National News
Two more women join Indian Air Force as fighter pilots
After Avani Chaturvedi, Bhawana Kanth and Mohana Singh, two more women join IAF as fighter pilots this year.
The Combined Graduation Parade of Pilots and Ground Duty Officers was held today at Air Force Academy (AFA), Dundigal near Hyderabad. Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of the Naval Staff, was the Chief Guest at the 200th course of the Indian Air Force officers.
The momentous occasion was marked by 105 Flight Cadets graduating from the academy as Flying Officers of the Indian Air Force.This year 15 women officers, including 2 fighter pilots, marched out from the academy after completing their training.
The event saw 14 officers of Indian Navy and Coast Guard being awarded ‘Flying Brevets’.
As the Reviewing Officer of the parade, Admiral Lanba, conferred the ‘President’s Commission’ to the graduating Flight Cadets who successfully completed their basic and professional training.
Post commissioning, Admiral Sunil Lanba awarded the most prestigious awards of the academy, ‘Chief of Air Staff Sword of Honour’ and ‘President’s Plaque’ for standing first in overall merit in Pilots’ Course to Flying Officer Karan Pal Singh. He also awarded President’s Plaque to Flying Officer Vishnu Vishal and Flying Officer Mohit Kumar for standing first in overall merit in Navigation and Ground Duty branches respectively.
The Combined Graduation Parade marks the culmination of a rigorous training schedule of one year and heralds the entry of a new batch of officers in the Indian Air Force. The Flight Cadets undergo professional and advanced training at various institutions besides the Air Force Academy, viz., Air Force Stations Hakimpet, Begumpet, Yelahanka, and Air Force Administrative College (Coimbatore) as per their specialization, and finally graduate from the portals of the majestic “Sekhon” Block of Air Force Academy.
