19 May 23: Ten Test Pilots and fourFlight Test Engineers of the 45th Flight Test Course graduated from the Air Force Test Pilots School (AFTPS) in Bangalore yesterday, after successfully completing 47 weeks of a rigorous and multi-discipline training curriculum. AFTPS is integral to the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE), and is among the eight recognised Test Pilot Schools globally.
Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh PVSM AVSM, Vice Chief of Air Staff, Chief Guest at the graduation ceremony, presented certificates to all graduating officers and trophies to graduates who excelled. While addressing the graduating officers, representing all three Services and DRDO, the Chief Guest reminded them of the crucial role they would play in the capability building and modernization of the Indian Armed Forces and the upgradation of the military aviation environment of the country. He emphasised on the importance of professional competence in ensuring optimised time cycles from design to delivery so as to meet the operational, quality and safety requirements. He urged the graduating officers to uphold the virtues of honesty and integrity along with the professional attributes of Precision and Excellence as they step out into the real world from the relative comforts of an academic environment.
The passing out officers will join the prestigious and elite club of “the few and the proud” comprising 331 Test Pilots and 148 Flight Test Engineers that have passed out from AFTPS since its inception in 1973.
The prestigious “Suranjan Das Trophy” for the best all-round student test pilot was awarded to Sqn Ldr A Mustaq while the “Chief of Air Staff Trophy” for the best student test pilot in flight evaluation was awarded to Lt Cdr Himanshu Kukreja. The “Maharaja Hanumanth Singh Sword” for best all round student flight test engineer was awarded to Sc. C Debjit Modak. The “Dunlop Trophy” for best student test engineer in flight evaluation was awarded to Lt Col Amis John. The “Kapil Bhargava Trophy” for the best student in ground subjects was awarded to Sqn Ldr S Gautam.
