Anamika Rajeev Becomes Indian Navy’s First Woman Helicopter Pilot

June 10, 2024

Sub Lieutenant Anamika B. Rajeev made history at INS Rajali, Arakkonam, when she became the first woman in the Indian Navy to fly a helicopter. Last week, this important milestone was reached during the passing out parade. The 102nd Helicopter Conversion Course was completed.

Recent Developments in Naval Aviation

During the event, Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, who is in charge of the Eastern Naval Command, also gave the prestigious “Golden Wings” to 21 officers. The passing out parade, which took place on June 7, marked the end of both Stage I training for the 4th Basic Helicopter Conversion Course and graduation from the conversion course.

Highlighting Achievements of Graduates

Some of the graduates were given important awards:

Lieutenant Gurkirat Rajput won the FOC-in-C, Eastern Naval Command Rolling Trophy for being the best pilot among his peers.
The Sub-Lieutenant Kunte Memorial Book Prize was given to Lt Nitin Sharan Chaturvedi for his outstanding work on ground topics.
Lieutenant Deepak Gupta won first place in the Overall Order of Merit and was given the Governor of Kerala Rolling Trophy.

Significance and Broader Impact

By becoming the first woman to fly a helicopter, Sub Lieutenant Anamika B. Rajeev not only breaks down gender stereotypes but also opens the door for more women to serve in the military. Also, Lieutenant Jamyang Tsewang’s graduation as the first commissioned navy officer from the Union Territory of Ladakh shows that the Indian Navy is becoming more diverse and open to everyone. This event shows that the Indian Navy is dedicated to changing and adapting, always improving its operational skills and creating new opportunities for people who want to become pilots.

Contributions of Helicopter Training School, Arakkonam

The training took place at the Indian Naval Air Squadron 561; this unit is where all Indian Navy chopper pilots learn how to fly. The training lasted 22 weeks and included both hard flying and fieldwork. Eighty-nine pilots from the Indian Navy, the Indian Coast Guard, and friendly foreign countries have been training at the Helicopter Training School in Arakkonam so far.

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