The first naval air squadron, INAS 550 known as the Flying Fish based at the Naval Base in Kochi, celebrated its diamond jubilee on Monday. The squadron has played a key role in training the Navy’s maritime reconnaissance pilots and observers and provided invaluable maritime support to its fleet. A first-day cover was released by the Postal Department to commemorate the day. Veteran and serving officers of the squadron were felicitated. Vice Admiral A.K. Chawla, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command, was the chief guest of an event in which a trophy in memory of Late Lieutenant Simon George Pynumootil was instituted by the family of the officer to be presented to the Most Spirited Officer of the Dornier Operational Flying Training course.
This trophy was instituted to immortalise the spirit of the officer who was a qualified Islander pilot and lost his life in an air crash whilst serving in the squadron on May 17,1985. On Tuesday, a seminar on Technological Advancements to Mitigate Challenges in Airborne Maritime Reconnaissance was conducted.
The squadron has flown 14 different types of aircraft starting with the Sea land aircraft to the Dornier maritime reconnaissance aircraft being presently flown.