At IFORHER, we are applauding the great news of the first woman pilot, Lieutenant Shivangi, to join naval operations on December 2.
Lieutenant Shivangi is about to complete the operational training in Kochi. With her appointment, the Indian Navy is all set to get the first woman pilot for flying fixed-wing Dornier surveillance planes.
As told to PTI, the Defence source mentioned:
“Shivangi will graduate to become the First female Pilot of Indian Navy. She hails from Muzzafarpur, Bihar and completed her schooling from DAV Public school, Muzzafarpur.”
Our courageous woman, Lieutenant Shivangi was inducted into the Indian Navy as SSC (Pilot), part of 27 NOC course in Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala. In June last year, she got formally commissioned by Vice Admiral AK Chawla.
The source further shared that earlier, the Navy’s Aviation branch had women officers only operating as air traffic control officers and as ”observers”, who are responsible for communication and weapons.
But, now on December 2, the Indian Navy will get the first woman pilot as Lieutenant Shivangi. She had been undergoing training at the Southern Naval Command, and will get authorization to fly the Dornier aircraft.
The multi-role Dornier 228 is deployed for carrying out a short-range maritime reconnaissance mission. It also includes advanced surveillance radar, electronic sensors and networking features which plays a critical role in maintaining maritime dominance in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Before Lieutenant Shivangi, in May, Flight Lieutenant Bhawana Kanth became the first woman pilot of the Indian Air Force to get authorization to undertake combat missions on a fighter jet.
On this milestone, the Indian Air Force’s official handle tweeted with #WomenPower:
“Flt Lt Bhawana Kanth adds another feather to her cap by completing Day Operational syllabus on MiG-21 Bison aircraft. She is the first woman fighter pilot to be qualified to undertake missions by day on a fighter aircraft.”
Flt. Lt. Kanth belongs to the first batch of woman fighter pilots of the IAF.
Along with Kanth, Avani Chaturvedi and Mohana Singh were commissioned as flying officers in July 2016. This inspiring milestone came after the Centre decided to open the fighter stream for women on an experimental basis.
At IFORHER we are not only in awe of these courageous women, but also we want to applaud the authorities for opening the gates of armed forces to the women and giving them an opportunity to fight for their country.
