It was a long time coming and the announcement that the Indian Air Force will now have women fighter pilots has officially been made by Chief of Air Staff Arup Raha. Rather appropriately it was announced on 8th March 2008 International Women’s Day, that the IAF will have its first women fighter pilots. As early as June 2016, Avani Chaturvedi, Bhawana Kanth and Mohana Singh will be able to “Touch The Sky With Glory”.
Women Fighter Pilots in the Indian Air Force
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Women have been flying transport aircraft and helicopters in the Indian Air Force since 1991 and now will be entering the cockpits of fighter aircrafts as well. This is a very significant step for the Indian military which has thus far resisted recruiting women in combat roles. While many around the country welcome and cheer this development, it is being seen by some as a move that comes with its own set of operational, practical and cultural problems.
These young women do not see themselves as making history. They are focused on training hard and living up to the expectations that their instructors have of them.
Why has it taken so long?
Traditionally a significant proportion of the organisation has resisted the induction of women into the armed forces and in particular several specific challenges were perceived with regard to women fighter pilots. It is perceived that women are physically not suited to the particular rigours and demands placed on a fighter pilot. After all women will have their “health problems” (perhaps a delicate reference to the time of month), get pregnant, take maternity leave and so on. Conceivably, we felt that this was an idea whose time had come for other reasons (the Pakistan Air Force has had women in combat roles since 2006).
However, the clincher has always been this: it costs the organisation about Rs 13 crore to train a fighter pilot and the return on that investment would be insufficient with women fighter pilots. Women being restricted to SSC tenures was seen as a major technical hurdle for inducting women in the fighter stream. Until 2010, women officers of the IAF were only limited to Short Service Commission tenures (as against Permanent Commission which is service that may be extended up to retirement and carries significant monetary and other benefits).
Now the country is looking to these bright, brilliant and brave young women to smash yet another shackle that their profession and society had placed upon them. We wish these women all the success in all their endeavors and know that they will indeed touch the sky with glory – God Speed and Happy Landings!
Author – Reena Daruwalla
