New Delhi, Mar 12 (DHNS) : The Indian Air Force has advised its first three women fighter pilots to defer their motherhood by at least four years for the sake of their combat career.
An advisory was issued to the cadets so that their training schedule was not disrupted, IAF vice-chief Air Marshal B S Dhanoa said in an interview. The advisory, IAF officials, said was not legally binding and meant for aiding the career progression of young cadets.
The three pilots are scheduled to be commissioned into the fighter stream on June 18 after successful completion of the second phase of their training in a Kiran aircraft.
The selected cadets Bhawana Kanth, Mohana Singh and Avani Chaturvedi would later undergo specialised training in Hawk advanced jet trainer for one year and subsequently would spent time either at an operational conversion unit or MiG operational flying training unit before joining an operational squadron. A stint in the OCU or MOFTU was required to train them flying various types of jets before they are declared combat ready. They are likely to be deployed on air defence or training missions.
“Continuous training is required for a minimum of five years for fighter pilots, men or women, to become combat ready. The three women are about to complete the first year of training. Its not just the cost, pregnancy means the entire training schedule gets disturbed,” officials said.
Marriage can wait for men
Even young male fighter pilots are advised not to think about marriage till a particular age because of the disruption in the training schedule. More than five years ago, then IAF Vice Chief Air Marshal P K Barbora triggered a storm when he suggested that women pilots should desist from having a baby, if they want to be fighter pilots.