Article Posted on : - Jul 05, 2015

KOCHI (PTI): Five trainee officers have been inducted into the Naval Aviation as pilots in an impressive ceremonial parade held at INS Garuda, Kochi.

Rear Admiral S K Grewal, Flag Officer Sea Training, awarded 'Wings' to the five pilots on Friday, who were trained at the Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 550, the frontline air squadron of the Southern Naval Command.

During the 25 week course, the officers were trained in flying the Dornier aircraft and introduced to the basics of Naval Aviation, according to a Navy release.

"These officers would graduate into full-fledged operational pilots after adding a few more hours of flying in operational environment," it said.

In his address to the gathering, Rear Admiral Grewal lauded the efforts of the staff and the trainees, while exhorting them to excel further in days to come which he remarked would be filled with enriching experience given the state-of-the-art aircraft that the Indian Navy was procuring.

Sub-lieutenant (Slt) Arjun Premchandran was awarded 'First in Flying' and 'First in Overall Order of Merit' in the course while Slt Bala Subramanyam was awarded 'First in Ground Subjects'.

Capt MMS Shergill, Commanding officer of INS Garuda, was the conducting officer of the parade.