Search Results for: blind

What is a blindfold check for military pilot and why is it important?

Anil Goyal

Before a military pilot goes solo, he/she has to successfully demonstrate the ability to locate switches blindfolded. It is not without reason. And this is checked periodically, generally every fortnight along with critical emergency actions. The pilot is made to sit in the cockpit as if during flight with eyes shut and instructor checks out pilots’ ability to locate and activate cockpit switches, to make sure they could find them in a nerve blinding situation (bird strike, smoke in the cockpit, electrical failure by night, etc.).  This practice remains with…

Social Effects SARS-CoV2 – What can we do?

Anil Goyal

In the previous article, last week, we saw how society as a whole has been affected by the pandemic. We also saw who were the most vulnerable and were affected the most. On the other hand, we heard of altruistic efforts by famous personalities like Sonu Sood for assisting in transportation and Gautam Gambhir in providing free food, medicines, oxygen cylinders to Delhiite’s. NGOs like Khalsa aid stepped in with Langars. Thousands of other large and small NGOs also contributed immensely in many, many ways. Individual efforts of the middle class were…

Learning and Change: Two Constants

Anil Goyal

Military training is about war and aviation is no different. The goal is to win. This is at a very high level and is decomposed through different levels of the organization and finally, it is about mission success. Success is further measured against well-defined objectives.

Hippopotamus, Bicycle and a Punjabi

Anil Goyal

Human Rights Day: That Year Mission accomplished. Few lessons from an assignment like this ..1. Material contentment is to possess nothing. Though the material is abundant. 2. Temperatures and Tempers, both are destructive.3. Water is precious and expensive, water sovereign bonds are a good investment.4. Roads are important, so are mines.5. Yellow fever has a vaccine.6. Happiness has unknown forms.7. Good health is a luxury. Health care is not a choice.8. Kids can be detailed to volunteer.9. Music is a lifeline, so are weapons.10. Life is precious, death comes often and…

Para Jumping

Anil Goyal

The Para Training School (PTS), run by the Indian Air Force at Agra, conducts the parachuting and combat military free-fall training. The squadron insignia depicts a deployed parachute bringing down a supply container with wings attached. This signifies the role the squadron is involved in. The School was established under 50th Para brigade in 1941 at New Delhi. After the Independence, the school was permanently shifted to Agra. Earlier the Dakota, Hudson and Halifax Aircraft were used for Paratroopers Training. The School has participated in many operations of Indian Armed…

Veernari

Anil Goyal

Either I will come back after hoisting the Tricolor, or I will come back wrapped in it, but I will be back for sure. Capt. Vikram Batra, PVC (posthumous) “Veer nari” (or woman of courage)—that’s what a military widow is called in official parlance. A veer nari is defined as the widow of an armed forces member who has laid down his life for the nation, whether in war or in a military operation. Putting forth a poem by Ms Lakshmi Mini. She believed his words,“I’ll soon return”,He wasn’t a liar,For he…