NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, JUNE 8
Close on the heels of the Indian Army and Air Force, the Indian Navy also started inducting woman helicopter pilots, SLt Anamika B Rajeev graduated as the first woman helicopter pilot from the Naval Air Station at INS Rajali, Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu. SLt Rajeev’s graduation was part of the 102nd Helicopter Conversion Course (HCC).
History was made with SLt Anamika B Rajeev becoming the first woman naval helicopter pilot. Lt Jamyang Tsewang, the first officer from Ladakh, also graduated. Top honors went to Lt Gurkirat Rajput, Lt Nitin Sharan Chaturvedi, and Lt Deepak Gupta. (2/2) #WomenInAviation pic.twitter.com/yagDRmqvma
— A. Bharat Bhushan Babu (@SpokespersonMoD) June 8, 2024
The parade marked the graduation of 21 officers, including three from the 03 BHCC, who were awarded the prestigious “Golden Wings” by Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command.
The event also celebrated the completion of Stage I training for three officers of the 04 Basic Helicopter Conversion Course (BHCC). The graduates completed an intensive 22-week training programme that included rigorous flying and ground training at the Indian Naval Air Squadron 561, the alma mater for all Indian Navy helicopter pilots.
Lt Jamyang Tsewang, the first Commissioned Naval Officer from the Union Territory of Ladakh also successfully graduated as a qualified helicopter pilot.
The FOC-in-C, Eastern Naval Command Rolling Trophy for the trainee pilot standing First in Order of Merit in Flying was awarded to Lt Gurkirat Rajput. Sub-Lt Kunte Memorial Book Prize for standing First in Order of Merit in Ground Subjects was awarded to Lt Nitin Sharan Chaturvedi. Governor of Kerala Rolling Trophy for first in overall order of merit was awarded to Lt Deepak Gupta, it added.
In its rich heritage spanning more than five decades, Helicopter Training School has trained 849 pilots of the Indian Navy, and Coast Guard as well as friendly foreign Nations. The Helicopter Training School is located at INS Rajali, Arakkonam presently commanded by Cmde Kapil Mehta and the Helicopter Training School is commanded by Cdr Archesh.
The Squadron’s safe and conducive training environment coupled with meticulous planning and execution ensures completion of course ‘On time, Every Time’.
The newly qualified pilots of 102 HCC will be appointed to various front-line operational units of the Indian Navy where they will take on diverse missions such as reconnaissance, surveillance, Search and Rescue, and anti-piracy, it stated.
The Officers of the 04 BHCC having successfully completed Stage – (I) training, will be retained for Stage – (II) training at Helicopter Training School.
