October 8 is celebrated as air force day by the indian air force. we therefore, thought it fit to give you a glimpse of an average day of some very extraordinary people, fighter pilots. Mayank Singh spent some time with pilots of a sukhoi squadron. here’s his report.
‘HJ’, as he is known to his colleagues, looks like any other young man his age. But see him in his green overalls, and it is a different story. HJ is a fighter pilot in the making; which is to say he isn’t operational yet. But it’s only a matter of time.
Being trained to fly the Indian Air Force’s most advanced deep penetration strike aircraft, the Sukhoi 30 MKI, HJ is focussed and intense when in gear. “We train for our life and with it is associated others’ life as well and our nation’s security,” he thunders. It is that thought which makes him put in “200 per cent on the ground, so as to give 100 per cent in the air”.
HJ’s journey to becoming a fighter pilot began early. “When I was in class six, I learnt about fighter pilots and from then, I was determined to be one,” he shares. We were soon joined by HJ’s colleague, Flight Lieutenant Umang Nautiyal, who like HJ was as dedicated and focussed. Both had to be. They had just undergone the Aircrew Examination Board, an annual exam for fighter pilots which rates them and validates their skills. 
But this in no way meant a reprieve from flying. After all, they had a training schedule to meet. Ready in their flight suits, both soon took-off in the Sukhoi 30 MKI to practice “Dog-fighting”; an accepted term for direct air to air combat. 
Flying the Sukhois comes with it’s own share of pride...and effort. The Sukhoi demands perfection and so do the instructors. Officers like HJ and Umang have their priorities very clear, for flying demands focus and devotion. A detailed training plan exists and has been fine tuned to turn every pilot into a force to reckon with. A normal day for HJ and Umang begins at 5:30 am when they get up to report to their station before 7 am. Here, they receive meteorological, weather, runway and related briefings. Soon after, the Unit Briefing is held in the briefing room where the day’s flying plan and other tasks are explained and divided. Once out of the briefing, the junior pilots get into discussion with the senior pilots who are there to supervise them in their mission.
This is followed by the mandatory pre-flight meal. After the meal they leave for the aircraft which is kept flight worthy by able technicians. But before they are given complete control of the aircraft, pilots such as HJ have to pass their technical course, which tests their awareness about the aircraft.
Following this, they are cleared to sit as a rear cockpit pilot under the supervisor in the front cockpit who holds charge of the entire sortie. Gradually, under the watchful eyes of the senior pilots, the pilot is given a chance to fly in the front cockpit and then he qualifies to become a mission leader where he captains the ‘Ship’ as they lovingly call it.
At the end of their flying day, HJ and Umang both enjoy a game of squash. They never forget to party every Saturday and Sunday and never compromise on eight hours of sleep. Simple! But both know they are there to earn their wings and in the process protect the nation. They’ll both be back the next day to do the same thing, again and analyse their every move and mistake. As HJ said in parting, “There are no born fighter pilots. We sweat and earn our wings.”
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