Women rule Aero India Show

Women in the Indian defence forces have already proved all that they are capable of and the whole nation has been a witness. Recently, a small group of women in the Indian Air Force have done it again. Squadron Leader Deepika Misra and Flight Lieutenant Sandeep Singh, an engineering officer, who are currently in Bangalore for the Aero India Show are elated to be a part of the Sarang team of the Indian Air Force.

Labeled as the showstoppers at the ongoing Aero India 2015, the women have been receiving praise from all over the country. The IAF’s major policy shift to allow conversion of women pilots to twin-engine category of medium to heavy-lift helicopters changed the life of Squadron Leader Deepika Misra who always wanted to fly.

Squadron Leader Deepika Misra
Picture By: The New Indian Express

"I used to dream of flying an aircraft solo or in formations for the thrill of it though I was not eligible then, as women pilots from only the short service commission had permit to fly non combat single-engine helicopters," she said, according to a report by New Kerala. Misra was inspired by aerobatics of Surya Kiran aircraft and Dhruv copters. She joined the aerobatics team after passing out as a flight cadet from the air force academy in December 2006 near Hyderabad.

Flt. Lt. Sandeep Singh will join her as engineering officer of the unit soon.  She told IBN live:  "My role is maintenance of the aircraft before they hit the skies. We have to ensure that 100 per cent safety is there and we make them ready for operations."  Both these women have shattered the thick glass ceiling and made way for women everywhere in the country.

The Hindu>