HTS pilots celebrate diamond jubilee

Hyderabad: The Helicopter Training School (

HTS

), the biggest helicopter unit and alma mater of all Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter pilots, celebrated its diamond jubilee on Sunday Air Force Station Hakimpet in the city. Air Marshal

Manavendra Singh

, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Training Command IAF, Air Chief Marshal FH Major (

Retd

), Admiral

Karambir Singh

(Retd), veterans and serving officers of the helicopter fleet from all three services attended the event. AOC-in-C training command released a special cover and diamond jubilee book of HTS, commemorating the occasion. A HTS museum which showcases the rich heritage of the IAF helicopter units was also inaugurated. On the occasion, an aerial display was put up by the Sarang helicopter team, Suryakiran aerobatic team and light combat helicopter, Kiran, Pilatus and LCH aircraft. Being the senior most serving helicopter pilot of IAF, the AOC-in-C training command flew the Chetak aircraft and led the flypast from the front as a tribute.. Helicopter Training School conducts ab-initio training of helicopter pilots of the nation and friendly foreign countries. It also continues to be the first respondent during natural disasters in southern latitudes of the country.