HYDERABAD: It was a moment any civilian would love to share. After an intense drill lasting more than an hour-and-a-half on the runway in front of the massive hangars of the Air Force Academy, Dundigal (AFA) on Thursday, the newly-commissioned flying officers of the Indian Air Force, with their chests puffed up and heads held high, walked past the podium saluting each other, as a mark of respect to the glorious career beckoning them. And with the navy blue barricades in the backdrop providing the picture perfect moment, it was only natural for the crowd to return the salute to these young bravehearts, out to conquer the skies.175 cadets, including ground staff, transport pilots and fighter pilots, from the AFA, Air Force Administrative College, Coimbatore, Air Force Station, Hakimpet, Air Force Station, Yelahanka and Air Force Station, Begumpet were awarded the President’s Commission by General VK Singh, Chief of the Army Staff, at a dazzling ceremony here. Calling upon the cadets to live up to the honour of putting the country ahead of everything else, General VK Singh stressed the need for cohesive growth of all sectors of the armed forces. And while the General concluded his message, the look of jubilance couldn’t be more exciting than what was seen on the faces of the 30-odd women cadets in the newly-commissioned group. “It’s an amazing experience. The very feel of an aircraft and its electronic controls in your hands is unparallelled. And since we undergo the same physical and mental training modules as our male counterparts, we are as fit as possible to fly for the Indian Air Force”, explained a jubilant Ginni Choudhary, who is all set to be inducted into the transports division at Bangalore as her first assignment. With the AFA having divided its one-year programme for flying officers into three stages, she like others of her batch feels that, “It’s Stage-1 that’s most difficult since you are yet to familiarise with the aircraft. Once that’s done, the remaining stages are a lot easier and exciting.” The officers are provided over 24 flying hours on the Kiran and Dornier aircraft, and are also made to undergo rigorous physical training, but only the men are allowed to join as fighter pilots. But that doesn’t deter these women. The experience of flying in itself, be it a transporter or a fighter, is a thrill for them. “We come from different parts of India. But now the joy of flying has brought us together. India, and India alone, is first for us from now on. As pilots we have spent 6 months more on training than other officers, so we will ensure we make our country proud for the faith invested in us”, beamed an excited cadet from the North-east. And ask them if the prospects of big money by working as commercial pilots would lure them away from their present line of work in the future, the girls reply with a twinkle in their eye, “For the next 14 years we are bound to our nation. We only hope the pride our uniform instilled in us today, persists tomorrow as well.” As Ginni puts it, “I’m no longer Ginni Choudhary. Please call me ‘Flying Officer’ Ginni Choudhary.”
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