
18 Navy officers complete helicopter pilot training
As many as 18 Indian Navy officers, including one woman, graduated as pilots from the Helicopter Training School at INS Rajali in Arakkonam on Monday. Sub-Lieutenant Siddhi Hemant Dubey became the second woman helicopter pilot of the Indian Navy.
According to a press release, the graduating officers were presented the coveted 'Golden Wings', an award that marks them as helicopter pilots. The awards were given by Vice-Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command. They took part in a passing out parade, marking the successful completion of their 22-week intensive flying and ground training at the school in the Indian Naval Air Squadron-561.
Vice-Admiral Pendharkar said a naval pilot's skill was tested at sea and in the sky. Handling this required a deep commitment, he added. He told the graduating pilots that they should wear the 'Golden Wings', not as decoration but as a proof of discipline, focus, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. 'The wings represent the Navy's faith in its pilots, and a sign that they are now a part of a rich naval legacy,' Vice-Admiral Pendharkar said.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
Singapore-flagged container ship MV Wan Hai 503 catches fire; Indian Navy rescues 18, four remain missing
New Delhi [India], June 9 (ANI): The Indian Navy, in a closely coordinated search and rescue operation with the Coast Guard, DG Shipping and other stakeholders, safely rescued 18 out of 22 crew members of the Singapore-flagged MV Wan Hai 503 after a fire broke out. 'The inputs of the incident were received at IFC IOR at about 0930 hr on June 9. INS Surat and a Dornier aircraft were immediately deployed by the Indian Navy to render necessary assistance, and at about 1630 hr, 18 out of 22 crew members were safely rescued by Surat. First aid has been rendered to the injured crew members, and the ship is presently proceeding to New Mangalore for disembarkation and further medical management,' the Navy said in a statement. According to the Indian Navy, the vessel was carrying 22 crew members, including 8 Chinese, 6 Taiwanese, 5 Myanmarese, and 3 Indonesian nationals. Following the explosion and escalation of the fire, the crew abandoned the ship. '18 crew members have been rescued, while four remain missing. A search and rescue operation is currently underway,' it said. The MV had reported an internal container explosion and a resultant major fire onboard. The incident occurred at around 44 nautical miles off Azhikkal, Kerala and 130 nautical miles northwest of Kochi. According to a release, preliminary reports suggest that 10-15 containers have fallen overboard. The vessel was en route from Colombo, Sri Lanka to Nhava Sheva, Mumbai, with an expected time of arrival (ETA) on 10 June. The fire rapidly engulfed the midsection of the vessel, which is currently adrift. 'The Flag Administration of Singapore has been formally notified. The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), India, has instructed the ship's owners to immediately engage qualified salvors and firefighting experts,' the release stated. The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) initiated an immediate response, deploying two Dornier aircraft equipped with life rafts for aerial surveillance and situational assessment. Five ICG ships, including specialised firefighting and pollution response vessels, have been mobilised to the incident site. As per the release, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), Mumbai, activated the International Safety Net (ISN), prompting nearby merchant vessels MV AMBRA and MV ONE MARVEL to divert and assist in the rescue effort. The distress alert was initially relayed by MV Cape Valencia to MRCC Mumbai. The vessel continues to emit dense smoke, and the onboard fire poses a risk of further explosions and structural failure. Maritime traffic in the area has been advised to maintain a safe distance from the vessel. 'The Flag Administration of Singapore has been formally notified. The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), India, has instructed the ship's owners to immediately engage qualified salvors and firefighting experts,' the release stated. (ANI)


The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
18 Navy officers complete helicopter pilot training
As many as 18 Indian Navy officers, including one woman, graduated as pilots from the Helicopter Training School at INS Rajali in Arakkonam on Monday. Sub-Lieutenant Siddhi Hemant Dubey became the second woman helicopter pilot of the Indian Navy. According to a press release, the graduating officers were presented the coveted 'Golden Wings', an award that marks them as helicopter pilots. The awards were given by Vice-Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command. They took part in a passing out parade, marking the successful completion of their 22-week intensive flying and ground training at the school in the Indian Naval Air Squadron-561. Vice-Admiral Pendharkar said a naval pilot's skill was tested at sea and in the sky. Handling this required a deep commitment, he added. He told the graduating pilots that they should wear the 'Golden Wings', not as decoration but as a proof of discipline, focus, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. 'The wings represent the Navy's faith in its pilots, and a sign that they are now a part of a rich naval legacy,' Vice-Admiral Pendharkar said.

The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
From stormy seas to a hero's welcome: Lt. Cmdr. Dilna returns to Kozhikode
For the eight-long months that Lt. Commander K. Dilna braved the ocean and its many challenges, her mother K.P. Reeja spent sleepless nights in Kozhikode, anxious about her daughter's safety. 'I could heave a sigh of relief only when I heard the news that she had landed safely in Goa,' said Ms. Reeja, her face glowing with pride as their hometown of Kakkodi, a suburban village in Kozhikode, gave Ms. Dilna a warm welcome on Monday (June 9). Dilna, along with Lt. Commander Roopa Alagirisamy, a native of Pondicherry, recently made history by becoming the first Indian women to circumnavigate the globe in a double-handed sailing mode aboard the INSV Tarini. As part of the Indian Navy's Navika Sagar Parikrama, the duo covered 25,400 nautical miles over 239 days. 'They faced severe hardships—cyclones, torrential rains, and rough seas. They could only enjoy a proper meal when they reached shore once a month or so. Otherwise, they survived on canned food. There were even days they went without eating, having grown tired of the limited options,' said Ms. Reeja. Lt. Cmdr. Dilna followed in the footsteps of her late father Devadas, a former Army officer, in choosing a career in the armed forces. Her educational journey began at Veda Vyasa Vidyalayam and continued through Kendriya Vidyalaya, East Hill; Government Vocational Higher Secondary School for Girls, Nadakkavu; and Providence College in Kozhikode. She joined the Indian Navy in 2014. 'Dilna always wanted to join the armed forces. She won several awards in rifle shooting during her time in the National Cadet Corps. Though we were initially hesitant about her going on the circumnavigation mission, her unwavering determination convinced us,' said Ms. Reeja. Meanwhile, the civic reception for Lt. Cmdr. Dilna turned into a moment of celebration for the entire village. Dilna's mother, along with sister Deepthi and officials from the Kakkodi grama panchayat, received her at the Kozhikode Railway Station and hosted a tea party in her honour at the panchayat office. The festivities continued with a grand procession from Parambil Kadavu to her home. The procession featured a traditional Shinkari melam and was joined by local people, including ex-servicemen in uniform.