IAF’s 48th Flight Test Course Graduates 17 Officers in Bengaluru
Bengaluru, May 24: The prestigious Air Force Test Pilots School (AFTPS) in Bengaluru marked the successful graduation of the 48th Flight Test Course on May 23, with 17 officers completing an intensive 48-week multidisciplinary training programme. The graduating batch included 11 Test Pilots and six Flight Test Engineers who will now join the Aviation Wing of the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE), one of the Indian Air Force’s premier testing and evaluation units.
The course comprised 14 officers from the Indian Air Force, one officer from the Indian Army, and two officers from the Indian Navy, reflecting the joint-service nature of India’s military aviation testing ecosystem.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, PVSM, AVSM, an alumnus of the 17th Flight Test Course, attended the ceremony as the Chief Guest. He presented certificates to the graduating officers and felicitated outstanding performers with prestigious awards and trophies.
Among the top honours, Sqn Ldr KK Singh, VM, received the coveted “Suranjan Das Trophy” for the best all-round student Test Pilot. Sqn Ldr Aditya Jamdagni was awarded the “Chief of the Air Staff Trophy” for excellence in flight evaluation among Test Pilots.
In the Flight Test Engineer category, Wg Cdr Abhinav Kumar received the “Maharaja Hanumanth Singh Sword” for being the best all-round student Flight Test Engineer. Wg Cdr Pranav Sharma secured the “Dunlop Trophy” for excellence in flight evaluation, while Sqn Ldr Paras Sharma won the “Kapil Bhargava Trophy” for best performance in ground subjects.
Addressing the graduating officers, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh underscored the critical role of test crews in strengthening India’s indigenous defence capabilities and accelerating military modernisation. Stressing the importance of “Atmanirbharta” in the aerospace and defence sector, he urged the officers to contribute actively towards India’s self-reliance mission by supporting indigenous aircraft and systems development.
The Air Chief also highlighted the need to reduce “design-to-delivery” timelines without compromising on safety, operational standards, or quality. He called upon the officers to uphold the values of honesty, integrity, precision, and professional excellence while ensuring that all aircraft and systems meet the operational requirements of the Armed Forces.
The graduation ceremony marked another milestone in India’s efforts to build a technologically advanced and self-reliant defence aviation ecosystem.
