Parul Bhardwaj creates history as IAF’s first 'all women crew' takes to skies in Mi-17 V5 chopper

In yet another proud moment for Indian women, two lady Indian Air Force (IAF) officers and one flight engineer on Monday became part of the country's first 'All Women Crew' to fly a medium lift helicopter namely Mi-17 V5. Flight Lieutenant Parul Bhardwaj (Captain), who hails from Punjab’s Mukerian, is the first woman pilot to fly the Mi-17 V5 chopper.

Flying Officer Aman Nidhi (co-pilot) became the first woman IAF pilot from her home state Jharkhand while Flight Lieutenant Hina Jaiswal (Flight Engineer) is the first woman Flight Engineer of the Indian Air Force. Jaiswal is a resident of Punjab's Chandigarh.

The Mi-17 V5, which is designed for a Battle Inoculation Training mission, on Monday took off from a forward air base in South Western air command, a defence release said. "The all women crew flew a Mi-17 V5 helicopter for a Battle Inoculation Training mission taking off and landing from restricted areas at a forward air base in South Western air command," it read.

#Congratulations #Milestone : IAF Hails #WomanPower - F/L Parul Bhardwaj, F/O Aman Nidhi, F/L Hina Jaiswal became the first 'all woman' crew to fly a medium-lift IAF helicopter. S/L Richa Adhikari gave the pre-flight certification to the helicopter. https://t.co/C1EOrGCV7j pic.twitter.com/yG2SUCqMPf

— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) May 27, 2019

The helicopter was certified airworthy by Squadron Leader Richa Adhikari the unit Engineering officer, according to the release. This is yet another achievement of women officers in the IAF, it added.

The pilots had undergone their basic flying training at the Helicopter Training School at Air Force Station Hakimpet followed by advanced training at Air Force Station Yelahanka.