New Delhi: Seventeen students have graduated from the 46th Flight Test Course of the Air Force Test Pilots School.
A valedictory ceremony was held at the school in Bengaluru on May 24 and the students were handed over certificates of qualification by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Anil Chauhan, according to a statement by the Press Information Bureau (PIB).
Students were also given trophies for their outstanding performance under various categories. The graduating students are Sqn Ldr A Berwal with the Suranjan Das Trophy for best Test Pilot, Sqn Ldr Kapil Yadav – CAS Trophy for best flight evaluation, Sqn Ldr V Supriya – Maharaja Hanumanth Singhji Sword for best FTE, Sqn Ldr Rajnish Rai – Kapil Bhargava Trophy for best in ground subjects and Lt Cdr Gaurav Tyagi – Dunlop Trophy for most promising FTE and flight evaluation.
The CDS highlighted the important role of ASTE and AFTPS in providing flight test training to officers of the three services, Indian Coast Guard, HAL, DRDO, and other friendly foreign nations. He also congratulated the graduating officers and emphasised the importance of professional competence to ensure their smooth functioning of the flight test course.
The AFTPS has been conducting flight tests continuously since its inception in 1974. The school has played a crucial role in the modernization of the Indian Air Force’s flight test capabilities and in the development of advanced flight technologies, said PIB.
It added that the graduates of the program have been instrumental in providing critical flight test data and recommendations, which have helped in the development of new aircraft systems and the enhancement of flight capabilities.