appointment letters.

Among the companies that participated in the fair, organised by the IAF for the first time, were ICICI, Air India Express, Godrej, Wipro, Bajaj Capital, Tata Steel, HCL, Ahmedabad Aviation & Aeronautics, Kalinga Commercial and Pawan Hans.

The two-day fair was conducted at the Air Force Auditorium here Saturday-Sunday under the auspices of the Air Force Record Office.

"Over 20,000 CVs were collectively picked up by the (participating) companies. It is estimated from the companies' projections that more than 1,500 appointment letters would be issued within a month," an IAF release said Monday.

"A unique feature of the fair was a workshop and seminar on corporate acclimatization conducted for the ex-Air Warriors," the release added.

Appreciating the effort, the IAF vice chief, Air Marshal B.N. Gokhale, said: "IAF is a potent combatant force and its personnel are trained to deliver against all odds. It is necessary that the corporate world makes full use of this opportunity."

According to him, "air warriors during their stay in IAF achieve such versatility in job handling that it is time corporate world does not stereotype them in security and administrative duties."

Krishnaswamy Ram Kumar, ICICI's head of human resources, agreed.

"Here are people who have dealt with various difficult issues. This is a unique opportunity for industry to capitalize on. Age does not matter in a time where knowledge and information is the mantra," Kumar said.

He pointed out that ICICI had already recruited 130 ex-air warriors for leading banking process and that they were very fast in picking up the new skills required of them.

Every year, close to 6,000 IAF personnel retire and approximately an equal number join the force.

"Those who leave the IAF have at least 15-20 years experience in flying, navigation, air traffic control, aeronautical engineering, technology management and engineering work experience, education management, and finance and logistics management," the release said.

"This experience would be of colossal use in the corporate world," it added.