VR simulation gives air warriors feel, flight hrs

Hyderabad: To provide advanced training for Indian Air Force (IAF) cadets, Air Force Station (AFS)-Hakimpet has built its own indigenous and state-of-the-art flight and helicopter virtual reality simulation system. Speaking during a media orientation programme, air officer commanding Pankaj Jain said the virtual reality simulation provides cadets with a realistic experience and adds more flight hours to their training alone. “This also helps in cost-cutting for the exchequer,” Jain said while briefing about the evolution of the AFS over the years from training fighter and transport pilots. The initiative was built in-house by the IAF for both flight and helicopter training. Group captains DB Bhagwat, PK Vasan and SS Rana gave a detailed presentation about the functioning and activities undertaken at Air Force Academy (AFA), Dundigal, AFS Begumpet and AFS Bidar. Bhagwat explained that outdoor training for an air warrior entails arms drills, small arms training, security training and field craft camp. “We continue to produce the best pilots in the world and every term we find academy records broken frequently in sports. A total of 10 academy records were broken in athletics in previous terms and six were broken in swimming,” Bhagwat said.“Air strategy is a domain that the school focuses on to teach which was crucial in tackling the recent Galwan Valley crisis. The navigation training plays a key role,” Bhagwat. Vasan said there is a need to build multi-domain capabilities and Begumpet AFS is focusing on this. He said it was in early 1930s Hyderabad Aero Club was formed, which served as airfield for the Nizam’s aircraft. During the World War II, the flying club was taken over by the RAF for its training purposes. Briefing about the role of women in the IAF, Rana explained that 17% of the officer cadre consists of women. “This is the highest among armed forces and stands second to none. All branches of IAF are open for induction of women. We have wing commander Deepika Misra who became the first woman gallantry award winner,” Rana said.