The Valedictory Ceremony of the 64th Air Engineering and Air Electrical Officers Specialisation Course (Aeronautical Engineers) was conducted on 22 Jan 22. A total of 19 officers comprising 14 officers from the Indian Navy, two from Coast Guard, two from the Bangladesh Navy and one from the Vietnam Navy passed out from the portals of Naval Institute of Aeronautical Technology (NIAT) at Naval Base, Kochi. Commodore Ajay Shekhar Shukla, Commodore Training (HQSNC) graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.
The officers underwent 52 weeks of intensive training in advanced aeronautical subjects besides training on various types of aircraft operated by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard. Lt Cdr Md Maruf Hossain and Lt Cdr Ariful Islam of Bangladesh Navy were awarded trophies for standing first in overall order of merit amongst Air Engineering and Air Electrical officers respectively.
The Director General Coast Guard trophy for the best all round officer of the course was awarded to SLt Shekhar Mani Tripathi. The Venduruthy Shield for Best Air Technical Project was awarded to a syndicate of officers namely SLt Kiran Nag M, SLt Midhun MS and SLt Tran Van Anh (Vietnam Navy). As a first, all participating officers of friendly foreign countries have secured awards which is indicative of the high quality of training at the institute and efforts by the officers.
The Commodore gave away the awards to the prize winners and certificates to the course participants. In his address, he expressed his appreciation to witness a fine Naval valedictory ceremony and said that it was a great honour and privilege for all Air Technical Officers and sailors to graduate from the portals of NIAT, the ‘Centre of Excellence for Aeronautical Science and Technology’. He further, emphasised the importance of maintaining professional competence keeping abreast with the latest technologies and inculcating basic Service ethos of Courage of Conviction, Commitment to the Service and above all Leadership by personal example.
He also highlighted the challenges ahead to maintain the operational tempo with a mix of vintage and state of art equipment. While congratulating award winners, the Chief Guest lauded the efforts of the Institute and ‘Team NIAT’ for ensuring high standards of excellence in aviation professional training and rendering 65 years of yeoman service to Naval Aviation.