Helicopter Pilots Passing Out Parade At INS Rajali, Arakkonam, 78th Helicopter Conversion Course

An impressive passing out parade was held today to mark the graduation of the 78th Helicopter Conversion Course at Naval Air Station, INS Rajali, Arakkonam wherein 04 Navy and 05 Coast Guard Pilots including two women pilots were awarded “Wings” by Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of Staff, Headquarters Eastern Naval Command.   The Pilots underwent rigorous training for 21 weeks in flying and aviation subjects at the Helicopter Training School INAS 561 (HTS).   The school has graduated 558 pilots for the Indian Navy and Coast Guard till date and is commanded by Commander Ashish Bhargava.  Very recently the unit was also awarded ISO 9001:2008 certification.   The School was based at Kochi till 1992 and thereafter shifted to INS Rajali at Arakkonam which is the largest operational air base of the Navy.   The base is commanded by Commodore Puneet Kumar Bahl.

The Governor of Kerala Rolling Trophy for the best all round trainee pilot was awarded to Sub Lieutenant Himanshu Choudhary.   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 Sub Lieutenant Sachin Thakur.   A book prize for standing first in ground subjects was awarded to Sub Lieutenant Himanshu Choudhary.

The graduated pilots would be joining operational flights at Mumbai, Port Blair, Goa Kochi Vizag and Daman.