HYDERABAD: Thirteen officers — including nine from the Indian Air Force, three from the Indian Navy and one from the Indian Coast Guard — graduated as radar controllers at the Air Traffic Control Officers Training Establishment (ATCOTE) at Air Force Academy in Telangana's Dundigal on Wednesday.
They were part of the 138th Air Traffic Surveillance Services (ATSS) Course.
Air Marshal IP Vipin, commandant, Air Force Academy, was the reviewing officer at the graduation ceremony.
The young military air traffic controllers, after having undergone the 12-week long course, can now perform the highly demanding and skilful task of controlling aircraft using modern radars.
ATCOTE, a premier training establishment of the Indian Air Force, besides training officers of the IAF, undertakes training of officers from the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and officers from Friendly Foreign Countries in the field of Air Traffic Services.
Flight Lieutenant A Varadharajan was adjudged First in Order of Merit, Best in Theory and Best in Practical.
In his valedictory address Air Marshal IP Vipin highlighted the criticality of radar controllers’ role in mission accomplishment.
He oriented the graduating trainees towards the challenges ahead in the field of aviation and advised them to achieve the highest standards of professional excellence.