Indian Air Force: Glorious career as air warrior

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Talk of the air force and the first image that comes to the mind is that of a young, cool and dashing Tom Cruise taking off in his fighter plane in the Hollywood blockbuster ‘Top Gun’ that was released in 1986. Even otherwise, fighter pilots come with the visual tag of handsome heroes who swirl, dive, swoop and spray the skies with gun fire in their mean machines that cut through the clouds. But there is more to it than glamour.

 
Like the army or the navy, it is one of the most responsible jobs in terms of ensuring the safety and security of the nation. The Air Force is one of the three major defence services of India. It is the fourth largest in the world with some of the best and most powerful of aircrafts.

While the primary task of the air force is to keep in readiness a cadre of professional fighter pilots who have been trained to fly all kinds of specialized aircrafts and engage in warfare, the Air Force also comprises other wings with different kinds of duties. These cover such sectors as aeronautical engineering, electronics, information technology, administrative, and planning. There are basically three branches to join in the Indian Air Force as officers. These are the departments of flying, technical and ground duties.
 
Those assigned to the flying branch are responsible for flying and controlling fighter aircrafts, transportation aircrafts and helicopters. It also includes navigators who guide the pilots with the help of advanced avionic equipment. Officers in the technical branch are responsible for handling all the technical and engineering aspects while those in the ground duties branch provide all the logistical, educational, meteorological and administrative support.

Scope

Out of the three branches of the defence services, most young people list the air force as their top priority. This in itself speaks of the attraction that the job carries. That apart, a career in the air force can turn out to be as fulfilling and rewarding as adventurous. Apart from realizing a dream of flying the very best of fighter aircrafts of the world such as SU-30s, the MiG variants, the Jaguar and the Mirage 2000, the Air Force carries with the highest level of prestige. The Indian Air Force takes good care of its officers who enjoy an impressive lifestyle that can be the envy of others. Above all, it promises you a career with a purpose which is to serve your country with honour, valour and pride. The air force makes you an excellent leader geared to take decisions in split seconds and build the ability to strategize and innovate when required.

Eligibility

As is the case with the army or the navy, a career in the air force begins with the decision to join the defence services after passing HSC (10+2). The officer cadre provides opportunities for men with HSC (flying branch), graduates (all three branches), engineers (all three branches) and postgraduates (all branches except the flying branch). This is valid for women too. Candidates who clear the initial selection procedure go through a rigorous training regimen at one of the Indian Air Force training establishments, on the successful completion of which they are commissioned as officers. 
 
Candidates with HSC qualification who want to join the flying branch have to gain admission at the National Defence Academy (NDA), followed by specialised training at the Air Force Academy. To enter the NDA, one has to appear for an entry level examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The age limit is 19 years. Graduates can seek entry into the air force through the Combined Defence Services Examination conducted by the UPSC for any of the three branches. The same is true for engineers too. Postgraduates can seek employment with the Indian Air Force in either the technical or ground duties branch and this can also include such departments as education, accounts or logistics.

Institutes

The National Defence Academy in Pune is where the cadets are trained for a career as pilots. The course comprises six semesters. The Air Force Academy in Hyderabad is where cadets of all the streams are trained. The Air Force Administration College is at Coimbatore and is the oldest training college of the Indian Air Force. It is exclusive as it trains the in-service cadets and officers of the three defence streams. The Air Force Technical College at Jalhalli grooms young trainee officers for a career in aeronautical engineering. The training is for 48 weeks. The Flying Training Establishment is the school where air force pilots are taught the basics of flying.

Remuneration

The Indian Air Force offers attractive salaries for every post. It also takes care of such needs as basic accommodation, healthcare, recreational areas and education facilities for children. Even before being commissioned as an officer, a candidate gets a monthly stipend of Rs 8,000 during the training period. Pilots get paid the highest and this could start from a gross income of about Rs 2.5 lakhs per year. Those in the technical and ground duties departments can start with Rs 1.25 to Rs 2.0 lakhs per year. There are a number of facilities after retirement too such as pension, medicare and subsidized rations through the canteen.