Over 800 officials and airmen were
on parade at the New Delhi Air Force Station, near Safdarjang on September
15, to celebrate the sixth anniversary of the station. Commended by Wing
Commander M.K. Chopra, head of the I.A.F. Education Directorate, parade
was formed up in squadrons representing Station Headquarters, Air
Headquarters, Record Office, Central Accounts Office, Signals Centre and
the Provost flight. I.A.F. bandsmen in attendance wore for the first time
their newly designed dark blue summer ceremonial uniforms.
After inspecting the parade and
taking the salute at a march past, the Station Commander, Group Captain
C.L. Mehta read out a message of greetings from Air Commodore Arjan Singh,
Air Office-in-Charge, Personnel and Organisation, Air HQ who is also Air
Officer Commanding of the Station.
"I.A.F. Station, New Delhi, has
been gaining in importance over the last few years and this has been amply
deserved due to the good work done by your predecessors and by you,"
the message said. It further said, "By virtue of your being stationed
in the capital of this great country, you have to be extra careful about
our turn-out and general behaviour and I am happy to know that, so far,
you have given no cause to worry or complain to anyone. I wish you the
best of luck and urge you to continue placing service before self as you
have always done in the past."
Addressing the parade the Station
Commander expressed his own appreciation of the co-operation, hard work
and loyalty, extended to him by all ranks and civilian staff of the
Station. "Without this," he said, "we would never have been
able to achieve what we have." He hoped that their efforts during the
coming year would continue to contribute their best to the Nation and the
I.A.F.
Later, Group Captain Mehta met all
Commanders of the various sections and units which come under the
administrative control of the Station.
Soon after the parade civilian and
Service personnel of the Station, and their families made for the Station
Cinema Hall where free shows had been arranged for the day.
The Station Commander, who formally
opened the Carnival in the after-noon went round the many stalls which
formed an amusement park for servicemen, civilians and their families.
Camel rides and giant wheels were particularly popular with school
children.
The next batch for training of
commercial pilots (‘B’ licence) under the "All-through"
Training Scheme will commence shortly at the Civil Aviation Training
Centre, Allahabad and applications should reach the Director General of
Civil Aviation, New Delhi not later than October 15, 1953.
The applicants must be of Indian
domicile and possess good physique and eyesight. They should not be under
18 or over 23 years of age (25 years in case of those possessing a degree
in Aeronautics, Engineering or Physics) and should have passed the
Intermediate Science or its equivalent or Senior Cambridge or Delhi
University Higher Secondary Examination with Mathematics and Physics or
Chemistry.
Applicants should have completed 75 hours of flying
experience, of which at least 40 hours should be solo flying. The period
of training extends to about 12 months for which a fee of Rs 4000 has been
fixed. A sum of Rs 500 will be refunded to the trainee who successfully
completes his course. The training of a candidate may be discontinued if
it appears that the candidate is unlikely to become an efficient
Commercial Pilot. Every pilot so trained will be liable to be called upon
to enroll in a Reserve or Auxiliary Service of the Indian Air Force.
Illustrated
Weekly Magazine of the