New Delhi: The first batch of women pilot fighters will fly warplanes in December this year after finishing the final leg of their training, which is underway at Kalaikunda Air Force facility in West Bengal, Air Force Chief Air Marshal B S Dhanoa said on Thursday. Addressing mediapersons ahead of 85th Air Force Day here, the Air chief said, “Last year in July, we have moved a step forward by inducting a first batch of women pilots in fighter's stream. You will be glad to know that their performance has been at par glad with other pilots despite and demanding nature of the flying.
Consequently, the next batch of three women trainees was selected in the fighters stream in July 2017 and presently going underway stage 2 of their training. On successful completion of the training, these three women pilots will be commissioned in December this year.” Bhawana Kanth, Mohana Singh and Avani Chaturvedi are the three pilots that were commissioned as flying officers in the IAF in June 2016. The three women pilots are currently training on British Hawk advanced jet trainers. These pilots were supposed to be assigned to fighter squadrons in June 2017 but the plan got delayed by four months due to training backlog and weather related issues.
On further inclusion of female pilots in the fighters stream, the Air Chief said, “Flying is gender neutral like driving. Women have to volunteer to become fighter pilots and also have to make the cut into aptitude as flying is the game of physics.” Also, he reiterated that the men and women under his command are fully prepared to undertake full spectrum of air operations and respond to any challenge in a befitting manner. (UNI)