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In a unique moment at the Combined Graduation Parade (CGP) at the Air Force Academy (AFA) in Dundigal, Hyderabad, Saturday, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, piloted and led a three-aircraft Kiran formation while newly-commissioned Indian Air Force (IAF) officers marched to martial tunes.
This marked the first time in history that an IAF Chief flew a sortie during the CGP at the AFA in Dundigal. Air Chief Marshal Singh is a Qualified Flying Instructor and an Experimental Test Pilot with over 5,000 hours of flight experience on various fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. The Kirans are employed to meet the IAF’s intermediate flying training requirements for pilots.
The parade marked the successful completion of pre-commissioning training for the Flight Cadets of the Flying and Ground Duty branches of the IAF. A total of 244 Flight Cadets, including 215 male and 29 female cadets, graduated on this day, according to a Ministry of Defence statement.
General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), was the Reviewing Officer (RO) of the parade and conferred the President’s Commission to the graduating Flight Cadets of 216 Course. He was presented with a General Salute by the parade, followed by a march past.
On this occasion, six officers from the Indian Navy, eight officers from the Indian Coast Guard and two trainees from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam were awarded ‘Wings’ on successful completion of flying training.
‘Brevets’ were awarded to five officers upon completion of their Navigation training. Families of the graduating officers were present to witness the ceremony.
The statement mentioned that the highlight of the parade was the ‘Commissioning Ceremony’ in which the graduating cadets were commissioned as Flying Officers by the RO.
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An oath was administered to the graduating officers, in which they pledged to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and honour.
A well-coordinated and synchronised flypast by Pilatus PC-7, Hawk, Kiran, and Chetak aircraft was also carried out along with the parade. A display by the Akash Ganga team and Air Warrior Drill Team (AWDT) was conducted as well.
The RO awarded Flying Officer Tanishq Aggarwal from the Flying branch with the coveted ‘President’s Plaque’ and the ‘Nawanagar Sword of Honour’ for standing first in the overall order of merit in the Pilot Course.
Flying Officer Saksham Dobriyal was awarded the ‘President’s Plaque’ for standing first in the overall order of merit in the Navigation stream. Flying Officer Nitesh Kumar was awarded the ‘President’s Plaque’ for standing first in the overall order of merit in the Ground Duty branches.
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The parade ended with the newly commissioned officers marching in two columns to the notes of martial marching tunes, and Air Chief Marshal Singh flying and leading a three-aircraft Kiran formation.
