‘Wings’ were awarded to 12 pilots comprising nine pilots of the Indian Navy and three of the Coast Guard at the 84th Helicopter Conversion Course of the Helicopter Training School at the Naval Air Station, INS Rajali in Arakkonam on Friday. Rear Admiral Sudhir Pillai, NM, Chief Instructor (Navy), Defence Services Staff College, Wellington awarded the `wings’ to the pilots.
The Governor of Kerala Rolling Trophy for the `Best All Round Trainee Pilot’ and the `Book Prize for Standing First in Ground Subjects’ were awarded to A.C. Paul, while `The Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command Rolling Trophy’ for the `Trainee Pilot Standing First in Order of Merit in Flying’ was awarded to Vaibhav Tyagi.
The pilots underwent rigorous training for 21 weeks in flying and aviation subjects at INAS 461, The Helicopter Training School (HTS) in INS Rajali. The school has produced 626 pilots for the Indian Navy and Coast Guard till date and is commanded by Capt. K. Sri Vatsa.
The HTS which was based in Kochi till 1992 was later shifted to INS Rajali, which is the largest operational air base of the Navy, commanded by Capt. VK Pisharody.
The graduated pilots will join operational flights at Mumbai, Port Blair, Goa, Kochi, Vizag and Daman.
