Hyderabad: Air Force Academy, the alma mater of all IAF officers, constantly strives towards achieving the mission statement of the Indian Air Force (IAF), “PEOPLE FIRST MISSION ALWAYS”.
Over a period of four decades, the Academy has carved out a niche for itself in the realm of Flying and Ground Training evolving from Harvard Trainer to the current Pilatus PC – 7 MK – l aircraft by imparting high quality professional and military training to thousands of young men and women who aspire to be in the Indian Air Force to ‘ TOUCH THE SKY WITH GLORY’.
The first trainer aircraft at Air Force Academy (AFA), Dundigal was the Harvard trainer aircraft after which the training programme is named. The AFA foundation stone was laid in the year 1967 by the President Zakir Hussain and it was inaugurated on January 1971 by then Chief Minister Kasu Brahmananda Reddy.
Air Force Academy Hosts Media
Ahead of 87th anniversary of IAF on October 8, AFA, Dundigal gave a glimpse of the training facilities ina tour conducted for the media.
A team of media personnel along with Defence Public Relations Officer, Ministry of Defence, Secunderabad visited Air Force Academy, Dundigal.
The visit was aimed at showcasing the plethora of activities being undertaken at the Academy and its role in transforming young civilians into Military Officers.
The media personnel were taken around the Academy and exposed to various training activities of both Flying and Ground Faculties, training infrastructure and welfare measures instituted for improving the quality of its personnel and their family members.
During the interaction with the media personnel, Air Marshal AS Butoin Commandant Air Force Academy highlighted the onerous task of AFA in transforming the raw civilians’ into disciplined military officers and leaders of a future generation.
He also touched upon various facets of training and qualities ingrained into the Cadets to make them professionally competent to execute their assigned responsibilities in defence of the motherland
The Indian Air Force, the Guardians of our Skies celebrates its 87th Anniversary on 8 October this year, From its humble beginnings in 1932, with the primary aim of securing Indian Air Space and conducting aerial warfare during any conflict, the IAF today stands tall as the fourth largest All Force in the world.
The transition from the era of Wapitis, Toofanis and the Spitfires to the modern era flying machines like Rafael, Sukhol – 30, Mirage Chinook, Apache, C – 130 and C – 17 aircraft speaks volumes of its professionalism and ability to keep pace with time and technical advancements. The IAF has had women pilots for nearly 30 years in the transport and helicopter streams. But in the year 2016, the IAF paved the way to shatter the ultimate glass ceiling and open up the fighter flying stream for women.
“Over the years, the Indian Air Force has evolved into a professional force which has showcased its mettle and operational competence in front of the world and has made the nation proud through its valor in wars and compassionate professionalism during natural calamities. These feals wouldn’t have been attained without the contributions and sacrifices of crème de – la – crème of the air warriors who pass out from Air Force Academy Hyderabad with flying colours,” said Air Vice Marshal, DK Awasthi, Deputy Commandant of AFA.
The academy imparts professional training to novices, to enable them to acquire the requisite knowledge and skills in various aspects of aerospace power and its application in their respective branches. The AFA imparts training not only to Indian officers but officers from friendly foreign nations also who undergo professional training courses for various branches. Flying, Technical, Non – technical in-service training to our sister services as well, keeping the supreme importance of security and sovereignty of the nation.
An intensive training regime is followed al ASA to install aspects of military leadership, inter-branch camaraderie, moral values, sense of honour and spirit of adventure. The core values of the IAF- ‘Mission, Integrity and Excellence’.
The Academy exhibits true exemplification of its motto ‘ SHRAM SE SIDDHI ‘ which means ‘Achievement through Diligence’. Through a rigorous training process, the youngsters are transformed into worthy Air Warriors of the highest professional intellectual physical and moral calibre dedicated to a lifetime of service to protect the sovereignty of the nation.
In order to equip the trainee Pilots with professional competence and necessary skills for flying the machine safely, intense training is carried out from sunrise to sunset. Almost 400 take off and landings are done in a day and nearly 18000 flying sorties are conducted in a year.
In 1975, the Air Force Academy was awarded the ‘Presidential Colours ‘, a symbol of excellence as a tribute to its worthy contributions both during peace and war through hard work, valor and sacrifice of the personnel posted at this Academy.
Authored & Camera by Mohammed Hussain, mohammedhussain.reporter@gmail.com Twitter: @writetohussain