54 OFFICERS GRADUATE AS QUALIFIED FLYING INSTRUCTORS AT AIR FORCE STATION TAMBARAM
After undergoing an arduous training of almost five months, the training of No. 151 Qualified Flying Instructors Course (QFIC) concluded at Flying Instructors School, Tambaram. 54 officers, including 41 from the Indian Air Force, 02 from Indian Army, 05 from Indian Navy, 02 from Indian Coast Guard and 04 from armed forces of friendly foreign countries (02 from Bangladesh Air Force, 01 from Nepal Army and 01 from Zimbabwe Air Force) graduated as Qualified Flying Instructors. The Valedictory Function of the Course was held at Air Force Station Tambaram.
Air Marshal B Chandra Sekhar AVSM, Senior Air Staff Officer, Training Command presided over the valedictory function. Group Captain Ratish Kumar VM M-in-D, Commanding Officer Flying Instructors’ School welcomed the Chief Guest and briefed on the achievements of the course.
The Flying Instructors’ Course is a gruelling 22-weeks package, comprising of academics and flying training with tests at regular intervals. The focus during flying and ground training is a perfect blending of theoretical knowledge with practical aspects of aircraft systems. The aviation subjects and piloting skills are focused upon, so as to develop the capability for imparting effective training, both on ground and in air.
The Chief Guest awarded the coveted symbol of ‘Qualified Flying Instructor’ to the graduates which they can now proudly wear on their uniform, signifying their elevated status and recognition as Flying Instructors. The pilots who achieved distinction in flying and ground subjects were also presented various trophies and awards.
(a) The prestigious Majithia Trophy for the officer standing first in Overall Order of Merit was awarded to Squadron Leader Mehtab Singh.
(b) The Chief of Air Staff’s Trophy for Best in Fixed Wing Flying was awarded to Squadron Leader Mohammed Asim of Bangladesh Air Force.
(c) The Chief of Air Staff’s Trophy for Best in Rotary Wing Flying was awarded to Squadron Leader Mehtab Singh.
(d) The Commodore Commandant’s Trophy for standing first in Aerobatics was awarded to Squadron Leader Diwakar Sharma.
(e) The Dilbagh Trophy for standing first in Instructional Technique was awarded to Squadron Leader Sumit Sharma (For Fixed Wings) and to Squadron Leader Aditya Shekhar (For Rotary Wings).
(f) Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief’s Trophy for standing first in Ground Subjects was awarded to Squadron Leader GD Reddy (For Fixed Wings) and to Squadron Leader A Grover (For Rotary Wing).
(g ) Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief’s Trophy for standing second in Overall Order of Merit was awarded to Squadron Leader VS Chauhan.
In his convocational address, the Chief Guest emphasized on the invaluable role played by FIS in training Qualified Flying Instructors (QFIs) who are instrumental in training budding military aviators to meet the desired standards of their respective service. He urged upon all the passing out Instructors to be thorough professionals and be role models as Instructors at the training academies so that the future pilots of the Air Force imbibe the best skills and conduct of military aviators.
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PS/SS/12/2021
