Hyderabad: India scripted history on Saturday as Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar formally commissioned three women fighter pilots along with flight cadets of various branches of the Indian Air Force at a combined graduation parade at the Dundigal's Air Force Academy in Hyderabad.
The graduation parade on Saturday was a landmark in IAF history as the first three women pilots — Avani Chaturvedi of Madhya Pradesh, Mohana Singh of Rajasthan and Bhawana Kanth of Bihar — were inducted in the IAF fighter squadron at Air Force Academy in Hyderabad.
“This is a golden day. This should be opening for more women for joining combat forces,’’ said Manohar Parrikar.
Flying officer Avani Chaturvedi after being inducted in IAF fighter squadron. (Photo: Twitter/ANI)
Each has cleared the first stage of training and has about 150 hours of flying. After getting their wings tomorrow as flying officers, they will train for six months on the Advanced Jet Fighter - the British-built Hawk - they will be assigned fighters and their squadrons.
Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha had earlier said that after being commissioned, they would go to the advanced jet training, and later proceed to the regular squads.
Raha, on the occasion of International Women's Day yesterday, announced that the nation will see its first batch of female fighter pilots on June 18.
In February 2016, President Pranab Mukherjee had announced that all military combat roles will be opened to women in the future.
