New Delhi: Breaking another glass ceiling, the Indian Air Force chief, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, said on Thursday that women would soon be inducted as fighter pilots, making the IAF the first of three services to have women in a combat role.
“We have women pilots flying transport aircraft and helicopters, we are now planning to induct them into the fighter stream to meet the aspirations of young women of India,” ACM Raha said at the 83rd Air Force Day parade at Hindon air base on the outskirts of the national capital.
Women pilots meanwhile welcomed the move. “We feel proud and thankful that chief has made this announcement. It gives us a feeling of parity in the force,” Squadron Leader Tina Mathew said.
The air force chief said it will take around three years before women would be flying fighters. He, however, added: “Women pilots may have problems in term of physical fitness but it can be overcome.”
Interestingly, on May, 2014, Raha had said that women were not suited for flying fighters.
“As far as flying fighter planes is concerned, it’s a very challenging job. Women are by nature not physically suited for flying fighters for long hours, especially when they are pregnant or have other health problems,” he had told reporters in Kanpur.
ACM Raha’s announcement comes after repeated denial by many of his predecessors against assigning women combat roles in the armed forces. (IANS)
