DELHI: Sub-Lieutenant Anamika B Rajeev has become the first woman helicopter pilot of the Indian Navy after she received the prestigious ‘Golden Wings’ at the passing-out parade held at INS Rajali at the naval air station in Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu, on Friday.
Lt Jamyang Tsewang, the first commissioned naval officer from Ladakh, also successfully graduated as a qualified helicopter pilot. Sub-Lieutenant Anamika and Lt Tsewang are among 21 officers awarded the ‘Golden Wings’ by Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command, at the passing-out parade at INS Rajali, according to a statement by the Indian Navy.
The passing-out parade marked the graduation of the 102nd Helicopter Conversion Course (HCC) and the completion of stage-I training for the 4th Basic Helicopter Conversion Course (BHCC). It was held after an intensive 22-week training programme encompassing rigorous flying and ground training at the Indian Naval Air Squadron 561, the alma mater of all helicopter pilots of the Indian Navy, it stated.
Additionally, three officers of the 4th Basic Conversion Course (BCC) successfully completed their stage I training.
“Highlighting the Indian Navy’s commitment to gender inclusivity and expanding career opportunities for women, Sub-Lieutenant Anamika B Rajeev created history by graduating as the first woman naval helicopter pilot,” the Navy statement said.
The FOCinC, Eastern Naval Command Rolling Trophy for the trainee pilot standing ‘First in Order of Merit in Flying’ was awarded to Lt Gurkirat Rajput. The Sub Lieutenant Kunte Memorial Book Prize for ‘Standing First in Order of Merit in Ground Subjects’ was awarded to Lt Nitin Sharan Chaturvedi. The Governor of Kerala Rolling Trophy for First in Overall Order of Merit was awarded to Lt. Deepak Gupta.
In its rich heritage spanning more than five decades, Helicopter Training School has trained 849 pilots of the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, and friendly foreign nations. Helicopter Training School is located at INS Rajali, Arakkonam, and is presently commanded by Commodore Kapil Mehta. The Helicopter Training School is commanded by Commander Archesh, the Navy statement said.
The squadron’s safe and conducive training environment, coupled with meticulous planning and execution, ensures the completion of the 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. The officers of 04 BHCC, having successfully completed Stage I training, will be retained for Stage II training at Helicopter Training School, the statement added.
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