3 Indian Air Force women fighter pilots to join in June

The first batch of Indian women fighter pilots, comprising three cadets, will be inducted in the Indian Air Force on June 18. IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha said three women trainee officers have volunteered to be inducted in the combat role.

“We inducted women as pilots in 1991, but only on helicopter and transport (planes). I must thank the defence minister for having approved the IAF’s proposal to induct women as fighter pilots. Very soon...On June 18, the Air Force will get women fighter pilots. As of now, three women trainees have volunteered to join the fighter stream. They are in the second phase of their training. Once they complete their training...They are on par with their male colleagues and the passing out parade is scheduled on June 18,” the IAF chief was quoted by news agencies, as saying.

The three women cadets are Bhawana Kanth, Avani Chaturvedi and Mohana Singh. The three are expected to undergo advanced training for a year after they are inducted and are likely to be eligible to fly fighter aircraft from June 2017.

He was speaking at a seminar on Women in Armed Medical Corps organised to mark International Women’s Day here, which was also attended by defence minister Manohar Parrikar.

The defence ministry had cleared the proposal of inducting women as fighter pilots in October 2015. Mr Parrikar also lauded Air Chief Marshal Raha’s insistence to push forward the proposal to induct women as fighter pilots in the Indian Air Force.

“Though I approved and support the proposal, it was he who was consistently pushing the file to the MoD (ministry of defence). I congratulate you for initiating the seminar which will go a long way in deciding the role of women in uniform and not only in the Armed Medical Corps,” Mr Parrikar was quoted as saying.