Rear Admiral Vikram Menon takes charge as FOGA

PANAJI: Rear Admiral Vikram Menon, an experienced Sea Harrier fighter pilot and flying instructor with 2,000 hours of flying experience took over as the Flag Officer Commanding Goa Area (FOGA) and Flag Officer Naval Aviation (FONA) on Saturday from Rear Admiral Philipose George Pynumootil, who ‘swallowed the anchor’ on Saturday after 36 years of service to the nation.
Menon was serving as the assistant chief of naval staff (air) at Naval Headquarters in Delhi prior to his appointment in Goa. He has also served as director of aircraft acquisition at the naval headquarters and Chief Staff Officer (Air).
Menon is no stranger to Goa, having served as the senior pilot of INAS 300, the longest serving combat unit of the Indian Navy based at INS Hansa. He also commanded the test flight squadron INAS 552 at INS Hansa. But for Menon, INS Hansa is a bittersweet homecoming of sorts, a grim reminder of the series of Sea Harrier crashes off Goa’s coast.
He has also flown the Sea Harrier aircraft extensively from the aircraft carrier INS Viraat. Now as the FONA, Menon will oversee the induction of the Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk helicopters as well as the development of the twin engine, deck-based fighter for the Navy.
He was awarded the Vishist Seva Medal in 2018 while commanding INS Hansa and also held command of fast attack craft INS Tillanchang, offshore patrol vessel INS Sharda, and the fleet tanker INS Shakti. He has also served as executive officer of the guided missile destroyer, INS Ranvijay.
While bidding adieu to Pynumootil, chief of naval staff Admiral R Hari Kumar acknowledged his contribution, particularly in operational assignments as well as in the Navy’s acquisitions.
Pynumootil played a key role in the Indian Navy’s modernisation plans, serving as the principal director of aircraft acquisition and overseeing the induction of eight Boeing P-8I long range maritime surveillance aircraft, 45 MiG 29K fighter jets from Russia and 17 Hawk aircraft. During his term as FONA, the Navy raised two new squadrons both based at INS Hansa Goa.
But perhaps the best description of Pynumootil comes from retired naval aviator and experimental test pilot Cdr K P Sanjeev Kumar (Retd). Kumar described Pynumootil as an intrepid aviator, adrenaline junkie and a “yaaroon ka yaar” with even solo circumnavigator and former naval pilot Cdr Abhilash Tomy saying, “They don’t make men like these any more.”
Pynumootil was given a ceremonial send off at INS Gomantak through a “pulling out ceremony” after handing over charge to Menon.