FIs Glorify AF Tambaram

S Vishnu Sharma, INN/Chennai, @Svs037

Air Force Station at Tambaram in Chennai was centre of attraction today when valedictory of 146th Qualified Flying Instructors Course (QFIC) was held on June 7. It was a red letter day as 52 officers got graduated as qualified flying instructors after a hard training for 25 weeks. The training or the 146th course began on 24 December last year.

The training was imparted by Flying Instructors School (FIS) located at Air Force Station, Tambaram. The officers included 42 personnel of the Indian Air Force, two from Indian Army, five from Indian Navy, one from Indian Coast Guard and two officers from Myanmar Air Force. The Valedictory Function marked the culmination of the efforts of the trainees and staff of FIS. 

Air Marshal Rajesh Kumar, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Air Command was the chief guest for the function. He stressed on the invaluable role played by FIS in training qualified flying instructors (QFIs) who are instrumental in producing pilots who meet the desired standards for their organization. 

These QFIs would thereafter carry the responsibility of guiding newly inducted trainee pilots in consonance with the long term vision of the Indian Air Force, he said. 

Recalling his own experience as a flying instructor and as a staff at FIS, he exhorted those who completed training to carry forward their rich learning experiences at FIS and apply this knowledge effectively. He urged them to inculcate the highest standards of mental and physical discipline amongst their trainees, in true traditions of the Indian Air Force. 

The QFIC is a grueling 25-weeks package. It encompasses nine phases of flying training and over 190 hours of ground training. The pilots who achieved distinction in flying and ground subjects were awarded trophies. Air Officer Commanding of Air Force Station Tambaram, Air Commodore MS Awana was among others present.