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Thursday, June 11, 2009

Adventure is just another way of life for Indian Air Force air warriors. Savouring a slice of the unique experience, cadets of Air Squadron NCC at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) were introduced to ‘para-sailing’ conducted by IAF’s adventure cell at BHU campus. The para-sailing camp was inaugurated by BHU Rector, Professor BD Singh in the presence of Varanasi NCC Group Commanders, Group Captain PK Sharma and Colonel Harjeet Singh respectively.

The thrilling activity coincides with the ongoing ‘combined annual training camp’ (CATC) of BHU-based Air Squadron NCC, being held from June 8-17. The other attraction - air experience in ‘Zen Air’ piston-engine microlite aircraft for cadets is also proving to be an unforgettable thrill for the eclectic mix of students most of whom dream to join IAF someday. Graduates holding NCC ‘C’ certificates are eligible to apply directly for interview at IAF service selection boards (SSB) to train as a pilot at Air Force Academy. Adventure is just another way of life for Indian Air Force air warriors. Savouring a slice of the unique experience,

Giving an added impetus to the aspirations of the youth, IAF for the first time deputed a four-member team to undertake para-sailing activities at BHU. “The experience will be remembered by the cadets all their life and motivate them to be a part of the great IAF family”, admits Wing Commander Vimal Prakash Agrawal, Commanding Officer of No. 7 (UP) Air Squadron, a former NCC cadet himself and Camp Commandant of the CATC.

The month of June nationwide is normally a period for camps for all the three wings of NCC – Army, Navy and Air Force. BHU, an embodiment of higher education in the country, has the highest density of NCC Units – six, in any single University campus. “With its own airfield BHU offers the best that any Air Squadron NCC cadet can hope in-so-far-as flying experience is concerned”, states Group Captain PK Sharma, a helicopter pilot and Group Commander of the Air Squadron.

“We aim to provide all-round development to the cadets. Apart from flying experience, drill, firing and exposure to a cross-cultural youth brigade, the cadets also enjoy aero-modelling”, Group Captain Sharma explained BHU Professors who witnessed an enthralling air show comprising para-sailing, microlite flying and remote-controlled aero model flights at BHU aerodrome.

Professor Singh lauded the initiatives of IAF that had supported NCC to make the experience for the cadets so unique. He also assured consistent support of BHU to NCC activites as the youth benefitted from such experience. He later gave away awards to the Flight Cadets who excelled in NCC activities, both at State and National level.

Varanasi is one of the three Air Force Selection Board venues apart from Dehradun and Mysore where candidates appear before the Services Selection Board before qualifying to join Officer training academies such as National Defence Academy (NDA) and Air Force Academy (AFA).

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BHU NCC Wing

http://www.bhu.ac.in/ncc/history.html

 

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