IAF has airlifted over 160 tonnes of banknotes since Nov 19

The IAF has airlifted over 160 tonnes of new currency notes from four printing presses to various parts of the country to cut down the time taken to transport cash from the source to main distribution centres to meet the surge in demand post demonetisation.
Sources said the Indian Air Force (IAF) was pressed into service on November 19 and it deployed AN 32, C130 J and C17 transport aircraft and helicopters for this purpose.
"Helicopters were already used for transporting cash to some remote areas of the Northeast. But the use of transport aircraft is a new thing," a source said.

The government roped in the IAF to cut down the transportation time for the delivery of banknotes after a shortage was felt in the market because of demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.