There has been a constant decline in the recruitment of IAF pilots since 2009, when HPT-32 trainer at the academy was grounded after it was rendered unsafe for flying. The entire flying training course was left in the lurch following the grounding of HPT-32 trainers. The IAF shifted to an interim, though risky, measure of making rookies learn their first flying skills on complex jets instead of basic aircraft. The arrangement fraught with danger continued until IAF started receiving Swiss PC-7 mark II trainers last year. Seventy five of these trainers were bought for over 3,000 crore and the IAF academy has already received around 30, in which young cadets have started their lessons. The IAF needs 106 more trainers to smoothly run its pilot training programme. The defence ministry had allowed aircraft-maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to develop a new basic trainer, but IAF sees it's a futile exercise and had requested the government to go for 106 more Swiss aircraft instead.