'Women Power': In A First, All-Women Navy Crew Completes Surveillance Mission Over Arabian Sea

Abstract

In a first, the Indian Navy revealed on Thursday that an all-women crew flying a Dornier 228 aircraft has completed a maritime reconnaissance and surveillance mission in the North Arabian Sea.

According to the report, Lt Cdr Aanchal Sharma, the mission commander, commanded the aircraft along with Lt Shivangi, Lt Apurva Gite, and Tactical and Sensor Officers Lt Pooja Panda and SLt Pooja Shekhawat.

"This first-of-its-kind military flying mission was, however, unique and is expected to pave the way for women officers in the aviation cadre to assume greater responsibility and aspire for more challenging roles," the navy said.

The navy said it has undertaken a number of steps in pioneering women's empowerment with initiatives that include induction of women pilots, selection of women as Air Operations Officers into the helicopter stream and conducting an all-women sailing circumnavigation expedition across the globe in 2018. [Read More]