Flight Lieutenant Hina Jaiswal Creates History, Becomes First Woman Flight Engineer Of Indian Air Force

Flight Lieutenant Hina Jaiswal has created history by becoming the first woman flight engineer to be inducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF), reports The Hindu.

Jaiswal, who hails from Chandigarh, completed her Bachelor of Engineering degree from Punjab University. After her commissioning in the IAF in January 2015, Jaiswal served as the chief of firing team and battery commander in a frontline Surface to Air Missile squadron.

According to The Hindu report, Jaiswal created history when she was chosen as the first woman candidate to pursue the six-month flight engineering course. She completed the course on Friday (15 February) at 112 Helicopter Unit, Air Force Station Yelahanka in Bengaluru.

Jaiswal, in her new role, will be posted at IAF’s operation helicopter units. She will serve in “demanding and stressful conditions from the icy heights of the Siachen glacier to the seas of the Andamans,” a statement said, as reported by The Hindu.

A flight engineer is an important part of aircraft’s crew and requires specialised skill set to monitor and operates its complex systems.

As reported by The Hindu, the IAF started commissioning women in the officer cadre in 1993 and now inducts them as pilots in various streams. The Ministry of Defence has reportedly also dedicated an entire day of Aero India 2019, starting next week, to women in the armed forces.