The second major passing-out parade at Tambaram for airmen trainees in non-technical trades was held at the Air Force Station. Four hundred-and-thirtyone aircubs passed out after completion of a 36-week training in various branches of administration. Air Marshal Narayanan Menon, Air Officer-in-Charge, Personnel, Air Headquarters, reviewed the parade and presented awards to meritorious trainees. Aircraftman S Gularia was adjudged the best all-rounder and Aircraftsman AK Sagolsem was declared the best in General Service Training.

The aircubs were given training in various spheres of administration like pay accounting, equipment accounting and policing, besides basic training in weapons and computers. They were also given fieldcraft training for a week in which they were exposed to a hostile war-like atmosphere with a view to instill a feeling of togetherness among them, said Wg Cdr AK Varshneya, Chief Instructor who read the course report on the occasion.

Air Marshal Menon, while addressing the newly inducted air warriors said that the IAF is being transformed into a technology-intensive service with constant induction of state-of-the-art and high precision military hardware. Therefore, one is required to work harder, make continuous efforts to improve his professional knowledge and keep abreast of constant changes. The operational and maintenance efficiency of the IAF is dependent upon efficient administrative support. Therefore, the training has been geared to ensure that the men trained at the Administrative Training Institute contribute their best to the overall battle readiness and skill of the IAF. The Air Marshal also commended the display of immaculate turn-out and high standard of the parade that marked the grand finale of the training activities.

The parade was followed by an impressive mass PT display and an air show. Suryakiran aerobatics team led by Wg Cdr S Prabhakaran flew six aircraft in tango, yankee, diamond and wine glass formations which enthralled the spectators, especially the children who cheered the flyers. A 15-member Akash Ganga team, dropped into the sky at an altitude of 10000 feet by an AN-32 transport aircraft, had free falls at a speed of 120 miles per hour and a few seconds later, they opened up their parachutes and descended steadily changing their body position and performing many acts like turning, looping and rolling forward and back. Sqn Ldr S Venkataramana was the first to dive into the sky. The para-jumpers moving in the sky under the colourful canopy of their parachutes in hand plane and tri-colour formations was a feast to the eyes.

Air Cmde SK Sofat, Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station, Tambaram, was among the dignitaries who watched the parade and the show.