Women pilots prove their mettle
S Vishnu Sharmaa, INN/Chennai, @infodeaofficialIndian Air Force (IAF) had its moment of pride recently when it stood an epitome of women empowerment. Similarly, Flight Lieutenant Parul Bhardwaj, Flying Officer Aman Nidhi, and Flight Lieutenant Hina Jaiswal are the women air force personnel whose names will be written in golden letters in the history of IAF.
They became this nation’s first all-women crew to fly a medium-lift helicopter. While Parul was the captain, Aman was the co-pilot, Hina was a flight engineer in that team and they flew a Mi-17 V5 helicopter for a battle inoculation training mission taking off and landing from restricted areas at a forward airbase in South Western Air Command.
Sources from Defence Ministry said Flight Lieutenant Parul Bharadwaj hails from Mukerian in Punjab. Flying Officer Aman Nidhi hails from Ranchi. Flight Lieutenant Hina Jaiswal hails from Chandigarh. Aman Nidhi is said to be the first woman IAF pilot from Jharkhand. Hina Jaiswal is said to be the first woman flight engineer of IAF.
The Pilots had undergone their basic Flying training at the ‘Helicopter Training School’ at Air Force Station at Hakimpet near Hyderabad followed by advanced training at Air Force Station in Yelahanka in Bengaluru.
The helicopter was certified airworthy by Squadron Leader Richa Adhikari the unit Engineering officer. This is yet another achievement of women officers in the IAF.
