Navy’s All-Women Aircrew Creates History With Surveillance Mission
In a remarkable accomplishment, five women officers of the Indian Navy piloted a Dornier aircraft on the first independent maritime reconnaissance and surveillance mission in the North Arabian Sea.
The Navy labelled the operation carried out by the female officers from its “INAS 314” frontline naval aviation squadron in Porbandar as “historic” on Thursday.
Lt Commander Aanchal Sharma, the mission commander, piloted the aircraft. Lt Shivangi and Lt Apurva Gite, both pilots, as well as tactical and sensor officers Lt Pooja Panda and Sub Lt Pooja Shekhawat were also on the crew.
“On Wednesday, five officers of the Indian Navy’s INAS 314 based at naval air enclave in Porbandar created history by completing the first all-women independent maritime reconnaissance and surveillance mission in the North Arabian Sea onboard a Dornier 228 aircraft,” spokesperson in the Indian Navy Commander Vivek Madhwal said.
Operating the cutting-edge Dornier 228 maritime surveillance aircraft, INAS 314 is a front-line Naval aviation squadron with its base in Porbandar, Gujarat. Prior to the sortie, the female officers underwent months of on-the-ground training and thorough mission briefings.
The first of its kind ever, this military flying mission, according to Commander Madhwal, was exceptional and is anticipated to open doors for female officers in the aviation cadre to take on more responsibility and strive for more demanding responsibilities.
“It perhaps marks a unique achievement for the armed forces that a crew of only women officers undertook an independent operational mission in a multi-crew maritime surveillance aircraft,” he noted.
“It was indeed a mission that showcased ‘Nari Shakti’ in its real spirit,” he added.
The spokesman remarked that when it comes to leading the reform of the armed services, the Indian Navy has been a front-runner.
“It’s pioneering women empowerment initiatives include induction of women pilots, selection of women air operations officers into the helicopter stream and conducting an all-women sailing circumnavigation expedition across the globe in 2018,” he said.
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