The next step was the setting up of a Board of Management, under the Chairmanship of the Commander. The Board comprised the Chief of Staff and Heads of Branches at Air Force Headquarters (the former Principal Staff Officers, who were designated as Directors) with the Director of Administration functioning as Secretary to the Board. The Board met fortnightly. In order to monitor the activities of independent formations, the Commander met the COs once in 3 months.

The Directors in those early days handled the areas of Logistics, Aeronautical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Administration, Medical Services, Civil Engineering and Operations; later Planning, Welfare, Training, General Engineering and a revised Directorate of Operations amalgamating ground and air ops, were added on.

With the influx of aircraft and equipment to help the RCyAF deal with the insurgency, the Force was left with surplus men and machines surplus in the sense that the demands on the Force had greatly decreased as a result of the reduction in operational demands

Helitours

The Directors in those early days handled the areas of Logistics, Aeronautical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Administration, Medical Services, Civil Engineering and Operations; later Planning, Welfare, Training, General Engineering and a revised Directorate of Operations amalgamating ground and air ops, were added on.

With the influx of aircraft and equipment to help the RCyAF deal with the insurgency, the Force was left with surplus and machines surplus in the sense that the demands on the Force had greatly decreased as a result of the reduction in operational demands.

Commander Mendis and the new Board of Management spearheaded many more developments in the years from 1971 onwards.

Later on, during the period of Commander Mendis' leadership, Dakota aircraft joined the No. 2 Squadron (1975).

Training

A vital aspect of the early 70's was training. Commander Mendis saw the need for a fully-fledged Air Force Academy to train pilots, engineers and administrators under one roof. He looked towards China Bay.

The RCyAF China Bay was incorporated into establishment as the Air Force Academy on 17th April 1975. The No.1 Flying Training School and Aeronautical & Administrative Training School Katunayake were combined to establish the Academy.

The new Academy provided Basic and Advanced training in approximately 50 trades. Officer cadets who completed basic combat training at Diyatalawa, could now obtain their professional training at the Academy.

Six Cessna twin and single engined aircraft were purchased and placed under the command of the Flying Training School, to help put trainee pilots through their paces.

Later on, during the period of Commander Mendis leadership, Dakota aircraft joined the No. 2 Squadron (1975). The SLAF Band Another formation that quietly took shape in the early days of AVM Mendis command period that remained largely unsung - was the Air Force Band. The formation of the Air Forces Military Band has been described as a thoughtful concept, introduced by Flight Lieutenant M.J. Terry De S. Gunawardena, in the era of Air Commodore P.H. Mendis - Commander of the RCyAF. (Terry Gunawardena himself, was later to command the SLAF).

Twelve pioneer airmen were posted to the Sri Lanka Navy, Welisara to follow basic training and guidance under the late Commander Premalal Danwatte - at the time a Lieutenant and Director of Music at the SLN. Initial training was in Bugling and Drumming. In 1973 another twelve volunteer airmen were recruited to the Band.

The SLAF Band

Thus the first Air Force Military Band consisting of 24 musicians and a JNCO in charge - Cpl. K.A.D.A. Morris arrived back at the SLAF Regiment, Katunayake. The first Bandmaster was Chief Petty Officer, M.P.H Bartholomeusz - commissioned on 15th June 1976 in the rank of Pilot Officer.

On the 22nd of May 1972, Ceylon became the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka - from that point onwards the Royal Ceylon Air Force (RCyAF) became the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) - all Bases, Units, Detachments and Wings shed the RCyAF tag and adopted the new one - SLAF.